I’ve been struck lately by the relevance of the Lord’s kingdom
parables to the whole issue of John Calvin’s concept of election.
You may have noticed that the Lord’s disciples appear to be
not entirely comfortable with the whole ‘parables’ concept. We know this
because they have to ask the Lord to explain the parables to them,
and enthuse about it when he does. They obviously find themselves on surer ground when he speaks “plainly” than
when he tells stories that require interpretation.
But the Lord explains the reason for parables to them in this way:
“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of
God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that ‘they may
indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”
On the face of it, this sounds terribly determinist, doesn’t it.