Sitting here in Subway, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago it was predetermined that I would be sitting here in this Subway, typing away on my laptop… The fact that every detail was predestined, even down to the Dr. Pepper I am sipping on, and the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg, given to me by a very uncomfortable wooden chair that was predestined to be made, sold, and placed in this very Subway… The two men sitting across the restaurant from me, munching their sandwiches, obviously have no idea that their visit was pre-planned; the man asking for Provolone cheese on his deli delight just doesn’t get that he is not really choosing to have it- it is just an involuntary part of the course of his life, a life that he makes no real decisions but instead is carefully guided, step by step, by the hand of God.
On the flip side, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago God decided that He would not interfere, not one iota(as my parents would say), in the path of my life that has landed me at this Subway, typing away on my laptop… The fact that every detail is completely of my choosing, completely a result of my own hand, especially down to the Dr. pepper I am sipping on because I chose on my own to fill my cup from the fountain; even the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg is completely from my own will, because I decided that I would sit in this wooden chair that has been strategically placed before me as yet one more option in the whole cosmic scheme of things… The two men munching their sandwiches across the restaurant from me are not here by Divine appointment, but rather complete coincidence, sitting here completely as the result of a spur of the moment decision they made with no outside help… And the man with the cheese? He will have it on his deli delight if he wants it and NO ONE will take that right from him!
OK, OK… So those are both extreme examples of the never ending debate of calvanism, arminianism, and all the junk that falls somewhere in the middle… I must admit, that most people on both sides are not nearly as, shall we say, fanatical as I have just portrayed them to be… But then, that isn’t exactly my point in what I am about to say anyway.
Here is the deal; while I may have overdramatized the thought processes of those who boil down their theology to the name of some Biblical scholarly scholar from “eons” ago(or as I would state, some dead guy), I did not overdramatize the fact that there is a clear distinction, a clear difference, between them. Now I am not talking about the kind of difference that leads one man to choose coke and another pepsi; but rather, it is a distinction that too many times leads to division.
Understand, I have been thinking on this subject for a little over a year now. I have friends who, as the old saying goes, are on both sides of the aisle. And as I have thought about this very fascinating discussion of whether or not God predestines people to Heaven and Hell, I have also been observing the people who ascribe to both sides of the coin(myself included). I watch how they behave, how they live out their faith, and their attitude towards those who believe differently on this subject. NOW wait a minute- before any of my friends get upset with me- no, I wasn’t just observing you. I was also taking notes on so many others I know, and reviewing notes from people I have known in my past.
I have also read on the subject, even plodding through my Biblical commentaries written by Mr. John Calvin, as well as some of his other writings. Even more importantly, I have read the scriptures… After all, what better place to find out about a subject than from the Word right?
And I have come to my conclusion… Which is the point of my musing on this subject tonight… I think that the best way to explain my thoughts on this is to take you back one more time to Subway, looking at the scene from what I believe may be Christ’s perspective(based on what I have read in the Bible)…
Sitting here in Subway, I am stunned at the thought that a stinking wretch like me could be in the presence of God even here, as I type away on my laptop. It is made possible only and completely because of never ending Grace and Mercy shown to me by the love of Christ, and His sacrifice. The Dr. Pepper I am sipping on reminds me of His provision(even if it is unhealthy); the cramp that is starting to form in my leg reminds me of the hope that one day I will be in a place where there will be no more pain and sorrow. The two men munching on their sandwiches remind me of the fact that He cares enough to provide for their needs whether they know Him or not, and a reminder that He has commanded us to take the Gospel to every creature- the Gospel that the Creator of the universe wants to break bread with even them, if they would believe on the Gospel and be saved… The man choosing provolone for his sandwich? What decisions has he made that brought him to this point in his life? What pain and sorrow, what guilt and brokenness does he carry, and who- if anyone- has offered him the One thing that will cause him to never hunger again- the entrance to a land flowing with milk and honey?
In short, I guess what I am saying is that while it is an interesting discussion, and that we should be getting in scripture and asking God for wisdom on this- and all doctrine; we must NOT in the process loose sight of the goal! God did not say to take our understanding of doctrines and theologies to all the world- rather, He commanded that we take the GOSPEL to all nations. The Gospel is much simpler than the doctrine of predestination, I think. It is simply this- that we are born sinners, hopelessly lost, enemies of God, worthy of His wrath, on a path for eternal damnation with no chance of reconciliation to God- except for this; that God showed his love for us in this, that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us- That He so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him- that whoever confesses with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead- shall be saved!
Now in case you are wondering why I am addressing this- because too often we let this doctrine divide us. A Body united, so it goes… but too often we are a Body divided. I guess you could say I wonder how much more of an impact we Christians could have if we concentrated on working together to spread the Gospel instead of fighting each other! Let’s get something straight- not one single person has been or ever will be saved because they believed in Calvanism; not one soul has been rescued from the fires of hell because they chose to believe in Arminianism; and no one has experienced the saving Grace of God by experiencing an adherence to the middle ground…
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