Recently, I’ve been thinking about Tenet. It’s a science fiction film where characters travel backwards in time while the world around them is going forwards. Years after it was released, people online are still talking about this movie and how its iconic plot mechanic, called “inversion,” really works.
Tenet is not your typical time travel movie. Instead of branching timelines or parallel universes, it has one single timeline that contains every event without any contradictions. Everything the characters do causes the rest of the movie to happen as shown on screen. The film shows us an intriguing form of determinism, and it’s a perfect way to explain how God’s sovereignty interacts with our freedom of choice.
God’s Absolute Sovereignty
First, let me establish something important. God is sovereign. This doesn’t just mean he can step in and take the reigns every now and then. It doesn’t just mean he’s in control of the good things. It means he is constantly and effortlessly holding the entire universe together and sending it down a single timeline of his intentional design moment by moment (similar to the movie’s single timeline).
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)
The “lot” in that day and age was similar to the dice we use in board games. The New Living Translation says, “We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.” What is the author saying? He brings up an object designed to produce a random outcome and says God controls it. Not even the most random aspects of this world are truly random. God is in control of it all. For more on this topic, see my page of Bible passages supporting God’s sovereignty by clicking here.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
How Tenet Shows Determinism & Free Will
The idea that every event in the universe is fated and fixed is called “determinism.” Tenet displays this quite well, even in the choices the characters make. There’s a car chase where the protagonist is trying to steal an important artifact. We see him acquire it, but he’s forced to give it up after the bad guy threatens to kill a hostage. But… what if the outcome could be changed? The protagonist decides to go back in time to prevent what happened and get the artifact. But in doing so, his actions only ensure that the artifact ends up in the hands of the bad guy.
Why is this important? It shows us that you can’t cheat reality with time travel in Tenet. You can only contribute to a singular timeline of events, whether intentionally or accidentally. The characters make real choices, yet the outcome is fixed—and it works. There are no contradictions or forced decisions. Everything just happens.
Neil, another character in the movie, has a great line explaining how Tenet’s determinism meshes with the choices we make.
“What’s happened’s happened. Which is an expression of faith in the mechanics of the world, not an excuse to do nothing.”
Neil
This is where determinism meets free will and, against all odds, harmonizes with it. It’s the solution to all the countless questions posed by skeptics: “If God is sovereign, why pray?” “If God is sovereign, why evangelize?” “If God is sovereign, aren’t our actions meaningless?”
What’s happened is done. What is to come is determined. But that doesn’t give us an excuse to do nothing. We aren’t outside observers of the universe. We are active participants whether we like it or not. Our actions will be part of the singular timeline of reality. The question is, what will we do now?
“You mean,” said Lucy rather faintly, “that it would have turned out all right—somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?”
C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian
“To know what would have happened, child?” said Aslan. “No. Nobody is ever told that.”
“Oh dear,” said Lucy.
“But anyone can find out what will happen,” said Aslan.
Compatibilism
The idea that free will is compatible with determinism is called “compatibilism.” Now, many people reject this position. Some argue that free will amounts to nothing if the universe is determined. Others say determinism means little if we truly have freedom of choice. You can see the dilemma.
I lean more towards determinism, but I still believe our choices are free in the sense that we willingly pick from various options moment to moment, even if our eventual decisions are inevitable. I don’t believe we have the ability to surprise God or to change outcomes by pivoting away from something we were going to do. God is never forced to shuffle around the cards of reality. It all goes exactly as planned and we do exactly what we choose to do. If that’s a form of compatibilism, so be it.
God is sovereign. Man is responsible. Both statements are true. The words we use to describe this phenomenon are less important than our understanding of God’s ultimate supremacy and our ultimate accountability for our sin.
“Fate?” – PROTAGONIST
“Call it what you want.” – NEIL
“What do you call it?” – PROTAGONIST
“Reality.” – NEIL
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Enter your email to keep in touch with me. Thanks for reading. Godspeed.
Veracity Quest 