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The Way of the Towel: Greatness, Redefined by Jesus

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by Bart Denny Central text: John 13:12–17 (NIV) Over the years, in church settings, I’ve done a lot of dishes. I’ve raked a lot of leaves. I’ve painted plenty of church walls. I’ve plunged more than a few clogged toilets. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. But if I’m honest, at this age, with this many years in church, there’s a part of me that wants to say, “I’ve done my time.” I don’t usually say it out loud. I dress it up. I call it wisdom. Focus. Stewarding my time well. But the feeling sneaks up on me. It shows up when another need pops up. When the same few people carry the same load. When I feel tired. It shows up when I think, “Shouldn’t somebody else take a turn now?” And I’ll confess something else: I don’t mind serving. I just want to choose the terms. And if I’m not careful, I start thinking and acting like the low places belong to somebody else. Now let me be even more honest: I don’t struggle with getting my hands dirty. I struggle to keep my ego in check....
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Is the Reformed Doctrine of Reprobation a Necessary Corollary to the Doctrine of Election?

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 This paper will critique the Reformed doctrine of reprobation, as held by the Reformed confessions of faith, particularly the Canons of Dort . This paper will examine historical, logical, philosophical, and (especially) biblical arguments both in favor of and against Reformed reprobation. In particular, this paper will evaluate whether Romans 9 truly supports a the Dortian view. Ultimately, the author will demonstrate that the pre-Augustinian church, logic, Romans 9 in particular, and the balance of the biblical witness, in general, provide little convincing support in favor of the Calvinist view of reprobation. [1] Few evangelicals disagree that the Bible teaches predestination, especially when it comes to election of some to salvation. Most evangelicals also agree that not everyone is saved, so then, not all of humanity is among the elect—they are reprobate. Says Boettner, “Those who hold the doctrine of Election but deny that of Reprobation can lay but little claim to consist...
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