If God is mutable , and He can and DOES change his mind , would you say you can trust His promises?
If you punch in on google The attributes of God , it is my guess that most will list Immutable and omniscient . Those are Characteristics of God that have been taught for generations by the church .
It is not a matter of heaven or hell unless God really can and will change his mind in the future right :>) It goes to our ability to have faith and to know that God is always faithful to His word.
As Christians we hold probably 95% of our soteriology in common . The difference in the 5% can be summed up in this discussion in some ways .
My Church does not demand that members be Calvinists , however it does demand that we all hold that 95% in common. Those are the areas questioned when you meet with the elders.
If God had truly intended to destroy Israel , if we look at it from a non Calvinist perspective , He would have foreseen the rebellion of Israel and He would never had purposed to have the line of the Savior come through David . Moses held God accountable for His promises .
I've heard this debate many times and it is usually all done with passion and respect. I do not see the free will side as defining God down or something. It is truly a more minor difference in interpretation than that.
I think it is a paradox and that both are true at the same time.