Does God Have a Future?: A Debate on Divine Providence

by Christopher A. Hall, John Sanders

Does God change his mind? How can God plan everything yet respond to our prayers? Does God transcend time? The debate over providence and divine foreknowledge, sparked by the openness of God movement, is the most controversial issue in evangelical circles today. This debate, which concerns the very heart of God's nature, has at times become heated. Does God Have a Future? counters this harsh dialogue by pairing Christopher Hall, who affirms the classical view, with John Sanders, one of the foremost proponents of the openness view.

For more than a year, Hall and Sanders engaged in a friendly yet probing exchange of e-mail correspondence responding to each other's questions and concerns about providence and foreknowledge. Throughout, the authors displayed their respect for each other while vigorously disagreeing about important issues. This book is a compilation of those letters, offering equal treatment to both classical and openness views without unfair caricatures.

A version of Does God Have a Future? appeared as a two-part Christianity Today article in 2001. All those interested in a serious, balanced presentation of the classical versus openness of God debate will appreciate this theologically sophisticated yet accessible book.

Genres: Theology

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Christopher A. Hall (PhD, Drew University) is chancellor of Eastern University and dean of Palmer Theological Seminary in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, and has authored a number of books. He is an editor at large for Christianity Today and associate editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series.

Reviews

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful debate/email discussion between two brilliant scholars. One a patristic scholar, Chris Hall, and the other, John Sanders, who is the author of The God Who Risks. It is a debate between a reformed theologian and an open theist on divine providence. Here is Roger Olson's take on the book:

'A model of irenic debate. Not only will readers learn a great deal about open theism and the doctrine of God in general, but they will also learn how it is possible for evangelicals to discuss their disagreemnts respectfully and constructively. This is must reading for anyone interested in open theism or concerned about the present state of evangelical theology.'