Are our destinies written in stone?

Date:   4/3/2007 7:41:43 AM ( 17 y ago)

Easily the most popular movement in churchianity the last few years is the Purpose Driven program by Rick Warren. At its very heart is the assertion that every little detail of our lives is planned by God, and all the world's problems would melt away if we'd all just find our "purpose"— our destiny.

But since the Reformation, the system known as Calvinism or "reformed" or Monergism has held to an even stricter definition of fatalism: that we don't even need to find our purpose, because God has every moment of human history scripted to the last detail, and we are all just puppets on strings, acting out the play.

This idea of destiny is prevalent in the world as well. Many religions ascribe to it in one way or another.

But what does the Bible say about it?

In both Testaments we see time after time where God implores people to choose. Some would say that God is known to tell us to choose even when it is impossible for us to do so, but this ignores the context of those few instances used as proof-texts. In the vast majority of cases, God literally expects us to weigh the options and make the right choice.

Look at the very first instance in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden (ch. 3). Adam and Eve had a choice to make regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There is nothing in scripture to indicate they were forced, either directly by God or indirectly through their "nature", to disobey. Had this been the case, then we could rightly accuse God of being the real author of sin.

But instead we see that God held them accountable for their choices. And where there is accountability, there must be free will. Granted, we are not free to do that which is impossible for us, but scripture clearly indicates that we are all free to choose whether to obey God or reject him. This is not beyond us at all.

Some would try to make a special case for Adam and Eve, but look at how God pleaded with Cain to resist sin:

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6-7)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10)

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved— even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:11-15)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:14-18)

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