Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - XVIII - Chapter 27 concluded

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).   Conclude Chapter 27 (Practical importance of the doctrine) by reading points 7 to 10.

My summary
Today we finish chapter 27 looking at the practical importance of the doctrine of predestination.

Firstly Boettner encourages us that Calvinism should be publicly taught and preached.  But Boettner does advise caution in speaking of the doctrine to the unconverted.

Secondly, Boettner outlines support for restricting Presbyterian church ordination to only those men who hold to the doctrine of predestination as contained in the Confession.

Thirdly, Boettner has a section quoting at length the broadness of the Presbyterian church in his time.

Finally, Boettner gives some suggestions as to why Calvinism is depressed in his day:
(i) it is offensive to natural man;
(ii) it has tremendous emphasis on the supernatural.

What grabbed me
I think Boettner made a helpful point today when he cautioned us against speaking too strongly of predestination with the unconverted and the newly converted: 'The doctrine of Predestination is a doctrine for genuine Christians. Considerable caution should be exercised in preaching it to the unconverted. It is almost impossible to convince a non-Christian of its truthfulness, and in fact the heart of the unregenerate man usually revolts against it. If it is stressed before the simpler truths of the Christian system are mastered, it will likely be misunderstood and in that case it may only drive the person into deeper despair. In preaching to the unconverted or to those who are just beginning the Christian life, our part consists mainly in presenting and stressing man's part in the work of salvation,—faith, repentance, moral reform, etc. These are the elementary steps so far as man's consciousness extends. At that early stage little need be said about the deeper truths which relate to God's part. As in the study of Mathematics we do not begin with algebra and calculus but with the simple problems of arithmetic, so here the better way is to first present the more elementary truths. Then after the Person is saved and has traveled some distance in the Christian way he comes to see that in his salvation God's work was primary and his was only secondary, that he was saved through grace and not by his own works. As Calvin himself put it, the doctrine of Predestination is "not a matter for children to think much about"; and Strong says, "This doctrine is one of those advanced teachings of Scripture which requires for its understanding a mature mind and a deep experience. The beginner in the Christian life may not see its value or even its truth, but with increasing years it will become a staff to lean upon."'

Although we should not hide any doctrine, we should be careful about stretching people beyond what they can bear.

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 28 (Calvinism in history) by reading points 1 to 6.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.