Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Predestined to be divided?

I often get questions about theology, doctrine and hot button topics. One that has come up a few times lately is the issue of predestination. While I feel that it can be profitable to explore such issues, it has also proven to be quite divisive.

Why do we feel a need to be so dogmatic about things that God has not spelled out clearly in His Word? Nowhere do find a neatly packaged explanation of the mysteries of divine sovereignty, predestination or election. If these issues where so important as to divide churches and break fellowship among brothers, why wouldn't Jesus have sat down and clearly laid this out to his disciples?

It is funny to me that so many followers of Christ feel the need to have ALL the answers. It is like they have to have God totally figured. What happened to the childlike faith that Jesus talked about. I am not talking about a faith that asks no questions or that doesn't challenge things. I am talking about an educated faith that is mature enough to allow room for God to be God.

In case you are wondering where I stand on this, I will simply say that I do believe that God is sovereign as His Word says. I also believe that we as individuals have the ability to make choices as we see throughout God's Word as well. When it comes to reconciling the two, I choose to leave room for God to be God.

I whole heartedly agree with A.W. Tozer who said:
"God will not hold us responsible to understand the mysteries of election, predestination and the divine sovereignty. The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, "O Lord, Thou knowest." Those things belong to the deep and mysterious profound of God's omniscience. Prying into them may make theologians, but it will never make saints"(The Pursuit of God, pg. 64)

Vic

P.S.
Were you predestined to read this or did you have a choice? Can you choose whether to agree or disagree with what I have written or was that predetermined? Must I keep typing because I was predestined to do so, or can I choose to get on with living a life that brings glory to God?

Could the answer simply be...yes?