Tag: Jesus

Choosing Fate: Navigating the Crossroads of Free Will and Predestination

February 20th, 2024
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Freewill or predestination? How about both?

Christians love to debate theology, it’s one of our favorite pastimes. But we don’t like to debate out of animosity or pride, we are only trying to get to the bottom of a belief. I was just reading a section in the book Dominion by Tom Holland (no, not Spider-man) where he discusses how Constantine was astonished by the bishops’ ability to debate what he thought were “the little things.” What was thing small belief that they were arguing about? Just the substance of Jesus and whether He was fully God, fully man, or both. Part of what confused Constantine was that the pagans, for the most part, did not quarrel over theology. They might argue over which god was stronger or better, but not over theology.

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Freewill and Predestination

This leads us to my point today. Does the Bible teach free will or does it preach predestination? For those who aren’t as versed in those terms here is a quick rundown. Freewill means that a person can turn to or turn from God. We have the choice, and God allows us to make it freely. Freewill also says that we make our own choices in every part of our lives, and we can choose God’s way or our own.

Predestination, on the other hand, says that God has preordained who will be saved and who won’t. God is the mastermind in every minute area. With these definitions in mind, where do these beliefs come from?

Verses on freewill:
1. Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (NIV): “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
2. Joshua 24:15 (NIV): “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
3. Galatians 5:13 (NIV): “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
4. John 7:17 (NIV): “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
5. Revelation 3:20 (NIV): “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
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Verses on predestination:
1. Ephesians 1:4–5 (NIV): “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — “
2. Romans 8:29–30 (NIV): “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
3. Acts 13:48 (NIV): “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
4. Romans 9:15–16 (NIV): “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
5. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
As you can see, several verses are pointing to both sides. That is why when someone says that the Bible teaches one or the other they aren’t wrong, they are just ignoring the other side. Human nature likes to gravitate toward polar ends. We want a simple explanation for how things work, and we are rarely given that. Based on my understanding of the Bible, free will and predestination both exist and they work together somehow. We have no idea how and many have given some good guesses. C.S. Lewis wrote in his book “Mere Christianity,” “If you picture Time as a straight line along which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn. We come to the parts of the line one by one: we have to leave A behind before we get to B, and cannot reach C until we leave B behind. God, from above or outside or all round, contains the whole line, and sees it all.”

Wrapping It Up

The main issue is which comes first, our choice or God’s? I don’t think it matters. Both are true, the Bible tells me so, therefore I am to live my life in that fashion. This is where our opening verse comes into play. We must fall on our knees and exclaim that we believe, but we need help removing the rest of our unbelief. Whether that belief came from our heart first or God’s does not matter. God is there at our moment of belief, and He is there to grow, tend, and keep it alive.

For me personally, I want this to be my morning meditation. “Lord I believe, but help my unbelief!” Every day I read my Bible and every workday I clock in at a Christian school. But I forget God so often. “Lord help my unbelief!”
Understanding God’s Love: A Controversial Perspective

February 17th, 2024

God’s love for His creation is a timeless truth, yet it often sparks controversy. Despite our sins, God’s love remains steadfast (Romans 5:8). However, recent events, such as a notable Super Bowl commercial, have reignited debates on the nature of God’s love.

The commercial, titled “God Gets Us,” features AI-generated images of religious individuals washing the feet of outcasts, accompanied by the slogan “He gets us.” While some applaud the message of inclusion, others, particularly from a more conservative, Calvinistic viewpoint, challenge its theological implications.

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Both sides miss the mark. Scripture unequivocally asserts God’s love for sinners (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:8), demonstrated through Christ’s sacrificial death for all. The Greek word κόσμος (Kosmos) emphasizes this universal love, encompassing all of humanity.

Yet, extremes emerge. Liberal interpretations tend towards unconditional acceptance, neglecting God’s justice. Conversely, conservative views lean towards condemnation, disregarding God’s mercy. However, God’s nature encompasses both justice and mercy, offering redemption to those who acknowledge their need for Him.

God’s love is profound, illustrated by Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. However, His holiness requires judgment against sin. Yet, through Christ, God offers redemption to those who surrender to Him.

In conclusion, God’s love is both profound and demanding. It calls us to sacrifice our desires and embrace His provision. While the commercial’s message may miss the mark, it prompts important reflections on the depths of God’s love and our response to it.
Discover Spiritual Awakening: A Journey to Finding Inner Peace

February 15th, 2024

If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.
Luke 17:33

Slowly, I lift my eyes to the heavens, shielding them from the blazing furnace before me. A tear falls down my cheek as I plead in my heart, “Oh God, why have you forsaken me? Alone I stand, destitute in the sand, forgotten.”

“Alone? Poor child, you’ve never been alone. I was there before you were even a thought. I molded you, crafted you, breathed myself into you. You are the workmanship of my hands. You’ve never been alone.” I search every corner of the horizon, but the voice eludes me.

“Where are you? Why do you not show yourself?” I yell.

“Here I AM… where I’ve always been. Before you. Waiting. Caring for you even if you’ve never cared for Me.” Suddenly, a figure cloaked in ruby appears, radiant like the sun but not as the sun. “Why do you seek Me now? You’ve never done so before.”

“I feel a voice cutting through my thoughts. I tried to block it out, but it won’t leave. It’s always there, whispering, prompting, guiding. I hated it once, but now… recently, I’ve realized the wisdom in its speech. The more I listened, the more I turned to hate myself. What once brought me joy now reviles me. Lust, pride, greed, and envy used to propel me to heights of glory and fame, but now… now I feel disgusted by their presence. With them gone, I feel a new sensation. Out of them all, this is the worst one yet. Loneliness has become my companion. The voice is still there, but everything else and everyone else has left. I’ve felt more alone today than ever before. This tearing, scorching, gnawing sensation wrenches my gut open, eviscerating my being until I’m a shell. A shell of the man I used to be.” Tears flow down my face as I muster the courage to look at the compassionate face before me.

“I know loneliness, and I know what it’s like to be hated. I’ve been beaten for crimes I didn’t commit, abandoned by those who loved me best, jeered at by those who traveled to hear me, and betrayed by those I loved. I know your loneliness because My Father once turned His face away from Me. We broke our immortal bond so that yours wouldn’t. I was rejected, beaten, and hated so that you would know acceptance, healing, and love.”

“How? How can I find these things when I don’t feel them? I can’t even feel the burning sand for my numbness. What must I do?”

“Sit and be washed.”

“Washed of what?”

“Everything. Every impure thought, motive, and action. You must forsake yourself to find Me in your heart.”

“Everything? That’s a lot to ask of a mortal man.”

“I am everything. Besides Me, there’s nothing. No love, joy, or peace. I am the beginning and the end. Now, sit and be washed.”

Trembling, I sink to the earth, knees resting on the sand. “You have me, all of me. I am yours. Wash me.”
Evidence for Jesus: Part 2

April 8th, 2023
Brandon Foster
Welcome to part 2 of my Easter series! In this blog, I want to discuss three archaeological artifacts and three primary sources. I have noticed that many Christians have never taken the time to familiarize themselves with defenses for their faith. I am not suggesting that every Christian needs to be a master at apologetics. But a simple understanding would go a long way. I think a very easy category to begin with is history. That is why I made part 1 (link here) and a part 2 discussing historical evidence for Jesus. The six things I want to focus on for the rest of this blog are: Caiaphas’ ossuary, The Pilate Stone, the Crucified Heel, Tacitus, Josephus, and Pliny the Younger. Each source adds valuable evidence for the biblical narrative. Without any further-a-do, let us dive into history for a moment.

Caiaphas’ Ossuary

In 1990 a group of workers were doing their job when one of them suddenly uncovered a tomb. I have been told that this is actually a very common issue in Israel. Since it is such an old country, and has been occupied by so many different groups or rulers it seems every moved rock reveals some archaeological artifact.

This time a piece of biblical history was uncovered. When scholars descended into the tomb they found a group of ossuaries. An ossuary is a box that contains bones. This was a common practice in 1st century Israel. One of the ossuaries had the inscription “Joseph son of Caiaphas.” If you remember from your Sunday school class, Caiaphas was one of the men Jesus stood in front of. Scholars believe that this is his tomb.

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Archaeological finds like this are important because they smooth out the tension surrounding Jesus. If the Bible mentions all of these characters that interacted with Jesus and we couldn’t find the most prevalent ones in any way outside the Bible that would be a problem. Finding Caiaphas just adds one more level of proof for the Bible.

The Pilate Stone

Up next we have a more important archaeological discovery. The last one was important, but I think less people argued over Caiaphas’ historicity. Pontius Pilate on the other hand, was argued over quite a bit. Outside of some writings (which we will go over later) we had not uncovered any sources proving Pilate

Well now we have! The Stone of Pilate is a block containing writing with the name of “Pontius Pilatus” written on it. He was dedicating something to Emperor Tiberius so he wrote what he did and that he did it. Talk about writing it in stone. This stone puts Pilate in the correct region (Judea), the correct time (under emperor Tiberius), and the correct position (governor). These three things are very important extra-biblical facts for the Bible.

The Crucified Heel

Our last archaeological artifact is a heel bone with a twisted stake in it. This discovery is important because we had almost no proof proving crucifixion with nails. We had drawings and descriptions with rope, but no nails. The reason why this is concerning is because Jesus was nailed to the cross.

If the Bible says that Jesus was nailed to the cross, and the Romans never nailed people but only tied them, that is a big problem. That kind of small detail can show that the “witness” had never been there, and that they made it up. But now that we have proof of nails being used we can believe the testimonies of the gospel writers.

Tacitus, Josephus, Pliny the Younger

Now we have reached the section on primary sources (a first hand account). I am not going to break this section up, but instead, I am just going to write them out and let you see the words for themselves. Each person is writing shortly after Jesus except for Pliny who wrote his passage around 100 AD. These writings are important because they prove that Jesus was worshiped as God (part of the trinity) from around the 50s or 60s AD. Many critics try to say that Christ was not deified until the 3rd or 4th century. These secular writings (non of them were Christian) give the greatest evidence for Jesus, and for Him being believed to be God.

Therefore, to stop the rumor, Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices, whom the crowd styled Christians. Christus, the founder of the name, had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus, and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judea, the home of the disease, but in the capital itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a vogue.
Tacitus

At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have reported wonders. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.
Josephus

They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food–but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.
Pliny the Younger

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Choosing Fate: Navigating the Crossroads of Free Will and Predestination

by Brandon Foster February 20, 2024

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