Christians often wonder to what extent the world is the way it is due to the actions of humans or due to God’s will. We wonder to what extent our own lives are determined by our actions or predetermined by divine plan. The Bible gives mixed answers to these questions.

The Bible does, however, give us clear guidance on how we are to live our lives – as if we are responsible for our own lives and our world. It gives us guidance on how we should live, including having faith in God and Christ, and performing good works. If people are not responsible for the state of the world, Jesus would not have put such emphasis on helping others. If life on earth unfolds strictly according to divine order, it certainly does so, at least in large part, through the deliberate actions of people.

Jesus claimed that people will be judged by God according to their actions, as well as beliefs, when they die. In seeing how God holds his children responsible for their actions, there is no reason to be fatalistic and tell ourselves it is up to God to improve the world while not actively working for a better world ourselves. Can the actions of people determine outcomes for the world distinct from a divine plan?

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Corinthians 5:10

Firstly, God works through people, so human actions are not necessarily separate from God’s plan. Secondly, human actions may not determine outcomes, at least all of the time, as separate from God’s will. But since people are responsible for their actions, they should behave as if they do. A doctor who treats a patient with the latest treatments may not always have success, but she nevertheless has a duty to provide the best care possible.

In relation to altruism, there is also no reason for Christians to be fatalistic. Christians are both commanded to help others, and held accountable for their actions, including to what extent they tried to help others. Thus, it is irrelevant if everyone’s life is totally predestined from a practical point of view. Imagine if everyone was fatalistic and acted as if the world would be the same no matter what they did because God alone is responsible for the state of the world. It is unworkable. People wouldn’t even put the effort in to have a good life for themselves, yet alone help others.

Once we understand that a God distinct from human action is not the sole arbiter of the state of the world, we can see the importance of effective altruism. In fact, belief in divine determination can empower Christians who decide they want God to work through them.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10

The God revealed to us in the New Testament is a caring, loving God that wants people to be happy. Many Christian scholars reject the notion that God determines everything that happens in the world because of this reason and because there is much sin in the world. The Bible states that sin is against God’s will. If God cannot be held responsible for sin, he can’t be held solely responsible for the state of the world.

Jesus stressed the importance of making a strong effort at helping others, including glorifying major altruistic sacrifices. He never said “God is responsible for what happens to people so there’s no point in trying hard to help others.” The greater the effort we make at helping others, or improving the world, the better Christians we will be.

Effort means quantity, such as our money and time, as well as quality, such as selecting the activities with the greatest potential for impact. If a doctor uses a treatment on his patient that he knows is less effective than other treatments and uses up a lot of the clinic’s resources, is he sincerely putting in an effort to help the patient? No. As Christians, we shouldn’t use fatalism as an excuse to avoid putting in the earnest effort at helping others that Jesus asks of us.