Brief Explanation of Open Theism

People who are interested in Open Theism should know that it is not blaspheming God. It is not blasphemy to say God does not know the future. Scripture does show God has some future knowledge, but our human tendencies take the future knowledge he has and assume he has more than he says.

1. The Bible doesn't say anywhere he has total and complete future knowledge of every event. Really! However, scripture does say he has some future knowledge, but it not right to add to scripture's account and say that "some" means "all". Instead, we should say "some future knowledge" means "some future knowledge."

2. Future knowedge is not necessary for God to be in control. He at any moment could do anything with creation he wished to do, so even without future knowledge, God is still extremely powerful, and "extremely" is an understatement.

3. Love requires freedom. If a man loves a woman, he doesn't force her to love him back by trapping her. Love must be allow freedom. If God is love, he wouldn't foreordain every single last thing in the world. Even though God does make future plans, he does not make every single thing he plans come about if he sees fit.

Take Jonah. Sent to prophesy that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days. God told him to go. But 40 days later, God didn't fulfill the prophecy. He instead changed his mind because the people changed their hearts. Had the future really been known, God would have known he wasn't going to destroy the city in 40 days and would not have said he would.

If you would like to discuss Open Theism, check out this discussion forum at Theology Online.com