The Frozen Chosen

I'm not sure that this addresses predestination, but Rob Bell's DVD Everything is Spiritual helped me out with the concept that God knows what's going to happen in my life before I do. Does that mean I really don't have free will?

Rob contends that God is outside of time and space in such a way that our lives in his hands are like a dry erase marker in Rob's. God can see the totality of my earthy life all at once. I'm in the middle of it, so I'm not very objective. Although he can see where I'm headed and how it will ultimately turn out, it doesn't mean I destined to do go that way. Does the Spirit move in our lives? Certainly. Can we choose to escape God's care? You betcha!

In baptism, God claims us as his own. We can embrace that eternal life and live it to the fullest until we die and go to heaven or we can deny our maker and go prodigal for good. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. Life is full of ups and downs. What I love about these last several chapters of Acts are encouraging, inspiring statements like:
"Barnabas threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives."
"Paul and Barnabas urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace."
Commitment to living our eternal lives, starting today.

Those who claim salvation, but point the finger at those who they think are going to "burn in hell" just want there to be some losers, so they can have more confidence in the fact that they are going to win. I was reminded again this week that when my life ends, I will be standing in the face of God's merciful judgment alone. We aren't going to be talking about anyone's sins but mine, nor anyone's grace but his.

We can either be a part of the solution (sharing the good news, connecting people to God) or part of the problem (judging others, casting guilt and shame...like we're not in the same sinking boat). That's the extent of my decision theology.