This topic has been a major debate among theologians since the church began, and is based on a philosophy that predates Christianity by several hundred years. That belief, which had been picked up by a portion of the Church, wrongly teaches that God DOES decree everything that ever happens.
Some folk refer to that belief as Calvinism, but that is short-sighted because John Calvin got it from the Church. The Church got it from St. Augustine but it doesn't stop there. Here is a brief history lesson. Again, understand that this is an ongoing debate among theologians.
Augustine's mother (Monica) was a Christian, but Augustine immersed himself in immorality and pagan religions. One of the religious philosophies that he used to condone his lifestyle was belief in the goddesses called The Faits.
The Faits, or The Moirae, were supposedly goddesses who personally assigned to everyone at birth his or her destiny in every matter of life. Our term "fate" is a transliteration of "fait."
The three main goddesses were: Klotho (spinner) who spins the thread of life for the person; Lakhesis (apportioner of lots) measures the thread of life; and Atropos (she who cannot be turned) actually cuts the thread of life. At birth, these three supposedly predetermined the entire life of the individual. That included everything the person thought, did, and what was done to him. Believing this gave Augustine the freedom to live a debauched lifestyle, because "the gods predestined me to live this way."
Augustine eventually returned to his Christian upbringing but he created a Christianized version of the belief. Some call it "fatalism." That is: we cannot change what has been predestined for us. And he misapplied Romans 8:29 to support him. It says, "For whom he (God) did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son." The emphasis was meant to be on "foreknow," not on "predestinate." Paul wasn't talking about God choosing whom He will save. Instead, he is talking about God knowing who will choose to live for Christ.
However, according to Augustine, based on "the faits," some people have been predestined to go to hell no matter their lifestyle (good or bad), while others have been predestined to go to heaven -- again, good or bad lifestyle. He believed lifestyle doesn't change "fate... God decided for us.
The Church carried that belief through the centuries and John Calvin picked it up. In the Reformation, Calvin broke with the Church but brought this concept with him. Developing his theology, Calvin produced an acronym called TULIP, and you can look it up on the Internet.
Calvin formalized his doctrine and wrote The Institutes of the Christian Religion. His view of predestination is in book 3 chapter 21 titled, "OF THE ETERNAL ELECTION, BY WHICH GOD HAS PREDESTINATED SOME TO SALVATION, AND OTHERS TO DESTRUCTION." Some call this "hyper-Calvinism."
In attempting to prove God's ultimate and total sovereignty (which is Biblical), Calvin taught that God ordained Lucifer in heaven to rebel (which is anti-Biblical). That goes against Scripture and against the nature of God, Himself.
Believing that nothing happens unless God ordains it impugns God's integrity. For example: In Genesis 3, God told Adam NOT to partake of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam disobeyed. Therefore Calvin taught that God ordained the disobedience. That would make God flaky, capricious, and unstable; therefore, untrustworthy.
But that is not the God of the Bible.
God is omniscient, so He KNOWS what will happen. But knowing it and ordaining it are two entirely different concepts. The first Commandment states, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." But many in the world do worship other "gods." So is God contradicting Himself by ordaining the worship of false gods? No. We must understand the disobedient nature of man and the immutable (unchangeable) nature of Almighty God.
Is God still sovereign when evil people behead others? Of course He is. God doesn't ordain murder. The sixth Commandment says, "Thou shalt not commit murder."
God is sovereign and His ultimate plan will be accomplished even when evil humanity disobeys Him. But the question is: will we participate in God's plan, or will God need to set us aside for disobeying Him?
According to Scripture, our rejection of God determines our eternal punishment, but our acceptance determines our eternal rewards. (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)
-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, and former pastor. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 03/18/2015