Chosen but Free by Norman Geisler

Ever since I came to Liberty University, I have despised overhearing the habitual arguments and discussions over predestination and free will. I have always thought that these arguments we Christians had among ourselves prevented the body of Christ from actually doing what we were called to do; sometimes we spend too much time discussing faith instead of living it out. However, through recent discussions with fellow students, coworkers, and through reading this book, I have come to realize that this long time debate is in fact a pertinent issue in our daily Christian lives. In developing my own thoughts on the issue, I have considered that my views are fairly balanced, but I have never been able to articulate my views well. Giesler’s book has helped me to understand the two extremes and the moderate view, and it has helped me to support a biblically balanced view of God’s sovereignty and our free will.

Before Geisler explains the two extreme views of predestination and free will, he discusses the characteristics of God and the characteristics of sinful man. Scripture says that God is before all things, He is all-knowing, he created everything, and He controls all things. Everything God promised in the Old Testament was fulfilled in the New Testament. God’s sovereignty, or control, over everything cannot be disputed. Satan himself is under the will of the Almighty God. If God is omniscient, then nothing surprises Him because He knows what will happen in the future. He knows the decisions we will make before we make them. It is hard for finite humans to comprehend an infinite God, but by understanding God’s sovereignty, we can maintain a proper view of God. Geisler then goes on to talk about the sin nature in every human. He concludes that the all humanity is fallen and we are responsible for our own sin. Scripture makes it clear that no sinful person seeks God (Rom 3:11), and we cannot work to earn our salvation. God’s grace is the only thing that can save us. We must remember, however, that God created man in his likeness meaning that He gave us  a free will just as He has His own free will. Man has the choice between good and evil; between obedience and disobedience. One statement I liked from Geilser occurred when he stated that God did not create us and then force us to love Him, because a forced love is no love at all.

I agree with much of what Geilser said about both views and how the two extremes are unbiblical. Those who take an extreme free will view are in danger of ignoring God’s omniscience, power, and ultimate control. On the other hand, those who take an extreme sovereignty view can ignore the process of salvation in accepting God’s free gift of salvation. Geisler attempts to reconcile these two extreme views and insists that God’s sovereignty and man’s free will are both biblically sound.

Worship in the Church: Cymbols and Silence

The doctrine of worship in the Church has been a topic of debate for centuries between many denominations. The debate usually comes between how worship should be acted out in the church, and it usually boils down to either a traditional or charismatic approach of showing God glory. Some denominations are very conservative in their approach to the act of praising God by the congregation. These churches tend to focus on the reverence due to the one true God. Usually these churches will incorporate hymns and scripture readings as a means of outward praise. Some churches will even have a time of silence in order for the individual to reflect of God and to confess sin. In Habakkuk 2:19-20, the writer compares inanimate idols to the Lord when he says, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."[i] In this instance, the author focuses on the fear and reverence that belongs to God and God alone. As the body of Christ, then, we can infer that there is a time when silent reverence in the presence of an Almighty God is necessary and even commanded. Job also sits silently before God and says, “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.”[ii] In order to further understand God, we must listen to Him, because He is worth our attention. I do not believe that these churches are wrong to praise God silently. In many ways this act is good because it deemphasizes the created in order to give fully deserved glory to the Creator. But what should we make of David dancing before the Lord? In 2 Samuel, the Israelites bring, “up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.”[iii] Here, David and the Israelites praise and glorify God in all sorts of charismatic ways. Also, in Psalm 150, the author makes imperative statements to praise God with music and dancing:

Praise him with trumpet sound;
  praise him with lute and harp! 

Praise him with tambourine and dance;
  praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
  praise him with loud clashing cymbals![iv]

Other verses in Scripture command that we outwardly praise God, and if we do not than His the rocks will cry out. It seems that both silent reflection on God’s glory and the outward shout of praise of God are both necessary for the adoration of the Lord. Like many others have said, it comes down to the heart of those praising Him. There is a time for silence before God, and there is a time for vocalizing all that God has done.

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[i] Habakkuk 2:19-20 English Standard Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 19 April 2011.

[ii] Job 6:24 English Standard Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 19 April 2011.

[iii] 2 Samuel 6:15 English Standard Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 19 April 2011.

[iv] Psalm 150:3-5 English Standard Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 19 April 2011.

My Testimony

I grew up in the average, middle class American home. My parents taught me and my siblings to treat others as we would want to be treated, and they taught us to respect adults and authority. They took us to church regularly, and we appeared at many events that were put on by the churches we attended. Obviously, I was not perfect; anyone babysitter knows that kids can be cruel, mischievous, and disobedient. As a child, I disobeyed my parents, I fought with my siblings, and I did not always treat others kindly. At one point in my childhood, I finally realized that I was not perfect, and I disliked this very much. I had learned from my parents and my church that this supreme being, God, knew all about me and all about my mistakes and imperfections. I learned that although he knew everything about me, the good and the bad, he loved me just the same. I had learned through experience that consequences occur from my mistakes and offenses against other people. Just as if I had hurt a friends feelings, and they forgave me before I even apologized, I found out that God did not keep track of my many failed attempts at perfection; He wanted me to know that he had forgotten all my mistakes a long time ago. Since learning this, acknowledging it, and experience it first hand, I have seen a change in my attitude and outlook on life. I no longer strive to be perfect all the time only to fail, but I strive to learn more about that one person who cares so much about me, God. Although, as a teenager and now an adult, I have gone back many times to relying on other material and menial things, I am dissatisfied and disappointed when these concepts fail me. The one person who never disappoints, however, is the one I come back to. God is the one thing I place my hope in, because I know for sure that even when everything is messed up around me, he will not say, “I told you so!” or “well, good luck!”  He will welcome me, comfort me, and help me along the way; when all is said and done, I will spend the rest of my life, after this life, with Him.