Monthly Blog for October

Brad Way
Mrs. Burnett
Monthly Blog
AP English

Recently we have discussed which is more accurate about the world: a world where destiny rules and we as humans have no choice in life, or complete chaos where there is no set plan and everyday with every decision we make we are changing our life. We see this in Oedipus through the oracle telling him that he was going to kill his father and marry his mother. To escape this destiny, Oedipus runs away from his homeland just to end up where his parents are and finally fulfills the prophecy. The story of Oedipus shows the view of predestination: the idea that no matter what, you have a set destiny for your life that cannot be changed.

In the film "Run, Lola, Run", we have seen the position of free will (aka the butterfly effect) conveyed through the film's plot. The main character, Lola, goes through a situation three different times, each time making a different choice on the way which results in a different outcome. The way she runs down the steps of her apartment changes the time it takes her to get to her dad's bank and her boyfriend, which changes everything else, including the final outcome of their situation, which includes Lola dying, her boyfriend dying, and then finally them both getting away safely.

This brings up the question of which is true? Are we all destined in our lives or does every choice we make change the course of our life? The Bible comments on this in regards to those who are saved and unsaved. There are two sides in the conversation among Christians regarding this topic; there are Calvinists and Arminians. Calvinists started from the Christian pastor and theologian John Calvin who concluded that we were all predestined to either heaven or hell, and God had all ready planned out each person's destiny. On the other side, the Arminians got their beliefs from Jacobus Arminius, who was actually taught by John Calvin's hand-picked successor. After Jacobus Arminius had examined the Bible himself, he came up with conclusions differing his teachers, that every man has the choice to choose to follow God or not.

This debate, though it is a prominent one in the Christian community, should not seperate Christians. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul writes, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement." Paul urges the Corinthians that little theological ideals are good conversation pieces, but if they begin to divide believers, then ditch them. Theological debates are good in broadening our knowledge of the Word, but once they start disbanding the family of Christ, they lose their purpose and are more destructive than helpful.

With that said, biblical scholars have seen evidence for both Calvinism and Arminism in the scriptures. In Exodus 7:14 it says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.'" We see here that God has allowed the Pharaoh's heart to be hardened against God because of Pharaoh's choices. Moving forward a few thousand years and about 50 books in the Bible, we see Paul constantly write in the new testament phrases like "...as God's chosen ones..." [Colossians 3:12] assuming that we are all chosen to follow God by God, and that we have no choice in the matter. Both sides of the argument can make points in both examples to support their views on the idea.

Personally, I am not sure where I stand on the subject. It is evident in the Bible, mainly in Revelations, that God has a set plan for the world. Revelations talks much about the final destruction of the devil and sin, as well as the final judgement of all human beings [Revelations 20:7-21:26]. I know that what God plans will happen, but I am not sure if God plans someone's salvation or not. Either way, I find confidence that God is much smarter than me, and reminds me of this in Isaiah 55:9 where He says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." So even though I may not fully understand this, I find confidence and hope that God knows all and that I am in His hands.