The Great Debate That Shouldn't Divide Us

My wife has an awesome weekly bible study with a group of women from our church. They've been going through the book of Romans and inevitably predestination comes into the discussion.  As a Reformed believer, this has led to hours of discussion in our home and has bled into the discussions at the study.. the topic of God's sovereignty in salvation. It's a topic that often creates heated discussions in our churches. I believe it shouldn't divide us from our brothers and sisters in Christ.

How Far Does God's Sovereignty Extend?

God's sovereignty means He rules over everything; every detail of our lives, every decision, and yes, even our salvation. As Scripture declares in Second Chronicles "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours". These words thunder across all history, echoing the magnificent truth that every heartbeat, every whispered prayer, every moment of salvation pulses with HIS divine purpose. Think about it like this… if God isn't in control of everything, how can we trust His promises for our future?

Why I Lean Calvinist

I embrace the Calvinist perspective primarily because it gives God all the glory in our salvation. Calvinist R.C. Sproul said, "Among the mass of fallen humanity, all guilty of sin before God and exposed to His justice, no one has any claim or entitlement to God's mercy". When we say that God must produce in us the decisive desire for Christ, we acknowledge that salvation is entirely His work.

This Beautiful Truth

Jesus Himself said, in the gospel of John, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him". This isn't about making us feel special; it's about recognizing God's amazing grace. He loved us before we could ever love Him. With Micah on the way I get this.. I loved this kid long before his first cry, and God, He loved us before we drew our first spiritual breath. Before He began to knit our greatest grandparents in the womb of their parents, HE loved us.

The Challenges We All Face

Let's be honest - both Calvinism and Arminianism have their difficult points to wrestle with. As John MacArthur acknowledges, "It is possible to be Arminian and to be a Christian...while being confused or ignorant of those things–to know that you're a sinner and know that the only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ".

Finding Unity in Mystery

Arminian Christopher Wright wisely notes, "God acts through human actions–without turning people into puppets". Sometimes it's okay to hold two truths in tension. We have a will, He has a will, there must be a rhythm, their must be a dance. Either God created us and chose us for salvation or to allow us to damnation, or God created us knowing some would choose salvation or damnation; both roads lead to the same conclusion. The real question is who is leading the dance… Gods will, or our will. As Psalm 115:3 declares, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases Him".

Moving Forward Together

Whether Calvinist or Arminian, we can unite under the truth that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". As John Piper reflects, "There could be no greater display of the glory of the grace of God than what happened at Calvary".

Both traditions affirm:

• The need of God's grace for salvation
• The reality of human will and responsibility 
• The supreme authority of Scripture
• The glory of God as our highest aim

What unites us is far greater than what divides us. 

Remember, these theological discussions matter, but they shouldn't overshadow our primary calling - to love God and make disciples. After all, Jesus didn't pray for His church to be united in their understanding of predestination, but in their love for one another and their witness to the world.

Let's focus on our common mission of proclaiming Christ crucified rather than allowing these important, but secondary issues to divide us. After all, the sovereignty of God is not just a doctrine to debate – it's a reality that should drive us to our knees in worship and propel us forward in mission.