Unconditional Election: Breaking Down Broken Analogies

Analogies are common and useful tools that help us get a message across in an understandable way. Because we are hard-headed, getting truth into our skull is like trying to drive a nail into a brick.  We have to use every means possible, and there is something about analogy that does the trick.

But as useful as they can be, they can often be just as harmful.

In my context, false analogies often arise in discussions concerning the nature of God.  And because I am a reformed evangelical, these analogies are often used as discussions center around the doctrine of salvation - especially the doctrine of unconditional election.  The analogy goes something like this:

Imaging that a dozen children fell into a pool of water.  They are drowning.  As they reach for help, you stand on the edge and choose to save only three of them.  The others sink to the bottom and die.  I would call you a mean person.  God is not that way.  Your doctrine of election is therefore false.

You may have heard it put another way, but the gist is the same.  God is unfair and mean for electing some and not electing others.

This analogy, while very powerful, is also very false.  It does not describe the biblical picture of humanity or God truthfully at all.  It is true that people are "in a pool" and "drowning."  But that is about all that is not false about it.  Let's break it down.

First, the children.  If there is a skewed theology, it can commonly be traced to one's doctrine and understanding of man's sinful condition.  We are not children who accidentally fell into a pool.  We are a wicked people who chose to defy and rebel against a holy, good, and just God.

Second, the pool.  The pool is not merely water, but a sinful lifestyle that wicked people choose and love.  It is also a context of hatred towards God and not love for him.

Third, the actions of the people in the pool.  Wicked people who are willfully enslaved to sin are not reaching for God.  They are metaphorically running away from him, while at the same time, they hate him and would rather have him dead.

Fourth, the God who elects.  God is not sitting at the edge of the pool turning down those who would love to be saved by him (Jn 3:16).  Rather, he gives his own Son to die in order to rescue wicked sinners who are swimming headlong to the bottom of the very pool that is killing them.  As they rebelliously run/swim away from him, he mercifully chooses one saying, "No.  Not you."  Then he mercifully chooses another, "Not you either."

Simply put, our Lord never turns people away from heaven.  Rather, there are many who are turned around by God from running toward hell.

If the first [false] analogy is bought, one is left wondering and questioning how God could not choose someone.  The biblical analogy, however, is very different in that it should leave us all wondering how in the world God would choose to save any.  

We should be thankful and humbled that he chose us while we were sinners.  We should also beware of using analogies that distract and even dissuade us from such gratitude and humility.