A Molinist View of Relationships

In a previous post, A Molinist View of (the UK General) Election, I wrote that according to Molinism,

1. Knowing what tempts us and how much grace we need (to not be tempted beyond what we can bear), God gives us the ability to resist temptation (by His grace) or resist His grace.

2. God knows whether (and under what circumstances) we would resist temptation or resist His grace.

3. Knowing whether (and under what circumstances) we would resist temptation or resist His grace, God works all things according to His will.

Grounded in God

Our view of relationships should be grounded in our view of God. Indeed, our view of everything should be grounded in our view of God.

If we believe that we don't have the God-given ability to choose to enter into a relationship with God, how much more should we believe that we don't have the God-given ability to choose to enter into a relationship with someone else!

If we believe that we have the God-given ability to choose to enter into a relationship with someone else, how much more should we believe that we have the God-given ability to choose to enter into a relationship with God, the perfect relationship!

Of course, to say that we have the God-given ability to choose to enter into a relationship with God is not to say that God does not predestine (Arminianism). God does predestine.

The question is not whether God predestines. The question is whether God foreknows what He predestines (5-point Calvinism) or whether God predestines what He foreknows (Molinism).

Arminianism - God does not predestine.
5-point Calvinism - God foreknows what He predestines.
Molinism - God predestines what He foreknows.

"It is up to God whether we find ourselves in a world in which we are predestined, but it is up to us whether we are predestined in the world in which we find ourselves." - William Lane Craig, Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom: The Coherence of Theism: Omniscience

"The Lord predicted Peter would deny him and by the use of middle knowledge ordained the scenario that infallibly guaranteed Peter would do so. However, God did not make or cause Peter to do as he did." - Kenneth Keathley, A Molinist View of Election or How to be a Consistent Infralapsarian

Molinism and Relationships

Applying the Molinist view to relationships,

1. God gives us the opportunity to enter into relationships - and enter into relationships freely!
2. God knows whether (and under what circumstances) we would enter into relationships - and who we would enter into relationships with!
3. Knowing all of the above, God works all things according to His will.

"This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:32 (NIV)

Links: A Molinist View of (the UK General) Election (7 May 10), The First and Ultimate Matchmaker (4 Jun 10), A Molinist View of Samson's Marriage (30 Jun 10)