Recently I was in Southern California on a trip to Australia.  While scanning through the radio, on my way back to the airport, I picked up a secular station.  The host was talking about God.  His ignorance about the subject astounded me.  I was tempted to miss my flight just so I could pull over and call in.  It did make me realize that there are giant misconceptions about who God is and how He operates even among sincere Christians.

The greatest misconceptions seem to be over what is and what is not the Will of God. Historically there have been two points of view on the issue of God’s will, ‘election’ and ‘free will.’

There is so much ignorance about God because most people view Him through the lenses of  ‘election’ referred to as Calvinism or ‘free will’ referred to as Armenianism.  Churches tend to be in one camp or the other.  Churches aligned with denominations tend to be Calvinist in nature.  Independent churches tend to be Armenian in nature.

Calvinist believe that God ‘elects’ or predestines every minute detail of our life, good or bad, explaining everything that happens as preordained by God.  Each man’s destiny is in Gods hands.  Armenianism or ‘free will’ believes that man is in control of his own life and destiny.  God participates by providing a map through his word and direction though his Holy Spirit.

Without getting into a major exposition it will suffice to say that both camps need to move toward the middle, Calvinism more so than Armenianism, if we are to understand both the wisdom and grace of God toward his creation.

Election acknowledges the omni presence and power of God but goes too far by blaming God for man’s errors and rebellion, even going so far as to state that God planned sin to test man.

Free will, which acknowledges that man’s fall was a result of his rebellion, goes too far by limiting God’s participation in redemption.

People get trapped and ensnared by their opinions and doctrines of God.  They forget about the love of God.  Relationship is the path, not religion.  The only true perspective is to see the different doctrinal positions as complimenting each.  That is why I personally try to avoid being labeled and why I love Calvinist as much as I do Armenians.  I love people who love God no matter what their label.  I enjoy the freedom and liberty to work with anyone that confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The Truth is more than just the facts; truth is Jesus.  The ‘Truth’ is constantly working on our behalf.  He wants the best for mankind.  Truth took on the form of a human so that is could suffer for all of man’s rebellion, making a way for man to restore his relationship to God.  When sin entered the world calamity became default.  Bad happens when man rejects God or rebels against his word.   Never distrust the goodness of God!

If in doubt, go to the beginning.  When Adam and Eve had the forbidden fruit in their hand God didn’t knock it out.  He gave them their own free will even though it had terrible consequences.  He limited himself in the affairs of man while at the same time taking an active role their restoration.

In an attempt to answer tough questions about the calamities of life we forget about relationship and fall into religion.  We say things that sound right but have no life.  When talking about God don’t blame him for bad things.  Man’s lack of relationship with God is our fault not His.  Remember love never fails and God is love.

Rocky J. Malloy