Christians only?

Question

What do you think about predestination?

Answer 1

God knows what choices we will make, but that does not mean that He has "predestined" us in the strict Calvinist sense. If we had no free will, we couldn't choose to love Him or not, and so our love for Him would not be real. I think some people probably worry that they're going to hell but don't do anything to try to turn away from the path that is taking them to hell and turning to Christ instead. We can argue about predestination all day but never resolve the issue. What matters most isn't whether we are fated to a certain destiny with no choice of our own (although I believe the Bible teaches otherwise) but what we do with the Word that God has given us.

For that matter, a friend once asked me if I was a Calvinist. I asked him, "Am I supposed to be?" :-)

Answer 2

If everything was predestined by God, than no one could ever be sent to hell, because full consent is necessary for guilt to attache to sin.

Since Jesus came to redeem us from sin, total predestination cannot be.

To a certain extent, God allows us to make any choices we want, but he controls the menu.

This is limited predestiation, which preserves the free will of each individual.

Here's what the Catholic Church teaches about it:

600 To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes in it each person's free response to his grace: "In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness.

Answer 3

If god came down right now and told you that he knew you were going to hell, would you just accept it as your "predestination?" Or would you do something about it? Predestination negates free will any way you look at it.

Answer 4

If we are one of the "elect", we are predestined to go to Heaven. If we are not one of the "elect" that is in doubt. Jesus says often, things like, "if you endure to the end.", and, " Wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction but narrow the gate and straight is the path that leads to life. And few are those that find it.

I try to read Jesus teachings, put them into practice as best I can, and ask for forgiveness. Never give up. Read and study the Bible for yourself. I have found that many Protestant ministers and Catholic priests are either ignorant or have some other agenda than teaching the truth.

Answer 5

I think God has predestined everything that happens and everything we do. I have a little trouble correlating this with the knowledge that God will not take away free will, but I have the belief that this is all true.

Answer 6

God has predestined our entire life but He will not mess with free will. We will however have to give an account for every idle word spoken and every deed.

Answer 7

Predestination is clearly taught in Scripture. Salvation begins with the sovereign plan and initiative of God from eternity past to save a people for Himself from among fallen humanity (Eph. 1: 4, 5; Rom. 8: 29, 30). This is predestination – a word always used in the context of God's purpose in saving His people. A theological definition of predestination is: "counsel of God concerning fallen men, including the sovereign election of some and the righteous reprobation of the rest" (Berkhoff, Systematic Theology, 109). Hence, we see that Predestination includes the ideas of election (for believers) and reprobation (for unbelievers).

Paul in fact is the New Testament writer who gives the clearest exposition of the doctrine of predestination in Romans 8: 29 – 11: 36. In these passages the apostle highlights the hopeless condition of human beings in their sinfulness and the fact that because of their disobedience and rebellion God not only turns from them but also actually hardens them in their sinfulness (Rom. 9:14ff.). While He thus hardens the unrepentant and incorrigible in their sins, God also reaches out to some and draws to Himself those whom He has chosen from all eternity, redeeming and justifying them in Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:11ff.; Eph. 1:4ff.). In all of this, the mystery but reality of God’s sovereign action on the one hand, and human responsibility on the other hand are both affirmed (Rom. 9: 19; 11: 33), redounding in the glory of God (Rom. 9: 16ff.). That the doctrine of predestination is taught in both the Old and New Testaments is clear, along with great stress upon God's sovereign righteousness and holiness. That many people find the doctrine difficult to accept is also clear, even in the infancy of the Church (cf. Rom. 9: 19).

What do I think of the doctrine of predestination? I beleive it for the Bible clearly teaches it - though I would be a fool to say that I understand all its mechanics.

Answer 8

Predestination gives God the choice, not man. Too many people don't want to relinquish that power to God, and I think it's arrogant, humanist, and blasphemous to take that power for oneself. God chose His own, saved His own, gave belief to His own, and will keep His own in His care forever. Soli Deo Gloria!

Answer 9

our lives are not predestined, God gave us free will, its a matter of good or bad choices

Answer 10

god made me so I do not believe in predestination. I have no choice.