In amongst the group generally referred to as "Calvinists" are those who believe in a concept known as "Middle Knowledge" and those who hold to "Compatibilism". Both try to align biblical Predestination with Man's free will. Compatibilism starts with God's Sovereignty and Middle Knowledge works from Libertarian Free Will. Well-known, respected men like William Lane Craig and Alvin Platinga hold to Middle Knowledge while other theologians from Augustine to R.C. Sproul hold to Compatibilism. (Thus, both carry "big guns", so let's not play the "Well, my side includes these people" cards.)
So, what's the difference? I mean, both believe in the Sovereignty of God and both believe in God's Omniscience. Both believe that God not only knows all that is or will be, but that He knows what might be. There is a lot of agreement here. Don't think otherwise. The question is way down deep. Does God choose to save some and then bring about that salvation, or does He base His choice of whom He will save on His foreknowledge of who will choose Him? That's the question. The problem for the Middle Knowledge folk is that God must allow this Libertarian free will or He isn't ... fair.
Libertarian free will is the key here. The concept is that our choices are free from the determination or constraints of human nature and free from any predetermination by God. Libertarian free will requires that humans be able to act contrary to their own nature and contrary to God's will[1]. This, they claim, is absolutely necessary if Man is to be held responsible for his sin. Middle Knowledge simply says that God knows what those unconstrained choices will be, and God works from there.
I have problems with this, of course.
Both sides (and every Scripture on the topic) agree that God chooses whom He will save. It is undeniable. Compatibilists hold that He chooses out of His own will. Middle Knowledge argues that He chooses whom He will save based on their choice of Him. That's a problem for me. It appears to be favoritism (Rom 2:11). And it would appear to offer the chosen one some grounds for boasting, having made his or her choice upon which God Himself bases His.
I can't figure out the basis of this "free will" question. It seems to me that "free will" means that each of us chooses according to his or her strongest inclination. Middle Knowledge affirms Libertarian free will. What is this "free will"? Or, to the point, how free is the will? Scripture says that "the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21). Prior to regeneration, the mind can only be set on the flesh (1 Cor 2:14; Rom 8:5), and, as such, cannot please God (Rom 8:8). Indeed, as such, it is only hostile toward God (Rom 8:7). Jesus said that "the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63). Enter Libertarian free will. The suggestion is that the proper set of circumstances, arguments, and other external forces can cause such a person to choose Christ. Is that "free will"? If the heart is intent on evil, hostile to God, and "of the flesh", wouldn't such a choice violate free will? Wouldn't such a person have to go against their natural inclinations and hostilities to take that option? Well, of course, that's the basic position of Libertarian free will, and I can't understand that premise.
My biggest problem, of course, is that I'm operating from a broader notion of God's Sovereignty[2]. From this perspective it would seem that God is limited. That is, from the perspective of Middle Knowledge, God can only do what Man will freely choose. If no scenario allows for that which God wills, God cannot do it. He can only do what might happen, not necessarily what He wills. In William Lane Craig's words, God "has to play the hand He has been dealt." He cannot play any other.
It's touchy, you know. People I respect hold to this view. I can't see it. I can't figure it, even though I once held it myself. I can't understand how this elevates God. It seems to me that this falls short of the glory of God. Now that can't be something any of us would want, would it?
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