I have been so busy the last couple months I haven’t even read the forum let alone tried to post. Calvinism isn’t my hot topic any way. I find eschatology more interesting. I would start my own thread for these thoughts, but won’t have time to respond to comments so I’m just going to post these thoughts here which seems an appropriate place.
On the topic of does scripture support randomness I don’t understand how anybody can read the bible and not agree whole heartily that it does. When you read these verses it’s obvious that God doesn’t fear randomness so why should we?
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them.
This needs no defense or explanation. Case closed right here. But there is more.
Ecclesiastes 7:17
Don't be excessively wicked, and don't be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
This verse implies two things. That in some general sense of the word which is open to broad interpretation man has an appointed time to die. Perhaps based on his eating and exercising habits for example—but by foolish acts like stepping in front of cars he can alter his life by that choice and die before his otherwise appointed time. Obviously God’s sovereignty provides for man to have some influence over the exact moment of his death and the exact moment is not predetermined by God before you are born. You could obviously say God has foreknowledge of that moment, but not that he determined it for you. He gives you free will and some say so in the matter.
Esther 4:14
If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this."
This verse clearly demonstrates God lays before Esther a choice. No matter which choice she makes God will accomplish his will of saving the Jews whether it is through Esther or someone else. The greatness of God’s sovereignty is demonstrated not in his controlling every outcome and decision, but giving us free will and still being able to accomplish his will and purpose.
People often confuse election and predestination. You could say Esther was elected by God to save the Jews; however, if she chooses not to then God will accomplish that end through someone else.
I see Calvinism as placing limits on God because it requires him to predestine every event in the universe—in affect it becomes a self contradiction of his limitlessness by forcing him to control everything to accomplish his will. I see the non-Cal approach as recognizing the greatness of God because it allows God to transcend the self will of man ignoring God’s will yet still accomplishing his purposes. You could say a given outcome is predestine, but the path to that outcome has an element of randomness based on man’s will.
Maybe I'll respond to comments over the weekend, but no promises.
