Suppose a mom has her 3 year old daughter help her bake cookies. Does that imply any loss of the mother’s sovereignty? Any loss of the mother’s parental authority? Can we say that the mother is not getting what she wants? Can we say the mother isn’t in control of the process from the very start?
Does the daughter not have the option of participating joyfully and creatively, or throwing a tantrum and flinging cookie dough all over the kitchen?
God IS completely sovereign, but He is not a robotic God who decides first, sets up the chess pieces, and then lets automatons run their course. He is a kind, loving Father who wants us to participate in our redemption—even while He remains completely in control of it.
The reaction against God being in control is negative predestination . . . some people are going to hell and it’s been predestined from the beginning of time. How is that just? Only if man chooses. Those that believe in predestination don’t deny man’s sinful choices however! I’ll leave it there, otherwise I’ll miss work trying to reinvent the theological wheel.