Sandemanianism

[Robert R. Higby]

An oft-repeated attack on the doctrines of the p-net staff is that we teach Sandemanianism:

http://www.theopedia.com/Sandemanianism

Teachers like John MacArthur also accuse any opponents of their false doctrine of Lordship Salvation as Sandemanians.

It is true that we teach the essence of faith as belief or mental assent to the truth. It is most untrue, however, to propose that we teach belief in the gospel may stand independent of the testimony of one's life to such belief.

Every human being lives what he/she believes. This confession stands apart from Sandemanianism, which proposes that one may believe or give assent to a concept without any commitment to it in life.

The anti-Sandemanian illustration often cited by preachers compares Sandemanianism to people who witness a man carrying people in a wheelbarrow across Niagra Falls while walking on a tightrope--yet refuse to get in the wheelbarrow to be carried across themselves. This illustration is a GROSS mistatement of the truth. It implies that one may live contrary to what one believes. A person may have notitia (knowledge) and assensus (assent) but no trust (fiducia) in what is known and believed. The justification that such compartmentalism in the arena of theology may truly exist labels those who have only knowledge and belief (but no trust) as Sandemanians.

If I don't trust a man to carry me across Niagra falls in a wheelbarrow while he walks on a tightrope, it is because I am unsure that he can do it without slipping the 100th time even though he has done it 99 times previously. Such uncertainty does not exist in the manner that I trust the office chair that I now sit in. It is built like a tank, has no loose bolts, is immensely comfortable, does not squeak, and has supported me more times than I can count. The fact that I trust it implicitly to sit in it again and again is an inevitable corollary to the belief I have in it. There is no such thing as living contrary to what I believe--I believe the chair is perfect for its purpose and therefore I will obviously sit in it.

This chair illustration is what biblical faith is like, not the illustration of the man carrying people across Niagra Falls.

For those who still want to call me Sandemanian, please do so. I'll not respond but rather pray for the Lord's discipline to come upon your life and give you repentance of your sin.

--Bob

[electvessel]

Bob writes:
It is true that we teach the essence of faith as belief or mental assent to the truth. It is most untrue, however, to propose that we teach belief in the gospel may stand independent of the testimony of one's life to such belief.
Every human being lives what he/she believes. This confession stands apart from Sandemanianism, which proposes that one may believe or give assent to a concept without any commitment to it in lif

Yes, I believe if one does not give consent or acknowledge to a concept He DOES NOT BELIEVE!
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. {Romans 10:10}

For those who still want to call me Sandemanian, please do so. I'll not respond but rather pray for the Lord's discipline to come upon your life and give you repentance of your sin.
If He called them from the foundation of the world He surely will
Chris

[MCoving]

Well that makes no sense, sure the man has knowledge of who they guy pushing the wheellbarrow is but he doesn't believe in him! If he believed in him, he'd also trust in him.. and thus be carried in the wheelbarrow. He has no believe in the man, that is why he won't get in wheelbarrow. The men in the wheelbarrow believe in the driver of it, and trust Him.
For us to believe in God it shows we trust Him. Those who don't believe do not trust Him and thus do not trust the words God say! If he doesn't trust and believe he is still walking in darknesss. If God has found him and opened His eyes to Gospel message then he is a believer and trusting in God.

If that makes sense. Basically there's no way we are Sandemanianism. Its either one believes and trusts or they don't believe and don't trust. Just knowing of something doesn't mean you believe in it. I know of energy healing but doesn't mean I believe in it!! I know of pyschics but doesn't mean I believe in them!

Belief is more than just knowledge of something, don't you say?

[Robert R. Higby]

Yes! Belief consists of knowledge of AND willing assent to a reality. Those who separate trust from belief try and propose that belief is 'mere assent' without a willingness to commit. This makes no sense, such 'mere assent' is by definition no assent at all. --Bob

[Brandan Kraft]

Here is a good article by John Robbins on the topic: http://www.predestinarian.net/entrie...y-John-Robbins