The predestination debate can become heated and divisive if we aren’t careful.
And we should be careful.
Jesus commanded us to love each other and that the world would know us by that love. Even in disagreement, we should be unified. If we can see the motivations and hear the stories of those who differ from us, it can help create a bond of unity and facilitate love.
Understanding the motivations of the other person can take the edge off the argument.
I’ve talked with several Calvinist friends and pastors over the years, and it is important to hear why they’ve come to believe in the doctrine so strongly. Many have gone through intense personal struggles with sick children. Or they’ve walked alongside friends and family members who have been through incredibly dark times.
In those valleys, they’ve turned to the idea of God’s absolute sovereignty as a place of comfort, security, and strength.
Calvinism has some attractive qualities. The Calvinists I’ve been around are…
- very concerned with glorifying God
- big on unmerited grace
- not often influenced by religious fads
- able to balance intellectualism with passionate worship
That’s not to say that non-Calvinist Christians are not also those things, but I’ve found them to be pronounced in Reformed theology.
The life of an Arminian (a Christian who does not believe in predestination, but does believe that most people will end up in never-ending torment in hell) can be stressful. The eternal fate of those the Arminian comes into contact with (or fails to come into contact with) hangs in the balance each day. That’s a heavy load to bear.
And, when things go badly, the Arminian can feel crushed, defeated, and responsible.
If you hold the Arminian worldview, those feelings are understandable. And if the Arminian moves to the predestination view, that choice is understandable in light of those intense emotions. I’ve been through both phases.
Of course, another reason people believe in predestination is that it can be shown from Scripture. There are ample stories and teachings in the Bible which lead in the direction of predestination.
There are, of course, Scriptures which run contrary to the doctrine of predestination. So, we’re left with some choices.
Please, as you work through these ideas and their implications, look for common ground.
Try to understand the other person’s perspective and the path that led them to it—even if you disagree—and love them.
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