Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
I have never seen anyone successfully argue this. I doubt you have been the first but if you will point me to your attempt, I will take a look at it.
It's under "Projection Theology" on the second page. It is merely a list.
In the bottom line, it doesn't really matter what you think about the choice to choose or to not choose. Scripture does not talk in terms like that and your attempt to put God in a box does not help the understanding of Scripture. We need to rather talk about what Scripture says rather than what you think about whether or not choosing involves a choice to not choose (an oxymoron at best).
Sure Scripture does: Romans 9:18 - So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
Romans 11:7-8 - What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY."
Romans 1:24 - Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
Romans 1:26 - For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
If one believes in individual predestination, then these Scriptures mean that God double predestined.
Actually, they don't have a chance unless you are an open theist denying the omniscience of God. If God knew before they were created that they would go to hell, then they have no chance to do otherwise ... unless God's knowledge is faulty.
False dilemma - logical fallacy. IF God is both within time and transcendent of time, people can make a completely free choice. Kinda like seeing God in the nth dimension kinda thing. Needless to say, there are more than two options here.