This questioner gets to the point …
Here’s the Q, in its entirety:
What is your view of predestinaion?
Sola scriptura?
Here’s the R:
I normally don’t respond to questions like this – for reasons that will be clear in these attempts at reply:
1. If by predestination, you mean the belief that some people are chosen (or “elected” by God) for heaven and others for hell, I agree with missiologist Leslie Newbigin: the greatest heresy in the history of monotheism is a misunderstanding of election. Many assume that some are chosen for elite privilege from which all others are excluded. A more biblical understanding, I believe, is that if anyone is chosen, it is not just for exclusive privilege, but for service, sacrifice, and even suffering on behalf of others. A prime example is Abraham. He wasn’t chosen simply to be blessed to the exclusion of others; rather, he was chosen for blessing so he could be a blessing to all.
[If by predestination you mean the belief that God causes everything to happen, I don’t think that’s the kind of relationship God wants with creation. I know and experience God as loving Father, not puppet-master; as good King, not harsh dictator; as kind shepherd, not dominating controller; as Triune communion, not totalitarian monad.]
2. If by sola Scriptura you mean the belief that Scripture alone is enough, I would have to ask, “Enough for what?” If by sola Scriptura you mean the belief that Scripture brings us revelation apart from interpretation, I’d have to ask how that could happen, because I can’t imagine it. If by sola Scriptura you mean that traditions or denominations or power structures shouldn’t be allowed to foreclose upon fresh understandings of Scripture, I’d be in enthusiastic agreement. So I guess my answer depends on what you mean by the question.
Anyway, I hope these responses, such as they are, are helpful to you in some way. God bless!