Recently I received an email from one of our students who has moved away to college. This godly young person is doing the right thing in searching for a living, breathing church home. The email reads as follows. See my response.
Hey Brother Ben,
This is ____________. I am at college here in __________, and I had a question or two about finding the right church for me here. I have been doing some research and found some good places to maybe visit, one in particular called ______. It’s a non-denominational church, and the only thing that doesn’t line up with the doctrine I have been taught and personally believe is that they claim predestination as truth. I know I don’t believe the same as they do on this issue, but everything else about the church is what I would completely go along with. My question is- do I visit this church, or stay away from it completely? I don’t want to be deceived into thinking predestination is okay, but at the same time I don’t want to personalize Christianity and make it easy for ME. I know my journey as a believer will be tough, and I feel like if I go to this church and let that key issue ‘slide’ then I’ll be pushing something quite imperative out of my focus. I’m a little conflicted, if that’s the right word, about what to do next. Thank you so much for your influence on me and my family. It is such a wonderful thing to have a spiritual home like Englewood to look back at.
Sincerely,
______________
Dear ____,
All Christians believe in predestination because it is in the Bible. Eph 1:5 makes it clear that “God has predestined us” to be adopted as sons and daughters. What this means is: God had you in mind before you came to be. I don’t know a single Christian that is not comforted by this truth.
Where we divide on this issue is the role of human responsibility. Some Christians think that humans have no part to play in this process, since God alone is responsible for spiritual life. I think they are misguided. I would argue that grace is certainly “Of the Lord” and not of man. However, I see people every Sunday that walk away from that alluring grace and reject the calling of the Holy Spirit. Is this not what the Rich Young Ruler did in Matthew 19 as well as countless others who crowded in around Jesus? Whose fault will it be if that man went to hell? Of course, it will be his fault. He “went away sad” and (likely) went to hell because he resisted God’s plan for his life.
As far as predestination goes, I am 100% convinced that God does not save people by accident, but instead, draws sinners to himself, according to His plan. The Spirit moves in mysterious ways and blows in unpredictable fashion (John 3:8). The Holy Spirit pursues us. He saves us and brings us to new life and God should receive ALL the glory. However, I would not attend any church where they publicly preach that God creates people for the sole purpose of sending them to hell. Scripture says that “He does not wish for any to perish” (1 Tim. 2:4) and He “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ez. 33:11).
If I’m being honest, I think we spend way too much time as Christians debating this issue. While we argue over its mystery, which is certainly engaging, millions of people are dying and going to hell without ever hearing the gospel. Does this church have a passion for taking the gospel to all people and for setting sinners free? Does this church focus on the GREAT COMMISSION and strategize on reaching people before the last heart beat. These are the bigger questions. I fear that the world may be dying and going to hell while we argue over the Greek.
I am thankful that you are searching for a church home. This is a critical decision and one that should be bathed in prayer. Take your time and be sure that the Spirit is flowing through that place. You are loved by your family at Englewood.
Ben
A very articulate and clear response, Ben. Well-said truth we can agree on.
Ben,
I am amazed sometimes at your ability to so clearly interpret the Bible. I am convinced that we get fresh manna every week due to your commitment to study, prayer, and meditation on God’s Word.
Thank you for what you do!
Right on target brother. I take great comfort in 2 Tim 1:9.
Ben: Your exposition on this is most helpful-I only study the issue because I thought I would probably learn a great deal in the process-and we must be prepared to deal with people about the toughest issues. I like to say I am an Acts 17:26-27 Christian. NIV – “…he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” That said, I still get hung up on: Romans 9:17-23 – “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for ° this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? ° Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to ° make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? ° 22 What if ° God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” http://www.icr.org writes “Our finite minds may be incapable of comprehending and resolving such paradoxes, but that does not mean both cannot be resolved in the infinite mind of God. It may be something like the two sides of a coin. We can only see one side at a time, but both are real and true.”