Before Time Began, God Knew I'd Write This Review

Review of:
What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?
By Millard J. Erickson

Several years ago, I discovered that some serious, evangelical Christian scholars believed that God may not know everything about the future. That surprised me, to say the least. I wonder if God saw this coming.

I had always been taught that God knew everything, past, present and future. In fact, I was taught that He even knew future contingencies that wouldn’t actually occur, but, if they did, this is how it would happen. God’s complete omniscience seemed to be a reasonable concept to me. After all, He’s God, right? He exists outside of time, so how could a matter that hinges on time (past, present, future) present a limitation for Him?

Well, I discovered that some theologians would be quick to say, “Wait, just a minute, buddy boy. What about this passage where God seems to change his mind?”

Or, “what about this passage where God’s actions are changed based upon what a person does?”

Or, “what about this passage where God seems to truly discover something about a person based upon a test He has given the person?”

Or, “how can people really have a free will and, yet, God already knows what they’re going to do?”

And, so, the debate is on.

Millard J. Erickson’s book, “What Does God Know And When Does He Know It?” presents the issues of this debate in a reasonably fair and comprehensive manner.

Erickson presents the arguments for the Traditional View of God’s foreknowledge and he presents the Open View of God. He offers a biblical basis for each position. He examines the hermeneutics and doctrinal structure of the issues. He looks at the historical development of the matters and the philosophical influences. And he presents some of the practical issues that follow.

Erickson has a keen eye for identifying the logical inconsistencies of the Open View.

Erickson, himself, holds the Traditional View of God’s foreknowledge and he makes that clear, in the book. However, he also states that his book represents an attempt “to deal with these issues with an open mind and to listen carefully to the arguments on both sides.” He does acknowledge the strength of the Open View on the points where he perceives they have the stronger argument, especially in the “Evaluation and Conclusion” section of the book.

Summing it up, he writes this, “On balance, then, while no single view has given final answers to the issues involved in the foreknowledge debate, the traditional view of God’s exhaustive definitive foreknowledge appears to have considerably more cogent intellectual support and fewer difficulties than does the alternative.”

This is a good introduction to Open Theism.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL

www.VisitUsOnline.org

E-Flash From Dan, March 13, 2008

E-Flash Awesome Quote:

“For we are God’s workmanship . . .” Ephesians 2:10(a)

“The word ‘workmanship’ comes from the Greek word poiema,
from which we get the word ‘poem’. So we can say that God
creates each of us as a piece of art, as a piece of poetry. Every
one of us is a poem that God writes, something that He has
created to be of use for the mission He has given us.”
Dan Kimball
From the book, “Practitioners”


Dear E-Flash Friends;

Thought it might be a good idea to remind you that this weekend we “spring ahead” one hour. The change to Daylight Saving Time always seems to slip past a few folks every year. When that happens they show up at 12 o’clock for the 11 o’clock service on Sunday. I have this idea that, one spring—on Daylight Saving Time weekend—we should all hide at 11:55. And when the people who forgot about the time change show up at noon, we jump out of the shadows and shout “Boo!” really loud. Then we simply walk out of the building with no further comment.

I haven’t implemented the idea, yet, because it feels like it still needs a little more refining. Anyhow, until that idea pans out, here’s your reminder: Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead, one hour, this Saturday, March 8th.

I also want to remind you that Easter is coming in just a few weeks. These are always powerful and awesome services—services of victory and joy and celebration! I’m getting excited just thinking about it. Aren’t you? We will have three Easter services, one on Saturday evening (March 22) at 5 pm and two on Sunday morning (March 23) at 9 and 11 am. I’m so fired up that I’m going to try to rearrange my schedule so that I can be at all three services. (Don’t analyze that last sentence too carefully.)

We want to make a little extra room at the 11 o’clock, Sunday morning Easter service, because that is the most well attended time and it is the most likely time that new guests to our church will show up. So, if it is possible, would you consider attending the 9 am Sunday morning service or the 5 pm Saturday service? I know that won’t fit into everybody’s plans and, that’s okay if it doesn’t. But if 9 am, Easter Sunday, or 5 pm Saturday won’t be a bother for you, that would help us provide space for the extra visitors. Thanks so much, you guys are always gracious and accommodating. There are folks who don’t go to church very often, or perhaps “ever” who will come on Easter and we want them to have a seat and be able to hear the life-changing message of the RISEN and Living, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The greatest message of HOPE in the world.

One more thing: I’m asking each of us to think of one person for whom we could pray, every day, between now and Easter. Is there one person for whom you could pray and invite to our Easter service? If we will all pray and all invite, I believe God might do something really great. To Him be the glory!

Your friend and partner in ministry,

Dan Marler

www.VisitUsOnline.org


*If you would like to have the E-Flash delivered directly to your e-mail, send an e-mail to cog111st@aol.com and write, "I'd like to receive the E-Flash" in the subject field.