Predestination is not fate, that is not what is meant by Paul when he uses the term translated 'predestination' nor what Calvinists are talking about when they use it. The Greek word is proorizō (
προορίζω G4309, from πρό G4253 and ὁρίζω G3724). It's composed of two Greek words, 'pro' which is the exact same meaning as the prefix 'pro', in the English, and horizō, which is where we get the word horizon from. The dictionary definition from Vine's Dictionary:
Determine, Determinate: pro, "beforehand," and No. 2, denotes "to mark out beforehand, to determine before, foreordain;" in Act 4:28, AV, "determined before," RV, "foreordained;" so the RV in 1Cr 2:7, AV, "ordained;" in Rom 8:29, 30 and Eph 1:5, 11, AV, "predestinate," RV, "foreordain." (Vine’s Dictionary)
There is nothing in this word indicating anything remotely like pagan fate, the way your using it, it doesn't even resemble how Greek mythology describes fate. It's the plans and purposes of God beyond the vanishing point of our horizon, even before the foundation of the world, that God ordained that would include us as the elect, adopted as sons, and the righteousness of God in Christ. As many times as I've seen the subject of predestination come up I have yet to see the true theological meaning of this word expounded by critics of Calvinism. The questions raised by the doctrine of predestination are asked and answered in the New Testament in no uncertain terms, not that I expect we will get to them because we never do.
Predestination is whatever God’s hand and counsel determined before to be done (Acts 4:28). That we as the elect would be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29). That the elect would be called, justified and glorified according to God’s mercy and perfect will (Rom. 8:30). That the mystery of God’s will would be revealed unto our glory (1Cor. 2:7). The adoption as sons according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph. 1:5). That in Christ we would obtain an inheritance after the council of his own will (Eph. 1:11).
Those plans and purposes will not change whether you go on to faith, righteousness and glory, or find yourself in the fires of perdition. The emphasis is always, because it must be, the perfect will of God. Calvinism does not teach fate, eternal security is synonymous with eternal life and it's either that or eternal death, there is no third choice. Of course you have free will, at the feeding of the 5,000 a few choose to stay and most of them chose to leave, but your will is meaningless with regards to any personal merit you might have with regards to salvation. We don't know who is going to heaven and who is going to hell, to even ask the question is not of faith (Rom. 10:5-13). On the last day God will expose the secret intentions of the heart, therefore we are told not to judge anything before the proper time when God judges righteously (1 Cor. 4:5). Shall clay say to the maker, what makest thou? (Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:21).
Whatever you think of predestination, as taught by Calvinists, stay in your lane, God will reveal all things in the fullness of time. Because no Calvinist worth his salt and certainly no New Testament writer, has ever embraced the pagan notion of fate. That is an absurdity that boarders on slander, I've never heard any such thing from my Calvinist brethren, nor do I expect I ever will. The emphasis is always on God's sovereign will, his plans and purposes in Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace.
Grace and peace,
Mark
