The main tenet of Open Theism is that man has free will and, consequently, God does not know what we are going to do. There is Biblical evidence that can be interpreted to be in support of this view. The … Continue reading
Tag Archives: open theism
Contractural Agreement
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A contract basically says that if one party does something, then the other party promises to do something in return. It implicitly acknowledges that the first party could choose to do otherwise but, if they do as stated, then the … Continue reading
The Power of Prayer
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If you believe that praying for something works, that praying for God to intercede and save a child’s life, or to help warring factions agree to a cease fire, or simply that God will help you find a way to … Continue reading
Divine Intercession
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Just as a parent is sometimes surprised, or horrified, at something his/her child may do, so too is God sometimes pleased and sometimes unhappy with our choices. So imagine, if you will, the lush Eden with the Biblical first two … Continue reading
Denver Bible Church, Bob Enyart, Open Theism
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Bob Enyart of the Denver Bible Church is a proponent of both Open Theism and Bible-based Christian teachings. But to me and my admittedly incomplete understanding of both, “Bible Church” and “Open Theism” seem to be at odds with each … Continue reading
Christian Open Theist
I am a Christian Open Theist. That means I have a powerful belief in the example, message and role of Christ, and that I believe God gave us true Free Will, that the future is not pre-ordained, that to a very large extent, what happens is up to us.
For the philosophers and theologians, let me add that I also believe that God is omniscient. God knows all the possibilities that are open to us in each moment, and He knows the far-reaching consequences of the choices we might make. But I also believe that He allows us to make our own way.
Greg Boyd
has compared this to one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books where the reader chooses the storyline and, consequently, the ultimate outcome of the book. But note that the author wrote all the possibilities. The author doesn’t know which storyline a given reader will follow, but he still knows all the possibilities. I believe our lives are like that. God wrote the book but our individual storylines are up to each of us to choose.
And like a Choose Your Own Adventure book with both “good” and “bad” endings, I believe we are free to make the choices that will either make God smile or cry. This means we can mess it up, kill each other, destroy the Earth and all possibility of life on this planet. That choice is truly possible.
I hope (and often pray!) that God will help us find the insight to avoid those awful consequences but I do believe, nonetheless, that it could happen. I do believe it’s up to us.
I also believe that God has hopes, that He would like to see us choose life not death, joy not sorrow, richness and vibrancy not grey sterility. Indeed, one of my frequent prayers is that God will help me see the possibilities that come before me to engender, to promote, to improve life.
I am, therefore, always open to the possibilities that come before me each day and I frequently pray that God will help me to encourage the good ones, and to discourage the bad. And on those days when “encourage” and “discourage” are too weak and stronger actions are needed, I fervently pray that God will help me to recognize, and act, appropriately.
Christ chose to speak. Christ chose to act. And Christ chose to sacrifice.
Lord, help me choose what will please You.
Amen.