This past week I was referred to as wishy-washy on my theology. This was not necessarily meant as an insult. This is more of a comment on the hard-line issue of the Southern Baptist Convention. Because I am not an Arminian, nor am I a Calvinist, I am an outsider. I feel much like Glenn Beck as he begins his news broadcast, “Here is what I know…”
First, that labels cause problems for the church. We spend too much time arguing over how God saves, instead of focusing on the fact that God does save.
Second, salvation is by grace alone. There is no merit and duty that will save you. You come to Christ through faith and the salvation is through grace. I’m going to make a few Calvinist’s day here, we are merely voice pieces of God’s grace. If I truly believed that in some way my words are what saves someone, I am fooling myself. I’m not that eloquent and quite often my dialogue becomes a verbal mess because I’m excited about God, I’m excited about Jesus and what comes spewing forth is a mess!
Third, the Bible says “All”. Now this is where I take my leap to walking the fence. I believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe he is in control. Too often we look at Calvin’s “TULIP” and allow that to be the basis of the argument. In fact in common discussion amongst theologians the question is asked “How many leaves are on your ‘TULIP’?” Well I believe that John 3:16 tells me that it is God’s desire that all would be saved. If we limit how many can be saved, or who will be saved we often give up on people too quickly. So the question we fight over is whether everyone has an opportunity to be saved or not.
Our identity then becomes a theological buzzword. I have no problems with five point Calvinist, if they do not become lazy in their evangelical zeal. I have no problem with Arminians, if they do not deny the omniscient attribute of God. But please realize the truth that you are a Christian first and foremost, you all are saved through one way, the blood of Jesus Christ.

I spent last week on vacation in Central New York. It was a great time of refreshing and being able to spend time with my wife, who has been insanely busy with work lately. On the ride up and back was a great time of listening to music. During the trip I was listening to David Crowder Band and was hit as usual by the lyrics, “You make everything glorious. And You made me, what does that make me!” So often we spend time getting caught up on how busy life is that we don’t take the time to truly reflect on God. For many busyness is a way to avoid hurtful things that we have heard in the past. I don’t know how many children you come by now that operate on the understanding that they were not wanted, or hear they are a mistake or otherwise.
Regardless of what you have heard in the past, realize this truth! God does not make junk! In fact he makes all things glorious!