Their God Is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God

by Bruce A. Ware

Can you trust a "God" who can't know the future? A new theology is trickling down from the lofty halls of academia to the pews of evangelical churches. Called open theism , this novel view of God denies that he fully knows the future and insists that he takes risks by giving humans wide-ranging freedom. This view has disastrous consequences for the everyday faith of ordinary Christians, consequences you can't afford to ignore. Their God Is Too Small explains some of the beliefs of open theism and shows their practical implications. Using biblical truth and personal anecdotes, Bruce Ware demonstrates how open theism undermines trust in God for everyday life, particularly in the midst of suffering. This is no dry academic discourse; if you care about God's glory and your confidence in him, then this book is for you because it concerns the everyday issues of faith.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2003

About the author

Bruce A. Ware (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written numerous journal articles, book chapters, book reviews, and has authored God's Lesser Glory, God's Greater Glory, and Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ware did an excellent job of providing biblical examples that demonstrate the shortcomings of open theism. Ultimately the sovereignty of God, that open theists propose to reject, is so overwhelmingly clear in the Bible that it would be theological irresponsible to maintain an open view of God. Very good, and very short, rebuttal to open theism.

[Drew Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, devastating blow to the "god" of open theism. Highly recommend this book

[David J. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Ware explains and then obliterates the theology known as open theism, the belief that God is perfectly aware of past and present events but is not perfectly aware of future events.

First, Ware gives analysis of all the Texts used by open theists and demonstrates both the logical and hermeneutical abuses of those passages.

Second, the author goes to some of the foundational Bible Texts that clearly teach God's complete foreknowledge of the future.

The rest of the book deals with the implications open theism has on prayer, suffering, and hope. These implications demonstrate that this discussion is not just important for the classroom but also for the daily lives of normal Christians.

Although a god proposed by open theism cannot be trusted, the God of Scripture rightly calls us to trust Him with all of our hearts. This is the God who anchors His Deity and very uniqueness in His foreknowledge of all things when He said in Isaiah 46:9-10, "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning."

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF WARE'S "GOD'S LESSER GLORY”

Bruce A. Ware is professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He wrote in the Introduction to this 2003 book, "From my first exposure to what is called the 'open' view of God, I have wanted to 'set the record straight'... (so that) followers of the true and living God will see the openness deity as an imposter and not the true God he is claimed to be... My longer and more sustained interaction is available in 'God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism.'"

He asks how Christ could warn Peter that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed (Jn 13:38), "If God doesn't know what we will do before we do it"? (Pg. 18)

He asserts that it should be apparent to Bible-believing Christians that "the open view diminishes God's full integrity, wisdom, greatness, goodness, and glory. Their God is just too small." (Pg. 19)

He asks rhetorically, "Does Scripture teach that God wonders and guesses what free human persons might do in the future"? He denies this, asserting that the God of the Bible does not face the future, wondering what will happen---"the true God knows and declares the end from the beginning, and he challenges anyone to prove him wrong!" (Pg. 57)

This book will have value for persons who don't want to work through Ware's earlier, and more detailed book.

[Hannah Musil · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Where open theism reduces our hope to something unavoidably fragile and weak, the Bible commends a hope that is strong, secure, fixed, and certain. Life is purposeful, and the God who gives himself to us is the conquering God who will lead us in his triumph.” !!!!!!!!

[Clark Goble · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book by Bruce Ware is easily read in a day and is a wonderful primer on the topic of Open Theism. Ware expertly examines the arguments of the Open Theist and then tears them down in an expert and expedient fashion. As the title of this book suggests, Ware argues that God, as seen through the lens of Open Theism, is too small to be the God of the Bible. Inevitably, if one buys Open Theism, their confidence in God will eventually be eroded.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about Open Theism or the God of the Bible. I would recommend that the reader check out some articles or websites written by Open Theists prior to reading this book so they can enter into is more informed. Ware approaches the subject using Scripture and common sense to refute Open Theology. Having read other of his books, I have come to respect Ware’s knowledge of Scripture. I highly recommend this book for those interested in Open Theology.

[Todd Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce A. Ware is clear, concise and effective in his rebuttal of Open Theists and their views. Chapter 3 deals with suffering and is profitable not only in dismantling Open Theism's views but also in clearly stating the orthodox doctrine of Christian suffering.

A quote which I feel succinctly sums up Open Theists is found on page 102:

"Open theism has gained a hearing, it seems clear to me, only because of the immensely low view of God and the unrealistically high view of self held in our churches and reinforced everywhere in our culture. All traditional views of God know better. And we can only pray that God will be gracious and help us to know better, too."

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If God is powerful, why does He allow suffering? Why must we pray if He already knows what we will ask? These complex questions have led some to declare that God is, in fact, not all-knowing or all-powerful. In response, Ware provides this brief—though markedly helpful—response to the charges of open theism. It is God’s absolute control, he argues, that allows us to have confidence that our suffering and our prayers both have purpose.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is a condensed version of Ware's full fledged assault on open theism (or openness theology) in his two earlier books God's Lesser Glory and God's Greater Glory. This would be a good book to start with if you are relatively new to the proposals made by open theists and the biblical, philosophical, and pastoral counterpoints made by classical theists.

[Matt Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little book that carries a big stick.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief book, easily read in a day, is a condensed version of Ware's larger work on open theism and openness theology. This is a fitting place to start if you are relatively new to the proposals made by open theists and the biblical, philosophical, and pastoral counterpoints made by classical theists. Recommended.