Open Theism

[Romans Road]

In my area, it seems that open theism is starting to creep into the Nazarene denomination. Are you seeing it in your area?

 

[ContraMundum]

In my area, it seems that open theism is starting to creep into the Nazarene denomination. Are you seeing it in your area?

I think the Nazarenes will probably reject Open Theism formally in a few years.

Just because Thom Oord is a Nazarene with a bit of a following doesn't mean that Open Theism will become acceptable by the denomination. Given their very negative reaction to the Emergent movement in the last General Assembly I think we can rather confidently state that the Nazarenes still have a conservative backbone when it comes to the crunch.

 

[Tim Myers]

"Open theism is a recent theological movement that has developed within evangelical and post-evangelical Protestant Christianity as a response to certain ideas that are related to the synthesis of Greek philosophy and Christian theology. Several of these ideas within classical theism (a designation which is not to be taken as inclusive of all of orthodox theism) state that God is immutable, impassible, and timeless. For several versions of classical theism, God fully determines the future; thus, humanity does not have libertarian free will, or, if free, that its freedom must necessarily be compatible with God's determining actions. Open theists argue that these attributes do not belong to the God of the Bible and are at odds with personhood.

Practically, open theism makes the case for a personal God who is open to influence through the prayers, decisions, and actions of people. Although many specific outcomes of the future are unknowable, God's foreknowledge of the future includes that which is determined as time progresses often in light of free decisions that have been made and what has been sociologically determined. So God knows everything that has been determined as well as what has not yet been determined but remains open. As such, God is able to anticipate the future, yet remains fluid to respond and react to prayer and decisions made either contrary or advantageous to His plan or presuppositions."

Does that sound about right??........

 

[ContraMundum]

I think so...

..not my cup of tea though.

 

[Maid Marie]

Open theism is not getting the attention that the emergent church issue has. I don't see that a decision will be made about it for the foreseeable future. The Global Ministry Center has bigger issues to deal with since the recession has caused a lack of funds for work of the general church.

Also, since we believe in free will, it is not seen as a huge threat [based on Tim Myers' quote] while the emergent church affects how church is done on a larger scale.

 

[Romans Road]

Open theism is a HUGE threat!

The reason I asked is that it was being in the Nazarene Church that my in-laws attend.

 

[Romans Road]

"Open theism is a recent theological movement that has developed within evangelical and post-evangelicalProtestant Christianity as a response to certain ideas that are related to the synthesis of Greek philosophy and Christian theology. Several of these ideas within classical theism (a designation which is not to be taken as inclusive of all of orthodox theism) state that God is immutable, impassible, and timeless. For several versions of classical theism, God fully determines the future; thus, humanity does not have libertarian free will, or, if free, that its freedom must necessarily be compatible with God's determining actions. Open theists argue that these attributes do not belong to the God of the Bible and are at odds with personhood.

Practically, open theism makes the case for a personal God who is open to influence through the prayers, decisions, and actions of people. Although many specific outcomes of the future are unknowable, God's foreknowledge of the future includes that which is determined as time progresses often in light of free decisions that have been made and what has been sociologically determined. So God knows everything that has been determined as well as what has not yet been determined but remains open. As such, God is able to anticipate the future, yet remains fluid to respond and react to prayer and decisions made either contrary or advantageous to His plan or presuppositions."

Does that sound about right??........

Thats is part of it. More extreme forms say that God willingly limited his knowledge and some even go as far as saying that he has limited knowledge.

 

[Maid Marie]

Open theism is a HUGE threat!

The reason I asked is that it was being in the Nazarene Church that my in-laws attend.

We're not going to agree on this so I am just going to leave it at this - open theism is not a big threat, if it is really even a threat. How the denomination survives loss of income due to recent recession, how it deals with dying churches yet growing ones elsewhere, how it deals with no money to commission missionaries this year leaving billions without the saving knowledge of Christ, how it efficiently will educate and raise up new leaders home and abroad and how it will promote holiness in a world that is rapidly becoming pluralistic - THOSE are major threats.

 

[GadFly]

I think the Nazarenes will probably reject Open Theism formally in a few years.

Just because Thom Oord is a Nazarene with a bit of a following doesn't mean that Open Theism will become acceptable by the denomination. Given their very negative reaction to the Emergent movement in the last General Assembly I think we can rather confidently state that the Nazarenes still have a conservative backbone when it comes to the crunch.

From what Tim says, I do not see anything to fear as yet from this new theology. But, do you know what the criticisms of open theism are as these relates to the church?

Nazarenes where I live had never heard of the emergent church until they attended the General Assembly this past year. I informed the District Superintendent here that it was going to be an issue in the church at the Assembly. I read about the emergent church on the internet as it related to Nazarenes and helped spread the news. The point is, news sometimes moves very slowly in churches. If you want awareness of such a topic, you best have your ministers to note the subject in his bulletin or something like that.