What is open theism?

Response

“Open theism,” also referred to as “openness theology,” the “openness of God,” and “free will theism,” is an effort to clarify how God’s foreknowledge relates to human free will. The core argument of open theism is as follows: humans possess genuine freedom; if God had complete knowledge of the future, humans could not be truly free. Hence, God does not possess absolute knowledge of everything about the future. Open theism asserts that the future is unknowable. Therefore, God knows all that is knowable, but He does not have knowledge of the future.

Open theism derives these beliefs from passages in Scripture that depict God as “changing His mind,” “being surprised,” or “appearing to gain knowledge” (Genesis 6:6;Genesis 22:12;Exodus 32:14;Jonah 3:10). Considering the numerous other Scriptures affirming God’s knowledge of the future, these passages should be interpreted as God describing Himself in ways understandable to us. God knows our actions and decisions in advance, but He may “change His mind” regarding His actions based on ours. God’s sorrow over humanity’s wickedness does not imply ignorance of its occurrence.

In contrast to open theism, Psalm 139:4, 16 declare, “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” How could God foretell detailed events in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ if He lacked knowledge of the future? How could God ensure our eternal salvation if He did not know what the future holds?

Ultimately, open theism falters by attempting to elucidate the inexplicable—the connection between God’s foreknowledge and human free will. Just as extreme forms of Calvinism stumble by reducing human beings to mere puppets.Pre-programmed robots, so open theism fails in that it rejects God’s true omniscience and sovereignty. God must be understood through faith, for “without faith it is impossible to please God” «But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Hebrews 11:6a). Open theism is, therefore, not scriptural. It is simply another way for finite man to try to understand an infinite God. Open theism should be rejected by followers of Christ. While open theism is an explanation for the relationship between God’s foreknowledge and human free will, it is not the biblical explanation.