Back in May, I had an interesting argument with an acquaintance of mine over the death penalty, and whether or not it was ethical (to both the person and the society). While the outcome of the argument remains undeclared and relatively unimportant, it did bring up a fascinating, thought-provoking topic: predestination. My acquaintance told me that only the "elect" will enter heaven, but for some reason, his wording really set me off; it sounded, I don't know... almost... elitist. Even, dare I say, Pharisee-like, much to my chagrin. But you know something? It really got me to thinking more deeply about the topic than I would have normally, so I do thank said unnamed acquaintance for that.

Most of you are probably wondering why I have chosen ( ;) ;) ) a "Naruto" picture for this article. I specifically chose this picture because it is not just the fight between two people, Naruto and Neji, but rather also a clash of ideals and beliefs. Neji, only a little more extremist than my acquaintance in some ways, is initially extremely fatalistic and predestinarian. He believed that no matter what you did or how hard you tried, you could never, ever, change your destiny laid out before you. Naruto, on the other hand, begged to differ, stating he CHOOSE to be noticed, CHOOSE to be a good person and help his friends rather than be a lonely outcast that everyone feared and hated. (Later on, because Naruto whooped Neji's jerk rear, Neji managed tohumble himself a bit and adjusted his perspective slightly, and became somewhat nicer, although still stern, serious, and focused.) Me? I was on the fence between the two; I believe that, as we studied in our Bible classes here at Geneva, that although everything is mapped out before us, we still get the CHANCE to choose.

Let me make myself quite clear: I know God is everywhere. I know He is all-powerful, all-loving. I also know He is all-knowing, which naturally means He is predestinarian, because to say He is otherwise would be like a direct affront to His very NATURE.

This is the problem I have with predestination, folks: That people act like they KNOW who's already saved, and think about certain other people will never be saved. But allow me to put it allll in perspective: You are not God. You never will be, and you do not know these things. In fact, it is HEAVILY implied in Romans, the same book of the Bible that, by the way, references predestination a great deal, that God specifically WITHHELD the knowledge of who would and wouldn't be saved, "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:13-14, NIV, emphasis added.) For if we were given this knowledge beforehand, would we have made such an effort to reach people for Christ? Of course not; then we would have likely been even more elitist than some already are.

In Romans 1:16, a famous verse even, says, " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to EVERYONE who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (NIV, emphasis added.) Again, "how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" We are to reach out to ALL, as many as we possibly can, because you know what? We have no idea who's going to be in God's kingdom someday.

Look at the apostle Paul. My acquaintance claimed he was "predestined" to become a Christian, and he probably was. But give that kid a time machine, ship him back to the time when the guy was Saul the zealot, the mass murderer of Christians, and I can almost guarantee it will be harder for my acquaintance to picture him today as we read about his firm but loving words towards Christ and His followers. God works in the lives of the people you would least expect-- criminals, sinners, terrorists. People who've been without hope, companionship, or love for a very, very long time. Jesus Himself told the Pharisees this when He was ministering to and hanging out with such people: " On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt. 9:12-13. NIV.) That is the primary reason I am for the most part against the death penalty (not because they don't deserve it; I still believe mass murderers and rapist, etc. should get life imprisonment.); it's because you don't KNOW if they've even heard of the name Jesus or not. Your life, again, may be the only Bible someone may read or come in contact with; would you want that to be like that as the executioner squad, just as the Pharisees were willing to execute a woman worthy of their death penalty? Or would you rather give them undeserved Grace, just as Jesus so freely gave to us?

Bottom line is, reach out to EVERYONE you can for Jesus, especially if they haven't heard; at least you can give them a genuine chance. And you may not meet a hardened criminal. Maybe it's the girl with an rough home life. Maybe it's the druggie on the street. Maybe it's the teenager who's confused about who she is, who she loves. Maybe it's the man who lost everything, and has to resort to something low but inconspicuous to stay above ground.

Maybe, just maybe, that person could've been YOU.

So don't just sit around waiting for someone else to do something or for God to pass judgement; get up and share the Gospel TODAY. Because you never know when someone's day could be their last, and who's name's really written in the Book of Life.