Post 82 - Bad "Christianity": Part III

In the last post I proposed that Voddie Baucham's view of babies as "vipers in diapers" was his way of expressing his belief in the unbiblical doctrine of original sin which proposes that all babies are born as evil, God-haters, guilty of Adam's sin.

By contrast, the Bible reveals that God sees babies as innocent and that each person is only held responsible for his own sin. We were also reminded that we are image-bearers of God who imbued each of us with a part of himself. Here's a link to that post: Post 81 - Bad "Christianity": Part II

Today we're going to look at another well-known theologian with an unfortunate misunderstanding of the character of God and of his plan of salvation.

R.C. Sproul

R.C. Sproul was a highly respected Presbyterian pastor and teacher who passed away in 2017. Here's his quote:

If God is not sovereign over the entire created order, then he is not sovereign at all.

"What do you mean by that?"

Every Christian should be nodding his/her head in agreement with Sproul's statement. The Bible is filled with examples of God exercising his sovereign authority over his creation, and his omnipotence ensures that what he ordains cannot be thwarted.

It is only when Sproul explains what he means by God's sovereignty that the red flag of unbiblical lexicology goes up. This illustrates why it is always important to ask the definition-clarifying question, "What do you mean by that?" when discussing spiritual concepts.

So, what does R.C. Sproul mean when he states that "God is sovereign"? To define his understanding of God's sovereignty, Sproul refers to the following statement in the Westminster Confession of Faith.

“God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and immutably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; ...”

When Sproul says that God is sovereign, he means that God has predetermined and brings about everything that happens. He maintains that if there is even one thing that God did not prearrange and meticulously control then "God is not God".

This is a prime example of what Walter Martin referred to as "the subtle art of redefinition", a strategy often employed by Christian cults. Sproul goes on to posit that anyone who doesn't subscribe to this understanding of God's sovereignty must be an atheist.

This unfortunate misunderstanding of God's sovereignty leads to two very unbiblical and untenable consequences. If God has ordained "all that comes to pass", then-

(1) God is the author and impetus behind all sin and evil in the world, and

(2) there's no such thing as human freedom of choice

Is God the author of evil?

The most obvious conundrum with Sproul's definition of sovereignty is the problem of evil in the world, a problem that even Sproul called "excruciating". Yet, if God has pre-ordained everything that happens, it's not hard to connect the dots making God the responsible party and the instigating force behind all sinful acts and all evil in the world--mass murders, child abductions, rapes, Islamic jihads, unjust wars, cheating, lying, adultery, etc.

The real head-shaker is that Sproul admits that "one thing is absolutely unthinkable, that God could be the author or doer of sin.” Yet it seems that Sproul and others who believe that God has preordained "all that comes to pass", would rather hold onto an "excruciating" contradiction than allow God the freedom to cede control as He pleases.

Then God said, "Let us [give man] dominion... over all the earth... " (Gen 1:26)

According to Dictionary.com, "dominion" refers to "the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority." In his sovereignty, God has ceded some control/authority/sovereignty over to man. The sum, substance, limitations and consequences of man's authority is on full display throughout biblical history.

There is, however, one arc of history that God ceded to no one. With regard to His redemptive purposes, the sovereign God foreknew, predetermined and brings about all critical events along the path of salvation, ensuring the accomplishment of his redemptive will--that is, the salvation of the world through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Does man have the freedom to choose?

Part of giving man dominion over the earth is granting us the freedom to make choices and providing the divine counsel necessary to choose well. We're told that God has written his law on our hearts and given us a conscience and his Spirit as a guide (Rom 2:15).

We see God's divine counsel and His expectation for us to choose wisely throughout Scripture. Sometimes it comes from God, himself: "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it" (Gen 4:7).

Sometimes it comes through his servants, like Moses: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live" (Deu 30:19).

Or Joshua: "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve..." (Jos 24:15).

If Sproul's definition of sovereignty were biblical, every command in Scripture for people to make a choice would be a cruel and insincere imperative, since, according to Sproul, God had unchangeably predetermined all choices that would be made.

Final Thought

All Christians believe that God is sovereign over his creation--that is, having supreme authority, answering to no one. God's decision to give man the freedom to love... or not, the freedom to sin... or not, the freedom to choose his Son... or not, is not an abdication of His sovereignty, but a confirmation of His sovereignty--that is, evidence of His own freedom to do as He pleases.

"Man's will is free because God is sovereign. A God less than sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon his creatures. He would be afraid to do so."

--A.W. Tozer, "The Knowledge of the Holy"

Sadly, Sproul's error was in not allowing Scripture to dictate the definition of "sovereignty". For future reference, if we encounter what seems to be a contradiction in the Scriptures, we must assume error on our part, not a contradiction on God’s part.

Next Post: TBD