More thoughts of a Calminian

I was thinking about my post the other day, contemplating the core doctrines of both Calvinists and Arminians and both seemed so lacking to me.

When I think of each belief set, I think of one word each - predestined and foreknew. Each group places more significance on either word. I think both words fail to describe God in the salvation process fully.

Unless they subscribe to open theism, most Christians believe that God exists outside of time. The belief is that time is part of the created universe, making it impossible for God to be contained by it and possible for God to be eternal (both having existed forever in the past and existing forever in the future).

An eternal God, existing outside of time, would not be capable of either predestining or foreknow anything or anyone. Both of those things require the individual to be inside the confines of time.

I understand that the Bible uses both words when refering to the salvation process, but the Bible often uses human terminology to describe God and His ways even though they are not perfect they help us to grasp huge concepts.

is it possible that both Calvinists and Arminians are wrong in this debate? I really have no idea. I know that there are decorated theologians on both sides that could eviscerate me in a debate on these issues. I am sure that they could poke numerous holes in all my thoughts and the processes I used to arrive there.

But I also know the lack of heat being generated from the fire of this issue. There has to be a place for Calminians in the Church. I may be the only one, but I tend to doubt it. I believe there are others out there who feel compelled to purposely avoid this issue. I think others out there want to move beyond this to things of real substance.