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What Is Determinism, and How Does It Relate to Christian Doctrine?

Determinism is a philosophical belief that all events, including human actions and choices, are determined by causes external to the individual. This implies that free will is an illusion, as every choice we make is dictated by prior causes. Determinism can be divided into two primary categories: naturalistic and theistic. The naturalistic view, espoused by thinkers like B. F. Skinner, argues that human behavior is the result of genetic and environmental factors. On the other hand, theistic determinism, found in the works of Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards, attributes all human actions to God’s sovereign will.


In exploring determinism from a biblical perspective, this article will address the different kinds of determinism, the key arguments supporting the view, and the biblical response to theistic determinism. We will also consider the implications of determinism on human free will, moral responsibility, and the nature of God's sovereignty.



How Do Naturalistic and Theistic Determinism Differ?


Naturalistic Determinism


Naturalistic determinism holds that all human actions are caused by prior natural events, whether genetic, environmental, or societal. Proponents like B. F. Skinner, a behaviorist psychologist, argued that human freedom is an illusion and that individuals are merely products of their environment. In his book Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Skinner insisted that all human behavior could be understood and manipulated through scientific conditioning, thus eliminating any notion of free will.


According to this view, humans are no more than sophisticated machines responding to external stimuli, and all actions are determined by natural causes. Naturalistic determinism, therefore, rejects any concept of the soul, divine influence, or free moral agency.


Theistic Determinism


Theistic determinism, by contrast, holds that God is the ultimate cause of all human actions. Thinkers such as Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards argued that God’s sovereignty necessitates His control over every event, including human choices. In this view, God’s foreknowledge and omnipotence ensure that nothing happens outside His divine will. Luther’s Bondage of the Will and Edwards’ Freedom of the Will are seminal works that articulate this belief. For these theologians, human will is bound by the sovereignty of God, and individuals cannot act independently of God’s predetermination.


Theistic determinism is often associated with Calvinism, which teaches that God’s sovereign will extends to every detail of creation, including the salvation of individuals. Calvinists argue that God predestines some for salvation and others for damnation, a doctrine known as "double predestination." This view holds that human free will is compatible with God’s sovereignty only insofar as individuals choose in accordance with the desires that God has predetermined for them.



What Are the Main Arguments for Determinism?


Several arguments have been presented in favor of determinism, particularly by those who adhere to theistic determinism. Below are some of the key arguments:


The Argument from Alternative Possibilities


One of the most common arguments for determinism asserts that all human behavior must be caused by something external. This reasoning leads to the conclusion that actions cannot be self-caused or uncaused. According to Jonathan Edwards, every event must have a cause, and no action can come into existence independently of some prior cause. Therefore, the only remaining option is that all actions are determined by an external source, which Edwards identified as God.


The Argument from the Nature of Causality


Edwards also argued that the principle of causality demands that all events, including human actions, must have a cause. Since nothing can happen without a cause, and self-causation is impossible (because a cause must precede its effect), Edwards concluded that all actions are ultimately caused by God. In his view, human free will is simply doing what one desires, but those desires themselves are determined by God.



The Argument from God’s Sovereignty


Another argument for determinism is rooted in the belief that if God is sovereign, He must be in control of all events. Proponents of this view argue that God's omnipotence requires Him to be the primary cause of all actions. If there were any event or decision outside of God's control, then God would not be truly sovereign. Therefore, all human actions, even those that seem to be freely chosen, must ultimately be determined by God.


The Argument from God’s Omniscience


Some determinists argue that God's omniscience—His perfect knowledge of all things—requires that all events must unfold according to His will. If God knows the future perfectly, then everything must occur exactly as He foreknows it. Otherwise, God would be mistaken in His knowledge, which is impossible for an omniscient being. Thus, according to this argument, human actions must be predetermined by God's foreknowledge.



How Does Scripture Respond to Theistic Determinism?


While determinism, particularly in its theistic form, has been advocated by many respected theologians, it is essential to assess this doctrine in light of biblical teaching. A careful examination of Scripture reveals that God’s sovereignty and human free will are not mutually exclusive. Rather, the Bible affirms both divine sovereignty and human responsibility.


Human Free Will and Responsibility


The Bible consistently teaches that human beings are responsible for their actions and that they have the capacity to choose between good and evil. For example, in Deuteronomy 30:19, God tells the Israelites, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." This command implies that the people have the real ability to make a choice. God’s invitation to choose suggests that human beings possess genuine free will, which is essential for moral responsibility.


In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly calls people to repentance and faith, which would be meaningless if individuals were not free to respond. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The invitation implies that individuals have the freedom to accept or reject His offer of salvation.



God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice


While the Bible affirms human free will, it also teaches that God is sovereign over all creation. Psalm 115:3 declares, "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." God’s sovereignty extends over the entire universe, and nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. However, God’s sovereignty does not mean that He causes all human actions in a deterministic sense. Instead, God allows for human free will within the framework of His divine plan.


In the story of Joseph, we see a powerful example of how God’s sovereignty works alongside human free will. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, an evil act for which they were fully responsible. Yet, God used their actions to accomplish His greater purpose of saving many lives. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." This passage demonstrates that human beings can act freely, even sinfully, and yet God can sovereignly use those actions for His purposes.



What Are the Weaknesses of Determinism?


While determinism presents a logical and seemingly coherent framework, there are several significant weaknesses in this view, particularly from a biblical perspective.


Determinism Is Self-Defeating


One of the primary weaknesses of determinism is that it undermines itself. If determinism is true, then all beliefs, including the belief in determinism, are determined by external causes. This means that the determinist’s belief in determinism is not the result of rational consideration but merely a product of prior causes. As a result, the determinist cannot claim that their belief is rationally superior to any other belief, as it is simply the outcome of deterministic forces. Therefore, determinism is self-defeating because it denies the possibility of rational thought and meaningful debate.


Determinism Destroys Human Responsibility


A key problem with determinism is that it eliminates the possibility of genuine moral responsibility. If all human actions are determined by God or by external causes, then individuals cannot be held accountable for their choices. The Bible, however, teaches that human beings are morally responsible for their actions. In Romans 14:12, Paul writes, "So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." This passage emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their actions and will be judged accordingly. Determinism, by denying free will, undermines the biblical doctrine of moral accountability.


Determinism Undermines the Nature of Love


Love, by its very nature, requires freedom. Genuine love cannot be coerced or predetermined; it must be freely given. The Bible presents God’s relationship with humanity as one of love, and He desires that we respond to Him in love. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). This statement presupposes that love is a free choice, not a predetermined action. If determinism were true, then human love for God would be meaningless, as it would not be freely chosen.


Determinism Leads to Fatalism


A deterministic worldview ultimately leads to fatalism—the belief that all events are inevitable and that human efforts are futile. If everything is predetermined, then there is no reason to strive for moral improvement or to work for justice. However, the Bible encourages believers to live with purpose and to make meaningful choices. In Philippians 2:12, Paul exhorts the believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," indicating that their actions have real significance. Determinism, by contrast, promotes a sense of helplessness and resignation, which is contrary to the biblical call to live faithfully and purposefully.



How Can We Reconcile God's Sovereignty and Human Free Will?


The relationship between God’s sovereignty and human free will is a profound mystery, but the Bible presents both truths as compatible. While God is sovereign over all things, He has also given human beings the capacity to make free choices. This view is often called compatibilism, which teaches that God’s sovereignty and human free will are not in conflict but work together in harmony.


One way to understand this is to distinguish between God’s causative will and His permissive will. God’s causative will refers to the events that He directly brings about, while His permissive will refers to the events that He allows to happen through the free actions of human beings. In this way, God remains sovereign while also allowing for human freedom.


The story of the crucifixion of Jesus provides a powerful example of this interplay between divine sovereignty and human free will. The Bible teaches that Jesus’ death was part of God’s sovereign plan for the redemption of humanity (Acts 2:23). At the same time, those who crucified Jesus acted freely and were morally responsible for their actions. Peter, addressing the crowd on the day of Pentecost, declared, "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men" (Acts 2:23). Here, we see that God’s sovereign plan and human free will operated together to bring about the most important event in human history.



How Should Christians Respond to Determinism?


As Christians, it is important to reject any form of determinism that denies human free will or undermines moral responsibility. The Bible clearly teaches that human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and have been given the capacity to make real choices. While God is sovereign and His will ultimately prevails, He has graciously given us the freedom to choose whether we will follow Him or reject Him.


Christians should embrace a biblical understanding of free will that acknowledges both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. This balanced view allows us to affirm God’s control over history while also recognizing that our choices have real consequences. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God calls His people to choose life: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." This call to choose life is a reminder that we are not passive instruments in a predetermined plan but active participants in God’s redemptive work.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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