Before I go any further in to this travesty of theology, I
want to explore some things Pinnock has said in this book and in his
pneumatological treatise, Flame of Love.
In Flame of Love, Pinnock immediately declares that he
appreciates Jurgen Moltmann's attempt to "recover a more experiential basis for the doctrine of
the Spirit."[1]
Later in his introduction he says that in his book “we will be dipping into the
testimony of Scripture and into insights
from the ecumenical church”[2].
“We have to be sensitive to things that are only
spiritual discerned,” he says. To complete his turn away from Scripture,
Pinnock concludes his introduction by saying, “This book is not really a
biblical study but moves beyond exegesis to historical and theological
reflection…Exegesis alone cannot provide the full perspective required by the
church. There has to be a wider sweep of investigation that takes into account
other dimensions—historical, theological, philosophical, cultural, and mystical”[3].
Pinnock makes similar statements in The Grace of God and the Will of Man. “Here is a meaty debate… and
in it both sides can appeal to rich scriptural, logical, and experiential data,” he opines.[4]
He admits that whole chapters of his book result from “rational speculation.”[5]
In the chapter that recounts his autobiographical pilgrimage he says, “I had
known experientially all along in my
walk with the Lord, that there is a profound mutuality in our dealings with God.”[6]
Calvinists do not rely on experiential data for good reason.
We are fallible, flawed, impure. We assume too much of ourselves. We give
ourselves too much credit. The God of the Universe is the God of the Universe.
To presume that our base, limited capacity could ever possibly come to correct
conclusions apart or distinct from divine revelation, as revealed in enduring
and tested Scripture, betrays a staggering height of arrogance. Experiential
data does not inform theology. Certainly it does not correct clear, unequivocal
declarations of Scripture. If “insights from the ecumenical church” differ from or
contradict what Scripture plainly says, they must be tossed out. The Church is
flawed because we are the church. There is no consensus of historical minds within
the Church that God gives authority to. In this world, He has given authority
to his word, to his Son, and nothing else. We should suspect any data that is
based primarily or exclusively on personal or even corporate experience. We are
prone to failure, bias, and the deception of an enemy whose capacity and
ability far exceeds our own.
Of Scripture Paul said, “All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16). Of men he said, “Fools” (Romans 1.14, 22; 2.20;
1 Corinthians 1.20,27; Galatians 3.1,3). Of Scripture Peter said, “No prophecy
of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever
made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God’
(2 Peter 1.21). Of men Peter said, “Lustful. Ignorant. Newborn babies.
Disobedient” (1 Peter 1.14; 2.2; 3.1). We do not seek God apart from Scripture.
We do not conclude who he is or who we want him to be apart from Scripture.
[1]
Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love: A Theology
of the Holy Spirit. (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), page
10.
[2] Ibid,
13.
[3]
Ibid, 17.
[4] Clark
Pinnock, The Grace of God and the Will of
Man. (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1989), x.
[5]
Ibid, xiii.
[6]
Ibid, 19
No comments:
Post a Comment