RedFruit

One of the subjects that I have given most thought to in my life is the sovereignty of God.  In particular, I’ve wrestled with the implications of a sovereign God  on human freedom and responsibility.

Let me start out by saying that my position is very much a reformed one.  I have come to a place (and actually been here for years) where I love the fact that God is sovereign ruler over all.  I love that, of everyone in the entire universe, God alone is entirely unfettered in his freedom (Ps. 115:3). It is of enormous comfort to me to know that he is in control; that every situation I might encounter is planned by one who is for me, who works all things for the good of those who love him and whom he has sovereignly called according to his purpose.

I have recently read through 1&2 Kings again and have been so struck with how unashamedly the author(s) ascribe sovereignty to God.  Many significant events are described as happening in response to something God said or promised – often a generation or so before!

The main issue that people (certainly in western cultures)  seem to have when discussing the sovereignty of God is that of free will.  Sometimes people will simply say that the there is a tension to be held between mankind’s free will and the sovereignty of God.  There are many who contend that “the one thing God will never do is override your free will”. For example:

Jesus is coming back for a Bride that will be without spot or blemish. He is calling His Church to clean up their act and allow His Holy Spirit to begin this sanctifying work in their lives. However, the choice is up to each individual believer. Sanctification is not something that can be forced upon anyone. God really respects everyone’s free will and He will never force His will or His ways on anyone - bible-knowledge.com.

I also recently came across openness theology.  This seeks to put limits on God, particularly in reference to his knowledge of the future, in order to facilitate our ability to freely make choices. My concern with this is simply that it seems to be to be, at best, bordering on blasphemy and having no foundation that I can see in scripture.  Perhaps one day some open theists will read this and be able to point out what I have missed.

Despite the obsession we seem to have with how to balance God’s sovereignty with our apparent free will; it seems to me that the biblical tension is actually between God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. Certainly this seems to be what Paul is most keen to address in Romans 9:

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

ESV

This also seems very evident from several episodes in scripture – one of the clearest being David’s census. The passage clearly shows that not only did David sin because God caused him to; but God then also held him responsible for that sin and punished him for it.

In some ways this may seem more difficult to reconcile than the question of free will. Our immediate response is that this doesn’t seem fair.  God is the one who is ultimately in control of what happens and what decisions are made and yet we are still held responsible for our decisions and actions. Paul seems to think that this is a perfectly reasonable concern.  In fact he addresses exactly this question in the same section of Romans 9.  The biblical response to the question of whether this is just is simply that God is God and, as the creator, is justified in using his creation as he pleases.

Coming full circle – does this mean that we don’t have free will?  The only assertion that seems biblical to me is that, if we do, it is subect to God’s will and his purposes.  We may have free will – but it is not absolute and unfettered.  Certainly the idea that “the one thing God will never do is override your free will”  seems to me to be entirely unfounded on scripture.

I recently came across this very interesting video which may shed some light.  Perhaps we can learn something from how marketing strategies can manipulate us into making decisions, despite being certain that we are freely making those decisions. It seems far easier to understand how we might have the perception of absolute free will even though we are all subject to the plans and purposes of God.

Ultimately, however, we are left able to be confident that God is sovereign over all things; but we also need to remember that we are responsible for all of our own actions – whether our choices are freely made or not.