Theology

There is no comparison to the infinite breadth and depth of the almighty. One of the reasons I don’t support open theism is because I find too much evidence of divine foreknowledge in the text of the Bible. It doesn’t seem appropriate to view God as not having full omniscience of both passed and future events. I don’t see how knowing someone’s choice is a threat to choice itself.

I have a light-hearted example. My son is six years old. If I asked him if he would like a package of Pokémon cards, I assure you the absolute foreknowledge I have of his answer. Does this negate his own choice in the matter?

The major reason for instability of open theism is in part due to that of the doctrine of salvation. It must be complete and fully satisfying of God’s wrath; and fully pardoning of mankind. If not, we could be in serious trouble later down the road to find out someone or something has made a choice we didn’t anticipate. To have a few that God cannot see beyond our individual choice creates the need for faith on God’s part. Even if he knows all possible outcomes, he would have to orchestrate events based on faith because there is no certainty in the outcomes.

God’s omniscience can’t be based on knowledge of only known circumstances. If God was omniscient only in the sense that he knows all possibilities and organizes his sovereignty based on that premise, at what point could he ever declare something finished? What evidence would there be to make that declaration if God couldn’t fully see it? It would have to be based on assumption or faith, which is not viable for a sovereign God who needs only swear by himself: the embodiment of wisdom and knowing (knowledge).

Such circumstances and outcomes would beg the question of the degree of assurance in matters of our justification immediately completed in Christ’s work. Open theism leaves the door of opportunity open for subsequent choices to derail the train. Imagine if there is a later choice of mankind, not one that God didn’t know was possible, that could again subject him to the wrath of God even though God made provision for his salvation.

There are several arguments here on the behalf of open theism, I realize. Supporters would say that God knew the possible outcome of future choices and accounted for them in his plan of redemption. My thought is that the doorway to undo the work of salvation is allowed through this theory.

The major problem being that if God cannot see past actual choices because of the allowance of free will, then it can be possible, though highly unlikely because of God’s superiority, that a choice or several series of choices could unexpectedly incite a new dispensation of God’s wrath. Nonetheless, the possibility exists. To think otherwise within the framework of open theism would nullify its view of our total freedom of choice.

Total freedom of choice or free will would not require God to have the inability to completely foresee future events. I have some text material from both of the theological viewpoints. Two local supporters, Greg Boyd and John Piper, weigh in on the matter. It’s hard to fully delve into the subject in the midst of a MATS program, but I hope to add more entries soon.

Test every spirit to see whether they are from God or not. Don’t be afraid to question. But do the work of studying to show yourself approved, not to man, unto God. (1 John 4:1 and 2 Timothy 2:15)