Q: If a person is destined or foreseen by God; from his beginning to go to hell, can a Christian come along side him and pray and intercede for him and change God's mind about this man; change his heart so that he will enter into heaven? Or is he predestined to go to hell and there's nothing we can do?
A: You’ve asked questions that have been debated among Protestant Christians for more than 400 years. While almost all Christians believe God is sovereign — He is all-powerful and all-knowing, so it would be impossible to “change his mind” in the way we can change another person’s mind — they disagree on how His sovereignty interacts with human freedom. Some believe that God’s power overcomes any resistance to His offer of salvation. Moreover they believe that God has willed, or predestined, only some people for salvation. They believe that even though a person may experience “choosing” when they receive salvation, they are really unable to resist God’s grace and they “choose” salvation because God has already chosen them. These people are generally called Calvinists.
Other Christians, called Arminians, believe that God wills that all people be saved and respects human freedom to the point that He limits His own power to overwhelm their freedom, and when they choose salvation, they truly make a completely free choice to do so. In leaving the decision to them, God respects their choice continually. Should they choose, having once been saved, to reject Him they can lose their salvation.
This is a simplification of a very complex issue, but it summarizes the two positions with respect to your questions. All but the most extreme elements on both sides consider each other to be genuine brothers and sisters in Christ despite the disagreement. The Foursquare Movement, along with most Methodists, and Free Will Baptists for example, are considered Arminian. Presbyterians and the Reformed Churches, for example, are mostly Calvinists.
Both sides can point to a lot of Bible verses to support their positions. That’s why this debate has been going on for so long.
However, a very wise pastor once said that after many years of ministry and Bible study, he didn’t know how these two views could ever be reconciled. But he was confident that somewhere way over his head where he couldn't possibly understand it these two views do reconcile in God. I think that’s a very good way of looking at it. Honest Christians, who love God and His Word, honestly disagree on the questions you pose. But I sense more than a theological curiosity in your questions. I sense a heart that longs for others to be saved—to know and be known by Jesus Christ. Remember that encouraging this desire is more important than answering debatable questions as you ponder these things.
While others may look at someone walking away from Christ and debate whether he ever really was predestined to be Christ’s (Calvinist), or whether he made a truly free decision to reject Christ (Arminian), you run after him. Tell him again of the Savior whom you love, and who loves him. Pray for his soul trusting him to God, who loves him more than you or I can ever could. God will be greatly pleased when you do these things..
Other Christians, called Arminians, believe that God wills that all people be saved and respects human freedom to the point that He limits His own power to overwhelm their freedom, and when they choose salvation, they truly make a completely free choice to do so. In leaving the decision to them, God respects their choice continually. Should they choose, having once been saved, to reject Him they can lose their salvation.
This is a simplification of a very complex issue, but it summarizes the two positions with respect to your questions. All but the most extreme elements on both sides consider each other to be genuine brothers and sisters in Christ despite the disagreement. The Foursquare Movement, along with most Methodists, and Free Will Baptists for example, are considered Arminian. Presbyterians and the Reformed Churches, for example, are mostly Calvinists.
Both sides can point to a lot of Bible verses to support their positions. That’s why this debate has been going on for so long.
However, a very wise pastor once said that after many years of ministry and Bible study, he didn’t know how these two views could ever be reconciled. But he was confident that somewhere way over his head where he couldn't possibly understand it these two views do reconcile in God. I think that’s a very good way of looking at it. Honest Christians, who love God and His Word, honestly disagree on the questions you pose. But I sense more than a theological curiosity in your questions. I sense a heart that longs for others to be saved—to know and be known by Jesus Christ. Remember that encouraging this desire is more important than answering debatable questions as you ponder these things.
While others may look at someone walking away from Christ and debate whether he ever really was predestined to be Christ’s (Calvinist), or whether he made a truly free decision to reject Christ (Arminian), you run after him. Tell him again of the Savior whom you love, and who loves him. Pray for his soul trusting him to God, who loves him more than you or I can ever could. God will be greatly pleased when you do these things..
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2 comments:
I'm wondering and did a flyby of the Churches beliefs, but what I gather here in this thread is that this is an Arminianist Church?
I may be coming to this church and would like to communicate further.
I like all the activities, groups and the Statement of belief and just have a few questions.
Like is this a contemporary church?
And do they believe in a literal 6 day creation?
Thank you in advance.
Daniel
See this comment responded to as its own post (3/15/10)
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