Wow, so let's break down Dr. White's noteworthy rebuttal.
He starts off by first blaming Norm Geisler for giving an unworthy parable because in the story God is likened to a farmer not a king, and the boys are just swimming, which we all have done, its just a good ol' boy thing. Dr. White tells us that this is where he likes to say Theology matters.
Unfortuantely for Dr. White, theology probably does matter. Jesus himself likened God to an estate owner, a vineyard owner, and a farmer on many occasions including the farmer who scattered the seeds along the path. And the boys in Geisler's story were not condemned for swimming, they were condemned for disobeying the clearly marked signs posted by the farmer. Did Dr. White listen to the story? Did he hear the part about the signs? Has he ever read the whole Bible?
And then Dr. White, in his wisdom, creates for us a much more suitable parable. In Dr. Whites parable he creates a castle-burning scenario where the kings subjects have rioted in the kings absence. When the king returns and the subjects spit in his face and throw rocks at his firemen, Dr. White now believes the king has ample reason to withdraw from them all aid and allow them to perish in the flames. Seemingly it takes this level of disobedience for Dr. White to believe that sinners deserve hell. Perhaps Dr. White does not truly understand how just the God of the Universe is. Perhaps if Dr. White understood how deplorable all sin was to God, even the seemingly innocuous sin of disobedience as portrayed in Norm Geislers parable he might not object to correct biblical teaching. Maybe he would learn something.
And to sum it all up, Dr. White declares that God has the right to save only some of the perishing men because He is sovereign. When Dr. White answers the obvious objection of 'thats not fair he asks why? Why would that not be fair? And then, in an all too telling answer, Dr. White gives us a window into his esteemed level of intellect. He answers the question with this question: Would a governor who pardons a murderer on death row be unfair if he did not also pardon all other murderers? Sound like a reasonable response? Its laughable because God is not just the warden or governor of the jail, willing to offer some a pardon. But rather he is the legislator who makes the laws, the justice who judges the accused, and even the property owner of our very souls. He makes the rules, he judges the accused, and he punishes the guilty. But before he metes out punishment, he also offers mercy to all who stand trial if they will but bow their head, sink to their knees, worship the just judge and throw themselves upon His feet for mercy. He is not the warden who offers freedom arbitrarily.
When Dr. White foolishly likens God to a governor who pardons one murderer but not others he demonstrates the fallacy of Calvinists, that they believe God gives mercy arbitrarily. That is where we cry unfair, at the idea of arbitrary, not at the idea that God does not have mercy on all. God does not give grace arbitrarily, He offers it to all. Its up to us to decide to receive it, or spit in His face.
Have you not read...
Rom 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
Rom 9:7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
Rom 9:8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
Rom 9:9 For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."
Rom 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
Rom 9:11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--
Rom 9:12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
Rom 9:13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
Rom 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Rom 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Rom 9:18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Rom 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
Rom 9:20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
Rom 9:21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
Rom 9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Rom 9:23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--
Rom 9:24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
Joh 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one."
