Predestination and Choice

From March:History of the World in a Year by the Conservative Voice
Predestination is not an issue, for people familiar with God's word. The Bible explains who God is, how he revealed himself and what he offers everyone. But in studying the Bible, and applying words used in science, issues have arisen that become confusing. Predestination is one such issue.

God is all knowing. God is all powerful. God is from the beginning of time to the end of time. God is the creator. God created all. God created you and I. God has given all mankind free will. God wants people to worship him. And so the ambiguity of words creeps in. God wants to be loved, and he has given free will. So, some people love God by choice. And some people don't know God. But, how can someone not know God? Did they really choose to not know him? Couldn't God have shown them what they needed to know so they did love him? Or is it that there is no God and those those who worship him are misled on all counts?

Predestination makes God look terrible. He could have softened Pharaoh's heart and not unleashed the murderous plagues. He could have changed the minds of people in Sodom and Gommorah instead of killing them all. He knew in advance what they were going to do. Philosophically, it appears as if logically, God does not exist because he could not be all that he claims. God cannot be all powerful, all knowing, and offer mankind choice, yet wanting to be praised.

However we know from the Bible answers to that argument. We know God created the universe because it says so, which is a cop out answer if one is a scientist but compelling when one realised that the resurrection of Jesus happened and it is the scripture he endorsed. God could have chosen to create as he pleased. He has that authority. The 'how' of universe creation is a very different issue. Scientists answer that. It is wrong to impute scientific meaning on the words of stone age peoples. But we have a very good idea what those stone age peoples meant and what made up their day, their lives, their experiences in worldly terms.

We know God desires to be close to us, for us to praise Him and turn to Him in our times of need. Scripturally we know this from all of scripture, but particularly from Job and the Song of Songs. Job shows us how God wants us to hold to him. The Song of Songs describes God's love affair with us. Solomon's offering shows us that God's love is physical and intimate. People that are loved like to have that love returned. God is like that too. I cannot make others love me in return. But I like it when they do.

The world is not as God wants it. He knows that. But God offers a way to be with him. And if we are with Him, the world is all right. He has made that offer to all. But not all accept that offer. Logically, those who accept God do so of their own volition, of free will. Those that don't accept the offer, don't know God. That is a 'choice' in name only. It is default in choice terms. Without God offering a way, there is no real choice, and so no one would know God.

That addresses the philosophical quandary. Only if God exists is there free will. It is an unsatisfying answer to atheists or agnostics who do not hear His call. But they choose not to.