Predestination

What if I were to tell you I believed in predestination? Would you call me a heretic? Would you say I have abandoned the ancient faith? Maybe you would say I finally fell over the sola scriptura cliff. Of course, none of these accusations would be true.

The truth would be that we are required to read the Scriptures as if they are true. One mistake many Christians make is to simply ignore passages which conflict with their understanding of God. Rather than accepting their understanding must change, it becomes more palatable to change the meaning of words. Today is one of those days.

Brethren, we know that everything works for good with those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.  And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies; who is to condemn?  It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8.28-39

It is widely known that the Orthodox Church does not believe in predestination. This is why we must come to terms with this passage from Saint Paul. Predestination in Christian circles is used to explain that God has already chosen who will be saved. This is where it gets complicated.

First, the Greek word which is translated as predestined in this passage is προώρισε focuses more on foreknowledge than forechoice. We shouldn’t believe that God has already chosen for us per se. Instead, God already knows our choice.

In this way we read ‘predestination’ as ‘God has predetermined that we would choose.’ This is consistent with the next passage in Romans. “And those whom he predestined he also called…” What is interesting to me is the link between being saved and being called.

If predestination is God’s choosing for us, then we can easily accept that God has already chosen to save us. In fact, God has already chosen to save all of us. Where we differ with other Christians is how we speak of being saved. We are all saved from death through the saving Passion of Christ.

Herein lies the real conflict. We don’t speak the same language as other Christians. God has indeed predestined all to be saved “and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1^st Timothy 2.4) The problem is, some may not want to know the truth. For those, being saved and knowing the truth is worse than being saved. It is hell.

We can’t ever look at just one word or one verse to understand the Scriptures. If God has predestined us to be saved, and then He calls us, whether we understand being saved as heaven or hell. I often say that Protestants are trying to ‘get into’ heaven while Orthodox are trying to ‘get ready’ for heaven.

If we read Saint Paul’s words as God has predestined all for union with Him, then our job is to prepare our hearts to want to be where God has already placed us. We are forced to reconcile our understanding with the truth. The truth that God will save anyone He wants. If He wants to save everyone, that is His prerogative. If that is true, our only hope is to want to be saved in the first place.

I don’t see this as a conflict with the Scriptures nor the teachings of the Church. I close today’s blog with this challenge. What if we all get to where we’re going and find out everyone is with God together. What if we find believers and unbelievers all being embraced and loved by God. What if God calls to us with the words of the father of the prodigal son, “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” (Luke 15.32) Would we be happy or angry? One means we are in heaven. One does not.