Calvinism = "God saves sinners"?

Was just listening to an old podcast from Greg Koukl, president of the apologetics ministry Stand To Reason. He said a couple of things that I found interesting (and somewhat odd). He was referring to a question from a friend about whether or not he was a Calvinist, and if so whether or not he was a "five-point" Calvinist. He claims "there is no other kind," and followed that up with this whammy: that there is only one point to Calvinism, and that is "God saves sinners."

Huh? So if I accept that (very Biblical) statement I must be a Calvinist? Do Lutherans not even exist? What about others, who don't consider themselves either Calvinist or Arminian? I think his supposition is that the five points of Calvinism must all hang together and are logically interdependent. So, if there really is only one point of Calvinism, then that must mean this:

"God saves sinners" = {"Total depravity", "Unconditional election", "Limited atonement", "Irresistible grace", "Perseverance of the saints"}

Last time I checked a lot of people believed the former but disagreed with some of the points of the latter, especially limited atonement (the idea that the sacrifice of Christ was only for the elect) and irresistible grace (that God's grace which makes belief in Christ and justification possible is irresistible to the human heart if that person is truly called). This is a result of demanding that all of your theology is like a solution to a differential equation, where the initial and boundary conditions are the data of the Scriptures, and what comes out is completely determined in a completely logical and completely understood way from this information.

I believe the Scriptures are absolutely true, and I believe that there is no contradiction in God's truth, but that doesn't preclude the possibility for mystery. If we are saved, it's because God chose us, but if not, it's because we refused him. Isn't that a contradiction? It is if you demand that God be placed in a four-dimensional straitjacket. The body and blood of Christ are really, truly present in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Does that work? Not if you believe in some kind of rigorous 16th century cosmology that claims it contradicts Jesus sitting on the literal right hand of the literal throne of God. There are some things that I believe the Scriptures teach that are just plain irreducible to human logic. That doesn't mean they are illogical, it just means that God's ways are not always reducible to ours.

STR's podcast page is here, and the relevant program is from July 10.

Pastors' Roundtable On Divorce

It's pretty good... here on Issues, Etc.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

O God, by whose grace Your servant Bernard of Clairvaux, kindled with the flame of Your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church, grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, walking before You as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

This is just freaking cool

Nothing to say about it. Just read it. A miracle.

Blessed Virgin Mary

Almighty God,
who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

from Common Worship

"It's not my job."

This post nails it on the stuff flying around about Victoria Osteen and the alleged altercation on the airplane.

My favorite quote: "If you're a follower of Jesus, wiping up people's crap is your job."

Science-related Positions of the Presidential Candidates

If you're interested, these are the positions taken by Barack Obama and John McCain on various issues relevant to science and scientists.

Info from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The Transfiguration

Father in heaven,
whose Son Jesus Christ was wonderfully transfigured
before chosen witnesses upon the holy mountain,
and spoke of the exodus he would accomplish at Jerusalem:
give us strength so to hear his voice and bear our cross
that in the world to come we may see him as he is;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

from Common Worship

I almost fell off my chair

It's freaking hilarious.

Uh oh

FOXNews.com: Flight Attendant Sues Wife of Evangelist Joel Osteen Over Alleged Air-Rage Incident

Says she was forceful with a attendant because of some liquid spilled on a chair. Threw her against a door and jabbed her in the breast.

Not saying I want bad things to happen, but I just can't get up the sympathy. However, innocent until proven guilty.

Isn't it a little creepy that the guy can't ever not not have a smile on his face, by the way?