Certainly, as Christians, we should agree to disagree and not get in a battle over differing interpretations of Scripture, but I see nothing wrong with debating theology and using reason where we can to determine the truth. Since all Scripture is God-breathed, we need to know what we believe and why we believe it, but in our efforts we must avoid putting words into God’s mouth. We may, after struggling with the mysteries of God’s Word, not always be on target, but we should always be ready with a reasonable response when the veracity of the Bible is challenged. Of this I am certain, God only does those things that are in His holy character.
The doctrine stating God knows everything, even those things that have yet to occur, is not supported by Scripture. God created everything including time and time will allow future events to take place only once by God’s will, and the will of man. Nothing in Scripture supports the claim that God knows a future He has not ordained to happen. To say that every future event is set in concrete and has in essence already happened is to propose that God will change His mind.
When King Hezekiah was ill, the Lord God sent Isaiah to let the king know that he would not recover, but that he would die. Hezekiah beseeched God, prayed and wept bitterly. He did not want to die. The Lord heard his prayer. God changed His mind and allowed Hezekiah to live an additional 15 years! This Scripture leaves us with three options. God was mistaken about the future. God lied about the future. God changed His mind about the future. Which is it? You choose.
Lon Pearson
Decatur, Ala.
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