... then is free will really a gift?
2007-04-10 09:27:18 · 15 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of you seem to enjoy living life on the edge if the dangers of Hell are seen as an opportunity...
2007-04-10 09:40:19 · update #1
mibandibee, you're spoiling the fun.
2007-04-10 09:42:09 · update #2
everthing that is given is called a gift.
the consequences of the gift doesnt matter.
Update :
From: kj7gs
Subject: If free will is a gift, and hell is a possible outcome...?
Message: The consequences of the gift don't matter? If I give you scissors, will you promise to run with them?
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A gift is a gift.
something that is given.
what you do with the gift is up to you,
the thing still is a gift.
But you mean something else
a good tasting piece of cake is given
but the cake is not of good taste.
is this then still a good tasting cake ?
You shouldnt ask "Is this still a gift "
You should ask Is this then still free will.
2007-04-10 09:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because you have the choice to do what you will. If we didn't have free will we would be nothing more than robots with no options or individuality. It's the misuse of that gift that causes separation from God but it's still a gift.
2007-04-10 16:39:30 · answer #2 · answered by kaehya2003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes... despite your horrible logic Yes. Free will can still be a gift even if hell is a possible outcome.
2007-04-10 16:30:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Free will" is something of a misnomer.
Genesis 1:27 says:
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Since we are in the image of God, that means we have some of His attributes in some degree.
He is all knowing (omniscient), we only know in part and we see through a glass darkly. 1 Corinthians 13:9 "For we know in part and we prophesy in part;"
He is present everywhere (omnipresent), we can only be in one place at one time, we have presence, but nothing close to omnipresence.
God is al powerful (omnipotent), while our power, or potency, is very limited. We do the works of God in His power, and not our own.
God is the only "free" moral agent there is. Or freedom is derived from Him, just as our knowledge is and our power is also derived. We are "free" to chose, but our freedom is colored by our life experiences, and the rights and privileges of others. I have freedom of speech, but I am not free to shout "FIRE" in a crowed (or even uncrowded) theater. I am free to swing my fist around in the air all I want, but I cannot do so in the personal space of my neighbor. My "freedom" ends more than an arm's length away from their person.
Hell is a possible outcome of our freedom, when we refuse to obey God's commands and when we violate his sovereignty.
John 15:10
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."
God's Commandments are not burdensom nor grievous:
1 John 5:1-3
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
God's commands are give for our protection, much as we might discipline a small child who is about to do something that would result in their harm. Remember that God loves us:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
2007-04-10 16:53:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not even free will, is it?
Do the wrong thing -> burn in hell.
That's saying there is freedom of press in North Korea and free elections in Zimbabwe.
Free press where journalists get shot and jailed (not in that order) when they write the wrong thing is not free press.
Elections with only one candidate are not free.
Free will with Hell as punishment for the wrong choice is not free will.
Saying that it is, is following the same logic as dictators and totalitarian regimes.
2007-04-10 16:49:41 · answer #5 · answered by mgerben 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because you can choose. The gift is the choice. God could have made us like the animals...would you be happier with that? Hell is only the outcome if you choose...so don't.
2007-04-10 16:31:26 · answer #6 · answered by Misty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Giving my kid a rattlesnake can be an awesome opportunity to let him experience feeding and caring for another animal and of watching the natural brutality of the world.
Yet if I handed my kid a live rattlesnake, I'd probably go to prison because it might kill him.
Free will would be an awesome opportunity, but it might kill me. Shouldn't God be in jail then?
Good thing there's no gods and no free will.
2007-04-10 16:37:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is.
Death by Hellfire on the other hand, is not a possible outcome.
2007-04-10 16:30:26 · answer #8 · answered by ♥LadyC♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
without free will we would only be robots
robots dont love
if you cant love, you cant love God.
It's all for his Glory in the end...
2007-04-10 16:31:29 · answer #9 · answered by TheMadHatter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you still shouldn't misuse a gift.
my cousin got a knife for his b-day- if he kills someone with it its still his fault even though it was a gift
I don't believe in hell by the way
2007-04-10 16:54:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋