 The
Proclaimer
The Doctrine of Predestination
Last week’s
article on “original sin” prompted a request for an article on the doctrine
of predestination. Obviously both doctrines are a part of the teaching of
John Calvin. John Calvin has had a profound influence on the religious
world as most denominations today embrace part, if not all, of Calvinism.
The doctrine of predestination is the notion that God predetermines certain
individuals to be saved and go to heaven and others to be lost and go to
hell even before they are born into this world. The eternal destiny of
every individual is, therefore, sealed and cannot be changed.
The ramifications
of this doctrine are considerable. For instance, there would be no need for
the Scriptures to give us “instruction in righteousness” because our
behavior would have no impact upon our salvation. There would have been no
reason for Jesus to give the Great Commission for preaching the gospel could
have no effect on the hearers. The lost couldn’t go to heaven if they
wanted to and those predestined by God to salvation are going to go whether
they want to or not. The fact is, this doctrine makes God a respecter of
persons, which He is not (Acts 10:34). Not only so, this doctrine destroys
the free moral agency of man.
God has always
given man free will – the ability to choose to receive or reject Him and His
will. For instance, Joshua said, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the
LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the
gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my
house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). Notice that Elijah gave the
people a similar choice, “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How
long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him;
but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word”’ (1 Kings
18:21). We still have the same choice to make today – to follow and serve
the Lord, or not.
But the decision
to follow and serve the Lord is not a one-time thing. In fact, it involves
resolve and determination to continue daily to follow and serve Him. Every
day we must choose to be faithful to the Lord. The problem with some is
that they have not ever truly made that commitment to the Lord. Their
choice is not clear for they have not fully made up their minds to serve the
Lord daily. Consequently, they continue to be willing to compromise when it
gets difficult to follow and serve the Lord. Or they may attempt to evade
the choice that must ultimately be made. Such is an exercise in futility,
for Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matt 12:30).
If man is not a
free moral agent, there is no need for a Judgment Day, for man cannot and
will not be held accountable for his actions. And yet Paul clearly states,
“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether
it is good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).
If
the doctrine of predestination is true, man has no choices to make relevant
to his salvation, for God has already decided for him. I know of no
doctrine more discouraging that that of predestination, for there is no
“good news” for those not chosen by God. But come to think of it, I have
never known anyone that believed in the doctrine of predestination that was
not one of God’s “elect.” Have you?
--
Clark Dugger
The Proclaimer
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