MYSTERY OF DIVINE ELECTION

A pastor, whom I admire for his worldwide ministry, writes, “God chose us not because we are lovable, but in spite of our unlovable condition.  His love is unconditional.  His choice is a function of His sovereign will.  Why He chose us and not another is a mystery known only to God”.  Be wary when a theologian labels a doctrine “a mystery”.  That is a sign they have no explanation for the doctrine.  It is not only inexplicable, but confusing, illogical, irrational, and indefensible.  The writer is speaking of Divine Election, Predestination, Determinism, Fatalism, etc..  But the writer is not talking about just any divine election.  He is talking about arbitrary, capricious divine election.  Divine election, by itself, is not a problem to anyone.  “Election” simply means “choice”. “Divine” means “of God”.  There is no question that God makes choices.  No mystery there.  But the pastor considers that God makes arbitrary, capricious choices with regard to individuals’ eternal destiny and that is a mystery to him.

When you and I vote in an election, we make choices.  Hopefully, we study the candidates’ positions, qualifications, experience, character, etc. in advance and go to the polls and make enlightened choices.  To simply choose someone randomly would be irresponsible.  We should vote based on responsible criteria.  Should we not assume our God would do the same?

Here are some basics we should assume about God.  He makes all decisions (elections) based on His perfect nature.  He never contradicts Who He is as He has revealed it to us.  There is always a basis for His choices.  His choices will always enhance His righteousness – not evil.  We don’t believe God is the author of good and evil.  The prince of darkness roams the earth seeking whom he may devour.  He is the orchestra leader of lies, depravity, and destruction.  The doctrine of fatalism, predestination, que sera, sera presumes a god that authors good and evil, much like the Allah of the Quran.  Determinism is a core belief of Islam.  But, fatalism seeped into Christianity after almost 400 years of church history.  Augustine introduced it and it was picked up by the likes of John Calvin centuries later.  Until Augustine, the pervasive Biblical truth of “we reap what we sow” ruled.  In other words, positive actions, words, and attitudes have positive consequences and negative actions, words, and attitudes have negative consequences.  Also, the pervasive Biblical truth of “whosoever will” from verses such as John 3:16, were totally accepted in the body of Christ.  By “pervasive truth” I mean that just about every page of the Bible relates that truth.

Calvinists have a list of Biblical verses they use to support arbitrary divine election and predestination.  About half of the list isn’t talking about individuals being chosen, but is talking about the characteristics God expects to be exhibited by His children.  (i.e. be holy, be walking in the Spirit, etc.). He always has, does, and always will expect such a response from us.  As to the rest of the list, there is no reason to assume He makes such choices arbitrarily.  “Whosoever will” remains the critical factor.

Calvinists have developed a systematic theology to present their doctrine of arbitrary predestination.  It is called T.U.P.I.P.

T.- Total Depravity.  We aren’t morally capable of choosing God

U.- Unconditional Election.  God arbitrarily distributes His favor

L.- Limited Atonement.  Jesus only died for the “elect”

I.- Irresistible Grace.  The “elect” can’t resist God’s grace

P.- Perseverance of the saints.  The “elect” can never lose their salvation

The Bible clearly explains that humans have a sin nature.  That is a bent to supreme self-gratification or a “me first” heart.  But, if that renders us completely unable to respond to His call, why have the Bible?  Why have the “Gospel”?  Why would Jesus come?  Why have the Holy Spirit to pave the way for our faith?

You may wonder why I have labored for more than 50 years side by side with Calvinists.  The answer is that I’ve discovered hardly any living, practicing, ministering Calvinists.  Many folks label themselves as such, but, of the thousands of professing Christians I’ve met and worked with, I’ve only heard of one who lives and ministers as a Calvinist.  He lives in the center of Puerto Rico.  He built a chapel in the mountains and goes there every Sunday and waits for the elect to show up.  Other than him, I have no problem working with those who identify themselves as Calvinists because they are all Wesleyan Arminians when it comes to practice and ministry.

My concern is that, historically when a civilization buys into fatalism, predestination, and determinism and it actually influences their behavior, the results are disastrous.  That’s only logical.  Why strive to progress?  Why strive to improve?  Why help others?  After all, what they are going through is divinely ordained.

The pastor I quoted in the beginning wrote later in the same chapter, “All too many people in the church body have an attitude that says, ‘I’m sure glad I’m saved…Too bad about the rest of the world”.  He bemoans the inactivity of believers.  He doesn’t realize he is feeding that attitude with his que sera,sera preaching.  You can’t tell a congregation every Sunday “Whatever will be, will be” and expect them to rush out of the church and share the Gospel.  That borders on insanity.

The main image of God in the Bible is as our heavenly Father.  We pray, “Our Father Who art in heaven…”. The term implies a filial relationship between God and His children.  T.U.L.I.P obliterates that Biblical concept and diminishes the relationship of Father and child down to puppeteer and puppet.  When a relationship between two people becomes one person in total control of the other, the relationship dies.  The Biblical image of heavenly Father dies when enveloped in Calvinism’s arbitrary divine election.  As related earlier, Islam has predestination as a main doctrine.  That is why the Biblical concept of heavenly Father is blasphemy to Muslims.  The two are not compatible

This past Sunday, a psychopath entered the 1^st Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX and killed over 25 people and wounded 20 more.  This morning I was leading a meeting meant to promote healing and prayer for the folks of that church.  One person suggested we can gain solace from the fact that “God permitted the massacre”.  It was all I could do to keep from vomiting.  I was ill the rest of the day as I pondered the fact that God was portrayed as complicit in that act of pure evil.  I managed to overcome my nausea to explain that our world is in the midst of a spiritual war and what happened was instigated by the enemy of our souls and not in any way was it the work of our heavenly Father or condoned by Him.

So, in conclusion, I agree with the pastor that arbitrary divine election is a mystery.  It’s a mystery why any Bible believing Christian would promote it.  It violates the most fundamental doctrines of our faith.  It destroys the Biblical concept of our heavenly Father.  It has led to the collapse of every civilization that adhered to it.  It makes the Gospel odious to seekers.  Who wants to follow a god who authors evil?  Who would seriously worship a god who capriciously designs and creates people for hell?

Fortunately, the Bible reveals God as the author of good, holiness, and righteousness…Who wars against evil and the prince of darkness in our behalf.  I close with Paul’s words about faith, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ.  God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.  He did this to demonstrate His justice, because of His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished… He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”  Romans 3:22-26