God is Immutable and Personable

I'vs been debating in my mind and with others the question of God's immutability (unchangableness). I hate philosophical language and believe the truth in the current debate between classical thiests (those that believe God is immutable to the point of impassability) and those who espouse the Openness theology (which teaches that because the future hasn't taken place not even God can know what his creatures of free will may do) can be found in the elusive center.

The Openness camp use verses like these in Jeremiah to bolster their point:
Jeremiah 3:7: "I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not." and Jeremiah 19:5: "They have built the high places of Baal . . . something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind." They lean toward a highly relational God that wants to be with his people and responds based on their actions.

The classical position use verses like the following:
Isaiah 46:10: "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." and Romans 8:29: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." They tend to use austere high words to describe God and can be fatalistic in their interprestation of God's work with man; a kind of chess piece analogy.

I believe most evangelicals and pentecostals accept the comparative attributes of God's nature. Without using heady philosophical terms the bible clearly expresses that God knows the future. I like the way he taunts the gods of the pagans by saying in Isaiah 41:23, "Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods". I think a modified version of the classical position, however, might need to be considered.

The language used by the Calvinists and Arminians in reference to the comparative attributes of God were austere and produced the concept of a distant, untouchable creator. It's not as bad today, but there is still a tendency to use language in reference to God that doesn't promote relationship in the lives of the hearers.

The modified classical position looks something like this: God's comparative attributes of omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience continue to be defined as they are today, but as a church we emphasize the attributes using the book He chose to reveal himself through, the bible. When we teach others about our God we balance His high and lofty attributes with the fact that he is a person. The implication being that he has a mind, will and emotions and wants to warmly relate with his people. We need to let them know that the 'effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man' does 'avail much'. We need to convey that the seeking, saving love of God will find the heart that turns to Him (Prodigal).