McGrath, A. E. (2017). Christian theology: An introduction (6th ed.).
• Chapter 14: Human nature, Sin, and Grace (pp. 327-352)
We have been reading about the doctrine of election from a variety of perspectives, some more Calvinistic and some more Arminian. Central to that debate is the controversial and often misunderstood topic of the “freedom of the will.” In his discussion of this subject in Christian Theology: An Introduction, Alister McGrath summarizes the Augustinian position:
For Augustine, the total sovereignty of God and genuine human responsibility and freedom must be upheld at one and the same time, if justice is to be done to the richness and complexity of the biblical statements on the matter. In his own lifetime, Augustine was obliged to deal with two heresies which he believed had simplified and compromised the Christian faith. Manicheism was a form of fatalism (to which Augustine himself was initially attracted) which upheld the total sovereignty of God but denied human freedom, while Pelagianism upheld the total freedom of the human will while denying the sovereignty of God. . . . Augustine’s basic ideas can be summarized as follows. First, natural human freedom is affirmed: human beings do not do things as a matter of necessity but as a matter of freedom. Second, human free will has been weakened and incapacitated—but not eliminated or destroyed—through sin. In order for that free will to be restored and healed, it requires the operation of divine grace. Free will really does exist; it is, however, distorted, compromised, and weakened by sin. (2017, 330)
This Augustinian understanding of our “free will” is sometimes referred to as compatibilism (the notion that human free will and divine sovereignty are compatible, not contradictory). In your response paper, discuss whether you think such a proposal does justice to the variety of biblical texts which appear to address the matter. Is a more Calvinistic or more Arminian explanation of the relationship between the sovereignty of God (including God’s “foreknowledge”) and human freedom more persuasive to you, and why? Finally, given your perspective on the relationship between God’s sovereignty and our choices and responsibilities, how would you comfort someone in a pastoral or counseling situation who is experiencing personal suffering?
Your paper needs to be 2-3 pages in length and incorporate biblical text, as well as at least two additional academic sources and formatted according to APA standards. To find suitable academic resources, use the CCU Library.
Please use APA 7th Edition
