ChristisKing,
You said...
".... the biblical doctrine of predestination is not presented as "fate" or anything else like that by the Holy Spirit. It is presented as God in Sovereign control of everything!"
Calvinist predestination docrine is exactly like fate in every way. The only possible difference might be that you say God is doing it as apposed to saying that some other god or gods were doing it. Otherwise, it is the exact same concept.
I'll take you verses one at a time.
1. PRO 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
This verse teaches that God interacts with and even manipulates people but does not teach that He does so by force. To say that God violates ones freewill using this verses goes several steps farther than this verse does.
2. ISA 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
This verse argues in MY favor, not yours! If you create light, you by default create dark. Dark is simply the absense of light. Light would be meaningless if there where no darkness. Imagine trying to read this post if it were white letters on a white background! You couldn't do it because the letters would effectively not be there.
The next segment of the sentence makes the exact same point. Peace (or good) wouldn't be possible without evil. In other words, you CAN NOT love if you can not choose to love. Without an alternative there is no choice. Without choice there is no love. Therefore, without being able to choose hate, love is meaningless.
The very definition of love itself testifies to the lie of Calvinism!
3. PRO 20:24 Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?
A good Strong's concordance is a help here.
The word translated "Man's" is 'geber' it means 'strong man' or 'mighty man'. The word translated "man" is 'adam', it means 'an ordinary man'.
So then...."A mighty man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can an ordinary man understand his way?"
Sounds like "If you don't let God lead you, get ready to be confused about your life" to me. Or it could also be saying that an ordinary man is not going to understand the ways of a man who lets God direct his paths. Either way, it sounds good to me, they should put that one in proverbs. Oh, wait a minute...they did!
4. PRO 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Okay, God is involved in your life. I don't dipute that. But, again, using this verse to teach that we have no ability to decide anything is going to far and says more than the verse does.
5. PSA 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Although, this verse is chain referenced in the NKJV with the previous two verses you quote. It seems out of place.
Again, the word used here for "man" is 'geber'. So, this verse teaches us that if we are good, then God will make us strong, and will be pleased with us. Sounds like another good candidate for Proverbs!
It is interesting to note here that the translators of the NKJV (as well as all the modern English translations) were Calvinists.
6. PRO 19:21 Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
In other words... We can't defeat God. Whats your point?
7. JER 10:23 I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.
This is the last of the verses chain referenced in the NKJV. And similarly, isn't as strong a proof text as a mere surface reading would indicate.
Remember the three most important things in interpreting scripture....
1. Context
2. Context
3. Context
This chapter is not talking about individuals, but nations. Specifically, Israel vs. Gentiles. There are definately things that God intends to make happen concerning Israel (as a nation) but this doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you or I have freewill.
Now, there is a simple (if not overly brief) explanation of the handful of verses you presented as proof that God predetermined everything. I presented, uncomplicated arguments to show that these verses do not teach what you thought they taught. Arguments that any novice, with a few resources can discover on their own. In otherwords there is no need to be a expert theologian to figure these things out. All that is required is a little homework.
I am going to give you a list of verses. I would like to see if you are able to explain how they don't mean what they seem to mean using the same types of argument.
Jer. 19:5 "(they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I (GOD) did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind),"
I guess maybe those Arminian child murderers weren't predestined in the mind of God before time began after all!
Luke 7:30 "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptised by him (John the Baptist)."
This one really puts a dent in that whole "Irresistable Grace" thing doesn't it?
Gen. 3:22&23 "Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden..."
Wasn't it already predestined whether he would take and eat beforehand? This verse presents us with a possibility. There is no room for possibilties in a world that is predestined. Its either predestined or it's not.
Gen 18:20&21 "And the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me: and if not, I will know."
The important phrases here are "I (God) will go down now and see..." and "...and if not, I will know." Note the future tense "I will know."
I can't wait to see how a Calvinist explains away this one! Though I have no doubt you'll come up with something!
Okay, that enough for now.
I await your reply.
Clete
