Replies

I respect your Presbyterian/Calvinist background; I am not as Calvinist as I had been earlier in my Christian life, but some of the rough edges were knocked off by a realization that God isn’t limited to time, and can frame-in free will without negating it or its consequences or His power to rule over the overall sweep of eternity. Perhaps as though space-time were a large canvas curved around the Lord whose details He can fill out in any logical sequence He chooses as long as He does not reveal His work falsely to any creature at any point the creature is made aware of, which would make Him a liar or not self consistent. The bible does not depend on such an explanation, and other possible explanations may exist, but it is, as it were, an illustration that such an explanation can exist.

but some of the rough edges were knocked off by a

Rough edges :) God is always presented in the Bible as having no middle ground. There's no "kindler, gentler" or "compassionate conservatism". Jesus own words offered no comfort at all to unrepentent sinners. When he forgave someone he said go and sin no more, or else the Bible notes that the persons sickness did not come back, etc. The people that believed on him were saved, there was never a case where an evil person was forgiven and continued in their evil ways after being forgiven.

I think the WC is a very good summary with proofs and especially for today, because it does not tie Scriptural exegesis to human technology, etc.

realization that God isn’t limited to time

As far as time, the Bible (and the Westminster Confession) says nothing about God being limited to time; of course, that's a fundamental truth !

In the last few hundred years, especially since we have computers in the last few decades, men have gotten interested in "time", and many have risen to a level of arrogance, thinking they perhaps can approach the mind of God. I basically agree with the rest of your post. I think we often forget though that the Bible clearly tells us that there is no comparing the mind of God to the mind of men; that God revealed himself in his Word specifically so men could understand what they need to. We should always be mindful of having any hint of arrogance towards God, supposing that we can figure things out that he does not intend for us to know. As smart as I am I'm painfully aware that I know next to nothing, really.