Church History and the Bible have agreed that Christ will return to the world physically sometime in the future to claim His Bride-the church. the details have varied based on varied interpretations of prophecy but the big picture has always been the same for Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox believers. This return will be physical.
In the gospel of John, Jesus said to his disciples in chapter 15, verse 16: “You did not choose me but I have chosen you..” This passage gives us the priority of Jesus choice. This was consistent with the practice of first century Judaism, rabbis chose their disciples. He chose us.
In the whole Bible, there are over 150 places where it states that God chose us. There are very few that describe us as choosing God. This is consistent with the understanding and literature of the times of the Bible. In all Semitic cultures, people assumed that their gods had chosen them. Read the inscriptions of both Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonians and Cyrus of the Persians. So for Old Testament and New Testament believers to believe the same thing about the true God is not surprising.
This offends some 21st century believers but nevertheless, this is what the Bible teaches.
I have been interested to note that people who believe in this Divine election never fall into universalism and an understanding that a person can go to heaven in some way other than Jesus. On the other hand, I have noticed that people who chafe at these election passages are more likely to make a way for someone to be saved outside of Jesus. Peter said that “there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” [Acts 4:12].
I recommend you read Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology about some of the most edifying aspects of being chosen by God and celebrating it.
Jesus stated that we “are” his witnesses [Lk.24, Acts 1]. As well, we are to actively practice witnessing in both word in deed. We should preach to the whole world, we should do this individually and in our churches. This evangelism and verbal sharing of the good news should go on from the time we are born again until the day we die.
Open Theism represents the decline of theological thinking in the latter half of the 20th century. Basically, open theists deny the historical understanding of the omniscience of God. Reading through The Openness of God, I was struck by the thought that Clark Pinnock and his cohorts looked back at church history with certain condescension and “pat on the head’ to the Augustine’s and John Wesley’s of the world.
Process Philosophy predated this theology by several decades and looks much like it with the absence of Bible verses.
Interestingly, no one of note in church history really held it-either Arminian or Calvinist, Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox.
Usually, adherants of this unusual and unique persuasion mistakenly label anyone who disagrees with them as a “Calvinist”. Twenty-first century historic Arminian, Thomas Oden disagrees at a decibel level of jet engines with open theism. He is certainly not a Calvinist”.
Isaiah tells us in chapters 40-48 that God knows the future-absolutely.
I am going to publish my understanding of theology, the nature of God, etc. etc. in regular postings. The reason for this is the number of people I have interested in what I believe about various theological topics. As well, since there are people out there who have put me in certain theological cans without really knowing what I think, it is wise to tell the world.
Christianity Today took a recent on line poll that was revealing.
Do you pray for countries other than your own?
Yes, for countries where I know missionaries
23%
Yes, for countries that have influence on my country
3%
Yes, for countries that are in the news for problems
52%
Yes, for countries where I’ve traveled
6%
Yes, I use a system that leads me to pray for a different country each day
7%
No
10%
Total Votes: 936
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