Why would God not leave his creation in its perfect stage, ie, not giving free will to humans?
2007-03-13 23:45:53 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because you can't make someone love you, it has to come from their own concious decision.
Jehovah God allowed humans to choose because Satan had raised a challenge in heaven saying that the only reason that humans followed him were for selfish reasons. He said that only because God put a hedge around them and protected them and cared for them was the reason that they served him.
Remember Job, how Jehovah told Satan that he could do anything but take Job's life. Job was faithful to the end despite the many things that happened to him. He lost family members, was stricken with a disease, was mocked and humilitated, suffering many things.
God's right to rule as creator of the heaven and earth was challenged, his righteous standards had been challenged. Satan had in effect said that he knew better than God when he said to Adam and Eve, "Go ahead eat the fruit, you will not die." We have been dying ever since. This issue of God's sovereignty had to be settled once and for all when the challenge had been raised.
If God had settled the issue and just done away with sinful Adam and Eve right then the issue of his right to rule would never have been settled. Out of love God sent his only son as a perfect ransom as a sacrifice for our sins to make a way for us to have everlasting life. Out of love he gave us the opportunity to choose.
With knowledge of the bible we too can choose to have information about God's standards and what that means to us. It means our very life, our eternal future and that of the ones we love. With this knowledge you can develop a deep love and relationship with your heavenly father that will never go away and will give you so much hope and understanding that you will not be sorry. Take the time to start a personal study with someone who can help you to understand bible truths. See what the bible says not what some person says. See for yourself. Here is a link to an article you might enjoy:
The good News They Want You to Hear
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
2007-03-14 01:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by research woman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God gave humans free will but he also showed us the way, he expected that most if not all would follow the way that he set forth. Free will is tempered by rules and laws, which in reality should not even be needed because humans know when they are doing something wrong. But God also gave humans a strong will to survive, and the will to survive often overshadows everything else. So, he gave us a choice and he said, we will be judged by how we treat the least of us.
One could say that there are flaws in God's design but I think it is a test, a test that can be easily passed. Many people say that religion is the cause of all that is bad, and that is far from true. Before the Christ was born, people killed others just about at will, or for little or no reason. Which, of course, is why Jesus Christ was sent as a messenger to mankind.
2007-03-14 01:46:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this being is omnipotent, then every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also his work; how is it possible to think of holding men responsible for their deeds and thoughts before such an almighty being? In giving out punishment and rewards He would to a certain extent be passing judgment on himself. How can this be combined with the goodness and righteousness ascribed to him?
Seeing as how he is responsible for everything, if he was the first cause, there is no such thing as free will. Because he is also supposedly omniscient, then every single interaction of matter and life was known before hand, and deliberately substantiated by god. Therefore, there is no free will, just the supposed god's will... If there is a god, then we are only doing what he wanted us to do before he started this universe.
This contradicts the bible. There is no god.
2007-03-13 23:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by RED MIST! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A life without free will would be against the theist's definition of God. Philosophically speaking, because God never created it perfect, free will is the easiest way to explain why bad things happen. To prove his existence you have to claim that god has a greater plan for all things (whilst still being omni-benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient i.e. the essential definition of God), then you can use free will as the easiest way to prove his existence. Free will is an integral part of upholding the premise of 'God's greater plan.' Without this you could never defend the existence of God against the Bambi argument.
2007-03-13 23:59:11 · answer #4 · answered by Rodney P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know this sounds trite but he didn't want robots Press button A and the humanoid says 'God i love you'. Button B and hold down the triangle and he says 'God, you're the best'. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? He wants people to love him and do what he wants because they want to not because they have been pre-programmed to do so.
i won't be too happy if i knew that people did what i said because they were afraid or stuff like that.
That is real love- doing something that costs you big time but that you know would be of immense value to the other people in the relationship- namely humans. This way, God ( and I'm not claiming to be an authority on the subject of God or his spokesman) would really shows us love and we can really value and enter into intimate, meaningful relationships with him.
2007-03-13 23:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by samnifise 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're arguing in favor of Calvinism, or against Arminianism, then both sides will disagree with you. Arminians would tell you that God loved us enough to give us free will, and Calvinists would tell you that we do have free will, it's just that none of it is worthy of attaining heaven on our own merit -- therefore the one thing that we cannot do is choose God. Calvinists don't look at free will as any kind of a gift that we would desire since the only result of any of our decisions is eternal destruction anyway.
2007-03-14 10:44:24 · answer #6 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom of Choice
[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.
[33:73] For GOD will inevitably punish the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, and the idol worshipping men and the idol worshipping women. GOD redeems the believing men and the believing women. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Do Not Follow Your Parents' Religion Blindly
[5:104] When they are told, "Come to what GOD has revealed, and to the messenger," they say, "What we found our parents doing is sufficient for us." What if their parents knew nothing, and were not guided?
[5:105] O you who believe, you should worry only about your own necks. If the others go astray, they cannot hurt you, as long as you are guided. To GOD is your ultimate destiny, all of you, then He will inform you of everything you had done.
http://www.submission.org/suras/sura5.ht...
No Compulsion in Religion
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient
[2:257] GOD is Lord of those who believe; He leads them out of darkness into the light. As for those who disbelieve, their lords are their idols; they lead them out of the light into darkness - these will be the dwellers of Hell; they abide in it forever.
2007-03-13 23:48:21 · answer #7 · answered by A2Z 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hear from some religious followers that he gave us free will because he didn't want us to be like robots. Also, he wanted us to "love" him because we chose to, not because we had to. I guess that makes sense, because is it really love (or respect) if it is forced upon you?
My only question is, if God can do anything he wants, why do we either have to have free will (choose between good and evil) or be robots? How come we couldn't have had free will to choose between good, better, and the best options? Robotic in a sense, but still without having to introduce evil.
Good question, though.
2007-03-13 23:49:59 · answer #8 · answered by eastchic2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't that great to think that question of your's which I must say is Great!
God loves us so much that he knows we are subject to turning away from him but he gives us the chance to chose him and show our love.
He knows the outcome of the choices we make (and are free will choices) and he lets them happen anyway because through his power all things will happen the way God has salvation planned.
He will work around our mistakes and the mistakes of mankind. He will make better people because of adversity.
He knows Christians will (Christ followers) get through sin and come out of it with His help and He will eventually win over evil.
No control here, just His love for us. Thanks for your superior question! hw
2007-03-14 01:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by hot wheels 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On what basis do you conclude that no free will is the perfect stage for Creation?
2007-03-14 15:24:39 · answer #10 · answered by Seraph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋