How can the Bible say that "God" gives us free will...?

Question

During Mary Tudors reign over England, Catholicism was forced on the people, many protestants (or protestant leaders, can't remember which) were executed. They had no free will to believe what they wanted.

How can the Bible say that "God" gives us free will but if we don't believe in him or accept Jesus into our hearts, he will send us to Hell to be tortured for eternity? How is that free will?

And Christians, don't say accepting Jesus and believing in God is so easy because you cannot force a belief on yourself or force yourself to love someone. I tried until I was 14.

Ok. How thick are you people? No one said Mary Tudor was God.

Most of you guys missed the point. We cannot force morals and beliefs on ourselves. If someone is telling you to believe in something or they will torture you, do you think that is free will? No. And that is what the Bible is saying.
And I will say it again: YOU CANNOT FORCE A BELIEF ON YOURSELF. WE HAVE NO FREE WILL IF WE GET TORTURED FOR DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT "GOD" WANTS US TO DO.

Answer 1

God gave us the power of the mind with which we can choose to do whatever we want. Scripture says that under the law of the New Testament (under which Christians live) everything is permissable, but not everything is good. We are admonished to do those things that are good.

The truth of the matter is that God gave us some guidelines to follow, with the caveat that if we follow them we get a reward, which is to be with Him forever.

Those who freely choose to do otherwise get their wish, a place completely free of God and all that he stands for.

While this may sound fun, think about it. If those folks are free to do anything they want, to anyone they want, sure you can be as selfish as you want, and do whatever might please you at the moment.

But you may be doing harm to someone in the process. Oh, yeah, someone else may be doing harm to you, too, but you don't have God to call on anymore.

Tough bounce.

Answer 2

We are not forced to worshiped God, it is a personal choice. We can choose to steal, or not to steal; we can choose to be mean or to be nice. Every choice you make has a consequence, sometimes you know before hand what that will be. To use your example during Mary Tudor's reign to choose to worship any way other than Catholic resulted in execution. Those executed made a choice, and they paid a price for that choice. Does that clarify 'free will?'

Answer 3

What the Bible teaches and what the Middle Age church taught and did is another. Christ died for that very reason, that all men may have the freedom to worship or not to worship. The church in the Dark Ages, especially from the sixth to the eighteenth century, imposed her religious decrees upon all. Those who refused to pay homage were tortured and put to death. In the day of Judgement she will be accused of high treason at the bar of God. And no one will be there to take her defence. She will have to pay for all her crimes against God and humanity especially against His faithful disciples who were made the execration of the earth because they refused to bow down to an idol, the pope of Rome.

Thank God that today we still have freedom of speech and of religion, freedom of conscience. But it won't last long because the Catholic Church, for a short time, will regain the supremacy of the world and again persecution of the minorities will raise its ugly head. But the Lord will intervene and Babylon the Great will fall never to rise again.

And the Lord will return to take His children home and they shall be with Him for ever and ever.

Answer 4

Mary Tudor is God? interesting....


the free will is that you can choose to accept God or not. He can't force your hand


lost.eu/21618

Answer 5

We are free to do what ever we want with our lives. For instance if you want to drink away your sorrows every nite then you have the right to. However, don't be surprised later on in life you end up with liver cancer.

You are also free to indulge yourself in sexual relationship with whomever you want. But don't be surprised if you end up with a sexually transmitted deceases. We were created in a world were our actions have consciences. We reap what we sow the bible tells us this.

Therefore to live our lives as if theirs no God and eject Jesus as savior don't be so surprised if there is a hell.

There are absolute truths in the world examples: gravity, death, time, etc...we have no control over these forces but know these cycles occur over and over.

"He has done from begging to end. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

The same logic can be applied to heaven...he sent his son to die for us (Recorded in Bible), he's placed people in your lives to preach the gospel but if you reject this teachings God will judge you accordingly.

Answer 6

In Mary Tudors day I am sure there were many people who went to church but were not christians as today there are many people who go to church and are not christians.

People can do all the religious stuff but unless they give their lives to God then they bibilically are not a christian.

Answer 7

Who soever will is tells me that we have free will to start with
The choice of whether you want to accept Salvation or reject it tells me that we have free will.

These are but two quick off the cuff reasons why the Bible

TEACHES

free will.

Answer 8

Ok was Mary tudor god?

Answer 9

He give us free will to know him and believe he sent his son to die for us. Many other religions will differ. It is up to us to love him. That is our free will

Answer 10

You especially can't force yourself to believe in something for which there is absolutely no evidence. 99% of "believers" don't believe at all. It's just wishful thinking they're confusing with belief. The other 1% are insane.