NeoTheism
If God Lacks Knowledge . . .
Job 36:4
For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect
in knowledge is with you.
NKJV
We might suggest two other possible outcomes of God lacking actual knowledge of the future.
First, the answer to prayer is hindered. Open Theology appears to admit that God generally works through His special providence to accomplish the answer to prayer. While an occasional supernatural event may occur, it is God's control of Providence that provides the answer to prayer. Yet, if man is able to overcome God's plan by his free will choices, then God cannot be certain of the outcome of providence. And, if providence is in doubt, then the answer to prayer is in doubt.
Second, we are confronted with what might be the biggest concern of free will and God's inability to know the future. If neotheism is correct, God does not know who, if anyone, will accept His offer of salvation through Jesus. If the plan of salvation was devised before creation, then it was devised without God knowing if anyone would be saved!
Neotheist overcome this difficulty by adopting a corporate view of salvation. God knew that Jesus is part of the “elect” so those who are in Him will be “elect.” But, this means there may be no one "in Christ." In fact, if Jesus is a created being and not really God, as asserted by many neotheists, then Christ could have chosen to side with evil rather than good and God would have had no plan at all!
This, of course, is all contrary to Scripture. For example:
Christ was slain before the foundation of the world
Revelation 13:8 (NIV)
8
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names
have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that
was slain from the creation of the world.
Individuals were chosen in Him before the world began
Romans 8:29 (NIV)
29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and
blameless in his sight. In love
Paul includes himself in this group of chosen individuals
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love
How could any of this be possible if God could not foresee with 100% accuracy the future?
