All the ends
of the world
shall remember
and turn to
the LORD,
and all the families
of the nations
shall worship before You.
For the kingdom
is the LORD'S
and He rules
over the nations.
Psalm 22:27-28
Man in search for answers far too often search in vain, only to be left with more questions than answers. Why? Because they search from their own predetermination and presuppositions; God is not to be found in their search or to be left out as a possible cause rendering God to be either non-existent or to be far removed from the exercises of man. He established the physical laws and then, in a sense, sat back and allowed events to happen by some chance. Then there are those men who do just the opposite for they claim that God controls all actions by His Will denying second causes. This claim makes God the responsible agent in all matters and man is to be made as if he were a puppet carrying out the will of God, and not by any will of himself. Those who hold to this theory as do many philosophers, and some theologians assume that one substance cannot act upon another substance of a different kind. Further, they claim, that which is extended cannot act upon that which is not extended, matter cannot act on mind, and mind cannot act upon matter. Upon examination on this theory we find that there are certain facts which we cannot avoid; i.e., when we see material objects there are certain sense perceptions that are aroused and those perceptions act upon the mind. It must be concluded then that matter can act upon the mind. If the mind is acted upon then there are certain causes upon the body; i.e., we can control our voluntary muscles, and that action is determined by the mind which has been, at least at times, affected by matter. Do not be confused by this argument; I do not hold to the theory of preestablished harmony as did Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716)."[T]he appropriate nature of each substance brings it about that what happens to one corresponds to what happens to all the others, without, however, their acting upon one another directly." (Discourse on Metaphysics, XIV) A dropped glass shatters because it "knows" it has hit the ground, and not because the impact with the ground "compels" the glass to split." This theory holds claims that God created two worlds, one of matter, the other of mind with each world having its own nature and its own principle of activity. Those worlds are independent of each other. Any change in matter or of our bodies is due to the nature within matter and within the body according to their preestablished mindset. Things would act with or without one or the other being present, action would always be the same from the mindset of the nature of either matter or body. Therefore, all the varying states of the human mind, its sensations, perceptions, and volitions are determined from within and not from the world outside of the body, matter to them cannot affect the body, the mind, and is independent. Yet these two world are said to coexist and are made to act in harmony. This preestablished harmony is caused by the arrangement of God. In other words; divinely ordered. Those philosophists and theologians holding to this theory summarize that all volitions were predetermined to happen at a certain time; i.e., an arm would move at this certain time as was predetermined by God for it to do so; this act by God was established from eternity. What if there was no arm to move? Volition stands and whether there is an arm or not; it would have moved if it did exist. What if volition had never been formed? The arm would have moved anyway as it was preestablished harmony which takes precedence over all actions. In other words; two events concur as immediate antecedent and consequent; but volition stands in no causal relation to the motion.
This theory is another attempt to destroy the fact that there are second causes. Once again God is the author of all things, whether they be good or evil. Man is not responsible, God is responsible, for man would not have acted in such a way if God had not preestablished the action in harmony with both worlds; matter, and mind. When this theory is preached in any form then man adheres to a belief that God causes all things but this is not Scriptural as it denies all responsibility towards man and places that responsibility upon God: And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen men on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; bu unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-5). Build a bad tower using poor wood; stand under it and when it falls upon you it was not preestablished that it would happen by means in some harmony, rather it was due to second causes, caused by the one using poor wood and standing under it with no regard for the poor construction; therefore when the tower fell it was due to man and not some hypothetical consideration that God established this event. Yet, the Bible teaches us that God will use all things, even those bad things, and make them become part of the good that He will to occur, and that Will is that some men will be saved and others not saved, that He will have a holy people for His name and will by His Providence caused that to happen without denying the role that man plays in events.
So, how does all this occur; second causes? This is the next blog which is designed to answer those questions aiding us to deepen our faith in our Sovereign and Providential God.
Therefore, having been
jeustifed by faith,
we have peace with
God through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also
we have access by
faith into this grace
in which we stand, and
rejoice in hope
of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
Know This We Are The Children Of God
Richard L. Crumb
This theory is another attempt to destroy the fact that there are second causes. Once again God is the author of all things, whether they be good or evil. Man is not responsible, God is responsible, for man would not have acted in such a way if God had not preestablished the action in harmony with both worlds; matter, and mind. When this theory is preached in any form then man adheres to a belief that God causes all things but this is not Scriptural as it denies all responsibility towards man and places that responsibility upon God: And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen men on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; bu unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-5). Build a bad tower using poor wood; stand under it and when it falls upon you it was not preestablished that it would happen by means in some harmony, rather it was due to second causes, caused by the one using poor wood and standing under it with no regard for the poor construction; therefore when the tower fell it was due to man and not some hypothetical consideration that God established this event. Yet, the Bible teaches us that God will use all things, even those bad things, and make them become part of the good that He will to occur, and that Will is that some men will be saved and others not saved, that He will have a holy people for His name and will by His Providence caused that to happen without denying the role that man plays in events.
So, how does all this occur; second causes? This is the next blog which is designed to answer those questions aiding us to deepen our faith in our Sovereign and Providential God.
Therefore, having been
jeustifed by faith,
we have peace with
God through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also
we have access by
faith into this grace
in which we stand, and
rejoice in hope
of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
Know This We Are The Children Of God
Richard L. Crumb
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