2007-01-20 19:30:39 · 10 answers · asked by Lilliana 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, if he had a master plan, but he doesn’t because he doesn’t exist.
2007-01-20 19:33:45 · answer #1 · answered by A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to wager that very few people here even have a clue about Calvinism which can answer your question very nicely.
Predestination to either heaven or hell is called hyper-Calvinism, a double predestination that makes God the author of sin, and Calvinism does not teach this at all. What it does teach is that man, through the fall of Adam, has inherited a sin nature, he is tainted from birth, and through his own fault he is only destined for hell. He does not have the capability to look to God for salvation.
Therefore God must choose his own, and he is not bound by what he foresees that man will choose. He is not under any control of man that too often claims to be able to tell the Almighty what to do with words like "claim", "accept", and other words that try to give man the power to authorize God to do something. Not so.
To say that man has even a spark of ability in him to be able to choose God, is saying that the Bible was lying when it said we were dead in our sins. I've never seen a partially dead person, and I feel that it gives man far too much credit to say that he has free will in this sense. I would rather give God the benefit of the doubt, than think of him as a hoping, wanting, wishing deity that wrings his hands in hopes of our selection of him. Predestination puts God in charge, and I like it that way.
2007-01-21 19:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol, I asked some this recetnly and they didn't have an answer... here is waht I believe. First of all.. there is no god.. but there is an engergy, the center or core of the universe that draws all things towards its peace, which is a state of nothing... just calm. It is meant to be that we all get their edventually.. but it will take many lives. So in this life, my lesson may be to learn kindness. or to deal with pain and find peace anyway.. etc.. so th end result is meant to be, and the things that come up are not an accident.. and what we choose is not an accident either... the 'plan' or what is meant to be is based on our choices.. our free will helps make what was meant to be happen.. the plan was made based on who we are
2007-01-21 03:45:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love this question. It's an absolute classic.
It has the fun follow-up question -- if he made you knowing you would sin to then send you to hell, does that make God a sadist?
There are a couple ingenious mental ways around this little gem of a paradox.
But I think the best way to understand it is that BOTH are occurring simultaneously. We have free will and predestination.
They don't have to be mutually exclusive. Chew on that for a while.
2007-01-21 03:50:41 · answer #4 · answered by special-chemical-x 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've thought about that myself. I had to look into scripture to try to get a better understanding of this. We know that God knows all things, and that in turn may make us think He has everything already planned, but the Word says that He doesn't want anyone to perish, but to have Everlasting Life. He knows the thoughts and intents of the hearts of man, but has given us the choice to serve Him or not to serve Him. Those who accept His Son Jesus will have Life and more abundantly, but to not accept Him would be to accept death. Im sure God knows who and why people choose not to accept His Love, but gives us the choice.
He will not force us for He is a Just God. He created us for His purposes, and although the first man and woman allowed sin to enter into mankind, He still gave us a choice through Jesus to be able to come to the throne. Since He's stated that He doesn't want anyone to perish, I feel better knowing that I still have a chance as well as anyone else to accept His gift of Life, Jesus. He's given us the power to choose. Thank God!
2007-01-21 03:41:26 · answer #5 · answered by H20 mentality 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. God knows who will and who will not except His offer of redemption. Thus predestination. I also think that there are people who can not refuse God-Jonah, Jerimiah, king david Samuel, etc. Jesus said "For many are called but few are chosen."
2007-01-21 03:41:23 · answer #6 · answered by TYRONE S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, but we have the choice, its just that god is the one who created us and so knows everything we are going to do or even think about. Also because god is just, he wont create u as an old guy and then tell you if you had lived u would have done that and that, and for what u would have done you are going to hell !!!! its meaningless and unfair
2007-01-21 03:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by shata 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you're a Calvinist. Since I'm not, I believe that each of us has a choice as to where we spend eternity. That choice is part of His master plan.
2007-01-21 03:35:40 · answer #8 · answered by David S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everything that happens, happens right because it was supposed to happen that way. this is because it did happen that way. but at the same time we have free will. i've gone crosseyed.. haha don't dealve to deep into this paradox man. if god loves you you ain't going to hell.
2007-01-21 03:36:57 · answer #9 · answered by ynordu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe...he knows YOUR heart. But it's still YOU making the choices all through YOUR life....at least you got a life.
2007-01-21 03:35:47 · answer #10 · answered by Cloud 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋