From: theirony2013@gmail.com
Are You Really ‘Chosen’?
Many people do see that certainty as at
least borderline narcissistic, and you’re
not alone in noticing the tension there.
A few ways this is commonly critiqued:
1. Presuming divine judgment
To be certain one is already chosen implies
knowing God’s final judgment in advance.
In most Christian traditions, that knowledge
is considered God’s alone, not something
individuals can claim with certainty without
sliding into presumption.
2. Moral exceptionalism
Certainty often implies: “I am among the
faithful; others likely are not.”
That can quietly elevate one’s spiritual status
above others, even if it’s not stated outright.
Critics argue this turns faith into a form of
spiritual self-congratulation.
3. Contradiction with humility
Many biblical passages emphasize humility,
self-examination, and uncertainty about one’s
own righteousness (“work out your salvation
with fear and trembling”). Absolute confidence
can sit awkwardly with that theme.
4. Psychological comfort vs. theological claim
For some, certainty functions less as theology
and more as emotional reassurance—a way to
manage fear of death, chaos, or judgment.
That doesn’t make the person malicious,
but it does mean the certainty may be more
psychological than epistemic.
5. Not all Christians agree
It’s worth noting that:
Some Protestant traditions teach assurance of
salvation (confidence, not omniscience).
Others (Catholic, Orthodox, many mainline
Protestants) explicitly reject claims of
guaranteed personal salvation.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
|
