Analyze Feinberg’s assessment of openness theology:
According to John Feinberg, author of No One Like Him: The Doctrines of God,
the openness model is a proposed mediating corrective to the classical and
process models.[1] Although there are some similarities between openness
theology, classical and process theology, there are also significant differences.
The open view believes their understanding and knowledge of God is
consistent with the biblical description of God. The openness god attributes are
described as loving, caring, and committed. When the attributes of the classical
and process gods are considered, the open view agrees with the process
thinkers more. For example, open theists accept the process claim that certain
aspects of God are contingent but reject the classical view that God is
absolute.[2] Furthermore, open theists affirm God’s nature and attributes are
unchangeable.[3] Because openness theists believe God has feelings and
emotions, impassability is rejected. Additionally, as a result of God’s
involvement in the world, openness theism contends God governs himself to
time.
The open view's understanding of the omniscience and omnipotence attributes
is that God has sovereign control over the world.[4] According to Feinburg, the
belief that humans have libertarian free will is central to the open view.[5]
Moreover, openness theism claims that its perspective on the problem of evil
is more understandable than that of classical and process theism. Feinburg
states, “Unlike the process view, the open view doesn’t solve the problem of
evil by making God so impotent and finite that he isn’t guilty for what happens
in our world because he can’t do anything about it.”[6] Overall, “the open view
is a distinct alternative to both process and classical models of God.”[7]
Discuss at least 3 theological reasons for agreement or disagreement with
Feinberg and f Does Wells agree with Feinberg? Explain:
f f f f f f f f f 1). I agree with Feinberg that “we may use our freedom to love
God and choose his way, but we may also use it to reject and disappoint him
as well”[8] f Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord
establishes his steps.”[9] This scripture proves God gives humans the ability to
choose even after showing him the way. Wells also agrees, he states our goal
in life is to be God-centered in our thoughts and God-fearing in our hearts.”[10]
f f f f f f f f f 2). I agree with Feinburg that God is social and engaged in various
relationships with his creatures.[11] The Bible teaches God desires an intimate
relationship with humanity (Genesis 2; Psalm 139). These scripture passages
prove God communicates with humans and is involved in their lives.
Comparatively, Wells affirms God is social and engaged in the world, he writes:
We know him savingly only because he has drawn us into a knowledge of
himself. “In this is love,” John writes, “not that we have loved God but that he
loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
We “love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The way love is defined,
and what gives it its body of meaning, is the sacrificial, substitutionary death
of Christ. That is what supremely defines God’s love, and this will be taken up
in the chapters that follow.[12]
f f f f f f f f f 3). I agree with Feinberg that “Love becomes paramount and is the
governing divine attribute in both Old and New Testaments.”[13] The central
message of Christianity is Love. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world, that
he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life.” According to Wells, “Nothing seems quite so self-evident to us
today as the love of God. Those who may know little else about the Bible will,
nevertheless, know of its declaration that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16; 2 Cor.
13:11).”[14]
Feinberg John S. No One Like Him: The Doctrine of GOD. Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2001.
Wells David. God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-Love of God Reorients Our
World. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014.
[1] John S. Feinberg, No One Like Him: The Doctrine of GOD (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2001), 69.
[2] Ibid., 69-70.
[3] Ibid., 70.
[4] Ibid., 71.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid., 72.
[7] Ibid., 73.
[8] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English
Standard Version.
[9] f John S. Feinberg, No One Like Him, 71.
[10] David Wells, God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-Love of God Reorients Our
World (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 15.
[11] Ibid., 67.
[12] David Wells, God in the Whirlwind, 33.
[13] John S. Feinberg, No One Like Him, 69.
[14] David Wells, God in the Whirlwind, 77.
