Nuanced
God's sovereignty affirmed; Zinzendorf leaned universalist; no rigid Calvinism.
The Moravian Church's teaching on predestination is nuanced. The church inherited Reformed theological influences from its Bohemian Brethren origins, affirming God's sovereignty and foreknowledge in salvation. However, Count Zinzendorf, while not denying God's sovereignty, leaned toward a more universalist perspective—hoping that all might eventually be saved through Christ. The church does not adopt rigid Calvinist systematic theology (TULIP). There is emphasis on both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, without resolving tension between them systematically.
Key Distinctions
- Election model:
- conditional election — God elects those he foreknows will believe (Arminian)
- Double predestination:
- denied — God does not predestine any to damnation
- Free will teaching:
- libertarian free will — prevenient grace enables genuine choice
Scripture References
Sources
- Moravian Church, Ground of the Unity
- Count Zinzendorf, Theological Writings