So, recently I found myself in a conversation in which we were discussing free will vs. predestination. I feel pretty much the same way about this subject as I do about things like homosexuality and abortion. That is, I know what I believe, but I'm still learning about the technicalities; the "why"....
{Now, let me preface by saying that I hope not to cause controversy. I assure you that I'm not an expert on............anything.}
Predestination is defined as follows: "that God foreordained salvation for His elect church and foreordained eternal damnation for all those who aren't elect"- Google maintains that if God has the free will to predestine and the power of omniscience, it is impossible and contradictory for humans to also have free will.
Free will is defined as follows: "the apparent ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints." I.E.- (as it applies to the subject at hand), every person has the choice and opportunity to choose God, choose grace, choose eternity in Heaven.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have chosen a side. For what it's worth, I have left my perched position on the fence of uncertainty and found myself swimming with Free Willy himself. (Get it? Free Willy the whale?.......I choose free will?-- ehh sorry, dumb joke, I know)
The reason I say that God is clearly not suffering from ADD is because I seriously had this conversation last night, and this morning when I opened my book-marked Bible to where I left off in 1 Timothy, God cleared things up for me.
1 Timothy 2: 1-4 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
- -What I understand- we pray for people because EVERYONE has a chance. If they didn't, why would we waste our time? Honestly.
Ephesians 1:4-12 "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves...And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment...In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory...you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."
- -What I understand- We WERE chosen for something: before sin entered the world, man was created in God's own image to be "holy and blameless". It's my thought (not biblically backed up understanding) that if sin was never to have entered the world, everyone would receive Heaven; there would be no corruption, false gods or practices to sway people from the truth. I fervently believe that God creates every person who was, is, or is to come with the desperate hope that each of us would accept grace and return to Him at the end of this life.
However, (again, as I understand it) man received free will when the first sin in the Garden of Eden was committed. Not because God planned to have Eve eat the forsaken apple (though I believe that He knew she would do it), but because Eve decided to give into temptation and eat it even after God attempted to protect her by explicitly warning her not to. I believe that God is omniscient (that God knows all; that he knows every decision I will make before I make it). However, God is only good. In the Bible He clarified right from wrong, he set laws, limits, and moral boundaries so that we would be equipped with the RIGHT answer in what ever situation we face, whether or not we act on it "rightly" or not. He wanted us to have every opportunity to do right! If He had already decided what we would choose between right or wrong, He would have no point in laying it out the way He did.
Because I believe that every person is loved equally by God, no matter what baggage we come with or how difficult it is for truth to reach us, I have to believe that we all have a chance at Heaven through the ability to choose it or refuse it for ourselves.
I apologize if this "hot-button" issue hit anyone the wrong way or left anyone unsettled. I don't tell people this often, but if that's you, I'll allow you to take comfort in knowing that I've been wrong before. I know I know, it shocks everyone. Anywho, take it or leave it, there it is. Sorry that it turned into such a novel without pictures (again)...
How God manages to not only hear every conversation we have, but offer clarity as well, I will never know. I suppose that's why he gave me the simple task of being a dancy girl in Texas and left the grunt work for himself.
Nothin but love,
Bethany
Well put Bethany. I love how God reveals Himself to us as we seek Him through His word. His timing is pretty way cool, huh? Keep seeking Him. You wear Him well!
ReplyDeleteYou don't shy away from challenging insight, and I have incredible admiration and respect for that. And sharing them with people is so bold and inspiring! Love it.
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