But then tell you "well if I'm wrong it's no big deal but if you're wrong you're going to hell and there's no way out! muah ha ha ha ha!"
Do they not see the paradox there?
They are saying "I have Free Will"
but also "If I don't follow this - then I will be severly punished!"
How is that free will? Free will to choose to suffer?
Does that really make sense to them?
If God says, you are free to do as you choose, but if you choose against me, I will punish you. That's not free will.
If a parent says, Johnny you're free to do whatever you want. But if you don't do what I say I'm going to beat the crap out of you.
Is that free will ? How is it free will if the person supposedly giving us free will, applies conditions?
It doesn't make sense to me.
This isn't the only problem with the whole "Free Will" idea either. just part of it.
2007-12-30 07:18:23 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think it's sad that your "spirituality" is built on fear.
2007-12-30 07:41:45 · update #1
No man has ever followed perfectly God's law.
Your free will is to accept or reject the truth.
There are consequiences of sin and that is death.
God has provided a choice for you to accept the truth and life through Jesus Christ and the atonement.
2007-12-30 07:27:19 · answer #1 · answered by djmantx 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
What's the big problem here?Yes we have free will. We can choose right or wrong.
God doesn't make us choose. We have the right to choose Heaven or Hell. We have the right to follow Jesus' teahings or not. We have the free will to go in the way WE want. You have the free will to choose your way. You too can choose Heaven or Hell. It's your free will to do so. You can do right or wrong----it's your free will to do so. I really can't understand the problem with you all. Is this because you have found out that you can't change the minds of Christians so you just want to bug them?
This question is asked almost every day. Don't you read the thing? Maybe you should and then you'd be as sick of it as I am .In school you had a choice to do your homework or not. It was your choice to get a grade or not. Your choice------your free will. You can go to a movie that your parents says ,NO YOU COULDN'T GO But you want to go, knowing you will be in big trouble, ---BUT----YOUR CHOICE FREE WILL to choose. Does this make any more sense to you? I sure hope so, because I'm a little sick of seeing this question .Bye
2007-12-30 08:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by HappyCamper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You forgot to mention the WAY OUT God gives you. Man brought sin into the world. Because of it, there is evil and sin, and so on. God, in His infinite MERCY and GRACE, gave you a way out of your sin. You can choose to go your way, or God's. If you choose to go the other way, then you have MADE A CHOICE. But, like I said, He gives you a way out, and that is through Jesus Christ. That's the very reason Jesus came and died on the cross. If He hadn't, we'd ALL be going to hell. There are only 2 ways--good and evil. Heaven or Hell. Only 2 choices. You are FREE to choose which one you wish. But, then, it's YOUR CHOICE. God doesn't send you to Hell. He tries to keep you from it. Read the Bible and find out the truth. That's the way it is. Whether you think it is fair or not. God created everything and everyone. God gets to make the rules. Not you. I pray you choose Him. God Bless
2007-12-30 07:31:23 · answer #3 · answered by byHisgrace 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You misunderstand some things. God doesn't beat the crap out of us. But by choosing to rebel against God, we voluntarily leave the One who gives us life. And we die(not get tortured indefinitely). Period. Free will doesn't mean we have 2 great options to choose from. One in the truth, and the other is a lie that leads to death. But God doesn't force our hand one way or the other. It boggles my mind that some would willingly follow the lie.
2007-12-30 07:27:15 · answer #4 · answered by The GMC 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God directly causes certain circumstances to come into being and brings about others indirectly through either casually determined secondary causes or free secondary causes. He allows free men to act in the way He new they freely would when placed in specific circumstances, and He concurs with their decisions in actualizing the effects they desire. Some of these effects God desired unconditionally and so wills positively that they occur. Others He does not unconditionally desire but He nevertheless permits due to His overriding desire to allow human freedom, knowing that even these sinful acts will fit into the overall scheme of things, so that God's ultimate ends in human history will be accomplished. God thus providentially arranges for everything that happens by either willing or permitting it, and He causes everything that does happen, yet in such a way as to preserve freedom and contingency.
2007-12-30 10:49:21 · answer #5 · answered by notthemamas1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of free will is that? Totally contradiction and some just don't use common sense. No, no free will here, sorry. The free will that He gave was " you can do these things, but It is not in your best interest."
Taking your free will a little to far can be harmful for you and you will suffer for it, not go to hell, the suffering we have is due to miss using the free will that God gave us.
2007-12-30 07:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My friend, you misunderstand the point of a free will. You can not choose against God and expect to remain within God's protection. Immediately the demonic forces come to acquire you as their own property.
Free Will is your freedom within God to offer your love to Him as a kind of surrender in order to be perfected in His Will. There is much to learn about God if you can discipline yourself to do so. That would be a respectable use of so great a Gift. I have attached a URL from the Catechism that teaches about who God is.
"Every morning you put on your clothes to cover your nakedness and protect your body from inclement weather. Why don't you also clothe your soul with the garment of faith? Remember each morning the truths of your creed, and look at yourself in the mirror of your faith. Otherwise, your soul will soon be naked with the nakedness of oblivion."
-- St. Augustine
2007-12-30 08:02:39 · answer #7 · answered by QueryJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a issue you'll need to deal from, within.
To find the authentic joy of free will that we are looking for in life. All we need to do is to remember that, "Silent Watcher!" our powerful divine~energy force~God~
Listen to your own spiritual heart, not your human form heart. Raise self-empowerment, the glory of life can shine through you once again. Start looking on the bright side, with the right mind, right thinking. Look around....
"One cup is still full!"
2007-12-30 07:34:02 · answer #8 · answered by crystallamp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry. I don't follow you. We all have free will, everyone regardless of belief or when or where they live. You get to choose what you believe. That's your option to excercise your free will.
Now, with your choice you have consequences, just like all other choices in this life. For example if you choose to live on the 3rd floor of a 3 story apartment building and they do not have elevators, you will have to carry your furniture and boxes up the steps when you move in. That's the consequence of choosing that place. Similarly, if you choose not to believe God you will have the opportunity to spend eternity totally away from him in your own little world where Satan is in charge and where his demons enjoy socializing with the people who are there. That's the consequence of your choice.
So.. The point is... choose wisely.
,
2007-12-30 07:25:57 · answer #9 · answered by William D 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The paradox is in your incongruent argument. We all have free will to choose. Even if that brings bad consequences. I do give my kids the right to choose, if they choose wrongly, they are disciplined, and hopefully through the discipline they will learn to choose correctly in the future.
So, what will you do with your free will? Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
2007-12-30 07:32:23 · answer #10 · answered by HolyLamb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋