Polarised doctrine

I'm currently, for my personal gratification, studying Roman's in some detail. The reason behind this is because it is a book that I have struggled to understand even when I studied it at college (although I did pass the module). With time, effort, and the help of the works of a couple of renown theologians I am beginning to get to grips with this amazing, enlightening yet deeply challenging piece of Paul's writings. After a couple of months I have reached Chapter 11, having scaled the dizzy heights of Chapters 6-10. This chapter is proving a little easier yet, in the midst of my study today, having grappled with the controversial and often divisive topic of election, I arrived at a question: Does our polarisation around a particular doctrine - a set of beliefs held and taught by the Church - prevent us from seeing the real truth that is presented within Scripture?

I have always disliked labels and refused to accept a label whilst others in college revelled in the labels that they wore. One particular label that polarises the debate on election - that is 'does God choose those who are to be saved' - is that of Calvinism; the belief that God chooses those to be saved and his choice is irresistible. On the opposition side we have Arminianism (not to be confused with Armenian's from Armenia - a nation, and former Soviet republic, in the mountainous Caucasus region straddling Asia and Europe) - anyone can be saved, it is a personal choice not that of God - and the debate between the two is often fierce. I have my own opinion and I am not going to debate it here, in the end it is not that important; we should rejoice in the fact that we are saved. Indeed the apostle Paul wasn't trying to polarise opinion, no he was trying to unite the Gentiles and the Jews, who had arrived at salvation through very different and often opposing histories, into a common 'church'.

Yet my interest was piqued, and if I had been trying to live up to my own label and looked at Election through polarised eyes I wouldn't have spotted the significance of Paul writing "severity toward those who have fallen" suggesting choice, which in itself may serve confusticate the Calvinists and have the Arminians jumping for joy. Which is why I asked myself the question; "Does our polarisation around a particular doctrine prevent us seeing the real truth that is presented in Scripture?" My conclusion is a resounding "Yes!"

Election is a fact of salvation that is difficult, maybe even impossible to understand; that is where faith comes in, faith in Jesus and hope in our salvation. Calvinism and Arminianism are constructs that arose out of humanity's attempts to understand this particular doctrine. Therefore, do not be misguided, polarised or worried by them, keep an open mind to God and his word because it is only when we meet Him face to face that we will truly have the opportunity to get the answers, and by then it won't matter.