The Love of a Sovereign God

by Jonathan Duttweiler

Through the last three hundred years of Christian history there has been a heated debate concerning how the notion of human free-will can be reconciled to the idea of the sovereignty of an omnipotent God. Many have said that if God is truly sovereign then all things are under His influence and He has a causative effect on every occurrence. Others have said that while God is sovereign, He has given to humans the capacity for free moral choice, i.e. free will, and therefore our lives are under our own control as far as our moral choices are concerned, i.e. we determine our own destinies within the framework of God's design.

While there is sound theological reasoning on both sides of the argument it would appear that the basic assumptions and presuppositions on the part of those who advocate total sovereignty are, at least in part, fallacious. First we see a false assumption in thinking that because one has the power to perform a certain act one must therefore utilize that power. We must certainly admit that God does indeed have the power to control every event and determine the outcome of every situation. This does not mean, however, that this is at all desirable or an intelligent alternative for the Godhead. We see this assumption is not borne out either in experience or reason, much less the scriptures. We have earthly rulers who have tremendous powers over their subjects and nevertheless do not utilize that power to it's ultimate potential. This does not indicate a deficiency on their part but rather a concern for the well being of their subjects. To use power merely because it is possible to do so would create a condition of chaos and confusion, not to mention an atmosphere of fear and apprehension.

Also inherent in the argument for total sovereignty is the implication that all God wants is people to occupy space and time, to simply be tools or instruments of "obedience" (a nonsensical concept if God has already determined all their actions beforehand!) This makes God's relationship with His creation a highly impersonal one, lacking in true feeling or concern for the individual - what is of preeminence is the "plan" rather than the people. However, we see in the first chapter of Genesis that God made man in His image and after His likeness. Since we can rule out a physical image or likeness because we know God does not possess a corporeal body we must assume that this means a likeness along spiritual or personality lines. Over and over scripture emphasizes that God's desire is to have fellowship with His creation, not merely to control it. This is not possible if there is no choice on the part of that creation.

We see that if it is God's desire to have loving fellowship with the creation He made in His image, with the ability to think, to reason, to feel and choose according to it's desires, the use of force or coercion toward this end is counterproductive to the end itself. To be freely loved one must allow free choice; one cannot predetermine, cause, force or in any manner overwhelm an individual's free choice to obtain that love. Free love must be free! In the matter of election we see rather than God predetermining certain individuals to heaven and others to damnation He is lovingly trying to woo all to Himself. God, in His infinite wisdom, has determined the best way to win us to Him is not by force through the use of His sovereign power, but rather through love! Countless times we have displayed for us in scripture the great compassion of God for His people, chasing after them, following them like a lover attempting to win his beloved. We see the ultimate expression of this in Jesus Christ, God Himself incarnate, come to win man's heart, not through force or power, but through the display of His unmatchable love. The verse in John 4:19 sums up God's intention and the result of His plan; "We love, because He first loved us." We love, not merely serve, not merely belong to, not merely obey and are subservient to, but we love God. This has, from the very beginning of His revelation to us, been His goal for our lives, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul."

The concept of an Almighty God using His power to coerce and force people who He has chosen to serve Him has turned many people away from the love of Christ. I believe this opinion of God brings disgrace to His name rather than glorifying it. People reject a God who is seen as an arbitrary ruler of their lives. Rather than humbly bow before a righteous God who loved them so much He substituted Himself for the penalty their sins deserved so they could love Him, they reject a cold, unfeeling God who already has everything determined beforehand. God does not desire robots and people have no desire to be robots. God desires us to love Him and has equipped us so that we may choose for ourselves what we will do. With Joshua, God speaks to our hearts "choose this day who you will serve."