Hammster: "Every time (and I mean every time) any discusion where Reformed theology is brought up, some sort of "but man has free will" argument arises, as if the secular humanistic view of free will is some sort of counter argument."
Actually, what you label "the secular humanist view" is the view of almost everyone who is not a Calvinist. You don't seem to have a clear notion of what is at stake in the free will controversy. Consider this dice vs, consciousness analogy.
(1) If a die is cast countless times, then we would expect 6 to show up 1 in every 6 tosses. The behavior is random.
(2) But suppose the die is loaded. Then we would expect 6s to show up in tosses disproportionately more often to reflect the inbalance. The result is determined.
(3) Now suppose that the dice is loaded in favor of 6s, but nevertheless 6s don't show up even close to the expected number of times. This unexpected result illustrates how free will works, on the imagined assumption that dice are conscious. in other words, free will assumes an ability to choose contrary one's inclinations; and the stronger the inclinations to choose evil, the greater the moral value of free choice of the good.
So if grace is irresistible, then our worship and service to God is like that of a causally determined robot and is of no moral worth. A God who damns sinners who have no free will to make the right choices is an immoral or amoral god who is not worth worshiping--apart from the prudential reason of receiving a get-out-of-Hell-free card!
Hammster: "So my question is this. Can the natural man do anything that's spiritually good? Or to ask another way, can the natural man do anything to glorify God?"
I will confine myself to just 3 texts that refute your position:
(1) "For He will repay according to each one's deeds: to those who by patiently
seeking to do good seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life (Romans 2:7)."
Paul is not talking about professing Christians; rather, he is talking about righteous pagans who, yes, can and do perform good works. They are saved not by seeking salvation through Christ's atoning death, but by seeking "for glory and honor and immortality." Elsewhere, Paul insists that "God has overlooked the times of human ignorance (Acts 17:30)" and that "sin is not imputed where there is no Law (Romans 5:13)." Apparently, Paul has this in mind when he celebrates the possibility of pagans doing good and being saved because "He will repay according to each one's deeds (2:7)." Of course, the salvation of these pagans can be made possible by Christ's atoning death and God's grace.
(2) "On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord," did we not prophesy in your name, and
cast out demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?" Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers (Matthew7:22-24).""
Jesus insists the exorcisms can't be performed by Satanic power, but are rather evidence of the Holy Spirit working through the exorcist (12:24-28). So the Christian exorcists and miracle workers envisaged here forfeit their salvation because they fail to qualify as "one who does the will of my Father in Heaven (7:21)." Jesus implies that the ultimately unsaved can nevertheless perform good works. btw, Jesus' teaching here also refutes the doctrine of eternal security.
(3)
""Teacher," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop,
because he was not one of us." 39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,
40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah
will certainly not lose their reward (Mark 9:38-41)."
Here again, a non-Christian Jewish exorcist can effectively perform exorcisms (a good deed) in Jesus' name, even though he does not follow Jesus. So Jesus invites this exorcist to become His disciple, so that he can get saved, right? On the contrary, He insists that this exorcist be left alone! Astoundingly, Jesus considers those who don't actively oppose Him to be on His side! "For whoever is not against us is for us."
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Every time (and I mean every time) any discusion where Reformed theology is brought up, some sort of "but man has free will" argument arises, as if the secular humanistic view of free will is some sort of counter argument.
So my question is this. Can the natural man do anything that's spiritually good? Or to ask another way, can the natural man do anything to glorify God?
disclaimer: the questions may br modified if they aren't clear enough
