The Vineyard Churches take a theologically nuanced position on Romans 9:18-21, attempting to hold together divine sovereignty and human responsibility. In Vineyard theology, influenced by evangelical Arminianism, God's election and predestination must be understood in light of God's exhaustive foreknowledge of human choices and His non-coercive guidance.

God is absolutely sovereign and has the right to choose (Romans 9:15-18); however, His choice does not violate human freedom or responsibility. God's hardening of Pharaoh's heart must be understood in context: Pharaoh hardened his own heart first, and God confirmed and intensified that hardening. Similarly, God's mercy is freely offered to all who respond in faith; God predestines not individuals to damnation but the outcome of the Gospel — that believers will be conformed to Christ's image.

For the Vineyard, the tension between Romans 9 (divine sovereignty) and human response (Romans 10:9-13) is held in creative tension. Both are true: God's sovereign choice and human free response. The Spirit's empowering presence in believers enables both the working of God's purposes and authentic human agency.