Que sera! Sera?
The title of this TruthForThought is taken from a song made popular by Doris Day many years ago. The Spanish phrase used in the song was "Que sera, sera" which in English is "What will be, will be". We have altered the punctuation in order to make this phrase a question rather than a statement. This was done because we challenge the theology of that statement and wish to warn about the pervasiveness of that mindset in the minds of many people. Stated another way, in language we have often heard, "what's going to happen is going to happen". Relating this more specifically to the time of a person's death, it is often said that "when your time is up, your time is up - it doesn't matter what you are doing at the time, when your time is up, your time is up! Well-meaning Christian people as well as many non-Christian people subscribe to this fatalistic philosophy of life. For the Christian folks who adhere to this idea, it is supported (wrongly, we believe) by belief in a sovereign, omnipotent God who, before the foundations of the earth were laid, pre-determined all that would ever take place - every thought, every spoken word, every deed of every man, woman and child who has ever lived. There is a very real sense in which this is very similar to those whose view is of a supernatural being (God) who wound up the clock and let it run. When the wind-up clock "unwinds", everything will come to an end. But, in the meantime, everything happens exactly as God pre-determined it would. Relating this to the realm of theology, one can see that this idea fits well with a Calvinistic (or reformed) theology wherein, subsequent to Adam and Eve's creation, God has created all people in a lost state and exercising His prerogative as Sovereign He has pre-determined (elected) to save certain specific people from condemnation and eternal punishment in hell (also known as predestination).
We will attempt to expand on our reasons for challenging this faulty philosophy by adding to this page in the future. Meanwhile, here are some thoughts to ponder.
1. Men and women need to take responsibility for their actions.
Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."
Romans 14:12 "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."
Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
1 Peter 4:5 "But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
2. There are consequences of human action (and inaction!)
Ezekiel 18:4 "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
3. 1 Corinthians 11:30-31
"That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment."
We show these two verses together as a simple illustration of weakness, sickness and even death RESULTING from the actions of men (in the first verse) and the clear expression that certain consequences CAN BE AVOIDED (in the second verse).
4. Prayer
It seems to us that the very nature of prayer indicates the dynamic relationship that God has with people.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He instructed them to ask the Father for various things. He even taught parables which illustrated the perseverance we should have in praying - AND the responsiveness of God to the prayer of His children.
The dynamic nature of the relationship between God and His people is very evident throughout the Old Testament Scriptures!
The title of this TruthForThought is taken from a song made popular by Doris Day many years ago. The Spanish phrase used in the song was "Que sera, sera" which in English is "What will be, will be". We have altered the punctuation in order to make this phrase a question rather than a statement. This was done because we challenge the theology of that statement and wish to warn about the pervasiveness of that mindset in the minds of many people. Stated another way, in language we have often heard, "what's going to happen is going to happen". Relating this more specifically to the time of a person's death, it is often said that "when your time is up, your time is up - it doesn't matter what you are doing at the time, when your time is up, your time is up! Well-meaning Christian people as well as many non-Christian people subscribe to this fatalistic philosophy of life. For the Christian folks who adhere to this idea, it is supported (wrongly, we believe) by belief in a sovereign, omnipotent God who, before the foundations of the earth were laid, pre-determined all that would ever take place - every thought, every spoken word, every deed of every man, woman and child who has ever lived. There is a very real sense in which this is very similar to those whose view is of a supernatural being (God) who wound up the clock and let it run. When the wind-up clock "unwinds", everything will come to an end. But, in the meantime, everything happens exactly as God pre-determined it would. Relating this to the realm of theology, one can see that this idea fits well with a Calvinistic (or reformed) theology wherein, subsequent to Adam and Eve's creation, God has created all people in a lost state and exercising His prerogative as Sovereign He has pre-determined (elected) to save certain specific people from condemnation and eternal punishment in hell (also known as predestination).
We will attempt to expand on our reasons for challenging this faulty philosophy by adding to this page in the future. Meanwhile, here are some thoughts to ponder.
1. Men and women need to take responsibility for their actions.
Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."
Romans 14:12 "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."
Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
1 Peter 4:5 "But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
2. There are consequences of human action (and inaction!)
Ezekiel 18:4 "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
3. 1 Corinthians 11:30-31
"That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment."
We show these two verses together as a simple illustration of weakness, sickness and even death RESULTING from the actions of men (in the first verse) and the clear expression that certain consequences CAN BE AVOIDED (in the second verse).
4. Prayer
It seems to us that the very nature of prayer indicates the dynamic relationship that God has with people.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He instructed them to ask the Father for various things. He even taught parables which illustrated the perseverance we should have in praying - AND the responsiveness of God to the prayer of His children.
The dynamic nature of the relationship between God and His people is very evident throughout the Old Testament Scriptures!