One of the constant themes that runs that run through my mind is the contradiction in the Bible between the concepts of predestination and free will. I don’t expect to live to see the resolution in real time. I know that there are people who think they have it all worked out but that is usually based on ignorance, ideological purity or malfeasance.
We have a generous supply of verses that talk about being called and chosen. We have matching verses about believing, following and responding. Like so many theological traditions we find ourselves ignoring the reality that the answers are usually both/and not either/or.
We are not chosen so that we will respond but chosen because we will respond. There is a world of difference there. I was reading in one book full of nonsense and came across a moment of clarity. I am paraphrasing but the essence of the comment was, “If it is predestined and all the paperwork has been done by God already, what is the point of continuing the discussion.”
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ then you serve a living God. He is not a Calvinistic version based on the static stone gods of the pagan. His character does not change, but he is vibrant and responsive. I don’t think the God of the Bible is interested in locking down everyone’s destiny before they’re even born.
If I’m wrong, I lose nothing. If they’re wrong, they could lose everything. It’s that old Pascal’s wager thing again.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Opus 2026-048: Which Came First?
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.