Why is free will considered to be a good thing?

Question

Many times, I hear Christian apologists refute the omnipotence/benevolence contradiction of God (for some religions) by stating that a loving god would not force us to be safe and happy because he gifted us with free will. When someone points out that a loving god would not willingly condemn those who reject him to Hell, the answer usually leads to: Free will.

Why is free will considered a gift? Why is it considered a gift for someone to "choose" to go to Hell than for God to simply make him a virtuous person? Certainly, I'd be more grateful if I had the latter than the former. It doesn't strike me as a good gift.

So, if you believe that God is loving because he gave us free will, explain why free will is a better gift than guaranteed salvation.

Incidentally, one might use "A Clockwork Orange" as an illustration of how free will is preferable. Within the confines of the story, I would agree, but Alex only did good things to avoid punishment. He was coerced to doing good things rather than magically made to do good things (which would be within the power of God but not the government portrayed in the book).

In a similar vein, "Brave New World" poses a similar question: Is it better to be aware of the world and be miserable about the state it's in, or is it better to be ignorant of the world's troubles and be happy with what you have?

Some good comments so far.

On the topic of love that is chosen being more sincere, this downplays God's ability. Assuming an omnipotent god, he can make us love him with as much sincerity whether it is freely chosen or forced. To assume that forced love cannot be sincere is to assume that God is not omnipotent.

On the topic of robots and dolls, why would this necessarily have to be a bad thing? We wouldn't be bored, because God is capable of keeping our interests piqued. Again, this is assuming an omnipotent god could be content with such flawed creations.

And Carmen, you need to actually answer the question rather than spout off, "Free will is a gift." I've already stated that assumption. Please tell me why it is a gift instead of insulting me by regurgitating that insipid platitude.

Answer 1

I wish I had more time to answer this, but I hope my brief answer will suffice.

When a person chooses to accept God through the exercise of their free will, it makes that decision have actual meaning. If we choose God because we are forced to do so, then there is no point to it.

To illustrate: think of a train. One boards a train and heads unerringly to their destination. We are thankful when we arrive at our destination, but there was no sense of excitement, no chance to make a meaningful mistake from which we could learn. That seems to me to be a little lackluster. I don't travel on trains much.

If reality is structured and runs within the mind of God like clockwork, then there is no real meaning to the actions we take and ultimately no real meaning to our existence.

Answer 2

I'll have to agree with you. Faith itself, not free will, is the gift. A loving God predestines, initiates, saves, and enters a permanent relationship with His own. This is completely scriptural, and yes, it makes me FAR more grateful to know that God has truly rescued me from an eternity in Hell which is what I deserved given the only "free choice" I would have ever made because of my own sinful nature. Taking God's choice as being my own rips that prerogative from God and claims that power for myself. No way can I adhere to that concept, and I applaud your question and your proposal of the solid, fully Biblical guarantee of salvation that God has put into place.

Answer 3

If we did not have free will we would all be robots: hollow, empty, no more than stones...

Have you ever had a wind-up doll that said "I love you"? That's what we'd be like. We'd be nothing. Contrast that doll to a husband or a child who truly loves us and has the choice not to love us but loves us anyway. That's the point. If you didn't have free will you wouldn't be able to ask this question because you'd only think what you were taught to think and do what you were taught to do - like a computer.

Free will is a gift of dignity - we have the ability to shape our own destinies. We have this power because God has given it to us. He has made us higher than stones because we are made in his image with will and reason and choice.

If we didn't have free will we could never be gauaranteed "salvation" because we would never have been able to be in a voluntary, intimate relationship with our Creator.

Instead of playing with dolls, God wanted to share himself and his creative power with other beings who were like him. We have the opportunity to do so - without free will, we would have and be nothing.

Answer 4

Free will is a GIFT.. because God gave you a choice. Its up to you to serve Him or not. If you chose to live a life, that likes to go clubbing, cursing, being rich , having a nice life without God, Driking and smoking and so forth, that the choice you made.Yes living in sin is fun for a short amount of time. Now for those who chose to live for God, it doesnt necessarily means that they are going to have it easy. They live by faith, their trust is in God. The outcome in our lifes is the choice that we make. When you except Jesus Christ as your personal savior youre saying im dying to the world (spiritual way). Thats means that you dont want to do the things that you use to do. Now some people you offer the gospel to them and they reject you. What can you do, its up to their choice. Salvation is guaranteed only when you trully served the Lord with all of your heart and you leave all of your old habits behind. Thank God that he gaves us free will...God bless you ..

Answer 5

Free will is a gift because that's how one can see your true personality, your true nature...you're married and you are tempted by someone else, or you cheat or you go back to your significant other...what you choose to do will show your partner who you really are, if you dont cheat he/she will see how much you lover her/him repect her/him and really want to forge a life with her/him....when you have a choice to choose between good and evil and you choose evil it's because YOU wanted too, and no else made that decision..whereas if you had guarenteed salvation it wouldnt be your choice but someone else's...God only wants you to make the choice, not him. Hope this helped

Answer 6

God loved what he created he gave us a brain it grew we became intelligent and knowledgeable with our surroundings, we learn ed to build shelter, we learn ed to hunt and gather food and make clothing, we discovered fire it kept us warm we learn ed to use it to cook our food, we had community we began to civilize, we learn ed to make tools and weapons for protection, we learn ed to morn and bury our dead, we learn ed and kept on learning and we still are learning today, and all that came from our will to make choices, as far as our salvation is concerned No where dose God the father say you are guaranteed salvation, we worship him for giving us life and what he has created, why is it that so many of you quote quote and quote some more from a book that absolutely has no physical or spiritual proof that any of what it says is true, every thing we do in regards to religion is simply done and said on blind faith, God bless us all for that.

Answer 7

"Free Will" is a fallacy. Christians will also say that people who do not have free will also go to hell. It has been said on this site that people who never hear about Jesus will go to hell, It has been said that people who are denied the right to choose Christ by their parents, government, husbands or society will go to hell.

Answer 8

Can't u guess? It absolves God of all responsibilities in the eventual outcome of the affairs of men - good or evil. And so if you are damned, you are to blame!

Answer 9

Well would you like to be my slave if I fed and clothed you, but told you what you could or couldn't do, or would you prefer to make your own decisions and face the world on your own?