Ronnie W. Rogers

The Gay Christian? Some Thoughts

By Ronnie W. Rogers / December 9, 2019 / Comments Off on The Gay Christian? Some Thoughts

I Believe: God loves every sinner and desires to save every person (Titus 2:11). A person who has been involved in homosexual acts or currently struggles with homosexual lust is salvifically loved by God, and can, therefore, be saved in exactly the same way as someone who struggles with heterosexual lust or the same way…

I Am Troubled about an ERLC Article on Abortion

By Ronnie W. Rogers / November 25, 2019 / Comments Off on I Am Troubled about an ERLC Article on Abortion

Phoebe Cates wrote an article that is posted on the ERLC website entitled, “Why our hearts matter when talking about Abortion.” I agree with the title of the article. We should have a broken heart over the tragedy of every abortion and a tender heart toward every person who needs Christ. We should approach the…

Why Calvinism’s View of Free Will and Scripture Are Irreconcilable

By Ronnie W. Rogers / November 12, 2019 / Comments Off on Why Calvinism’s View of Free Will and Scripture Are Irreconcilable

Calvinism rejects libertarian free will and believes in compatible moral freedom, which means everything and everyone is micro-determined. For that to be the biblically reflective approach to understanding Scripture (what the Bible actually portrays and teaches), Calvinists would have to explain why the Bible, from Genesis two through Revelation twenty-two, is absolutely permeated with verses,…

Answering Calvinism’s Claim That We Are All Determinists

By Ronnie W. Rogers / October 28, 2019 / Comments Off on Answering Calvinism’s Claim That We Are All Determinists

Some Calvinists argue that Extensivists (non-Calvinists) belief in libertarian freedom, and God’s foreknowledge of what such beings will choose still results in determinism, and therefore, we are all determinists; [1] thus, we have the same deterministic problem as Calvinists. [2] Calvinists believe this argument assuages the significant problems that are unique to Calvinism because of…

Why Some Theological Non-Calvinists Identify as Calvinists

By Ronnie W. Rogers / October 14, 2019 / Comments Off on Why Some Theological Non-Calvinists Identify as Calvinists

While many don the designation Calvinist because they have endeavored to learn all aspects of Calvinism and are thereby convinced that it provides the most cogent, comprehensive, and consistent grid through which to understand Scripture, others adopt the label less nobly. Of this latter kind, it seems to me many assume the title Calvinist because…

God’s Essential Omniscience Does Not Require Calvinism’s Determinism

By Ronnie W. Rogers / September 30, 2019 / Comments Off on God’s Essential Omniscience Does Not Require Calvinism’s Determinism

In both Calvinism and Extensivism, God knows all that could happen, and all that will happen. [1] The difference is in how he knows. According to Calvinism, his knowledge of what could and will happen is based upon his micro-determination. [2] Another way of saying God knows what could happen is God knows what he…

Setting the Record Straight on Dr. Patterson

By Ronnie W. Rogers / September 16, 2019 / Comments Off on Setting the Record Straight on Dr. Patterson

Once again, the Houston Chronicle has endeavored to malign Dr. Patterson by their portrayal of his handling of a very public and difficult situation that happened in the 1980s regarding a young pastor named Darrell Gilyard. Although Dr. Patterson did not ask me to post his response to the Houston Chronicle, I requested his permission…

The Undermining of Truth: The Danger of Unguarded Reliance upon Science and Statistics

By Ronnie W. Rogers / September 2, 2019 / Comments Off on The Undermining of Truth: The Danger of Unguarded Reliance upon Science and Statistics

In the quest to seem with it in our present scientistic milieu, preachers and Christians often pursue fluency regarding the latest polls, statistics, and studies (punctiliar thinking) more than they seek understanding of the Scripture and linear thinking. This quest is often characterized by indiscriminate reliance upon and usage of these tools, which actually leads…

Did God Create Some People for Wrath? Well No! Romans 9:19-23

By Ronnie W. Rogers / August 19, 2019 / Comments Off on Did God Create Some People for Wrath? Well No! Romans 9:19-23

Romans 9:22-23 is often cited to demonstrate God’s sovereign choice in creating some people for eternal destruction so that he might demonstrate his wrath while making other people to be recipients of his eternal mercy. This understanding highlights God’s eternal, unconditional election. This way, God could put his wrath and mercy on display, which otherwise…

Did God Hardening Pharaoh Damn Him? Well No! Romans 9:17-18

By Ronnie W. Rogers / July 1, 2019 / Comments Off on Did God Hardening Pharaoh Damn Him? Well No! Romans 9:17-18

As mentioned in my previous article on Jacob and Esau (Rom 9:10-13), Calvinists use Romans chapters 9-11 as the undeniable evidence of Calvinistic soteriology, defending both unconditional election and reprobation. Regarding chapter 9, B.B. Warfield says, “It is safe to say that language cannot be chosen better adapted to teach Predestination at its height.” [1]…