Anne Zagursky-Predestination

In one of my other classes we were discussing the differences between free will and predestination. In order to fully understand predestination, we must first realize the difference between single and double predestination. The two leading theorists in this debate are Martin Luther and John Calvin. Luther and Calvin both had their opinion on predestination. Although they both believed that humans lived in total depravity, in need of grace alone to save them, they had differing opinions on how far that went. Luther rejected the notion of double predestination, whereas Calvin accepted it. Luther was only interested in believing that faith in God was all that was needed for redemption, but he did not have much to say about those outside of the faith. Calvin held to the double predestination theory, believing that some are condemned and some are saved from the beginning and there is nothing a person can do to change that. This helped to alleviate the need for works in the Calvinist school of thought.

Calvin’s idea, which other people, such as Augustine also thought of, seems a little harsh for a God of love. I do not see how a God who loves everyone and everything he has created could possible give up an uncountable number of souls to the Devil and not give them any chance during their lives to be redeemed. I think that God knows before you are created whether or not you will choose to follow him, but he leaves that choice up to us. We condemn ourselves with the ways we live and act, he is just waiting for us to turn around as ask for him forgiveness and mercy. There is no way that Christ would have died for only a certain number of people. He died for everyone, but it is up to us whether we believe it or not.