questions
home home page! information Here you will find various forms of information regarding Open Theism publications On this page you will find various books regarding Open Theism and related topics from a number of authors. questions Here we encourage readers to seek answers to the common questions we know you have, as well as send comments and observations. opposition Here you will find various forms of opposition to Open Theism. We do this for the sake of a well rounded debate. You can not really study any position unless you look at the opposing points of view. contact us Leave us your feedback. We welcome your comments and questions.
discuss Discuss openness theology and more at theologyweb.com facebook Get connected with other open theist believers on the internet by joining the open theist facebook group.
categories: biblical questions | philosophical questions | questions on tradition | whos who

Are all Open Theists also Inclusivists?

Full Question:

Are Open Theists Necessarily Inclusivists? Hello, I am seeking to understand. I have read and thought through (Foreknowledge & Power issues), and though I do not fully understand, I am growing in understanding. However, this issue of salvation is confusing to me. If Inclusivism and 'OT' are primarily moved by LOVE (I think they are), and If 'I' & 'OT' hold that salvation only comes thru Christ (I think they do), then are they necessarily linked (it seems they are)? PS. Please note that I am not a Philosophical Scholar. I am a student of God's Word and a pastor of God's people. I wish to understand before I support or condemn, i.e., I want to support not any particular system but rather God's truth and the system that best gets at that truth. Thank you for your time,

God Bless!

Michael
Rev. M. E. Hunkus, Pastor Sanders Baptist Church

Reply:

Dear Rev. Hunkus,

Though many open theists are also inclusivists regarding those who die never hearing about Jesus, some open theists espouse other views regarding the destiny of the unevangelized (e.g. post mortem evangelization). There is no necessary connection between the two views. You are correct in seeing a similarity concerning the love of God. Open theists and inclusivists both highlight God's incredible love of sinners and God's desire to save all people. However, these beliefs can be affirmed by those who reject open theism and/or by those who reject inclusivism.

John Sanders

opentheism.info search powered by Google