Predestination
and Free Will
In recent years, the topic of predestination and free
will has weighed heavy on my heart. I have watched families and friends that I
love rise in dispute and frustration, while not accepting one another’s
theological disposition. I have witnessed the Church suffer immensely, due to
this continuously disputed topic in theology. Needless to say, my heart is
broken, as I witness theology tearing apart the Church. Was not theology intended to build up the
Church? Jesus prayed in John 17 that we, the Church, may be one, just as the
Father and the Son are one, and that we may be one in Them.
I was raised in a home that tended to communicate the
faith through a theology that promoted free will; however, it was never
explicitly conveyed to me in such a way.
The Church I was raised in also promoted a free will interpretation of
the faith. As I continued on to study
theology at the university level, again, I discovered a theology presented
through a lens in support of free will. In my freshmen year of college, I
discovered that my home church was going through a division. Regrettably, this was due to a disagreement
between the doctrines of predestination and free will. My youth pastor, who had intended on stepping
into the lead pastor role of the church, discovered that his theology did not
align with what the church had been established with. As the church body began to split between the
two persuasions, the church divided, while many families and friends allowed
themselves to be left angered with one another.
During this time, I decided to take a journey of
discovery and discernment of the two persuasions. After all, I came to the realization that I
was easily convinced by both Calvin’s and Armenian’s arguments. As I read copious books and articles, ranging from
Hyper Conservative Calvinism to very Liberal Armenianism, again, I found myself
jumping back and forth from persuasion to persuasion. This aggravated me. I could not be convinced.
I will begin with a brief interpretation of Calvinism.
“TULIP”, Calvin’s systematic attempt to unpack Predestination forms what could
be easily understood as a very logical and reason based disposition[1]. He claims that we are totally deprived, which basically means we do not have the ability
to choose God; therefore, we have been Unconditionally
Elected, or simply, we have been chosen by God to enter Salvation. In following, sense we have been chosen,
there is Limited Atonement, which
means Jesus really only had to die for those that God had chosen. Fourthly,
those that have been chosen experience an Irresistible Grace through the Holy
Spirit, which cannot of course be denied, because it speaks truth to a
otherwise broken soul; therefore, there is a Perseverance of the Saints, which means that once an individual is
saved, he/she will remain saved, there is no walking away from the faith.
Logically, it makes sense right? And, whether you choose
to believe so, or not, this argument can be easily backed by scripture.
However, in the same, my heart does not rest well in this knowledge. Jesus only died for those who were “CHOSEN”
by God? Seriously? Do you really expect
me to believe in a God that would create people, with the knowledge, that He
was writing their death sentence to eternity?
Even further, that He has the audacity to choose who gets to spend
eternity in paradise? I mean come on, seriously? This is a pretty sad God that
the Bible seems to promote. In all honesty, this “god” has no worth to me. He
is merely a God reduced to theological persuasion. However, coincidently, we
can hear the Calvinists screaming back at us, “But you just don’t understand,
because you are deprived. Is it not
simply beautiful that while all mankind has been convicted of the death
sentence, God decided to reach down and save the few.” Interesting point, but as much as I
appreciate your logic, there still remains an unsettling tone that does not
capture the God of the Bible.
Moving along to the persuasion of Free Will, we find
another well thought out and reason based argument that seems to convey truth[2]. Armenian begins by asserting that we are
indeed deprived, yet this does not prevent us from the power to choose Divine
Grace, we have the Free Will to do
so. In so having the free will to choose
grace, there is in part a Conditional Election
that takes place, which implies that God does not have his hands in choosing
those who are saved and not saved, salvation is left for us to choose, and it
is readily available to us. Therefore,
there is Universal Atonement. Jesus was sent to the earth to die for all
of humanity, to pay for the sins of all, so that whosoever chooses to believe
in Him would have everlasting life with the Father in Heaven. With this knowledge, it would make sense that
grace is resistible, meaning that we
have the free will to choose grace or not to.
Lastly, Armenian’s theology would conclude with the point that we can
indeed Fall from Grace, or that we
can, if we so desire, choose to walk away from the grace that he/she once knew.
Of course! Here is the logic that I was waiting for! Again,
I find myself throwing two thumbs up, as my mind is logically persuaded in this
well-delivered argument. Is this not a
beautiful picture? Jesus died for all of humanity. We all have the choice to
accept His truth, so that we may have eternal life with the Father. This is
truly, “good news”. However, where is God in all of it? Did God merely, plan out an opportunity for
us to know Him, while stepping back to watch?
While if we decide to choose Him, than He will step into the picture? So,
you’re telling me that the God of the Universe, whom sent His Son to die on the
cross out of His unconditional love for us, has decided to now sit and watch us
choose salvation? This does not sit well with me. In my state of fallen
depravity, as I have come to realize, how can I choose to serve the Holy and
Living God on my own accord? Wait, I
have to leave everything to follow you God? Everything? Well, as great as that
sounds God, I think I’ll take a rain check. I’m not interested. Right now, I
have all this other stuff to manage.
Again, whether
you choose to agree, or not, this argument can very well be solidified by the
backing of scripture. Nonetheless, I am again left dissatisfied as I continue
to wrestle with this theological persuasion of how God works out Salvation. I regret that this theology may also be
convicted of the same crime: reducing God to the powers of persuasion.
It is not my
hope to adequately articulate how God works out salvation in this broken
world. However, I do know that He does,
and it is good. As I continued to
wrestle with these two theological agendas I find myself more and more
uncomfortable with either persuasion. Each lack what the other gives. Even
further, each of the two arguments have withheld the test of scripture
throughout history, which is precisely why the two theologies still remain in
discussion today. Tell me, do I need to
settle on one side or the other? Shall I create my own theology to disprove the
rest? No, and no. Again, I would only
allow my mind to be hypnotized by the power of persuasion. We should not hope
to reduce the Living God to the confines of human discourse and
persuasion. It is not my intent to completely
discredit logic, but while logic may be a helpful tool, it cannot conjure a
sufficient definition of the God who spoke the world into existence.
For the sake of communicating the gospel and to engage in
healthy theological discussion, I proceed further in expressing where I have
come to rest in the knowledge of how God works out Salvation. If I may provide for you a disclaimer, that
in so doing, I humbly regret, that in some way or form, I reduce the Living God
to a form of persuasion.
However, I hope to emphasize
the mystery of How God is at work in the world.
I believe there is middle ground here. As both sides become easily polarized, while
coincidently, being strongly rooted in scripture; it only makes sense that both
contain within themselves some form of truth. After all, who am I to say that I
have obtained the knowledge to adequately articulate who God is? I am not willing to do that. I do not have a word or phrase that will
provide any logical argument that will suit our craving to know, because God is
in Himself, and is a mystery. I chose
the term mystery, so that I may
humbly admit that I do not know how the God of the universe works out the
entirety of Salvation. However, I know
that He does. He did send His Son to die
on the cross for humanity, which means that Salvation is made available, but
apart from that knowledge God is mysteriously working in the world that HE
spoke into existence.
Further Reflections I have encountered…
Disclaimer: I
do not promote that I have discovered the truth in the problem that these two
arguments present. I, also, do not
believe that such an answer is made readily available if we hope to rely upon
logic, reason and persuasion. I merely proceed forth acknowledging the mystery
of how God works, while hoping to evoke concepts of truth that may aid our
understanding in the desire to know who and how God works.
God created
time[3]. In fact, He spoke the concept into
being. Therefore, God remains outside of
time. If God were to be bound within the constraints of time, subsequently, God
would be limited to the mere historical knowledge attainable by man. In Jeremiah 1:5, God expresses that even
before Jeremiah was born, He knew him and set him apart as a prophet. If the
God of the Universe was bound by time, how does He come up with a statement
like this? If we understand the
scriptures to be the infallible Word of God, subsequently, we must admit that
God remains outside of time[4]. Therefore, as we commit to God being outside
of time, withholding knowledge of the future, the terminology of “set apart,
chosen, ordained, and called” must be reinterpreted through this lens.
It is not
my intent to strip words of their definitions; however, it is my hope that we
do not allow our concept of God to be limited by language. Language was
intended to be a tool used to communicate. However, language does not have the
ability, nor the capacity within itself to adequately define an object,
thought, or emotion. It is merely an aid to our understanding and desire to
communicate. Think for a second. Is it
possible for another individual to capture a thought/idea that has originated
within your own mind? Through the usage of language as a tool, an individual
has the ability to grasp a form of that thought/idea; however, the thought/idea
becomes fragmented through language, because it loses your emotion, motive and
desire for it. Nevertheless, language can often distract our ability to
comprehend, more than it might perhaps aid.
The
language of being “Chosen and Set Apart” speaks a beautiful truth. It carries the emphasis that God has laid
claim on His people, He is dedicated and passionate for His people, and He
cares not only for the entirety of His people, but for each individual. How
incredible is that? To worship the
living God in the knowledge of being Chosen is a beautiful and wonderful thing,
and humbling at that.
It has
become increasingly evident that I am, in fact, deprived, while unable to work
out my own Salvation. Paul claimed to
the Church at Phillipi, “For it is God
who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good
purpose”. According to Paul, as it
is written in the Holy Scriptures, the realization of the ability to even
desire to do His good purpose comes directly from Him, in His Spirit, through the
power of His Son. Again, how magnificent is it that God continues to work among
us, so that we may carry out His good purpose.
In
coincidence to the realization of God directly working in our lives, while
carrying out our salvation for His good purpose, it is necessary that we do not
forget the gift of free will that has been bestowed upon mankind. In the wonder
and beauty of His magnificent creation, God decided that His creation would not
be complete without gifting man with the will to choose. Unfortunately, the
outcome of this didn’t turn out so well, as Adam and Eve decided to choose
against God’s will[5].
However, providentially, God had a plan.
In God’s omniscience, He knew the course that His creation would
take. Subsequently, He provided the
answer that would reunite mankind with Him, as we have come to know in His Son[6].
Are we
predetermined by God if we will be saved? In some form, or way, in accordance
to scripture it seems as though we are.
How God “determines” remains a mystery to me. Has mankind been handed the gift of free
will? Yes, indeed we have, as we have seen beginning in the Garden of Eden, and
further carried out throughout Salvation History. It seems as though a paradox has arisen. Is
this unsettling to me? In some ways, yes, but I must admit that this is due to
my humanity. I am subject to the craving
of knowledge through reason and logic.
However, God defines Himself. As
the theologian N.T. writes confesses, “The Gospel, is a power that has been let
loose in the world, and cannot be reduced to any form of persuasion, or
conviction of the messenger”.[7] Therefore, even through my desire to know how
God works, I must find rest in the mystery of His salvation. I fear that if I
do not accept His mystery, I will inevitably reduce the living God to
systematic and logic-filled theology[8].
Have you
ever stopped to wonder about the disciple’s journey to faith? In Mark 1:17-20, we find that Simon, Andrew
and James had an immediate reaction to the call of Jesus to follow Him. Jesus said, “Come, follow me”, and they
went! What?! So a man named Jesus walks by, (and while they
may have had some knowledge of who Jesus was, this was never mentioned) and he
decides asks these men to follow Him? I’m sorry, but if some random guy, or
even, a supposed miracle worker walks by and says, “Follow me”, I’d definitely have
a few questions to ask him. So, why did they simply abandon everything? They
walked away from their livelihood, their family and their inheritance.
Seriously? Are they insane? They must have been. Or, perhaps, maybe there is something else
going on here. Maybe a “power has been let loose” (Holy Spirit) and they had no other choice but to follow Jesus. For
some odd reason to them, it just made sense.
Job 14:1-5, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 130:13, Proverbs 16:33, Isaiah 14:24-26, Isaiah 46:8-9, Luke 22:20, Acts 2:22, Acts 4:27, Acts 13:48, Roms 8:28, Ephesians 1:1-14, Ephesians 2:10
Proverbs 12:24, Joshua 24:15, Luke 13:3, John 3:16,
John, 7:17, John 8:24, John 8:32, Acts
2:38, Romans 13:2, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Thessalonians 1:8
[4] Jeremiah
1:5, Psalm
139, Colossians 1:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, Revelation 20, Revelation 21
[5]
Genesis 3:1-7
[8]
It is not my intent to discredit logic, reason and systematic based
theology. However, I do hope to emphasize that these are merely tools to obtain
knowledge, so they hold great significance as we seek to know God.
Nevertheless, if we begin to rely entirely upon these tools to define the
Creator, Himself, we are at a loss. The tools of a carpenter cannot build the
carpenter, himself.
One of my pastors moved to Kyrgyzstan to plant a new church because of the free will/predestenation dispute! Made me question so many things.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, David!