A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

What are the common straw man arguments against Predestination also called the doctrine of God’s fore knowledge or Unconditional Election? It is argued that the doctrine of “Unconditional Election” cannot be true because:

1. Anyone who wants to be saved, can be. “Whosoever will May come.”

2. God does not delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), but desires that all men repent.

3. We should preach the gospel to everyone. If God has only planned to save some, why should we preach to and pray for all?

4.”Election” and “predestination” are terms contrived by the Calvinists to cause confusion, bring division, and excuse a lack of evangelistic zeal (The issue is whether election ever took place or not).

Well lets tackle each of these issues one straw at a time:

1. The true believer in free grace will never deny that God has extended a free offer of mercy, in Christ, to all who hear the Gospel. To deny that “Whosoever will may come,” is to deny the clear teaching of God’s Word. The real issue, however, is whether any will desire salvation (in God’s way and on God’s terms) unless God gives him that desire (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:11; Psalm 58:3-5; John 3:14-21, 5:40).

2. Has God purposed to save every man? Since the Bible plainly teaches that God’s plan or purpose is always accomplished (Isaiah 46:10-11; Daniel 4:35; Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 115:3), It should be clear that He has not purposed to save everyone. If He had, everyone would be saved.

On the other hand, the Bible sets forth God’s elective purpose according to which He calls and saves His elect (Romans 8:28-30, 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-5, 9-11; 2 Timothy 1:9).

3. God has commanded us to preach to (witness to) every creature and pray for their salvation. We are not to be governed by what God has planned (which is secret to us), but by what God has commanded.

God has ordained to use means to accomplish His purpose (Romans 10:14-15). He does not save people apart from the use of means. Gospel preaching is one of the means that God has ordained to bring the elect to faith in Christ. Since we do not know who the elect are, we must preach to and pray for all.

The primary purpose for witnessing the gospel is that we might glorify God in our obedience and faithfulness to Him.

4. Every Christian who has carefully studied the Bible must believe in election and predestination. These are biblical words. The issue is whether election is conditional (based on foreseen faith) or unconditional.

Excerpt from Burning Straw Dummies.