As I have thought about my earlier post and discussed it with my brilliant wife, I realize that I need to give one more clarification as to how JC’s method differs from the other GO.  Calvin’s theology has its primary goal toward being generous to God.  This means he is seeking not to offend God, protect God’s holiness, set God apart from anything creaturely, defend God’s honor, and give him true worship.  To give an over generalization, much theology today seems to have its primary goal in being generous to man.  This means not offending others, bringing God down to everyone’s level, and magnifying our ability to comprehend him.  The desire not to offend man is most commonly found in author’s not willing to admit they don’t have an answer.  We do not like to offend ourselves by saying we cant figure something out.  The goal of theology is to know God and live according to his precepts by his grace.  I fear too often the goal of theology is to explain the difficulties of God away and not hold the tension presented in the gospel.  When we walk and think by faith, we accept what God declares and this will often times mean we have to hold together two truths revealed in Scripture without having a great amount of clarity as to how they are reconciled together.  JI Packer models this well in his work, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.  One that I have always had trouble with is the fact that I am called to pray, God knows what I am going to ask for before I ask, and he knows all things from an eternal perspective.  There are three truths that I have to believe and obey without overemphasizing one in order to explain the mind and wisdom of God.  

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