I continue to read Greg Boyd’s God of the Possible. He presents his case for an open view of God. At this point, I am increasingly convinced that he is correct. Admittedly, it is a short trip for me to get there. I have never given it a great deal of specific thought but the ideas have been simmering in my mind for a long time. I suspect that many, like myself, have no idea what an open view of God, or open theism, as it is sometimes decribed, is about.
The classical view of divine foreknowledge holds that the future is completely settled in God’s mind and has been from all eternity. Boyd’s open view, in contrast, does not hold that the future is wide open but that much of it is settled ahead of time, either by God’s predestining will or existing earthly causes. However, the future is not exhaustively settled ahead of time. The future is unsettled to the extent that it is yet open to be decided by free agents. To that extent, God knows it as a realm of possibilities, not certainties.
Boyd builds his case from scripture and it is worthy of serious consideration. I intend to read some rebuttals from the classical view point. As I continue to entertain the possibility of a God of the possible it has heightened my sensitivity to how the classical view permeates much of our lives. For example, in a recent conversation, the statement was made “Everything happens for a reason” implying that the future is determined. An open view of God has potential to reshape how we view our lives and relationships both with one another and with God.
A small example came as I was reading the account of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac a few days ago. In the past, the story was exciting and filled with a sense of the tension that Abraham and Isaac must have experienced but I always assume it was a “done deal” for God. When I read it from an open view, I was struck by what God must have experienced as he watched and waited to see if his free agent Abraham really trusted him and would obey him. What risk God was willing to take. What joy and happiness God experienced as Abraham trusted the promises he had made to him. It really was a test. He could have chosen to not to sacrifice Isaac. God chose to leave the future open to Abraham’s decision.