Is Teaching Election Allowed at L.C.?

          I just finished watching an interview of Joe Aguillard, president of Louisiana
     College, conducted by John Akin of Baptist 21.

          I'm sure Dr. Aguillard is a fine man, and sincere about his Christian faith, but
     some of the things he said in the interview have me wondering about his under-
     standing of the Bible.
    

          One question he was asked was about (divine) election, God's sovereign act
     of choosing some people for salvation, based entirely on His grace and purpose
     and not on anything a person chooses or wills or does.
    
          Election is certainly biblical, as Jesus and Paul both taught and believed it.

          Simply put, he was asked two times what his definition of election is, and
     refused to answer both times.  Instead, he insisted the questioner offer HIS
     definition of election.

          Since he would not say what he thought election is, it is hard to know what he
      really believes about the subject.  However, some of his answers give us a
      clue.

          He said that he does not believe that God chooses certain people for salvation,
     and others for damnation in hell.

          That is not the Reformed definition of election (see above), and God does not
     simply choose people for damnation in hell.  Anyone who goes to hell, goes
     because of his sins and not because God predestined him to go there.

          Since God is sovereign, He has the right to do with His creation what He wills
     (Romans 9).  If He chooses to save some because of His love and grace and
     purpose, and to pass over some, leaving them in their sin, He is not unjust in
     either case.


                   JESUS AND PAUL TAUGHT DIVINE ELECTION

          In John 6:37, Jesus taught election.

                                      [Jesus said], "All that the Father gives me will
                                      come to me, and whoever comes to me I will
                                      never drive away."

                   God, the Father gives SOME people to Jesus as His possession
                   (election), they come to Him (irresistible grace), and He will
                   never drive them away (preservation of the saints).

                   God gives SOME people, but not ALL people to Jesus.
                   Every single one of those people given to Jesus will come to
                   Him for salvation, and He will never lose one of them.


           Jesus taught election in John 13:18 and John 15:16&19.


                                       [Jesus said]. "I am not referring to all of you;
                                       I know those I have chosen."
                                       "You did not choose me, but I chose you
                                        and appointed you to go and bear fruit -
                                        fruit that will last."
                                                                        
                                        I have chosen you out of the world ..."


            Paul taught election in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.


                                       "But we ought always to  thank God for you,
                                        brothers loved by the Lord, because from
                                        the beginning God chose you to be saved
                                        through the sanctifying work of the Spirit
                                        and through belief in the truth.

                                        He called you to this through our gospel,
                                        that you might share in the glory of our
                                        Lord Jesus Christ."


             I would love to hear Dr. Aguillard's critical interpretation of the above texts,
     and others such as John 6:44,65;  Ephesians 1;  and Romans 9.


                                                         *****************


          Dr. Aguillard seems to believe that divine election is not biblical.

          Apparently, he thinks election is unfair to those not elected.

          Surely, he doesn't think Jesus is standing at the gates of heaven, with His
     elect angels (1 Timothy 5:21), denying entry to people who are trying to get
     into heaven.  Of course not!  No one, who is outside of Christ, seeks God
     (Romans 3:11b).  Everyone, who is not in Christ, is in open rebellion against
     God.

          By the same token, God does not bring people to Himself, kicking and
     screaming, against their will.  No, He changes their hearts and makes them
     willing to come to Him for salvation (regeneration or the new birth).

                                               
                                                          ****************

          Dr. Aguillard said that he would not hire anyone who taught that God chooses
     some for salvation, and not others.

          This seems to me to indicate that he doesn't understand election and doesn't
     believe it is biblical, even thought it is found throughout the Bible; Old and New
     Testament.


          According to Dr. Aguillard's standards, apparently Jesus and Paul would be
      automatically disqualified from teaching at L.C. because they believe in divine 
      election.