This week I have had a lot on my mind. Over 2020 and 2021, the changes that have occurred in our world have definitely affected the local church. We started attending a different church, one that follows the doctrine of Calvinism. I will be honest, I knew nothing of different 'isms' as they weren't spoken of in our church. I found out recently that my beliefs lined up with what was called 'Arminianism', or at least I think that is that case. The one difference I found between the two was the issue of salvation through free will vs predestination.
Now, the reason I've been thinking of this so much this week is due to the message we had last Sunday. I have been attending this church for 2 years now, and the messages have all aligned exactly with the Word, so I have had zero issue with anything. This last message was very loaded! There was so much info that it is hard for me to even begin to talk about, but the thing that had me questioning was when he talked about how important doctrine is. Yes, I believe the doctrine of a leader is definitely going to come through in their teachings, which is why I had no issue with the messages before because all of them lined up with the Word and used the Word to explain and teach the Word rather than using other books that likely had doctrinal messages contrary to what the Bible teaches. So it was with this message. It all lined up for me, until he mentioned Calvinism and Arminianism as two opposing doctrines (just wait! Hold on! My mind is weird in how I describe this). He was saying that there are wolves in sheep's clothing, but that they believe themselves to be sheep (no, he did not say those who follow Arminianism are wolves). He used the scripture from Matthew 7:22-23 which says:
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "
This scripture as well as others was used to show that wolves in sheep's clothing may very well believe they were sheep as well. I mean, look at Paul on the road to Damascus! He fully believed He was right in what He was doing in persecuting those who were saved! But God called Him out of that in a very literal (and blinding) way! So this made sense to me. The common belief is that these wolves are 'out there' somewhere, rather than the fact that the Bible tells us to beware (not out of fear, but to be aware) these wolves that come to us. Right to us. And something he was clear to point out is that they were wolves because they were teaching something that is contrary to God and His Word, yet likely believed they were right. He also made a point to make sure we knew that people with opposing doctrine were not always wolves. People make mistakes. We are human. He went on to say that he knew an Arminian (I had to look it up, honestly, as I had no idea what that was and I keep spelling it wrong) whose doctrine was Biblical and besides one thing (that they believed that God gave man free will to become saved by, whereas Calvinism is the belief in predestination of those who will become saved) that they had all the same doctrine. And we shouldn't let that get between us as though the other person is a 'wolf in sheep's clothes' because they aren't. Yet doctrine is important. Oh man, so much to unpack.
Anyway, that is what led to this post. I will spell it out, I believe in God giving us free will. I believe this because the Word says that He loves us all. He died for all. Not just for those He predestined, but for ALL. So much of scripture supports this. I also believe He calls us. Whether we answer that call I always believed was up to us in our free will. However, I read something that stood out to me today. It was in Romans 8:28-30 which says
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
I had never remembered seeing the word 'predestined' in my readings of the Bible before. But here it is! Those God foreknew, He predestined. Foreknew means that he knew beforehand... and looking at the previous verse it talks about those who love him. So, those He knew beforehand would love Him, he predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus who is to be the firstborn of all brethren. So, Jesus is the first. We who are saved are adopted and take on His name as sons of God. Since I also believe that God knows all things past, present, and future, this would make sense. He should know beforehand those who will love Him. Sure! Of course! And so, since He already knows that, to predestine them to be conformed to Christ makes sense as well, because they will love Him by their own free will at some point in the future. I don't think it is saying that God is choosing who will love Him, because He loves all as Jesus died for all so all could be saved (John 3:16 is one of the first verses we memorized as kids and I think it is good and pertinent). I believe He would want ALL to be saved and washed and cleansed. However, He foreknew those who would in fact love Him, and called them. It almost seems circular. I feel like it may be something that is hard for the human mind to fully comprehend, the scope of it may just be too big for us. Another couple of examples would be that David was said to have a heart after God (and he made mistakes in his life, but sought out the Lord and was repentant each time), but Pharaoh we are told had his heart hardened and wouldn't let God's people go. God knew these things in advance and used them to bring glory to His name. So what if it is 'both/and' rather than 'either/or' in terms of free will and predestination?
What if both Calvinism and Arminianism views are valid? What if they are just looking at the other group as dismissing something entirely because our minds cannot comprehend a free will that also has that predestination element because the two words are contrarian? We both believe God knows all things, right? He knows what will happen in advance, and knows those who will love Him and be saved. So what if He predestines those people? It says He foreknew them, and therefore predestined them to be conformed to the image of Christ. I believe the Bible is fully true. I believe we as people will often misrepresent without knowing it, we are fallible, we make mistakes. What if some of our initial beliefs about things are mistaken as 'either/or' when God intended them to be seen as 'both/and'? All I know is that I want truth. I want to understand better.
The Bible talks about how things that are impossible for man are possible for God. Luke 18:18-29 says
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
So, in my understanding, it is impossible in our minds that free will can coexist with predestination because the words are contrary, but to God it is possible because He knows all things, past, present, and future. He already knows those who through their own free will are going to love Him, so He predestines them to be conformed to the image of Christ. My mind still finds this kind of contrarian, but also is seeing that it makes sense.
What if our feeble minds can only see the 'either/or', but God is saying it is 'both/and'? Am I God? Can I fully understand what He has designed? I cannot fully comprehend His ability to make possible the impossible. I can only believe because I am His, and He loves me and that is truth because He says so in His Word over and over. So the 'fights' in between the different 'isms' need to end. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 says
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
We are dividing over these things! Things that are likely only a question in our own minds, and not the mind of God! If it is indeed that we have both free will AND are predestined, how much God must be shaking His head at us for our divisive attitude. Why do we have the isms? Why do we follow the Bible, but then also follow a specific person in history that said a thing, divided with the church over it, and now we hold another group in contempt for that one thing? The Bible is clear that we are not to be doing this! We are to be of one mind! We are to agree! So why not follow the Bible, follow Christ, and put little to no emphasis on these other doctrines?
Oh man, I have so much in my mind on this. What do you think? Is it possible that this is a human misunderstanding? If so, how do we come to terms with that and come together again? How do we make sure we are not of those who call out 'Lord, Lord' and yet are met with 'I never knew you, away from me you evildoers'? We must make our focus the Bible and ALL it's truth, not just the parts we like. Oh man, so much I want to say. So much that is off the topic of before. SO many things on my heart lately.
I guess my main prayer on this note is that we come together and not let some minor differences divide us. Discussions are great. Understanding truth should be our goal. Our main goal should be loving the Lord and knowing Him, teaching Him to our children and grandchildren (and others, of course, but my world is my home and family). And of course, keeping our minds open to where we may have had things wrong in our own beliefs when God's Word says otherwise. Just my two cents.... or maybe that is a lot more than two cents, haha. I can't even get pennies anymore! (Wait... does that make them more valuable? 😉)
