Chosen but Free?

In Geisler’s book, Chosen But Free, he is attempting to answer a question that churches have been debating for decades.  He basically outlines Calvinist and Armenian beliefs and attacks the question of predestination, and leans more towards Armenian views in the process. The title of this book seems to be a contradiction in itself when one first reads it.

This old question is one that inspires controversy. Giesler acknowledges that this is a hard subject but does his best to back up what he is saying with scripture (2Timothy 2:15). His example of the cross is helpful when determining my beliefs on this subject. Jesus still used his own free will and allowed the Romans to crucify him on the cross. Another helpful example is that Lucifer rebelled against God with his own free will. If we do not have free will then this suggests that God is the one who put sin in us and that God has sin, which would destroy much of what the Bible tells us about God.

Giesler also makes a valid point about your particular stance on the subject of Calvinism/predestination. Many people view it in a black and white manner and that you have to be an extreme Calvinist or else you are not one at all. Most Christians fall in the middle ground on this subject, including me. In a sense I believe in predestination, because God is omniscient and knows who will ultimately choose to follow him. But I also believe that God created us with free will and does not force us to follow him.

Sometimes Christians argue so much about a theological issue that it does more harm than good. Chapter eight in this book asks, “Why does it even matter?”, question that I ask myself often. Some things are not essential to salvation and there is room for different views. In this case the issue of predestination is questioning God’s character and as Giesler said; our view of God defines what we believe and defines our Christianity.

This book is a great introduction to Calvinist beliefs juxtaposed next the bible verses that support them, or possibly disprove the view point. The most important part of all of this is that as a Christian you know who you believe God is and are able to back it up with biblical text.