Discussion with Pastor Nathaniel Tyler
Pastor Nathaniel emailed me in response to our HOTM 2.0 launch back in October and accepted the open invitation to come on the show and explain why his approach to the faith is the best on the face of the earth. Understand, that is the claim we make here on Heart of the Matter about our approach to the faith at CAMPUS – that it is the best approach to Christianity on the face of the earth. And so tonight we get to hear and speak to a reformed pastor who will explain why his is better. Let’s begin with prayer – and Pastor Tyler has agreed to open our discussion up by offering it.
Pastor Tyler's Faith Journey
Okay, as we do with every guest we would like you to sort of summarize in ten minutes or so your life from your youth to where you are now – especially with regard to the Christian faith. So I boldly proclaimed that our approach to the faith is the best on the face of the earth. Understand that this does NOT mean that we do not accept other approaches – in fact almost all – but simply maintain our subjective approach to Christianity is best. Perhaps you could explain why your approach is better?
Election (see example – use LDS example) Second coming Eternal punishment Tithes Church Discipline Doctrinal stances Standards and lifestyles Total Reconciliationism
The Concept of Election in Reformed Theology
God will have couples fall in love, and in love they will bring forth children, and in bringing forth three children they will really love their children – they will sacrifice for them, provide for them, help them grow and learn and achieve and overcome problems. And in harmony with Reformed thinking, this same God MAY elect one parent and one child from that family, or he may elect two parents and no children, or none of them at all, or perhaps just one child.
They have been elected!
- Scenario 1: One Parent, One Child
- Scenario 2: Parents, Two Children
- Scenario 3: None at all
- Scenario 4: One Child only
Eternal Consequences of Election
One parent, One child, Two Parents, Two parents Two children, Three Children, Two Children But let’s not speak of them – that’s too painful. Let’s talk about those whom God has elected to be saved from this unspeakable destination, shall we? How could anyone who honestly loves others MORE than themselves rejoice over the fact that THEY have been saved but others who God gave them and allowed them to love have not but are suffering endlessly in hell.
Scenarios of Eternal Separation
Scenario 1: How could anyone who honestly loves God want to be in His existence when He chose NOT to save their loved ones but instead created them to suffer forever in eternal hell? How could you rejoice in heaven knowing that the God of that heaven decided to NOT save all of your loved ones?
Scenario 2: How could an entire family enjoy heaven knowing that one of them who they adored and loved is screaming endlessly in hell.
Scenario 3: What was the benefit for the whole family coming to truly love each other only for God to take them all and put them in an eternal burning hell?
Scenario 4: How selfish of the one child who was elected to rejoice over his or her salvation knowing that his or her parents and siblings are in screaming gnashing eternal pain – this was his mother who nurtured him and her dad who played with her and provided for her entire earthly existence?
Reflections on Ephesians 1
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
The Inheritance in Christ
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The Power of the Potter
Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Interpretations of Paul's Words
WHAT IF . . . and isn’t Paul speaking of those who put the Lord to death, or perhaps even more specifically, Nero, the beast of Revelation? Where do we get assigning this to all peoples?
