In the realm of Evangelical Christianity, a thought-provoking perspective on the divine nature has emerged, challenging traditional views and stirring debate among the faithful. This perspective, known as the Openness of God, suggests a God who experiences time alongside humanity, feels deeply, and does not possess exhaustive knowledge of the future. This reimagined understanding of God's nature, as presented in the book "The Openness Of God," has sparked controversy and promises to influence various aspects of evangelical thought and life.
The Openness of God posits a deity who is not the unchangeable ruler dictating human history and individual destinies but rather a compassionate and empathetic Father who allows human actions to impact Him profoundly. This view, which may initially resemble Libertarian process theology with an Arminian twist, is more nuanced. It introduces a God who self-limits to be present in time and whose knowledge of the future is not absolute. This concept is known as "the open view of God," "creative-love theism," or "free-will theism," and it represents a radical form of Arminianism that stops short of full-blown process theology.
To grasp the significance of the Openness of God, it's essential to understand the prevailing theological beliefs:
Arminianism: This view holds that God has granted humans the choice to accept or reject Him, with predestination conditioned by God's foreknowledge of individual responses to the gospel. It also allows for the possibility of believers falling from grace, emphasizing that humans cannot do good on their own without divine rebirth.
Calvinism: Calvinists believe that fallen humans are incapable of saving themselves and that God's election is unconditional. Christ's atonement is sufficient for all but effective only for the elect. God's grace irresistibly draws the elect, who will persevere in faith.
Process Theology: Less accepted among mainstream Christians, Process Theology suggests that God evolves with the universe, confined to time, and learns alongside creation. This belief system posits that God knows possibilities and probabilities but not certainties.
The concept of the Openness of God is not novel. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Socinians argued that God's knowledge does not predetermine future events. However, both Calvinists and Arminians, representing the broader Christian community, have historically affirmed God's foreknowledge of human choices. Christian orthodoxy has consistently recognized God's prescience, with figures like John Calvin and Jacob Arminius underscoring God's eternal knowledge of human faith and perseverance.
A flawed understanding of God's nature can profoundly affect all areas of Christian life, from leadership to discipleship, as one's conception of God is reflected and enacted in daily life. Openness theology, while not an extension of Arminianism or a counter to Calvinism, represents an alternative attempt to reconcile divine providence with human freedom, incorporating elements of Process theology. Its proponents are committed to preaching and discipleship but often lack scriptural support for their views on God's omniscience and providence.
Openness theologians view history as a collaborative outcome of divine and human decisions. They portray God as omnipotent yet non-coercive, influencing rather than controlling. This theology challenges classical theism, arguing that it overemphasizes God's transcendence and underrepresents His relational nature as revealed in Scripture, where God is shown to suffer, grieve, and change His mind.
Openness theology contends that true freedom involves choice without predetermination, rejecting both determinism and predestination. This view grants humans a degree of independence from God, contrasting with the Calvinist perspective that true freedom aligns with God's will, and dependence on God is liberating. Openness adherents struggle with the notion that God could author both good and evil, and they question whether a self-limiting God can ensure history's culmination according to His desires.
The primary critique of Openness theology lies in its attempt to balance God's infinite and personal attributes. By favoring a personal God, openness theologians risk losing sight of His infinite nature, suggesting a finite God who does not and cannot know the future exhaustively. This selective approach may diminish the glory of God by applying human-like attributes to the divine.
This exploration of the Openness of God will continue in Part 2, where we delve deeper into the theological and practical implications of this perspective.
For further insights into the nature of God and theological discussions, visit Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition.
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