ccoan
Site Admin
Joined: 21 Feb 2007
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: Open Theism |
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John Eldredge (the author of Wild at Heart) has been accused in several places of practicing "open theism."
Open theism, basically, is the belief that "God not only does not control all events in the future, He cannot even know them. God is at the mercy of human choices, and, therefore, by creating people God has placed Himself at serious risk."
In recent times the Evangelical Theological Society has declared open theism to be a heresy and has attempted to expel several theologians who hold it.
When Eldredge says things like “God is a person who takes immense risks” (p. 30). “It’s not the nature of God to limit His risks and cover His bases” (p.31). “As with every relationship, there’s a certain amount of unpredictability…. God’s willingness to risk is just astounding…. There is definitely something wild in the heart of God” (p. 32), is he limiting the power of God?
I personally don't know, but I don't think so. I seem to find myself somewhere between two extremes -- I was raised a Primitive Baptist (which inclines me toward predestination), but free will is also an issue.
What, by the way, is the difference between free will and open theism, as it's explained above? |
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