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Do we choose God?

Full Question:

Dear Webmaster,

What would someone who affirms the Open View say is the nature of humanity? It would seem to me that the 'total depravity' taught through Reform Theology would be very inconsistent with the Open View (for obvious reasons Calvinism and the Open View are incompatible...). However, would it be accurate to say that we have an intrinsic value which allows us to make free-will choices, or is that simply bestowed upon us as a gift from God. What 'right' do we have to choose God? What biblical justifications can I use when discussing this topic with colleagues?

Thanks for your time!

Aaron

Reply:

The open view is in the same position with regard to this topic as classical Arminianism. Clearly, we cannot accept the Reformed view that everything that occurs, including our choices, is determined by divine decrees. We also cannot accept the view that we are "dead in sin" in such a way that, until we are regenerated by the Spirit, we cannot do anything other than totally reject God. We *can* accept the view that, in virtue of God's "prevenient grace" (grace conferred before one's actual conversion), we are *made able* by God to accept him, or at least to *stop rejecting* the grace he wishes to bestow on us. Thus, we can say that *in ourselves* we sinful humans have *no* ability to respond positively to God, but that *aided by the Spirit* we do have this ability. It seems to me that this is a reasonable view to take; emphatically, it attributes our salvation to God in Christ, not to ourselves.

William Hasker

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