Election is a horrible theology, what do you think?

Question

I think a lot theologies have corrupted the purity of the gospel. Some theology is obvious and some damaging. Some theology takes a word from the bible and makes a complete doctrine from it. Add to that many years of interpreting the theology and reinterpreting it you find yourself far from the original meaning.

Take election for example. It says God has determined from the begining of time who will live and who will die.

I don't think so. If God can see all times as now of course he knows what each person will do. From our point of view it would seem like it was all predestined. I say that it is not.

God knows what goes on at all times and plans accordingly. He has an advantage being God and all. Seeing the past, present, and future all at once...

Election makes the great commision null and void. What's the point in preaching the gospel if God already elected the saved and damned everyone else?

Answer 1

I applaud your intention to seek the truth as led by the Holy Spirit. Here is the problem you face. You already have concepts and ideas about the bible, God, evil, Jesus etc. These may be true or they may not. How are you going to determine this? Please consider asking the Holy Spirit to show you the answer to the following question beyond the shadow of a doubt. Without the correct answer to this question, asking other questions will not lead to correct answers. How can I tell the difference between thoughts inspired by the unholy and Holy spirits? This is critical to your spiritual growth.

Answer 2

Predestination is a horrible theology. The concept that we do not, after all, have free will, makes the entire structure of religion pointless. To me, the whole point to religion is to give guidance in making moral decisions, and to provide a community of relatively like-minded people to share their troubles and their triumphs. If "election," the way you describe it, is to be the theology, then where is the guidance? And how can a sense of community grow up around such a concept? If you knew who were the winners and who the losers, perhaps two separate communities could grow up. But why bother?

Answer 3

The word "election," or "elect" comes from the Greek word "eklectos" and occurs about 25 times in the New Testament. It signifies "1 to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one’s self. a choosing one out of many.""1 The one who does the choosing, the electing is God.

John 13:18, "I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’"

Eph. 1:4,"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."

1 Tim. 5:21, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality."

Again, there is debate within Christianity as to the means and purpose of God's election. Some say that God elects individuals and others say He only elects nations and/or groups of people. If God elects individuals this means that God is predestining them, electing them into salvation and He is not electing others. This does not sit well with many Christians. On the other hand, some Christians state that God elects based upon a foreknowledge of what an individual will do.
Whichever side you believe, remember that predestination and election are biblical concepts. You must also remember that how you believe or not in predestination and/or election does not effect your salvation. Therefore, you should be gracious to other Christians who differ with you on this subject.

Answer 4

First, as for election, I think its one of the most damaging doctrines of Christianity. The idea that people are made to go to hell is beyond the pale! It is comparable to someone breeding puppies in order to give loving homes to a few and torture the rest horribly.

As for Theology, I think if you do chose to be a Christian you should at least be an intelligent one. There is nothing wrong with intellectual exercise. I do not believe, as I have stated many time, but I think if you do you need to really examine what it is you do believe.

Answer 5

Election is Scriptural.....Read Romans 9 (Some vessels for honor & some for dishonor)

Our free will & God's sovereignty word together....no one knows how....it just does.

We are still called to preach the Word....

It's God's job to save people.....we're just seed planters...we don't know who the elect are.