Reconciling God’s Sovereignty With Man’s Free Will, Part Three
The Theological Perspective regarding the Relationship
Few theological tensions have stirred as much discussion, reflection, and controversy as the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. I distinctly remember debating this with my undergraduate peers, and have yet to experience a conversation where one side of the relationship doesn’t need to be addressed. How can God be absolutely sovereign—directing all things according to His will—while simultaneously holding human beings accountable for their choices? Is there a way to faithfully affirm both truths without compromising either?
We will seek to explore this profound and perennial question through historical, theological, and biblical lenses. Drawing on the wisdom of Church Fathers, the insights of the Reformers, and the witness of Scripture, we will examine how these seemingly paradoxical realities are compatible and essential to a robust Christian worldview.
Whether you are a student of theology, a pastor, or simply a thoughtful believer, this series invites you to wrestle with divine mystery—not to unravel it, but to embrace it. For in doing so, we do not diminish God’s glory or man’s dignity, but rather stand in awe of the God who ordains and empowers, who governs and invites, and who reveals truth not in contradiction, but in divine harmony.
In this third post, while arguably shorter than other installments, we will address the theological implications of this divine-human relationship, seeking to see where we are actually affected when the conversation makes it to applicable means.
The Theological Conversation
The historical conversations and developments regarding the doctrine of providence have led to the evaluation of the outworkings of faith: how now should the believer live? Questions regarding efficacy, necessity, and requirement arise at this juncture, examining Scripture’s calls to pray, spread the Gospel, and live in accordance with its patterns and commands. The way Christians perceive the interplay between divine sovereignty and human freedom significantly influences their responses to various life challenges.[1] It is here that theology becomes practical, moving from the halls of academia to the pews of the church attendee.
Prayer
Regarding prayer, asking the Father to intervene or act in an aspect of life, the question many who are unsure may ask is, “Does prayer do anything?” If, as those who favor divine sovereignty might assert, God ordains every motion and action, then this seems to make prayer obsolete, leading to a belief that, since every action is set in stone, there is nothing prayer can do to alter any course. If, as those who favor human responsibility might assert, man holds the power to adjust direction and holds the final decision, then this seems to make prayer obsolete as well, leading to a belief that if one works hard enough or does enough, he or she can make anything occur through might.
Evangelism
Regarding evangelism, the spreading of the Gospel message to invite non-believers to response in salvation, one may ask the question, “Does evangelism make a difference in the world?” An emphasis on divine sovereignty may lead to shying away from sharing the need for a personal decision, assuming those who do not yet believe will come to saving faith of their own accord. Yet, an emphasis on human responsibility may lead to one shouldering the entire process of conversion, taking credit when he or she receives a positive response or admitting failure when receiving a negative response.
Moral Responsibility
Regarding the moral responsibility of the believer, the actions in which one participates, one can come to the point where he asks, “Does anything actually matter?” An over-persuasion of divine sovereignty may garner a response that equates to human action having little impact due to God’s determination of outcomes, making the asker believe that there is no point in trying. But an over-persuasion of human responsibility may evoke a response that communicates that human action has too much impact, placing an undue amount of pressure on the asker when it comes to applying such an answer.
[1] David Basinger and Randall Basinger, “Introduction,” in Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty & Human Freedom, ed. David Basinger and Randall Basinger, Spectrum Multiview Books (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1986), 8.