Squeezing the Turnip

I confess I don't really have any idea what that phrase means. I've never eaten a turnip, and not sure I've even seen one. I assume that turnips are dry roots, and that "squeezing the turnip" means trying to get something (in this case, liquid) out of an item that has nothing left to give.

I use this phrase to describe the result of my months-long study of the issue of election/predestination/reformed theology. My intellect is the turnip, and there is nothing else to squeeze out at the moment.

I began with the premise that we (humans) are created with the ability to choose that Jesus Christ become our Savior, or reject this offer and suffer the consequences. Heading down one path, or the other path, is simply a matter of our own will and desire. God blesses us with intellect, and with that that intellect, we make decisions about Him.

I no longer am able to embrace that theology. Passages from the books of Ephesians, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and John (among others) describe man as dead and incapable of turning to God. Furthermore, that we have no ability to make morally positive decisions, because our spiritual nature is completely void of good. What's more, I question the very definition of grace, if ultimately our salvation is dependent on our own decisions and actions (commonly defined in the Bible as "works").

On the other hand, I am not yet ready to wholeheartedly embrace what is commonly called "Reformed Theology." In essence, that before God even created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1), he already knew me and decided my eternal fate (and that of all the other billions of people born past, present and future). And, that my fate is accomplished wholly by God -- my salvation is accomplished by Him lock, stock, and barrel. I am incapable of saying "no" to God, because He will overwhelm me with His Spirit so that I can do nothing outside of saying "yes."

My problem here is two-fold. First, both the Old and New Testaments are filled with real examples of people choosing to follow God and not choosing. Most of Paul's NT letters to various churches describe in great detail how to "work out your salvation," "run the good race," "live in the Spirit," etc. The book of Acts is a litany of people being persuaded to choose Christ. We are warned repeatedly that succombing to evil and failing to turn away from sin is cause for eternal destruction. Reformists say that we choose only because God first chose us, and that the exhortations of Paul are not to those who are unsaved, but to those who are already (and eternally) saved. That all of those warnings are serious and true -- but that our ultimate, eternal fate has already been decided. I can see this in certain Scripture -- but can not yet reason it against other Scripture.

My second problem is this -- understanding the nature of God. If God is indeed glorified by both choosing people for salvation and choosing people for condemnation, and works everything out so that His plan for each soul is executed without flaw, then how does that glorify God? I'm not saying it doesn't, but that I don't know why. My human reasoning tells me that God would be more glorified if souls turned to Him out of freedom of will, rather than planned compulsion. But even as Paul says in Romans, who am I, the clay, to question God, the Potter?

So, there you have it. I could go on, and on and on ... but it would be like squeezing the turnip. I've studied this theology with more diligence than anything else in quite some time. God has moved me from one side of the pendalum, to the other side, and now I'm resting in the middle. It's not a comfortable place to be -- there is no truth in the middle -- but it's where I am nonetheless. In time, aided by prayer, study, and the Spirit, I expect that God will reveal more of Himself to me and clarify my understanding. Until then, the turnip is going to rest awhile.

Oh, two more things .... First, this is a pretty significant doctrine that earnest, Godly people disagree about. There is a trememdous demonstration of Christian unity when people from both sides of this doctrine can agree to disagree and still maintain love for God and each other. So, to my brothers out there on both sides ... I appreciate your patience, prayers, and commitment to Christ, however it is you came to know Him and understand His promise of salvation to those who genuinely believe.

Secondly, if you have never before (or even recently) considered the nature of God's grace, man's sinful nature, and salvation -- consider it. There is value in the struggle, and blessings in the Word. My dry turnip does not mean that my study has been unprofitable -- quite the opposite is true. Being a disciple means wrestling with truth from time to time, and growing from the battle. I know I have been sharpened -- you will be too.