Really? . . . Really! . . . Really?

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)
"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

I believe that God is sovereign over all things.  He either allows or causes all things to happen.  He is in control of all things, knows all things, and if it is his desire he will do something.  This seems to me a very basic understanding of God that most Protestants hold to with a few exceptions or tweaks.

I recently met a pastor who has a theology that blew my mind (and not in a good way).  He does not believe in God's omniscience (all-knowing) nature.  At least, not in the way most theologians, let alone everyday Joes, define it.  He believes that God knows what He is going to do, but not what we are going to do.  Wow!  I had never met someone with that belief and hope that someday I can have a conversation with him about it.  But putting my "Really?" response aside, I want to address this issue.  Long, drawn out arguments are not to be used on a blog, so I will keep this short.

It seems that most of Paul' writings are not focused on himself.  Even when he calls himself the "foremost" of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-16) the focus is not on himself, but on Christ.  The entire book of Romans, though Paul here mentions himself numerous times, is not focused on Paul, but on Christ.  Ephesians is written to a group of believers to teach them doctrine focused on Christ.  When Paul lays out the requirements for elders, deacons, women, men, children, etc. the focus is not on the people, but on Christ.

Where this pastor I mentioned above misses the point is that his life is not about himself.  God is not out there rubbing his hands together waiting to see what we are going to do.  If you take the omniscience away from God then you lose his sovereignty.  God is no longer God and we begin to live for ourselves just hoping that God will join us.  God has a plan for each of us and he is in control of that plan.  We cannot put ourselves outside the sphere of God's sovereignty.  If we do then we become God and we reduce God.  Not a good thing.

". . . so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him . . ."

Amen.