For the few of you who read this blog I owe it to you to respond when you ask me. Clint has asked how I "reformed my views." So let me begin.
In College I was challenged by some "intellectuals" (or at least I thought they were) who had grasped a concept of God which was foreign to me. As you should discern, this concept (or logic construct) is called Calvinsim. At first I hated it and then I was told to read Romans 9 and so I did, it is the Word of God! Upon reading I came across a conundrum. The language Paul used spoke of God's choice and showed pharaoh being hardened and I was at a crossroad looking for answers. I found them from some eager friends and soon I was preaching the gospel of Grace (and I use that now sarcastically). I gathered books and began to read the logical and historical nature of the doctrines of Calvinsim and Arminianism. I became closer friends with Presbyterians and joined the RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) and delved deeper into those doctrines that seemed to reveal so much of God to me.
Let me point out that during this time I was enriched. Joey, the RUF director, did not have a Calvinist agenda. He wanted to faithfully exposit the Word and taught me much. I especially hold him high for keeping me from the poison Brian McLaren was and is spewing.
In the world I became caught up in the pseudo-intellectual groups who had figured God out. Salvation now made logical sense. I must see God as being sovereign or else I would open the door to Open Theism. I read all the arguments on Calvinsim and argued it well, especially Limited Atonement and Irresistable Grace. However, what I lacked was a true biblical foundation for such arguments. I would preach that all does not mean all and that the term world or Cosmos could fall into many different categories (some of these arguments are true, but I used them for my own needs).
So well did I know the doctrines that I taught that section of Western Civilization to my class. The professor lauded me for my knowledge, yet I had students staring at me and asking if I believed in that God (a moment that has always haunted me). I found my system. I found my place to stand theologically and intellectually. I found myself.
Then I went to seminary, and not Southern to boot. My friends were perplexed as to why I would go to a place where the "doctrines" were not taught. They thought that RTS or Southern Seminary would be a much better choice. They were wrong. I arrived at a school in transition in administration, not in doctrine. What met me at seminary was a high view of scripture. I found 5 point calvinists and 1 point calvinists, but soon realized they were not consumed with the doctrine but with God and understanding his word.
You might ask, "Where was it that you fell apart?" And I answer, "In Greek." As I read and learned the New Testament in the original language I came across ideas that were hard and did not fit into my Calvinist box. Then I came across 2 Peter 2 and limited atonement fell apart. Since then I have found no evidence, other than logical, for irresistible grace.
If the Bible is our source of revelation from God then it supersedes reason, experience and tradition. Did God choose me? Yes! Did I choose God? Yes! How does that work? I don't know. It is a good question, but one that has risen far beyond its proper place. It should not consume our Theology Proper (the doctrine of the Godhead) and it should consume our soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). It is a mystery, and I am fine with that.
