Theological Term of the Week

monism
“[T]he view that everything is ultimately one,” that “nothing that exists is really distinct from anything else that exists.”1

• Scriptural that disproves monism by affirming the Creator and creation distinction:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

• From What’s Your Worldview? by James N. Anderson:

[T]he Monist has to say that the apparent diversity we experience in the world is an illusion. The distinctions we make between things are only in our minds, because if those things were really distinct from one another, there would be more than one thing in existence.

Monism is a very radical philosophy. It has generally proven more popular in Eastern philosophies and religions than in Western ones. While it has enjoyed some sophisticated defenders over the course of history, it faces some quite formidable objections.  …

[I]t’s tough to live as a consistent Monist. Our everyday thoughts and decisions presuppose real distinctions between things: between your body and my body, between your spouse and my spouse, between your car and my car, between your credit card and my credit card, and so on.

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Theological Term of the Week

finite godism
“[T]he view that there is a personal God who created and directs the world, but he is a finite being and is limited in significant ways by factors external to him.”1

• Scriptural proof that finite Godism is unbiblical:

“The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass” (Isaiah 48:3 ESV).

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure (Psalm 147:5 ESV).

“Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV).

• From the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2, Sections 1 and 2:

  1. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal, most just, and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

  2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain. 

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Theological Term of the Week

materialism
“[T]he view that everything is ultimately material in nature,” that “everything that exists consists of nothing but matter and energy.”1

• Proof that materialism is unbiblical:

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.”  (Isaiah 43:10 ESV)

• From the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2, Section 1:

  I. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body … .

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