I probably won’t get to my thoughts about the Biblical foundations about free-will and predestination in this post at all. Rather, I’d like to address one of the dangers that comes up when we start to get honest and talk about this subject. Listen carefully and you might pick up on which direction I lean.
First and foremost, I am NOT a robot. I know you where probably constructing your theories and questioning whether the pictures are real, but seriously I’m not. What I mean by saying this is to address the most common response I hear from people when they are presented with the idea of predestination. IF predestination is true they say, then no choice they make is their own, they are a robot pre-programmed for every action. Therefore, one might say, what is the use of doing anything? I’ll just sit here, cause obviously that’s what God predestined me to do right?
Whether I believe theologically in predestination or not, I am still personally physically and mentally making my own decisions. If I jump, sit, sleep, eat, smile, yell, or laugh, each I have complete control over those choices (whether I’m predestined to do them or not).
I’ll try to present a brief anology, but it will fall short of proving effective unless you do your best to stretch your imagination a little. The whole problem with an anology on this topic is it is an attempt to explain God with human consructs, I find that’s not quite possible. You’ve probably seen one of those magic tricks online where you read a series of things and then say the first word that comes to your mind, “carrot” and low and behold there it is when you scroll down the very word you where thinking of. The reason they knew is because people simply tend to choose that word. But they didn’t FORCE you to choose that word. Now, what if we just always chose that word, that’s just the way people are…would that mean we suddenly lost our free-will? Now multiple that infinity times.
To Be Continued… (In other words, at some point I WILL talk about which I believe [I’m not quite sure yet] and why).
Thanks for providing some good food for thought. I usually steer far away from conversations of this nature because of my background. (I was one of two Presbyterian students in my class at a fundamental Baptist High School where my Bible teachers loved to host predestination “discussions” – you do the math!) I will, however, present one alternative way to look at the Robot analogy. I, myself, hate to think of being a robot and would never look at it that way. However, I love knowing that One inifinitely wiser than myself is involved in weaving together the threads of my life. I love the assurance that it is God’s work that causes change in someone’s heart and that the souls of my loved ones don’t lie at the fate of my meager attempts at evangelism. For me, predestination and what I view is the larger issue, God’s sovereignty, are what provide me with a peaceful night of sleep.
You bring up a false dilema that many of our church fathers did not see. Augustine and Aquinas, especially (two of the early supporters of monergistic soteriology and a couple of the most brilliant minds in history) did not see a conflict in God electing people and all people still having free will.
How does one define free will? Is it the ability to do whatever you want, or is it the ability to do what you want?
David is right the equating of soveriegn election to men being robots is in logic a fallacy called false dillema. To me and the Reformers the issue was not wheter or not we have free choice, but rather why some choose Christ and others do not. Is it something in man (those that chose are smarter) or is it due to God creating a desire to will for Him(predestination)? I think this is fair to ask.
Well, my thoughts on this are as follows: if god is the alpha and the omega, that would mean that god is the start and the end…soo, he knows how it all started, he knows how it ends, how could it make any sense that an awesome, all knowing, powerful god knows nothing of what is to happen between the beginning and the end? And how powerful and perfect is a god that has no control over his creation in which the free will of his creation would have more power to change the ending than the god?
What we fail to realize is man’s inability to choose or seek God as Romans 3:10 clearly indicates. It is impossible of any human being to choose for God. So God in his sovereign grace, intervenes and chooses some for salvation. This is the ONLY way that God can save his elect since they will never choose for him. We must also understand that God does not predestinate any for damnation since his Law declares that the punishment for sin is eternal damnation and each and every one of us has broken God’s law. God is merciful indeed but he is also a GOD OF JUSTICE. Ask yourselves this question, if God will save everyone, how then can God exercise his law which, as i stated earlier demands payment. God is not responsible for our transgressions since we are by nature rebellious. Each and every sin that we commit is a willful sin. This is the sad truth. We are not robots since God created us in his image and likeness, therefore we are 100% accountable for our actions. There has to be judgement. When it comes to spiritual things, we have NO freewill. We are spiritually dead and only God can incline our hearts to believe on him. God doesn’t owe us anything and he did not have to predestinate anyone for salvation. He has done so because he is indeed a loving, caring and merciful God.
I’d like for you to understand that while I don’t believe in the predestination of an individuals salvation. I believe in predestination. There are many things that are predestinated, the church is predestinated to be the bride of Christ, God is predestinated to triumph over all in the end. I believe God calls and convicts However an individual’s salvation is not wired by God one way or another. I will say this once so it is clear and so there are no misinterpretations. Man can not save himself. There aren’t any actions or steps that man can take him self to save himself. He is in nature sinful. However man plays an active role in salvation meaning even though you are naturally sinful and nothing you do is saving yourself understand that after one is enlightend by God and regenerated to take a different walk, one must understand that the decisions you make will contribute toward your walk with Christ affecting your salvation. I hold this scenario to be true there are some individuals who know the truth understand Christ have been enlightened by God that they are sinners but have chosen to walk the path of the flesh and will be held accountable for it. Because of their decision to follow the path which is easier, more natural. Your response to the understanding of the enlightenment God has put forth that you are a sinner, and have fallen short and need to walk a different path is what you will be judged. The scripture specifically says every man will be judged for their actions. If you were predestinated or wired a certain way then I find no reason for then the choices made wouldn’t be sin. Especially an individual who God has called to a different lifestyle. The Bible is full of those King Saul, Solomon etc.
I believe in predestination because the Bible says it. I believe God’s Word. That settles it for me. I do not look to man’s reasoning or understanding but to God and His Word alone. Who am I to question whether God is fair or not.
God bless
disagree a bit. God does make robots. First, if this does not happen, all will go to hell. We say robots, the bible calls these slaves. I just hope God will use me to force more people to get saved