Reconciling Differences

The Bible uses the word "predestination" in some form or another in multiple places. In Acts 4:27-28 God predestined that that Herod and Pilate and all would execute the Son of God. In Romans 8:29-30 God has predestined that those whom He foreknew would be conformed to the image of His Son and, subsequently, would be called, justified, and glorified. In Ephesians 1:5 we read that He predestined us to adoption as sons. What is this thing?

The word is προορίζω -- proorizō -- and means literally "to limit in advance," therefore, to predetermine. "Ordain" is in there, or, more accurately, to "foreordain." A related biblical term is "elect" or "chosen." Scripture is often addressed to "the chosen" or "the elect." These two concepts -- "predestination" and "elect" -- are certainly interrelated, but they are not synonymous. Being chosen in advance (1 Peter 1:2; Eph 1:4) is part of God's predetermination of things, but not all, as demonstrated in the Romans 8:28-30 concept. So there is "the chosen" and "predestination" in Scripture. And not everyone is actually happy about that. The idea that God chooses some for salvation and ordains events in our lives rubs some people the wrong way. "Where's my free will? Where's God's fairness? How can a loving God save some and not others in His plan?"

How do we reconcile these problems? How do we place "predestined" next to "my Free Will"? Does all of this really call into question the justice of God? The love of God? Well, generally speaking, the best approach to take is "the known to the unknown" and, despite our personal idolatry, it's best to start with God rather than Man. What do we know about God? Wait ... I need to be clear here. Not "What do we feel about God?" What does God tell us about Himself?

His Word is not ambiguous. God knows the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10). He knows nature completely (Psa 147:4). He knows every fact and event about every individual before they occur (Psa 139:15), including what's in the heart (Psa 44:21). In short, He knows everything, past, present, and future (1 John 3:20).

That's about all we need to get a solid footing on this. If God knows everything, past, present, and future, and He knows it perfectly -- correctly, accurately -- then what will occur that He doesn't know? What can happen of which He wasn't aware in advance? Who will refuse Him or receive Him that He didn't foresee? If every single detail of existence and every single event in human history is known to God before anything existed or transpired, is that not certain predestination? If God looks down the corridors of time and sees, say, an Adolph Hitler arising and taking power and doing all sorts of bad stuff and God allows that to happen, is that not predestination?

Now, look at it in reverse. God is required to observe and respect our completely free will. He is required to submit to our understanding of "fair" and "just." Starting, then, from the human perspective rather than the divine, we end up in a fairly difficult place. Scripture is wrong. God is not omniscient or omnipotent or loving. Abraham was wrong; the Judge of all the earth won't do what is right. But, then, now we no longer have the God of the Bible and we no longer have a faith on which we can rest. We might feel better about this god who respects our free will, but he's not to be trusted -- relied on. His hands are tied and we determine our fate. Too bad for us.

For reasons I can't quite grasp many people -- self-identified "believers" and "Christians" -- think that it is best to have a god that complies with our notions rather than the other way around. We don't like the statement that it is God's desire to demonstrate His wrath and power on vessels of wrath prepared for destruction" (Rom 9:22), for instance, so we negate it (and so many others like it). That doesn't give us a better god; that gives us ... us as god. Not an improvement. How do we reconcile the difference between what we think God should be and what His Word says He is? We change our own thinking to align with Him. We ... submit. It's the only reasonable and safe thing to do.