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Prayer of the Consistent Synergist
Synergism is one of the greatest errors run amok in modern evangelicalism. Erroneous, because it takes our eyes off of the fullness of salvation found in Christ alone and turns our hope partially onto ourselves, leaving room for boasting. While most, I believe, do not consciously think they are boasting, yet their theology gives space to that last bastion of pride, which is to believe that faith itself and the humility to believe, was not a gift. It asserts that we were the originators of our faith, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. But the full counsel of Scripture declares that a true work of grace has taken place when we come to an end of ourselves and recognize that we have nothing apart from God's mercy. We have faith, not because we were more spiritualy sensitive than our neighbor, but because of God's mercy to us.
Here is a prayer that would be consistent with the synergist's theology if he really believed that faith is a product of our unregenerated human nature and not the result of grace alone:
"God, I give you glory for everything else, but not my faith ... This is the one thing that is my very own that I produced of my fallen natural capacities. For this little bit the glory is mine. So I thank you Lord that I am not like other men who do not have faith. When you extended your grace to all men some did not make use of it, BUT I DID. While You deserve glory for all I have Lord, my faith was the one part that I contributed to the price of my redemption, apart from and independent of the work of Your Holy Spirit."
While the prayer recited above no one would dare pray, but it is what a synergist would pray if he were consistent in his theology. But instead of glorying in yourself for you own faith ...give glory to God for all that you have.
"Who has ever given to God, ...........that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. ........To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Rom 11:35-36)
For "What do you have that you did not receive?" ...Believe the Scriptures when they say, "no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3)... and no one can believe the gospel unless God grants it (John 6:65) Won't you, then, also glorify God for the Holy Spirit who works faith in you as well?
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Comments
The "Amazing Grace" of the consistent synergist:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
My choice saved me!
I once was lost, but found my way,
Was partially vision-impared, but now am healed.
The Lord has promised good to me,
My action, His hope secures!
He shall my sheild and portion be,
So long as I don't lose my salvation.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come,
Twas my faithfulness that brought me safe thus far,
And I'll bring myself home.
Looks like there is only one way that leaves man with 'no cause to boast'.
God bless,
A. Shepherd
The Aspiring Theologian
The Knight of the Living God: Reformed Theology & Apologetics
Posted by: Aspiring Theologian | June 22, 2006 05:33 PM
Hmmm. That's interesting. Haven't thought of it that way before. So if the same prayer were said by a monergist would it be as follows?
"God, I give you glory for everything, including my faith ... There is nothing I contributed to my own salvaiton from my fallen natural capacities, but all glory goes to you alone. Not even for a little bit is the glory is mine. So the only thing that makes me to differ from others is your grace and mercy in Jesus Christ towrd me, not something I contributed. Although I deserve your just wrath you sent your own Son to redeem me and your Holy Spirit to grant me repentance and faith. All glory to you alone.
Posted by: Shaun Kaufman | June 22, 2006 08:29 PM
Dictionary definition of synergism is the way Reformation Theology uses it (as it related to regeneration, not sanctification as the verse in Philipians uses it)
Synergism is "...the doctrine that there are two efficient agents in regeneration, namely the human will and the divine Spirit, which, in the strict sense of the term, cooperate. This theory accordingly holds that the soul has not lost in the fall all inclination toward holiness, nor all power to seek for it under the influence of ordinary motives."
The problem is that a person without the Holy Spirit does not and cannot have spiritual thoughts. God must do a work of grace in the heart that one might believe.
Augustine was not synergist. He believed human will does not by liberty obtain grace, but by grace obtains liberty. That is why he prayed "O God, command what you wouldst, and grant what thou dost command." That is why the counsel of Orange said, "...if anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). (Council of Orange: Canon 6)
"Augustine did not deny that fallen man still has a will and that the will is capable of making choices. He argued that fallen man still has a free will (liberium arbitrium) but has lost his moral liberty (libertas). The state of original sin leaves us in the wretched condition of being unable to refrain from sinning. We still are able to choose what we desire, but our desires remain chained by our evil impulses. He argued that the freedom that remains in the will always leads to sin. Thus in the flesh we are free only to sin, a hollow freedom indeed. It is freedom without liberty, a real moral bondage. True liberty can only come from without, from the work of God on the soul. Therefore we are not only partly dependent upon grace for our conversion but totally dependent upon grace." Sproul
Posted by: John H | June 22, 2006 08:43 PM