Answer:
While I do not agree with open theism on issues related to the omniscience of God, I do believe that they are Christians. I know some, perhaps even Arminians, will not agree with me on that. I have found that I agree with some of the exegesis of passages that are debated among Arminians and Calvinists such as Romans 9-11. But I differ with Boyd and open theists over passages related to God "changing His mind" or "repenting" such as Genesis 6:5-6 or Genesis 22:12 or Genesis 32:14 and others. Open theism teaches that the future is partly open and that God has given humanity free will so that He reacts to the free will decisions of His creation. The open theist believes that their view truly encompasses a loving relationship between God and humans.
However, I would agree with Calvinists such as Bruce Ware
when it comes to understanding these passages that speak about God changing His mind or the idea, as Boyd puts forth
, that our view of God is often tainted by our understanding that God is outside of our time/space. The classical view of God is that God sees all of time at once. Calvinists believe that God decrees whatsoever comes to pass and that free will is a myth (according to Dr. Samuel Storms). Arminians believe God is distinct from His creation and is outside of time/space but we believe that while God foreknows the free will decisions of humans, He doesn't force any humans to make decisions. The open theist denies that God is outside of time/space and they believe that He dwells in our time/space realm and while His knowledge is beyond our own and He is infinite in His wisdom and power, He does not know all things concerning the future. In conclusion, I do think that Boyd and other open theists are correct when it comes to the death, burial, resurrection, and application of the gospel of Jesus Christ
. Boyd, for example, holds to inerrancy (as far as I know), to the holy Trinity, to the authority of the Bible as the revealed Word of God, to the existence of Satan, demons, and angels, to justification by faith in Jesus Christ, and to eternal judgment (though I believe he now denies an eternal hell). Yet Boyd's view of God concerning God's omniscience, I believe, is not biblical. Having said that, Boyd is quite a thinker, is a good public speaker, and a good writer even if I don't agree with him on all issues. I also have been in contact with an open theist who is presently translating the Bible in Iraq. While he and I do not see eye to eye on issues related to omniscience, I have found him to be a kind, warm, and passionate brother who longs to see Jesus proclaimed in Iraq. While works in no way prove that one is genuinely saved (2 Timothy 2:19), I do believe that from his fruit, he does love Jesus. Yet only God knows his heart.
