Carol's Page

Our conversation in class about election added terminology that was new to me.   “Growing” or “moving” into election explains more concisely what I believe and what the simple term “election” misses.  The term “election” by itself presents a semantic problem that doctrinal teachings and theological ideals exaggerate in some traditions and that other traditions attempt to explain away.  Viewing the Hebrew people as growing into the place as God’s chosen is much more in keeping with the New Testament (Baptist) traditions of free will choice balanced with election.   It also provides a picture of the grace and mercy of God and His dealings with a willful, stubborn people.  The nation – the people as a whole were not all among the chosen – not all of them chose to be chosen.  Some who chose to be chosen were not racially connected or connected through familial bonds to the Hebrew race – but for those who did choose there were blessings and honored promises within conditional covenant with God.