The doctrine of election is one of the most difficult in all of Christian theology. It is also one of the most important doctrines, in that the election of Israel, Christ, and the church runs like a connecting vertebrae through the Scriptures. And yet, notes James Daane, the doctrine of election is heard only rarely from the pulpit.
The explanation for this curious silence, suggests Daane, stems from two basic considerations. "First, because election defined without reference to the election of Israel, Christ, and church becomes individualistic, and thus something that cannot be preached. Second, under the persistant heavy influence of Protestant Scholasticism, election became a mere instance in the all-comprehensive decree of decretal theology, a decree which in the scholastic tradition was deified in terms of God's essence, thus becoming a necessary decree, and one which falls outside of God's freedom and outside of Christ."
Against that position, Daane offers a view of the divine decree based on the biblical view of God's eternal purpose as decreed in Christ. It is a view that "differs significantly from the divine decree which scholastic theologians see as something formulated outside of and antecedent to God's purpose in Jesus Christ. The scholastic decree contains and accounts for everything, including sin. The decree of God's purpose in Christ does not account for sin but savingly triumphs over it." And. because such a decree lies in Christ, it can be preached—and is preached whenever Christ is proclaimed.
Interacting with such major Reformed theologians as Bavinck, Hoeksema, VanTil, and others, Daane here offers a major contribution to Reformed theology, and a clearer, biblically based understand, ing of the important doctrine of election.
James Daane is Director, Doctorate of Ministry, and Professor of Pastoral Theology, at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is the author of an earlier book, The Anatomy of Anti-Semitism, and has contributed articles to a number of magazines. He also serves as an Editor for The Reformed Journal, a monthly periodical of Reformed comment and opinion.