(Part of the Election, Sovereign Grace, Will, Salvation bible study group.)
The argument is offered that Election can not be true, since it would mean that God is unfair.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find any statement claiming God is "fair." You will find that He is "just" and "merciful." But neither of these concepts has anything to do with the human perception of "fairness." Salvation is an act of mercy. It has nothing to do with fairness.
"Fairness" is a human concept, which is entirely subjective. The degree of fairness, or unfairness, always rests with the perception of the person who is considering the situation, or action. For example, as children, when we were punished we often would claim that the punishment was unfair, and to us it was. However, to our parents it was considered to be fair. Also, a third party might consider the punishment and provide a differing opinion. Fairness is also subject to time and location and is not a constant value. What was "fair" 50 years ago might not be considered "fair" by today's standards. Or, what's considered "fair" in the U.S. may not be considered in the same light in other countries.
The argument concerning fairness indicates a total lack of understanding of the relationship between the Creator and the created. The underlying basis for this reasoning is that man believes that the Creator is obligated to the created.
- - "No, but, O man, who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why have you made me this way?
Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor?
What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction;
and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had before prepared to glory;"
The objection offered has no biblical basis or validity, as an argument against Sovereign Grace, Will, Salvation, also called the Doctrine of Election.
Would Election mean that God is unfair?
page updated 03/15/2011.