Providence – Three Views
Part 1: Providence in Open Theism
By Chris Priestley – originally published 5/2/2014
The Pictures of Providence on display in the gallery of Ruth reveal the rock-solid reality of God’s certainty and control.
Ruth answers the question, “how does God relate to the world?” Is he far off, distant and aloof? Deists like Thomas Jefferson teach that God built the world like a tinker who prepared a watch, wound it up, and then left it to run on its own. To the Deists, God is powerful, but not involved. Sociologist Christian Smith recently revealed most young Americans relate to God in this way—“There may be a god out there, but he’s not actually involved in our lives except to resolve significant problems.”
Books like “The Shack,” and authors like Dr. Greg Boyd have recently written books denying that God is actually in control at all. Furthermore some Christians teach that God foresees the future, but the future he knows is determined by the decisions you and I make.
Is God involved in the world? Does he continue to act in or oversee the natural world? Is he involved in the decisions that you and I make? Does he direct our actions? Does he submit himself to our choices?
These are the questions that theologians have generally answered with the doctrine of “Providence.” God has not left us without answers regarding his involvement with and in the world.
Throughout history there have been three primary views of how God interacts with the world. Two of these views—Arminian and Reformed—are within the bounds of Christianity, while the third view—Open Theism—denies what Christianity teaches altogether.
Providence in Open Theism
Open Theism is taught by guys like Greg Boyd, John Sanders, and John Elderidge. The belief really came into prominence in the last two hundred years not as a new thought but as a reaction. Some guys were dissatisfied with both tenants of Reformed Theism and Arminian Theism, so they created Open Theism as a reaction to what they did not agree with.
What is Open Theism?
Open Theism teaches that God is growing, changing, and responding to the events in the world with no knowledge (and certainly no control) of the future. As such, God submits himself to the decisions and actions of man.
Open Theist Clark Pinnock writes,
“God rules in such a way as to uphold the created structures and because he gives liberty to his creatures, is happy to accept the future as open, not closed, and a relationship with the world that is dynamic, not static. . . We see the universe as a context in which there are real choices, alternatives and surprises. God’s openness means that God is open to the changing realities of history, that God cares about us and lets what we do impact him.” —Clark Pinnock, The Openness of God, pg. 103-14
Where both Arminian and Reformed Theism agree that choices have real value, Open Theism posits further that God has no knowledge or control of the future.
Where is Open Theism in the Bible?
The verses Open Theists generally point to are passages in the Bible where God is described as experiencing grief or regret.
A key example is 1 Samuel 15:11-35 where God says to his people “I regret that I have made Saul king.”
Open Theist Greg Boyd gives commentary “We must wonder how the Lord could truly experience regret.” From these passages Open Theists argue God could not have experienced regret if he knew the future, therefore God doesn’t know the future.
Three Responses to Explain These Passages
When interpreting Scripture, one common error is called “proof texting.” This is when a reader pulls out one verse of the Bible and derives a doctrine or principle from one verse or portion of a verse without considering the context surrounding the verse or the rest of the teachings of the Bible. Instead, Scripture should be understood “tota scriptura” or in light of the whole. Paul writes to the Ephesian elders, “I have not hesitated to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). There are four responses to passages that describe God’s emotions or regret.
1.) The context is the key. 1 Samuel 15:29 explains “The Glory of Israel will not lie or change his mind for he is not a man that he should change his mind.” The surrounding passage makes it abundantly clear that God doesn’t change his mind. Additionally, Scripture is clear that God does not lie. Based upon the context, the description of God’s regret is not a change of mind.
2.) When God speaks of his “regret” he does so anthropomorphically. You may remember from your English Lit classes in college, Anthropomorphism is attributing human characteristics to nonhumans. When a poet writes that the wind wrapped its autumn arms around her coat, it’s anthropomorphism. The wind doesn’t have arms. The writer is giving the wind human characteristics to describe its actions vividly. Similarly, when Boaz praises God that Ruth has sought refuge under the wings of Yahweh (Ruth 2:12) he does not mean that God is a chicken with wings. There is a literal meaning in anthropomorphism. The wind was powerful. God protects Ruth. Samuel explains theologically, God does not lie or change his mind because he is not a man. When Saul is made king, God’s “regret” is anthropomorphism that describes his displeasure.
3.) Furthermore, God knew from the beginning that Saul was not the promised King of Israel and He foretold the identity of the True King hundreds of years prior in Gen 49:8-12.
Based upon a bad interpretation that ignores the overwhelming revelation of God’s attributes throughout Scripture, Open Theism denies God’s immutability (his unchanging nature), denies God’s sovereignty, and denies God’s omniscience and foreknowledge.
What Does Scripture Teach?
God reveals himself in Scripture as a God with exhaustive foreknowledge.
“Set forth your case, says the Lord;
bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring them, and tell us
what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
or declare to us the things to come.
Tell us what is to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do harm,
that we may be dismayed and terrified.
Behold, you are nothing,
and your work is less than nothing;
an abomination is he who chooses you.
I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;
he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
as the potter treads clay.
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
none who heard your words.
I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
But when I look, there is no one;
among these there is no counselor
who, when I ask, gives an answer.
Behold, they are all a delusion;
their works are nothing;
their metal images are empty wind.” (Isaiah 41:21-29)
“Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isaiah 46:10)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it…
…Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
(Selections of Psalm 139, see the whole Psalm)
“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23)
See also:
Daniel 11 (God foretells the future)
John 13:19 & 38 (Jesus’ Prediction of Peter’s Denials)
Ephesians 1:4 (God’s foreknowledge before the foundation of the world)
God reveals himself as a God who does not change.
“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:25-27)
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
How does Open Theism Work Out Practically?
Bruce Ware rightly calls Open Theism “Uncertain hands of God and Men.” In the analogy of a man drowning in the sea and God being the rescuer to lift him up, Reformed Theism describes God as reaching down to save man monergistically (all of His own effort). Arminian Theism sees God reaching down and offering His hand with man grabbing hold (cooperation). In the drowning metaphor Open Theism places God in the water alongside of us, offering empathy as we both drown together.
Open Theism teaches that not only do we not know what will happen next, but neither does God. Emotionally this is supposed to provide comfort. God is portrayed as the buddy who can empathize in the emergency room, “I’m here with you, I’m as surprised as you, I had no idea this was coming.” God is a friend who can empathize, but not a God with any answers about the purpose or any power to affect change in the micro level, let alone on the redemptive level of salvation and resurrection. Prayer is stripped of any power and suffering becomes an obstacle in both our way and in God’s.
Furthermore, when it comes to salvation, Jesus coming and dying to save his people was a huge risk, but one that had no definite outcome. Open Theism reduces the cross to a last ditch effort by a learning god to finally get something right—and wouldn’t you know it, it just happened to work!
The Unchanging Sovereign God of the Bible sent Jesus on a definite mission marked out before the foundation of the world to accomplish a certain goal with no fear of failure. What God determined God accomplished.
Furthermore all of Jesus’ promises for the future, “I will build my church,” “I will come again,” are not the mere hopes of a powerless friend, but the rock-solid certainties of a glorious, Sovereign God.
Open Theism removes the power of God, the work of the Gospel, and the hope of the future. As a theology it’s rejected because it’s not biblical.
In the next blog we’ll take a look at the two Christian views of Providence, Arminian Theism and Reformed Theism to uncover God’s hand in our lives and salvation.
Want to study more on open theism?
Recommended Reading
Books:
• Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God by Bruce Ware
• Beyond the Bounds edited by Dr. John Piper (Free .pdf here: http://www.desiringgod.org/books/beyond-the-bounds) - This book is a collection of articles by multiple Bible scholars addressing the claims, foundation and legitimacy of Open Theism as a theology.
Articles:
• http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-open-theism-helps-us-conceal-our-hidden-idolatries
• http://www.challies.com/articles/challenges-to-the-church-open-theism
Video:
Dr. Bruce Ware – Uncertain Hands of God and Men:
