One of the greatest divisions in the Protestant branch of Christianity is over the question of predestination vs. free will.
In essence, the question is about whether or not individuals have a real choice concerning their own salvation. Does God determine who will be saved, or does he invite each of us and leave it to us whether to accept or reject that invitation.
Both positions can find support in scripture, which is why both exist within Christian traditions that are generally accepted. But since they cannot both be true, the answer to the question is a defining characteristic of different faith traditions.
Methodists have always believed that free will has greater scriptural support than predestination. I don’t think I’m alone in believing that God can, and at times does, intervene in history, but I believe that to be the exception rather than the rule.
Instead, I believe that through prevenient grace God actively calls people to follow him, I believe he ultimately allows individuals to accept or reject.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time on the topic of prevenient grace, and the parts of the catechism we’re looking at today seem focused on one of the dangers of this particular belief: If viewed in an extreme way, the doctrine of prevenient grace could be used to deny free will.
So, to be clear, we believe that God acts to call us to himself, and that we can only respond through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean, though, that the prompting is irresistible. Humans can, and too often do, resist God’s call.
God acts in our life before we recognize he is acting in our life. It is even within our power to resist that action to the degree that we never acknowledge the call at all.
The invitation is open to everyone—as is the freedom to determine our own response.
– Rev. Mark Fleming
This is part of a sermon/reading series in July-August, 2024, looking at some core Christian beliefs, along with distinctive emphases of the Methodist branch of Christianity.
The daily readings are my own, but they are loosely based on the topics covered in the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. The column at the right contains the questions from the catechism and the sources it lists.
You can find the full catechism and other information about the Global Methodist Church at globalmethodist.org.
I invite you to join us for worship and other church gatherings at China Methodist Church and Forest Park Methodist Church.
Respectful conversation is welcome. Use the comment section at the end of this post.
From the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church:
51. How does preventing grace lighten the effects of original sin?
It prevents the full consequences of our alienation from God and awakens conscience, giving an initial sense of God and the first inclinations toward life in its fullest sense.
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Romans 8:7-8 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Book of Doctrines and Discipline Paragraph 102 Read it here
52. How does preventing grace re-establish the freedom of the will?
While in our bound and helpless state, preventing grace breaks through and enables genuine response to God’s further grace.
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Acts 8:31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 15:8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
Acts 16:30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Book of Doctrines and Discipline Paragraph 102 Read it here
53. Does God determine all human actions?
No. Influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit, humans are responsible in freedom to exercise their wills for good.
Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 … if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Mark 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
John 1:12-13 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
Romans 10:8-9 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
2 Peter 3:9 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.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Confession of Faith VII* We believe man is fallen from righteousness and, apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, is destitute of holiness and inclined to evil. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. In his own strength, without divine grace, man cannot do good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe, however, man influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit is responsible in freedom to exercise his will for good.
From the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, a predecessor denomination of the Global Methodist Church