In western civilization theology benefits from the Reformation which corrects the errors or Roman Catholicism and Arminianism. However, when your in a third world environment and communicating with different cultures, Muslims, Budhists, Islam, and various pagan religions the distinctions your drawing have a somewhat different perspective. In America we fight over such distinctions while in much of the world they don't know nor understand the key truths embedded in the Apostle's Creed let alone the deeper truths expressed in your concern.
Hi Wes,
As the mission field is white unto harvest, new converts are always white unto the works-justification tendencies of Arminianism and Roman Catholicism. I think we would do well, therefore, to be pro-active in teaching the truths of the Protestant Reformation from the outset rather than waiting for some heresy to be invented from within or introduced by an outsider. I don't think that the Reformation teachings are “the deserts” of Christian doctrine, but the essential pure milk of the Word. If so, then what better time to teach these truths than from the beginning?
It did not take long for the Judaizing missionaries from Palestine to prey upon recent converts with another gospel. Therefore, I think we should correct the natural tendency toward heretical and humanistic / secular thought prior to any infectious cancer taking root. In light of this, my advice would be that when we teach the A,B,C’s of the ecumenical creeds, we don’t beg any questions. When we teach that "Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified, died and was buried…” why should we avoid interpreting this gospel-truth in light of particular redemption? That Jesus died and rose again for the justification of his people, is the “L” of TULIP and the good news. That's my <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/my2cents.gif" alt="" />
