Free Will vs. Predestination
@In_a_Crafting_Daze (88)
United States
April 23, 2007 2:59pm CST
In our Sunday Service this week our Preacher taught that these concepts were not against each other but rather worked together. I couldn't quite grasp what he was trying to explain. Any thoughts? I have a lot of people ask me questions about this and I'm not sure what to say...
2 people like this
3 responses
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I believe I know what you're talking about. A new friend I just met last week was discussing it as we drove to Starbucks, though he gave different names like Calvinism and Armeniasm [I think, don't quote me]. Anyways, I think you might find this site helpful; it's got a thorough explanation of free will vs. predestination.
http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/predestination.php
1 person likes this
@In_a_Crafting_Daze (88)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Lwelizabeth, I checked out the sight.. (not in deep detail as I am at work) and it did seem to present excellent references to both thoughts. I recognized some of the Scripture references to what we discussed in church on Sunday. I still have difficulty understanding how the two fit together, unless it's alot of "God has predestined you to be "here", how you get there (the easy way or the hard way) is up to you"...
1 person likes this
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
4 May 07
"God has predestined you to be 'here', how you get there (the easy way or the hard way) is up to you."
That's exactly it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
4 Feb 08
I am not good at explaining it, but in Predestination God has chosen you since the beginning of time -I speak of Christians who will not have God say, "Depart from me I never knew you," when they tell of all the wonderful works they have done in HIS name - that God has indeed made them children of HIS before they were conceived.
Free will means that these will have a deep desire to join the true church and a deep conviction of their sin and misery more than the rest, so that when they find the true church, they will begin the studies or catechism and become members of that church.
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
27 Apr 07
I hope this explanation can help.
Q; Is a train free to anywhere it wants to go?
A; Yes!
Explanation; A train was made for a specific purpose, to ride on a track. As long as it drives on the track for which it was made for, it is free to go anywhere.
We are also made for a specific purpose, to live in a loving relationship with God. As long as we live in that relationship of loving God and all people, we have a free will. Our love for God and people will determine our actions and responses and also our destiny in the afterlife.
