From a friend (taken from a powerpoint presentation to a class I taught recently): "Much Modern theology presupposes the deistic assumption that the first step is to prove God exists. No, the biblical question is what kind of God exists?" Hauerwas and Willimon Open Theism Open Theism (also called Free Will Theism) connects with the spirituality of many Christians especially in relation to prayer "The Openness of God is an attempt to think out more consistently what it means that God enters into personal relationships with humanity. To develop an understanding of the triune God and God's relationship to the world that is Biblically faithful, is theologically coherent and which enhances the way we live our Christian lives. .On the core tenets of the Christian faith, we agree, but we believe that some aspects of the tradition need reforming, particularly when it comes to what is called "Classical Theism." We believe that some aspects of this model of God have led Christians to misread certain Scriptures and develop some serious problems in our understanding of God which affect the way we live, pray and answer the problem of evil." (Sanders) "Open Theism takes the following form: God, in grace, grants humans significant freedom to cooperate with or work against God's will for their lives, and he enters into dynamic, give and take relationships with us. The Christian life involves genuine interaction between God and human beings. We respond to God's gracious initiatives and God responds to our responses . . . and on it goes. God takes risks in this give-and-take relationship, yet he is endlessly resourceful and competent in working toward his ultimate goals. Sometimes God alone decides how to accomplish these goals. On other occasions, God works with human decisions, adapting his own plans to fit the changing situation. God does not control everything that happens. Rather, he is open to receiving input from his creatures. In loving dialogue, God invites us to participate with him to bring the future into being." Five principles that summarise Open Theism: The Sovereign God freely determined to create humans capable of experiencing His love Although totally free and sovereign, God's love for people led God to base some actions on what people do In divine wisdom, God exercises "general" rather than "meticulous" providence or control over the future God has given people the freedom necessary to establish "a truly personal relationship of love" with God. God, who indeed is omniscient, "knows all that can be known or all he wants to know Biblical support for Open Theism After telling the prophet Isaiah to announce that King Hezekiah would not recover from his illness, God told Isaiah to report God had changed his mind, and Hezekiah would recover (2 Kings 20) Jesus healed a paralysed man because of the faith of the man's friends (Mark 2:5). Jesus could not perform many miracles in his hometown, Nazareth, because the people there lacked faith (Mark 6:5-6). The Apostle James told Christians, "You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 4:6). God conditions divine action upon repentance of the people (Jeremiah 7:5). God expected certain actions from the people of Israel which did not come about (Jeremiah 3:7; 32:35). God presented King Zedekiah with alternative actions and resulting possibilities (Jeremiah 38:17-23). God "consults" with biblical figures before determining divine action, such as Abraham (Genesis 18), Amos (Amos 7) and Moses (Exodus 32). God agonizes over how to respond to people when they sin (Hosea 6:4, Jeremiah 5:7). God "tests" people to see how they will respond, including Abraham (Genesis 22:12) and the Children of Israel (Exodus 15:25; 13:3). In response to Moses, God changed his mind about destroying the people of Israel (Exodus 32). After Eli's son's sinned, God took back his declaration that Eli's family would remain in the priesthood (1 Samuel 2:30). God rejected Saul's family, which was to be the line of royal succession (1 Samuel 13:13). Difficulties with Open Theism Open Theists interpret narrative texts in ways that are contrary to didactic (teaching) texts. The idea that humans work along with God to determine the future, is contrary to the example Jesus set while on earth The position that God does not completely know the future gives us a God who grows and changes as He gains new knowledge from the evolving revelation of man's decisions The Bible also portrays the control God has over the circumstances of life, even the negative ones, as absolute Classic Theism The Bible holds that God is in control of all things (Romans 8:28-29). It is beyond our understanding, the way God's sovereignty is able to exist side by side with the freewill of mankind and not violate it. Furthermore we serve an unchanging God (Hebrews 13:8) who knows completely not only the past and present but also the future (1 John 3:20). Such beliefs are contrary to Open Theism Further Reading Pinnock, Clark. Most Moved Mover. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001 Pinnock, Clark. The Openness of God. InterVarsity: Illinois, 1994 Boyd, Gregory A. God of the Possible. Baker: Michigan, 2000
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