During the height of the "open theist" controversy that coincidentally coincided with the suspension of Clark Pinnock & John Sanders (open theists) from the Evangelical Theological Society, I had a conversation with a "gun shy" open theist who attempted to explain his "version" of open theism. This individual would be what I'd call a "conservative" open theist. He described a middle knowledge understanding of God's knowledge, which asserts that God knows not only every decision we will make, but every possible decision we could make and its potential outcome (leading to an infinite number of possible outcomes).
The difference this individual made was that he believed when we made those decisions God would "temporarily" cover his eyes so that he did not know the actual decision we would make. He asserted that there are certain "unavoidable" events that God has prophesied in Scripture would occur and despite what decisions we make, he would bring these events to pass.
Given the massive amount of decisions that are made each second of every day, in this perspective I have a hard time understanding how God would not be blind. If this be the case, then would God be able to bring these "unavoidable" events to pass , only knowing what has happened and not what is happening? He would be blindly acting based on an understanding of reality that only knows the past. Furthermore if in eternity, we remain free beings then it would seem that God would have to be blind in eternity as well.
TSB VIII
2 months ago
4 comments:
Hey Dave,
Why would the very amount of decisions that happen every instant by a hindrance to God? Moreover, wouldn't the same amount of decisions be just as challenging to a God who knows the future?
Is God being blindthe same as God choosing to limit Himself? Can't He do whatever He chooses within His character?
AP: The difference between a God who "covers his eyes" at every decision point and a God who knows the future is a God who knows the future acts with full knowledge of all events in the fullness of time. However, a God whose knowledge is contingent on the "playing out" of people's decisions results in a God who acts with limited knowledge and to a certain extent rolls the dice on the decisions of humans, hoping for the best possible outcome.
It seems that most open theism systems limit God by time and lend itself well to process theology, among others.
MSL: I would argue there are certain things God "can't do" such as act contrary to his character and remain God (hence why satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness). I also think God can't perform logical impossibilities, because by definition they are impossible or not possible. Thus God cannot create a box that he cannot lift.
Hi Dave,
I guess what I am asking is why the amount of decisions that happen every moment would be a hindrance to a being of infinite intelligence, presence, and without limit. This surely would be a being who reacts to human choices--"rolling the dice," as you say--but not one that would be found without plan or ability to respond to any given choice.
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