2007-07-04 14:20:05 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I admit complete confusion to my stance on this question.
Both are presented biblically... and I KNOW that I have made my own choices in relation to God, yet I also have definitely been led to do things... and "felt" like I'm supposed to be doing something....BUT, I have free will to respond to those feelings...
If I have to choose, I would say free will and God knows what we will do....and uses it in a plan... I do believe God has a plan for each of us... but I believe that includes everyone....
There is no way we can really know for sure....
I have a hard time with people saying there is a group that is unloved by God....because God is love.... I really don't know. Totally confused on this one!
But I'm sure my confusion has much to do with my 30 yrs in a Catholic bubble... where only Catholics go to heaven... and you're not supposed to read the bible... though I hear that's changing now...
2007-07-04 20:23:20 · answer #1 · answered by ~♥Anna♥~ 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hard question debated to death by Drs of Theology. But consider this *YOU* (nor me for that matter) knows in advance what God's will is. So if there is predestination you don't know what you are predestined for. So your only recourse is to behave and live as if there is no predestination. As an example, take a book or a movie.... the author and producers have the story mapped out and the ending done before you even know it exist. But you don't know how the movie unfolds from beginning to end until the moment that you view it. Is the end of the movie predestined? Yes.. did you know what it was? No... Basically what I'm saying is don't tie your mind in knots worrying about something that you have no control over.
2007-07-04 21:29:47 · answer #2 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider the objection: "If God is sovereign, guaranteeing certain outcomes in people's lives, then there is no free will." This is flawed thinking. It doesn't follow that if God is in full control, then free acts are not possible. What is critical here is the way in which God is in control, the method He uses to guarantee the outcomes. Let me illustrate.
How would you catch a criminal who is on the run? Well, you'd think about where he might go, then you'd try to be there to intercept him. Now, if you had perfect knowledge--if you knew everything-- you'd not only know where he is at any given moment, but where he'll be at any moment in the future. You'd know exactly what time he'd arrive at any point along his entire route.
Would you be able to catch a criminal if you knew the exact moves he was going to make? If you knew the things he was going to freely choose to do--and this is important--at any given point, would you be able to catch him? Sure you could.
If you know he's going down a particular road and will come around a particular corner at a particular time, you could place your men there so that when he takes the route he freely chooses (though known by you), your men would be right there to nab him. You're in control the entire time--you're sovereign. You're able to be in control because you know every move he's going to freely make. Therefore, your plan can be perfectly executed, even though he's making his free choices.
2007-07-04 21:33:39 · answer #3 · answered by Graham 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When two people get married, both need to say "I do." When we consider free will and predestination, we must think of it in these terms. God chose us first. However, we must also choose God. Both must say, "I do." You can't have a one way relationship. It takes two.
There is so much more to say and discuss, but that is the short answer. Theologians and scholars have been debating it for centuries. I am not sure anyone has found the perfect answer. Only God knows this one entirely.
2007-07-04 23:11:48 · answer #4 · answered by beenblake 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Free will. Some people believe in predestination but it is not right. The Calvinist believe in the "elect" but that is not the way it works. If that was the case then why should anybody worry about being a Christian if it was already determined that you were or were not going to heaven?
Free will. Pops
2007-07-04 21:28:50 · answer #5 · answered by Pops 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God has already determined (predestined) our final destination, heaven or hell. It was decided by God not only before we get there, but before we are even born. Another way of saying it is this: From all eternity, before we ever live, God decided to save some members of the human race and to let the rest of the human race parish.
"For those God foreknew he also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, …and those he PREDESTINED, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." Romans 8:29-30
"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy... having PREDESTINED us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His His will Ephesians." 1:4-5
2007-07-08 19:44:15 · answer #6 · answered by Steve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can only believe in predestination if you look at man as completely guilty. Otherwise you may as well bring yourself to the level of God as far as capability. Which is what most free will advocates do.
2007-07-05 01:12:13 · answer #7 · answered by ccrider 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you dont believe in "Predestination" and the Elect being "Chosen before the foundation of the world", then you better throw out about half of the N.T.
Because that is what it says.
Also, if God waited for US to choose Him, nobody would choose Him.
Do I understand this? In light of other verses that seem to suggest "free will"?
Nope. And neither do you.
Oh, and by the way, God did not choose us based on His foreknowledge of WHO would choose Him. Because the Bible says that there, "is none that seeketh after God, no, not one". "Foreknowledge" here means, He "knew" us, (had a relationship with) before we were born. NOT "pre-knowledge".
And I sure dont understand THAT.
If I had to take a guess on why both "free will" and Predestination are presented in the Bible, it would be this:
(and this is only a guess)
Predestination only applies to BELIEVERS. It is there to show us that there is NOTHING in us that merits salvation. Also, it is a wonderful way of showing us how we are secure in Christ. We can never lose salvation, if our salvation was completely dependent on HIS choosing anyway.
Free-will is only for UNBELIEVERS. The doctrine is there to show unbelievers that THEY are responsible for the choices they make. They have CHOSEN to be separated from God. And so they shall be.
Its like one writer said: Salvation is a Narrow Door which has a sign on the Outside saying, "Enter in all who will". but once on the INSIDE, you look back and see a sign that says, "CHOSEN before the foundation of the world".
Like I said before, I dont understand this, and I dont believe anyone else does completely either.
Free-Will and Predestination seem to be parallel roads that only meet in Eternity.
But let me say, the reason I believe that most people (even many Christians) think this to be "unfair", is because they really dont understand the doctrine of SIN. We SAY we do, but not really.
GOD DOESNT HAVE TO SAVE ANYONE.
He would be perfectly just to send all to hell. The fact that He CHOOSES to save SOME, is His prerogative.
And His Mercy
"All that the Father GIVES me, will come to Me, and he who comes to Me, I will in no way cast out" (John 6:37 Caps Mine)
People need to go and re-read the parable about the "Laborers for Hire" again. (Matthew 20:1-16)
This doctrine of Predestination is the WHOLE point of the Parable. Gods mercy is of Gods choosing.
"I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy"
....theBerean
2007-07-05 00:02:02 · answer #8 · answered by theBerean 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Only a few were/are chosen by God..the rest have free will
Eph..1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
2007-07-04 21:23:25 · answer #9 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, I believe that God chooses ALL of us, but some of us don't WANT to be chosen. Hence, free will. So actually, I believe in both.
2007-07-04 21:34:50 · answer #10 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋