Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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Sorry Pilgrimshope, lovely name btw, sorry i missed this comment, still on the first page.
i do mean being able to make a completely in the wind choice, without having to take any factor but your own wishes into consideration. Think it's very rare, or a pretty inconsequential decision for us to be able to make choices that free.
Yes you are correct. Not only are the choices limited, but in fact the will part is not their own either. No one has ever made a choice out of freewill, they've been doing someone else's will, influenced by someone else's words or actions. In the ultimate sense there is really only God's will that truly exists, and though foolish creations will try to oppose God's will ultimately their endeavor is futile, and God's will shall be done, doubly so on this side of the cross, praise and thanks to Jesus.
Thank you for explaining more of that . Well I think just my own thought , that choices are options set before us . So our desires within us most often will lead us to the choices we make. A corrupt person will choose what they desire freely without anyone making them choose it . Or preventing them from choosing th e other better thing
Id say we are all free to choose most any time but the condition of our heart within us is going to lead us to the choices we make . We’re all on poor condition before we meet Jesus and need some healing and re programming
We need to define what free will is, some have said "If I can't choose to fly, I have no free will" which is a mistake because that is not what the philosophical idea of free will is. The idea of free will simply means being able to do otherwise, to make moral choices.
Does this type of free will exist? Maybe. But we tend to choose things based on our likes, dislikes, culture, how we grew up and many other factors.
I am by far no expert here but free will? This here is not the real realm its only temporary. There is God there is Satan and no middle ground. Everything here will fade away and be gone, new heavens and new earth (some say earth will never be gone but) . Within this bubble we have the natural law and spiritual law. If man had never fallen never been tempted we would never be having this conversation. Satan and 1/3 made a choice but how did that start? Sin was found in Satan. We have no choice its Gods will period.
I think of a Lawyer that never passed the bar does not know law yet knows he can be a Lawyer. We know nothing really about where GOD is and no time no space all creation is alive sings praises to Him.. we truly do see through a very clouded muddy window. I don't know lol maybe there is no such thing as free will... its only here in a fallen world
Short comment but much i agree with friend, like i said, think we have some agency but a free will choice is pretty impossible. Do wonder if the term was introduced by the wicked ones, to try and pass the buck on some of their evil.
We do have some agency/choice but it is limited.
Not difficult, being able to make a choice without taking any interests but your own into account.
Some lovely thoughts there friend, surprised how many have contributed thoughts in this post.
Yes! I posted the question from a Western view of free will, your context is interesting to me for sure.
Then of course we have free will. I can make any choice I want. In that regard I'm sovereign. Whether I have the ability to actualize my will is another matter altogether
You are not able to fly... Your last comment is interesting given that some people reduce coming to believe to making a moral choice. However the issue in Christian discussions always has to do not with choosing what color of socks to wear for the day but to believe in and love God. The natural man is inherently hostile in his mind toward God, and his heart is not suitable ground for growing a good tree to produce good fruit.
What of 2 Timothy 2 verse 25 to 26 where we are to hope that God grants repentance leading to a knowledge of truth so that opposers will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil who has taken them captive to his will...? Being captive to the will of the devil sure doesn't sound like the natural man has a will that is free to me...
It's hard to say that there really is even agency since all choices are influenced. The only will that actually exists is the will of God. It's sort of similar to the existence of God topic, in that because ultimately there is a God and he has a will of his own and his will is unassailable, the Enemy and his slaves can only really oppose, deny, or twist around that which exists already. They don't really have a will of their own, and they can only conform to the will of God which is recommended since God's will shall prevail always, or they stand in opposition to God and his will in all futility since their opposition cannot thwart the will of God either.
First of all, I believe free will is having all of the information to know if this choice is made it leads to this outcome for every angle and spectrum of what is presented before us.
If I am aware that should I decide to smoke then it's possible I might create an addiction that could even further lead to possible cancer or lung issues.
If I am aware to drink alcohol on a daily basis it could lead to possible addiction and possibly liver problems.
On the flip side, should I eat right and exercise it is possible to be healthy and live longer.
So understanding the outcomes of decisions we can make is the point of where free will becomes involved.
And it's difficult to state smoking and drinking and eating right and healthy are bad because many Christians do them and do them knowing the possibilities. So it's not a God/Satan issue when Christians do them and believe they are able to do them with acceptance by God.
Free Will exists whenever all the information is known.
If I am aware that should I decide to smoke then it's possible I might create an addiction that could even further lead to possible cancer or lung issues.
If I am aware to drink alcohol on a daily basis it could lead to possible addiction and possibly liver problems.
On the flip side, should I eat right and exercise it is possible to be healthy and live longer.
So understanding the outcomes of decisions we can make is the point of where free will becomes involved.
And it's difficult to state smoking and drinking and eating right and healthy are bad because many Christians do them and do them knowing the possibilities. So it's not a God/Satan issue when Christians do them and believe they are able to do them with acceptance by God.
Free Will exists whenever all the information is known.
It’s nice when people are allowed to state thier thoughts in a thread without any bullets fired , thank you.
Scripture says the whole world is under the influence/control of the evil one...