Why Determinism Falls Short of Biblical Teaching

Is Determinism biblical? Determinism is the belief that God has meticulously ordained every event and every decision to come to pass.

The answer is no - it's not biblical. This problematic teaching is never taught explicitly anywhere in the Bible, in fact Scripture affirms the opposite.

Here are several arguments that says determinism is unbiblical and explains a bit why this teaching is so problematic.

The biblical emphasis on true human responsibility:

The biblical emphasis on human responsibility is a crucial reason why determinism is unbiblical.

Throughout Scripture, we see numerous instances where individuals are called to make choices and are held responsible for their decisions.

For example, in the Garden of Eden, God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed and suffered the consequences (Genesis 3). Similarly, the Israelites were repeatedly called to choose between serving God or false gods, and they were held accountable for their choices (Joshua 24:15).

The Bible also emphasizes our ability to make genuine choices and the consequences of those choices.

Proverbs 1:29-31 says,

"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices."

This passage highlights the relationship between human choice and its consequences.

Throughout the New Testament we see many examples of individuals choosing to follow Jesus or reject Him. In Matthew 19:16-22, a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and follow Him, but the man goes away sad because he is unwilling to make that choice. Similarly, in John 6:66-68, many of Jesus' disciples desert Him because of His difficult teaching, but Peter affirms his belief and commitment to Jesus.

These passages and many others like them highlight the reality of human choice and responsibility.

This reason alone makes it very difficult to affirm a deterministic understanding of God's sovereignty. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign, but He also allows us to make genuine choices and be held responsible for them.

The presence of sin and evil

Determinism raises significant concerns about God's role in the presence of sin and evil. If God meticulously ordains all events and decisions, it becomes challenging to distinguish His responsibility in the existence of sin and the actions of individuals who commit sinful deeds.

In contrast, Scripture consistently portrays God as holy, righteous, and opposed to sin.

Leviticus 19:2 says, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Similarly, 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

The Bible teaches that God does not cause sin or evil.

James 1:13-14 says,

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."

This passage clearly states that God is not the source of temptation or evil.

Instead, the Bible teaches that God permits sin and evil within the context of human free will.

God's desire for all to be saved:

The Bible contains several passages that emphasize God's desire for the salvation of all people.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 says, "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Similarly, 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

These verses challenge the deterministic notion that God has unconditionally and eternally predestined some individuals for salvation while consigning others to damnation. Instead, we should maintain, as scripture teaches, that God's grace is genuinely available to all, and each person has the opportunity to respond to the Gospel message.

In Acts 2:38-39, Peter proclaims, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." This passage suggests that the promise of salvation is available to all who repent and are baptized.

Similarly, in John 3:16, Jesus declares, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Does this famous verse not indicate that the opportunity for salvation is open to all who believe in Jesus?

So a biblical understanding of God's desire for the salvation of all people challenges the deterministic view of predestination. Instead, scripture teaches that God's grace is genuinely available to all, and each person has the opportunity to respond to the Gospel message. Through faith in Jesus, anyone can be saved and receive the gift of eternal life.

The relational nature of God:

Scripture presents God as a loving and relational God who seeks to have genuine relationships with His children. However, determinism, by removing or minimizing human free will, can potentially undermine the authenticity of our relationship with God. A deterministic view might imply that our love for God is not a genuine response to His grace but rather a predetermined outcome. This would contradict the biblical portrayal of God's desire for a genuine relationship with His children.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of individuals who respond to God's love and grace with genuine love and obedience. In the Old Testament, Moses has a close relationship with God and speaks to Him face to face (Exodus 33:11). Similarly, King David is described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

Jesus calls His disciples friends and invites them into a deep, intimate relationship with Him (John 15:13-15). Paul also emphasizes the importance of personal relationship with God, saying, "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26).

The relational nature of God is a crucial aspect of biblical teaching. God desires a genuine relationship with His children, and this relationship is characterized by love, grace, and obedience. A deterministic view of God's sovereignty, that minimizes human free will, undermines the authenticity of our relationship with God.