Recently I have been having some great dialouge with a friend about the idea of free will. I posed him this question and thought it would be healthy to get some other responses as well:
This logic probably has tons of holes...so feel free to find them: If we do have 100% free will, i.e. choice to follow or not follow, then that would mean that no matter what "nature" tendencies we are dealt with, we still have a choice to choose the path of God. So free will actually removes the crutch or argument, I was born this way or it is just who I am. If fact 100% free will gives me the idea that I am not tied down to conventional methods of life. What do you think?
4 comments:
Yup.
The thing is, of course, whether or not we want to come near to God as a choice. For that to happen, there are appropriate methods of approach. God's design versus ours. There are some things we can't have our own way, because, well, God is God.
Of course, God is also the ultimate judge, so I don't like saying things like "God cannot forgive X". How the heck would I know?
And, too, how we respond to the situation depends on whether or not we want to draw closer to God. There are some who see that as irrelevant. And then there are some who think they are guaranteed admittance to His presence, and so make little effort at paying attention to His ... guidelines. We have been warned that there will be some who on Judgement Day cry "Lord! Lord!" and He'll respond "I know you not" (because their actions never matched the claim).
But, yup. I do think we have that kind of choice.
Scary, isn't it. No one to blame but ourselves.
;)
I think the "I'm born this way" argument is weak for other reasons. (Namely that God can metamorphose your cruddy old self into something quite beautiful.) You don't just chose to not have a temper, you have to be transformed by God's spirit. It's not really a "free will" issue, since the flesh can be WILLING, yet the spirit is frequently weak.
You know?
And then, there's the very interesting passages in Romans where God says, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whome I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."
Now, THAT is a passage worth considering. I mean, it has to be true, since it's in the Bible. but, what to do with it?
At any rate, I do feel that the "I'm just born this way" thing is something we can overcome. Just for apparently different reasons. :)
I'm with Ken. My "chooser" is broken.
Each person is unique - you are the only person with your DNA, your fingerprints. You have unique strengths, weaknesses and inclinations. Everyone is an individual, yet God calls us to the same standard. Some people are genetically predisposed to alcoholism - biologically more responsive to it than the next guy who can have a drink and never long for a second - but we are all called to the same standard - regardless whether it is easier for one person to meet that standard than it is for another person. One person's personality is more fiery, while another is more passive. Guess who will have an easier time controlling his anger? You get the idea. You are who you are - the good and the bad - but you are called to the same standard as everyone else. We each have our own struggles and through our weakness God is made great. That's free will.
Post a Comment