A short defense of open theism...

[Caroljeen]

Many passages of Scripture depict God as foreknowing and/or predetermining certain things about the future. But there are also many passages that depict the future is open (not determined) and depict God as knowing it as a realm partly comprised of possibilities.

Some examples of these Scriptures include:

• The Lord frequently changes his mind in the light of changing circumstances, or as a result of prayer (Exod. 32:14; Num. 14:12–20; Deut. 9:13–14, 18–20, 25; 1 Sam. 2:27–36; 2 Kings 20:1–7; 1 Chron. 21:15; Jer. 26:19; Ezek. 20:5–22; Amos 7:1–6; Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 4–10). At other times he explicitly states that he will change his mind if circumstances change (Jer. 18:7–11; 26:2–3; Ezek. 33:13–15). This willingness to change is portrayed as one of God’s attributes of greatness (Joel 2:13–14; Jonah 4:2).
• Sometimes God expresses regret and disappointment over how things turned out—sometimes even including the results of his own will. (Gen. 6:5–6; 1 Sam. 15:10, 35; Ezek. 22:29–31).
• At other times he tells us that he is surprised at how things turned out because he expected a different outcome (Isa. 5:3–7; Jer. 3:67; 19–20).
• The Lord frequently tests his people to find out whether they’ll remain faithful to him (Gen. 22:12; Exod. 16:4; Deut. 8:2; 13:1–3; Judges 2:20–3:5; 2 Chron. 32:31).
• The Lord sometimes asks non-rhetorical questions about the future (Num. 14:11; Hos. 8:5) and speaks to people in terms of what may or may not happen (Exod. 3:18–4:9; 13:17; Jer. 38:17–18, 20–21, 23; Ezek. 12:1–3).
• The Lord frequently speaks of the future in terms of what may and may not come to pass (Ex.4:1-7; Ex. 13:17; Ezek 12:3).

Classical theologians often consider only the passages that demonstrate that the future is settled either in God’s mind (foreknowledge) or in God’s will (predestination) as revealing the whole truth about God’s knowledge of the future. They interpret passages (such as the above) that suggest God faces a partly open future as merely figurative. I do not see this approach as warranted on either exegetical or theological grounds. I am therefore compelled to interpret both sets of passages as equally literal and therefore draw the conclusion that the future that God faces is partly open and partly settled.

A Brief Outline and Defense of the Open View - Greg Boyd - ReKnew

While many Christians have found the open view of the future to be the most helpful and accurate view of God’s foreknowledge of the future based on biblical, philosophical, and experiential evidence, others have criticized the view as unorthodox and even heretical. What follows is a brief...

reknew.org

 

[Stephen]

Amen.

God has free will. Like a loving parent responding to their children's good or bad behavior, he can, and does, change his mind. God changing his mind is one of the ways he expresses his deep love for his children.

Inability to change his mind when his children respond to his calling and correction would be psychopathic.

 

[Caroljeen]

Amen.

God has free will. Like a loving parent responding to their children's good or bad behavior, he can, and does, change his mind. God changing his mind is one of the ways he expresses his deep love for his children.

Inability to change his mind when his children respond to his calling and correction would be psychopathic.

The Open view also gives our prayers more meaning. Prayers can sway God and circumstances can be changed.

 

[Dizerner]

The Open view also gives our prayers more meaning. Prayers can sway God and circumstances can be changed.

One could argue that simply not knowing the future does not somehow make it undetermined.

See, determination is not at all based on knowledge and that is the big error constantly being foisted upon us by Calvinists and Open Thesists.

You know what you did yesterday, so it cannot change, do you feel this knowledge you have makes your past choice no longer free?

Take that same logic—and use it for your future choices that will one day be past.

Certainty does NOT equal necessity, it just shows the thing chosen.

 

[Caroljeen]

One could argue that simply not knowing the future does not somehow make it undetermined.

That isn't quite what Open Theism is all about. They would say that the future is open and not predetermined. The future is known by God in part as all possibilities. So God knows all possible choices and the results of those choice beforehand as possibilities. Those potential possibilities can be changed by our prayers. Our prayers can change things as opposed to the Calvinists view in which are prayers are meaningless in that God has already predetermined all things.

I didn't understand your answer. Would you rephrase it?

 

[cjab]

For humans the future is open, or as open as God has made it for them, whilst for God the future is already known. In order to interact with humans, God must contextualize the future as open. It's really a question of context. The human context requires uncertainty to be considered: in the context of heaven all things are known.

 

[Caroljeen]

For humans the future is open, or as open as God has made it for them, whilst for God the future is already known. In order to interact with humans, God must contextualize the future as open. It's really a question of context. The human context requires uncertainty to be considered: in the context of heaven all things are known.

If God knows exactly how people will respond before they do then how can he get angry at them or express surprise or regret, etc?

 

[cjab]

If God knows exactly how people will respond before they do then how can he get angry at them or express surprise or regret, etc?

Knowing doesn't stop you expressing your judgement. All such expressions are de facto judgements on human conduct.