Let’s get ready to rumble! I always wanted to say that, although I can’t remember if it comes from boxing or wrestling or the “Outsiders”. Over the next few blog posts, we will attempt to discuss the age old debate about God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will (I capitalized that so you would know how important this is..cool, huh? in the next blog, I experiment with crazy fonts, look out!) However, before we get into the discussion, we need to establish a few things.
1) There is an apparent paradox within Scripture. There is no way getting around the fact that to human reason and intellect only one of these can be true. Either God is in control or man is in control. To say that both are true can’t be fully explained, and this is due to our finite, limited nature as man. This is not a cop out or easy way out, it is simply reality. If we can’t accept that, we might as well quit now, as the Bible presents Scriptures which, taken individually seem clear, but when compared seem to be incompatible.
If we are willing to accept this apparent paradox, and say they are not actually a paradox, but only appear that way due to our limitations, how we can even discuss them intelligently? Paul did indeed foresee this reaction and made sure we came to this conclusion in Romans 9 -11. First of all, after presenting God’s election and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, he gives the analogy of the potter and clay. By picturing us as clay, he is clearly pointing out our inability to question and understand God’s will and character in this. After presenting faith and God’s plan for Israel, in chapter 11 Paul again points us to the “unsearchable” ways of God. Paul was a brilliant man who did indeed give much thought to this apparent paradox. He gives us paradigms to understand, yet stops short of giving a full explanation, because he knows it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to fully understand the ways and nature of God! That is what we need to do: create paradigms to understand, with the reality that full understanding in this issue is simply not obtainable.
2) As a whole, Calvinism emphasizes God’s sovereignty over man’s free will. Let me be clear on this point (and don’t go posting this on a website or emailing it to friends, oops too late…). The Bible as a whole emphasizes God’s sovereignty over man’s free will, so as good inductive students and teachers, this conclusion is natural and understandable. As I stated in another blog, if we just read Isaiah 40 – 48, Ephesians 1, or Romans 9, we could all become hard core Calvinists. However, when we take this conclusion about God’s sovereignty and then attempt to connect it into a whole, detailed, systematic theology, then we can tend to leave inductive reasoning behind and wander into human logic and reasoning.
On the other hand, Arminianism emphasizes man’s free will over God’s sovereignty. Let me be clear on this point. The Bible talks A LOT about our choices, individual responsibility, and accountability. All we need to do is read Ezekiel 18, pretty much the whole book of Hebrews, or Exodus 32, and we could all become Arminians (or is the correct term Arminianists… Arminiani?). Again, if we just take these passages alone and connect them into a whole, detailed, systematic theology, we can easily leave the Bible and enter into our own logic.
3) I believe there is another factor which contributed to the current emphasis on God’s sovereignty within conservative denominations and seminaries : the rise and prominence of moral government teaching, and the recent offshoot of this doctrine known as open (process) theology. Many Bible scholars have quickly labeled both moral government and open theology as heresy or false teaching. We have discussed open theology in a previous post, but moral government was prevalent first and is the initial step toward open theology. Moral government in a nutshell believes that man is free to make moral choices apart from his sinful nature. Basically, man is born neutral, and can make the right choices in life. This focus on man’s free choice led to conclusions about God having free choice, and therefore led some to question God’s knowledge of the future. As these teachings have become popular in some circles, they have evoked a strong response and call toward Calvinism.
So, why should we care about this stuff anyway? Let those eggheads argue about it and let’s get on with our real lives. Those guys are just losers blogging from their parent’s basement, and like to impress people with words like “efficacious grace”. (I have to admit I like dropping these word bombs too like “corporate headship”)
We should care because this theology affects major parts of our Christianity!
Should we evangelize? Can people truly choose God, or are they just destined for heaven or hell?
Why do we pray? Does our faith matter or is prayer just God communicating with us what He has already decided?
Can we lose our salvation?
Rats. I guess we do have to care.
The Bible Nerd 
Sean, you know I love ya, but I think its fair to say that I actually don’t think there is a “paradox” in scripture regarding the sovereignty of God – I think there are legitimate answers to areas of the Bible where it seems that “free will” is being exercised and so some would say “O, chalk that up as a verse in favor of free will” As I’m sure you know, what hat some theologians call “The Eternal Decrees of God” seems to be a concise and biblical/logical/sound/God centered facet of theology/truth. That said, I’m sure you will school me on tomorrows post.
Jason, thanks for the comment and the props on Facebook. Don’t go easy on me! “Iron sharpens iron” and I need a strong Calvinist to keep me honest and to fairly represent the Calvinist views on the blog. That was a good point about the word “paradox”, so I put a little blurb about that in today’s post. As I wrote to Stephanie, I try to avoid answering the question, “are you a Calvinist or an Arminian?” That is not because I am a “ride the fence” guy who just wants everyone to be happy and like me (if I was that kind of guy, I have failed miserably). It is because I want the Bible to speak on its own, and I want to try to stay true to inductive study tools. Of course, none of us are ever fully inductive, and there is much wisdom in the theology and views of our elders. The closest view to mine I have seen out there is called “Moderate Calvinism”, although it could probably be equally called “Conservative Arminianism” (true Arminian views, not what most people think of today when you say the man’s name). So, don’t hold back after today’s post. Bring it on! Sean
Hey Sean! its joe humphries! miss your teaching-anyway Im gonna have to side with Jason on this issue. what i have never heard explained (if you can because its really complex) is how does predestination cancel responsibility or how does predestination make it not a choice? I think luke 24:24 (or is it 22:22 or 21:21) says ‘behold it is going as it has been appointed but woe to that man by whom Im betrayed’. almost anything can be read into a text but this seems to say (seems is a key word) even though judas will do whats been planned woe to him. Acts 4:27-28 (same author as you know) conveys the same logic. pilate did as was predestined but the bible calls his actions sinful. so what im saying is that the bible seems to say God predetermined sinful actions. I do not see anyway around this. so i end up asking – why is this a problem. I hope im clear and that this wasnt to loaded.
Joe my man! Now the gang is all here. I was just remembering when you and Jason would go down into town with coffee, cookies, and a “Free Prayer” sign. You guys really started a move of evangelism in the SBS in Kona! I agree with you fully that predestination and God’s sovereignty do NOT cancel man’s responsibility for his actions. Like you said, the problem is in explaining that without coming out on one side of the other (explaining about man’s choices, or explaining away God’s control). I think that is exactly the crux of the problem, we CAN’T / are not able to fully explain that with human wisdom and logic. We can only say that we see both in the Bible so they both must work together somehow.
I also agree that since God is in control, He can always stop or allow man’s choices, and at times He causes man’s actions. Due to this, yes, God is in control and could be seen as “predetermining” man’s sinful choices, but I would say that salvation is what is predetermined, and once man rejects God (like Judas or Pharaoh or Pilate), God steps in and then overrides their free will in order to accomplish His redemptive plan. I don’t believe that God does this on a consistent basis however to everyone (whether they believe in God or reject Him). This also means that man can’t take credit for his salvation as it is predetermined by God. As regards sin then, I would say that God creates the situation and environment that allows man to choose sin (ultimately placing God as the first cause but not the necessity or overriding of free will in most cases). I think however we explain this it must fit under James 1 13-14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is enticed by his own desire.” Here is James, a Jew who typically always fall on the side of God’s sovereignty, making sure to delineate the causality of sin not being able to placed on God’s shoulders.
Do I sound like a dog chasing his tail yet?
Sean