My long over-due fifth chapter. Please read and review!

Erwin braced himself for an anticipated lecture. Marcus would not be happy, Erwin was sure. Marcus drew quick, short breaths, and Erwin waited. He turned his keys in the ignition and the Toyota jumped to life, and still nothing came. Marcus kept exhaling, as if he was going to say something, and then he would sigh, and his face appeared strangely resigned.

Suddenly, his reaction came like a flood. "I don't understand you, Erwin. How can you turn God into a monster like that? How can you say that not everyone has the spiritual capacity to be saved? Your doctrine demonstrates a heart full of pride and self-importance. To me, you seemed to be bragging." Then he stopped speaking as suddenly as he had begun.
Erwin sent up a silent plea for grace and wisdom in answering. "Marcus, you say I have turned God into a monster. God is loving, yes, but God is also just. He is merciful, but full of holy wrath. I know those two pairs don't seem to go together, but they do, really. God loves holiness, and God must judge sin since it is defiance of His laws. God is merciful, but His mercy will not be with held forever. I would be careful of saying one believes God is a monster just because one believes in election. Those who believe in hell have been accused of turning God into a monster."

Marcus listened in stony silence.

"Your favorite book of the Bible is 1 Peter, isn't it?"

Marcus mumbled "Correct."

"You have memorized a great deal of it, right?" Erwin pursued.

"Yes," Marcus said. "I just finished memorizing the final chapter last week."

Good. Small talk was helping. "Would you please recite the second chapter until I stop you?"

"Certainly. 'So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.' "

"Okay, stop. The last phrase you said was 'They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.' That right there is election. Unbelievers are destined to stumble. They choose in consistency with their character, just like God chooses in consistency with His character."

Marcus opened his mouth to object, but he wasn't sure what to say, so he shut it again. They had reached Marcus' house.

"I'll call you later, Erwin. I want to talk to my father about this."

"Certainly. I'm always open to discussion. Tell your family I said 'Hello!'"

"Alright. Thanks for taking me."

Marcus jumped out of the car, ran up the porch steps, and waved goodbye as Erwin drove homewards.

--To be Continued. . .