Bible Truth For Today
PREDESTINATION
In very general terms, "predestination" (as it is used in theological terms) refers to the idea that God pre-destined (pre-determined) which humans would end up in heaven and which ones would end up in hell. This idea is part of the system of theology known as Calvinism (www.pcusa.org/101/101-predest.htm ), and is often, although not always, closely associated with Reformed Theology , and Covenant Theology.
Churches which hold to the doctrine of Predestination
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Presbyterian Churches
Reformed Churches
Many "Community Churches"
Many Baptist Churches
Important Links:
www.bibletruths.org/cults/Calvanism%20-%20Extreme%20Predestination.pdf
Additional Links:
www.bibletruths.org/cults/predestination.htm
www.bibletruths.org/cults/additional.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination_%28Calvinism%29
www.truegospel.com/predestination.html
www.gotell.gracenet.org/predestination.htm
Issues/Concerns we have regarding this doctrine:
Some of the issues/concerns are identified and addressed at Calvinism. Please visit that link.
Other issues/concerns are as follows:
Fatalism
Although Calvinists will argue that fatalism is not a result of predestination, it is difficult to imagine it NOT affecting the way people think, and we believe that for many people, it does. IF God did not choose me, and there is nothing that can be done to change that, I am without ANY hope - now that's cause for true despair. And if I HAVE been selected, and and all things (every detail) happen exactly according to God's fore-ordained plan, then Doris Day's song is true when it says "Que sera, sera - Whatever will be, will be". Some may like to use the verse in Hebrews that says "It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment" as a basis for arguing that we each have an "appointed" time to die and when "our number comes up", that's it. This clearly contradict Scriptures such as Paul's writing to the church at Corinth regarding the Lord's Supper and indicating that there are people who died "prematurely" (or was it only premature from a human perspective and "right on time" from God's perspective?). We believe that man CAN bring upon himself early demise by making bad choices. What is appointed is that man will die! Once! and after that death there WILL be a judgment day! That does NOT say that God has your death in His heavenly "appointment book".
Will of God
Are you in God's will? Are you in the center of God's will? Are you in His perfect will or just in His permissive will? All of these are confusing questions and we believe they have a relationship to the teaching of predestination (and how that teaching is related to God's sovereignty and providence). We could illustrate with "trivial" examples such as clothing, meal "choices", etc., however, let's illustrate with the example of marriage. Does God indeed have a sole pre-picked person to be your perfect mate? How am I to find that one perfect person that God "created just for me"? How do you know beyond any doubt that you have found that one right person? And if you find and marry that person, then you are in the center of God's perfect will. And if you don't, then you're not. Does everyone marry their "perfect" mate? And if you don't? Must you then live the rest of your life "outside of the will of God", or perhaps you are relegated to living in His "permissive will" (which is obviously something less than His "perfect will").
Or, has God given us direction (principles, etc.) such as "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers". So, for the believer the "field" of potential spouses is immediately reduced in size. Once you prayerfully and mutually agree to be wedded, does God not again give us (e.g. in Ephesians) the principles? - Husband, love your wife! (whoever she is!) Wife, submit to your husband! (Whoever he is!) Two people in love with God and in love with each other can have a holy matrimony, a godly home and family - not because they "picked" the ONE person that God "picked" for them, but because they love God, obey God, and walk with God, God is glorified, their testimony is encouraging to others and they can raise a next generation of children who "fear the Lord".
We believe God's will is God's will - there is not a "center" and a perimeter; there is not a perfect and a permissive. As we read the Scriptures regarding "God's will" we find that God's will for us is generally referring to our obedience to the revealed Word of God, conforming our life to the image of Christ - mostly (or at least initially and primarily) concerning in who and what we are rather than in what we do. That is not to say that what we do is unimportant! That is not the point here. The point here is that God has created us with different personalities, different tastes, etc. I do not have to labor in prayer over the decision of what color to us. Or what brand of vehicle to purchase, etc. Now certainly if I am in need of transportation, I pray for God's help to meet that need - but that is an entirely different situation.
Will of man
We believe that God has created man in God's image and likeness, which includes having a "will". Our image has been tarnished and our likeness to God in many ways is not even present, let alone evident. But as to how God constituted us, we have a will! God has, in His grace and goodness, revealed HIS will and shown us the path that leads to righteousness. He expects us to exercise our God-given wills to obey and to please HIM! Consider these verses:
Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;"
Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Proverbs 1:29 "Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,"
In addition, many are the commands of God in the Bible. Are these ALL given just to prove that we can't do it? Or has God given them intending that they be obeyed. In both the Old Testament and the New, there are "blessings" on those that "keep", or obey, God's Word. All the commands - to obey, to follow, to do, to yield, etc. - are vain if they CAN not be kept at all.
Scary ramifications
There are many ramifications of this teaching, but one that is pertinent to today's culture is that because of predestination, I am exactly who God created me to be. Therefore, sin no longer accounts for and explains our behaviors - we were simply "born that way"! If I am a drunk, it is in my genes, I can't help but be a drunk, therefore I am not accountable for my being a drunkard. The same can then be applied to those who are violent and beat their spouses and children. It is also being applied today to those who are homosexuals, so that, instead of the possibility of seeing that the sinful behavior is just that - sinful behavior - it gets labeled as a genetic pre-disposition, i.e. it's the way I was born, it's the way I am, and therefore it's okay for me to be that way. The Bible declares otherwise! - man is accountable to God for his/her sins! God's Holy Spirit is in the world convicting men of SIN! God commands all men everywhere to REPENT (turn from sin, turn to God). God promises eternal blessings on one hand, and eternal judgment on the other. What choice will YOU make?
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