In many countries around the world, leaders are chosen by some application of a popular election. This means, the people get to choose whom they will follow!
Not so in a monarchy! Countries with kings and queens rule by divine right! (That is unless some type of reforms have taken place relegating the monarchy to some 'figure head' of state and said state still thinks it's fine to sing their historic national anthem!)
So the question is: Is the Kingdom of God more like representative democracy or a perpetual monarchy? Would the answer to this question have any bearing on how the Christian begins to understand the doctrine of election?
To be sure, this topic creates quite a bit of debate among various religious denominations. Even to this day, certain denominations are embroiled in controversy regarding how this doctrine ought to be taught in their churches. The repeated criticism of those who oppose a robust preaching of the doctrine of election is, "You remove all responsibility from the believer to obey God's commands to bear fruit unto righteousness and remove the zeal for evangelism!" Conversely, those who confidently affirm election state that those who avoid this doctrine are subject to preaching techniques that exalt, "decisions and responses that are tabulated," rather than faithfulness to the text and a reliance upon the Holy Spirit to move hearts to faith and repentance.
Well, the two parties are campaigning for your decision! Who will win your vote? We pray that you'll attend our convention (er...) CONFERENCE and be properly challenged to Christian maturity by unpacking this important teaching of Scripture!
Not so in a monarchy! Countries with kings and queens rule by divine right! (That is unless some type of reforms have taken place relegating the monarchy to some 'figure head' of state and said state still thinks it's fine to sing their historic national anthem!)
So the question is: Is the Kingdom of God more like representative democracy or a perpetual monarchy? Would the answer to this question have any bearing on how the Christian begins to understand the doctrine of election?
To be sure, this topic creates quite a bit of debate among various religious denominations. Even to this day, certain denominations are embroiled in controversy regarding how this doctrine ought to be taught in their churches. The repeated criticism of those who oppose a robust preaching of the doctrine of election is, "You remove all responsibility from the believer to obey God's commands to bear fruit unto righteousness and remove the zeal for evangelism!" Conversely, those who confidently affirm election state that those who avoid this doctrine are subject to preaching techniques that exalt, "decisions and responses that are tabulated," rather than faithfulness to the text and a reliance upon the Holy Spirit to move hearts to faith and repentance.
Well, the two parties are campaigning for your decision! Who will win your vote? We pray that you'll attend our convention (er...) CONFERENCE and be properly challenged to Christian maturity by unpacking this important teaching of Scripture!
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