Monthly Library Highlight: The Potter's Freedom

Jamen Walker | Category: Library Resources

This book, along with many other resources, is available in our church library. Search our library database here.

---

This month, I have chosen to review The Potter’s Freedom: A Defense of the Reformation and A Rebuttal to Norman Geisler’s Chosen But Free. This book is written by James R. White. He is the Director of Alpha and Omega ministries, has taught various courses in seminaries, has authored several Christian books, and is an apologetics debater. White’s book is a lengthy and involved read. However, the benefits are well worth taking the time to digest all that White has to offer on the subject.  He takes much time to lay a biblical foundation for all his arguments and to quote verbatim from Geisler’s work.

This gem by White is a masterful exegesis of passages of the Bible relating to the topic of predestination and Calvinism. It is his response to the antithesis book, Chosen But Free. Geisler takes the position of a “moderate Calvinist.” However, this position is a “straw man” that really does not exist. We are faced with only two choices: either believers come to Christ because they are God’s chosen vessels or man can choose to come to God through believing in Christ of his own accord. Geisler attempts to fuse these two views. It makes for a confusing task indeed. 

---

Geisler relies heavily on three main proof texts in his book: Matthew 23:37, 1 Timothy 2:4, and 2 Peter 3:9. On the surface, these verses of Scripture seem to support the view that God desires all men to be saved and that we as human agents need to make the decision to come to Christ and can of our own volition. However, this dismisses several other texts that establish God’s sovereignty in salvation. The problem for Geisler is that if what these verses assume is true are proven false, then his argument (and his book for that matter) all comes down with it.

White does a thorough job of doing just that throughout the book. He is very graceful and persuasive in his arguments. White defends four of the five points of Calvinism directly throughout the book. These five points are also known as the “doctrines of grace,” the truths that Luther defended himself during the Reformation. Our church celebrates the Reformation and the work of Luther every year on Reformation Sunday. 

Worthy of particular note is chapter 9: Responding to Chosen But Free on Romans 9.  Pastor Ben preached his sermons in this very chapter this week and last and will continue through this month. The passage deals directly with God’s sovereign choice in salvation. Pastor Ben and White are like-minded in their teachings of this subject. Reading this chapter alone would be worth checking out this book.

I know that this subject is hard and difficult to accept for many. My hope is that we will listen to what God has to say to us through His Word. Consider consulting The Potter’s Freedom in addition to reviewing the pertinent Bible texts to guide you through this hotly debated topic.