Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Are Prayers Pointless If God Knows What Will Happen?
Host: Greg Koukl
Release Date: February 26, 2025

In this episode of the Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast, hosted by Greg Koukl, the discussion centers around the efficacy of prayer in the context of God's omniscience. The episode features open mic calls where listeners pose challenging theological questions, prompting in-depth explorations of classical Christian doctrines. Skipping over promotional segments and focusing solely on the content-driven discussions, the episode delves into two primary questions: the relationship between prayer and God's all-knowing nature, and the concept of personal responsibility in the context of original sin.

1. Prayer and God's Omniscience

Caller: Dan
Timestamp: [00:29 - 04:05]

Dan poses a profound question questioning the efficacy of prayer if God already knows the future. He challenges the notion by asking:

Dan [03:06]: "Christians believe that God is omniscient, meaning he knows everything, past, present, and future. If God knows what happens tomorrow, then God cannot change what happens tomorrow. Therefore, all prayers are void and null."

Grace Koukl's Response:

Grace addresses the concern by distinguishing between logical priority and temporal priority:

Grace [04:05]: "Knowing something doesn't cause that thing. God's knowledge of future events doesn't make them happen; it merely represents His awareness of what will occur based on human free will."

She introduces an illustration inspired by C.S. Lewis to clarify the distinction:

• Logical Order vs. Temporal Order: Imagine two books stacked forever; the top book depends on the one below it, not because of temporal sequencing but due to a logical relationship.

Further, Grace emphasizes that God's omniscience doesn't equate to determinism. While God knows future events, these events unfold based on genuine human choices. She explains:

Grace: "The future is not fixed in the sense that it's determined. It will be a certain way because choices are made by people that establish the future to be that way."

Grace concludes that prayers are meaningful because they align with God's foreknowledge without dictating outcomes:

Grace: "God can respond to prayers because His knowledge is based on the free choices people make. Prayers are logically prior to God's actions but not temporally, allowing for genuine interaction and response."

2. Personal Responsibility and Original Sin

Caller: Dan
Timestamp: [19:39 - 20:48]

Dan raises a critical issue regarding original sin and personal responsibility:

Dan [19:39]: "If the police showed up at your door and arrested you for the crimes of your great-great-grandfather, how would you feel? Are you responsible for Adam and Eve's decisions? The Christian dogma claims we are born sick, which is immoral and unjust."

Grace Koukl's Response:

Grace tackles the analogy by highlighting complexities in the concept of corporate headship:

Grace [20:48]: "The relationship between Adam and all of humanity is akin to a corporate headship, similar to how nations engage in warfare. Adam's rebellion affects all his descendants, establishing a collective responsibility rather than individual blame for his specific actions."

She elaborates on the corporate nature of humanity's fall, comparing it to historical events like Pearl Harbor to illustrate collective responsibility:

Grace: "When Adam fell, it wasn't just his personal sin but a corporate rebellion that influences all of humanity. This is why the doctrine posits that all humans are born with a fallen nature."

Grace acknowledges differing interpretations within Christianity but reinforces the traditional view:

Grace: "We are held responsible not for Adam and Eve's specific actions but for the inherited fallen nature that results from their rebellion against God."

3. Jehovah's Witnesses' Perspectives on Heaven and Sin

Caller: Stephanie
Timestamp: [36:24 - 48:49]

Stephanie presents two questions from a Jehovah's Witness perspective, seeking to reconcile their teachings with Biblical scripture.

First Question: Understanding John 3:13 vs. 2 Corinthians 5

Stephanie references Jehovah's Witness materials stating that humans do not ascend to heaven upon death, citing:

Stephanie [36:43]: "Jehovah's Witnesses claim that we do not go to heaven when we die, referencing John 3:13. However, 2 Corinthians 5 suggests that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, implying believers are with God after death."

Grace Koukl's Response:

Grace interprets John 3:13 in its contextual framework:

Grace [37:39]: "Jesus is addressing Nicodemus, emphasizing that He alone has ascended from heaven with the authority to speak on heavenly matters. This is not a commentary on the intermediate state of believers after death."

She contrasts this with Paul's teachings in 2 Corinthians:

Grace: "Paul clearly states that being absent from the body means being present with the Lord. Therefore, Jesus' statement in John 3:13 refers to His unique authority, not the destination of believers' souls."

Grace advises focusing on core theological points rather than peripheral debates:

Grace: "The essential dialogue should revolve around the person and work of Christ, rather than getting sidetracked by specific doctrinal interpretations that don't affect one's salvation."

Second Question: Good and Evil Embedded in DNA

Stephanie brings up a Jehovah's Witness teaching that sin became embedded in human DNA:

Stephanie [46:31]: "They claim that God embedded good in Adam and Eve's DNA, and when they rebelled, sin was also embedded. How can something non-physical be embedded in something physical?"

Grace Koukl's Response:

Grace addresses the metaphorical language used by Jehovah's Witnesses and clarifies the interaction between the immaterial soul and the physical body:

Grace [47:30]: "While the term 'embedded' might be imprecise, the concept aligns with the understanding that the fallen nature affects both the soul and the body. The soul interacts deeply with the physical form, influencing behavior and moral capacity."

She differentiates between embedding and influencing, emphasizing that the fallen nature impacts human decision-making and moral structures:

Grace: "Our souls are immaterial yet intricately connected to our physical bodies. The fall has profoundly influenced our moral and cognitive structures, leading to inherent brokenness."

Grace also underscores the theological significance of the fall and its universal impact:

Grace: "The total depravity resulting from the fall means that every aspect of human existence is influenced by sin, aligning with the Biblical assertion that humanity is universally fallen and in need of redemption."

Conclusion

In this episode, Greg and Grace Koukl navigate complex theological questions regarding prayer's efficacy in light of God's omniscience and the doctrines of original sin and personal responsibility. Through thoughtful analysis and scriptural interpretation, they provide clarity on how classical Christianity addresses these enduring questions. The discussions emphasize the balance between divine foreknowledge and human free will, as well as the collective implications of original sin, reinforcing the need for personal accountability and the centrality of Christ's redemptive work.

Notable Quotes:

1. Grace on Knowledge and Causality:

   "Knowing something doesn't cause that thing. God's knowledge of future events doesn't make them happen; it merely represents His awareness of what will occur based on human free will."
   [04:05]

2. Grace on Corporate Responsibility:

   "The relationship between Adam and all of humanity is akin to a corporate headship, similar to how nations engage in warfare."
   [20:48]

3. Grace on the Fall's Impact:

   "The total depravity resulting from the fall means that every aspect of human existence is influenced by sin, aligning with the Biblical assertion that humanity is universally fallen and in need of redemption."
   [47:30]

These insights provide listeners with a deeper understanding of how classical Christianity addresses the interplay between divine attributes and human agency, reinforcing the importance of theology in everyday faith practices.