"Free Will"?
Who says so?

Man's "free will"... or God's "WILL"?

Who-in-this-world concocted the man-made notion that we humans have "free will" -- to accept or reject the omnipotent and omniscient Creator of ALL living beings? Who says that we ignorant human-creatures are "free" to deny Almighty God.... who designed, molded, and individuated (link) each of us.... for His own purposes?
Who dreamed-up the idea that we lowly human "sheep" must accept the Great Shepherd, before the Shepherd will "include" us with His "flock" (God's people [link]).... and before He can exert His power and intention and wisdom in the lives of us whom He created, to suit Himself?


A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)


The web-link to this "tablet" is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_free_will.htm
To send a "live" link to a friend, copy and paste this web-link in an email message.


NOTE related topics, from the author of this website:
SEE: Are we humans "ROBOTS".... or are we CHILDREN of God (link)
and SEE: CHILDREN of God.... BROTHERS of Jesus (link)

Originated 8/5/02; "doctored" 8/6 to 8/28/02; 9/02; 10/02; 11/02; 1/03; 3/03; 4/03; 5/03; 6/03; 11/03; 12/02; 1/04; 4/04; 7/04; 9/04; 11/04; 12/04; 5/05; 7/05; 11/05; 4/06; 5/06; 10/06; 1/07; 2/8/07

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We human-beings do not have not "free-will".... of any type.... to any significant degree. You and I are not truly "free" to make either secular or "spiritual" choices and decisions. Each of us humans is "bound" and restricted and "held-captive" by "human" and animal and genetic and racial and parental and intellectual and personal and physical and sexual and educational and religious and national and experiential and traditional and ethnic and political and cultural FACTORS.... "FACTORS" that were "imposed" upon us.... "factors" that we were "born-with", or "born-into"...."factors" in our lives that we have had NO authority or power to control or select or overcome. Our "wills" (our so-called "free-wills") are the PRODUCT of these numerous factors and "conditions". Almost all of our thoughts and responses and decisions and plans are predicated on these already-existent (and deeply-rooted) circumstances (or divinely "pre-ordained" effects) in our lives. (See link: What do you possess that you did not receive as a gift.)

Similarly, I perceive that there is no "free-will" in our "religious" choices, and in our "spiritual" conclusions. My own understanding is that God Himself has personally laid-out the stepping-stones (link) for the timely and progressive spiritual development and maturation of each of His own selected Individuals.... and that God "reveals" Himself, and His Spirit, His truth, and His wisdom.... to His people.... on a pre-determined "schedule".... for each individual "Godsperson".

It is inconceivable and unimaginable for me to accept and believe that we worldly human-animals have been abandoned to human "free-will" -- by the Almighty Creator-God of the Universe.... who "generated" each of His people, to His own "specifications".... and for His own purposes.

I say that God's people (link) are designed, created, individuated (link), molded, guided, loved, disciplined, protected, and "saved".... by God.... for the plan laid-out in advance by Him who created this world and the Universe and Heaven-above.... all for God's own reasons and "intention".... for His chosen people. (Also, see link Designed by God, before the beginning of time.)

It is obvious that we human-beings did not "generate" ourselves. I believe that every individual "Godsperson" was created for God's own plan.... and that each of us was "assigned" (by God) our personal individual characteristics, our nation-of-origin, our genes, our parents, our location, our "positioning" in this world.... and our "calling".... and that each "Godsperson" has been directed and ordained to a specific edifying and instructive and productive "journey" that we must travel.... in this life.

I cannot imagine that God's human-creations (God's children) are casually "dumped" into the cauldron of this world, this life.... and that we are then cast-adrift, to fend for ourselves.... ignorant, unguided and unloved.... and that we are flippantly abandoned to our own animal instincts, human schemes, religious combat, and primal jungle-thoughts.... and that we are then required .... under Heaven's threat of hell and damnation.... to "make a decision", and "choose God", and join the "right" church.... based on our worldly "free-will".

I will grant you readers (readers of this essay) who are convinced of the spiritual "free-will" concept, that if you and I are simply the "children" of Mother Nature and Father Time.... and the siblings of Brother Chance, and Sister Chaos; and the kin of Cousin Luck.... and that if there is no Creator-God who is in watching-over us.... no sovereign and loving Deity to guide and help each of us.... then, it is conceivable that we animal-creations are indeed relegated to "fate", and "serendipity" -- and to the "free-will" of the earthly battle-field. And, furthermore, if there is no Creator-God, it is also conceivable that we have indeed been "flippantly abandoned" -- rudderless -- to prove ourselves in this dog-eat-dog life.... so that Big-Bang can "judge" us, ultimately, and allow some of us, who "perform" adequately according to Mother-Nature's laws, to be "rewarded".... perhaps with the mantle that identifies the "survival-of-the-fittest".

(I am well-aware of the argument that if God has not granted us humans "free-will", then we are all simply "robots, automatons, and puppets". I totally reject that thesis. See my link Robots and Puppets; and another link Children of God -- to see and read my understanding of why and how God's people are obviously not "robots" or puppets. (Also, see the following link, comparing religious "free-will" to the "freedom" of a child in the playroom.)

In a "religious" sense -- "free-will" has come to mean that an individual has "free-will" to accept or reject a certain strict religious doctrine. A free-will mandate has evolved in certain denominations.... saying that IF you and I do not use our "free-will" to "accept" their doctrine (and "join" with them).... then (they say), you and I have denied not only their church, and their "beliefs" -- but also we have denied and rejected God Himself..... since they claim to have deciphered "the only way" to God. That is, these frozen doctrinal religions have effectively circumvented Almighty God.... by claiming that God is powerless to accept an individual unless that individual first commits himself to the beliefs of a specific church-of-humans.

That type of doctrinal rigidity challenges and threatens you and me.... that unless we accept the creed of a their doctrinal interpretation, then we cannot get to God.... and God cannot get to us. That concept is so far-fetched, to me, that I am stunned that any church can hold to that belief. And yet, almost all of the "great religions" (Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, and certain Protestant groups) have some rigid adherents who maintain that they alone have circumscribed God, and "contained" Him for themselves, only. (See link God-in-a-box.) (Some "Christian" denominations even claim that if their members deviate from their church's fixed doctrine, then those members are guilty of "syncretism" (link).... and that those who raise questions may have become "heretics".... or "pagans".)

To re-state the same points.... when a group of humans decides that they themselves have deciphered the mind of God, and that they alone have defined the "one-way" to God.... then God Himself has been by-passed; and God is effectively "informed" that He cannot include or "save" anyone.... without that doctrine's approval. Thus, a man-made set-of-beliefs effectively negates God's will.... by claiming that God's "decision" has been turned over to a church-of-men. How ludicrous and preposterous ! ! !


I have not been able to find specific Biblical references pertaining to the concept of "free will". Perhaps the reader, or some church-organization, can show me just where and how the concept of "free-will" arose. I am already well-familiar with "Diatribe of Erasmus", and his debate with Martin Luther in Luther's "Bondage of the Will". I know well the wise words of John Calvin, in his "The Institutes of Christian Religion". I have read and heard much about Jacobus Arminius.... and the "Arminian" beliefs and arguments about "free-will". I know the thesis and the beliefs of the "Puritans". I know about The Righteousness that comes from God (link). I am highly informed about the concept of "sin".... and God-Incarnate's remarks about "sin", and about God's forgiveness of "sin". (See QuickLink Sin; what is it, and who decides?)

And, yes, I am obviously aware of the Matthew and Luke "seek and you will find" scriptures.... and I heartily accept this truth. But... my question is "who seeks"; who "knocks"?. And.... why? (See QuickLink Faith and Belief.)

Luke 11: 9 (NRSV) "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; and everyone who searches finds; and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

And, as a corollary scriptural concept, consider the "narrow gate" reference, shown below. In this Jesus metaphoric response, not "everyone" who "knocks" is allowed to "enter".

Luke 13: 22 (NRSV) Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter, and will not be able. 25 When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply He will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But He will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God.... and you yourselves thrown out.

I am especially aware of the many Biblical references that indicate God's own process of accepting and "selecting" His own chosen people (see link).... unrelated to works, deeds, creeds, promises, and human decisions. These Bible-references indicate God's "choice", before the beginning of time (QuickLink). Look at each of these two links, and note the precisely-quoted scriptural words.



Let me now ask the reader to respond, for-himself-to-himself, to my rhetorical remarks and inquiries, which I consider to be very pertinent in a discussion of "free-will".... that is, whether God expects His people to accept and believe the churchy threat that we who are created by God -- for God's own plan and purpose -- must use our own human "free-will" to reach-out, and "accept" God, before God will acknowledge and accept us.... (as if God and God's power do not even exist unless we creatures first "accept" God). Some churches, as mentioned above, have even included the gratuitous "requirement" that we who seek God, must first "accept" their particular doctrinal claims.... before God will accept us.

I understand that some religions teach-and-preach that all deeds, obedience, and choices of one's life are a matter of an individual's "intellectual" decision; and that there is no concomitant divine spiritual guidance, and help.... and directing by our Creator. That is, under the churchy "free will" notion, every human-being has "free-will" to make spiritual choices and decisions, right or wrong.... without Godly guidance, discipline, oversight or involvement. Thus, we humans are told that we must live-out our lives, constantly reviewing our own "performance" and "obedience"; and repeatedly crawling before our Creator-God.... begging forgiveness every day.... and confessing our misdeeds and our human evil-thoughts.... hoping that, somehow, we can appease and satisfy our scowling Master, who is just waiting for us to make a dumb human error.... so that He can punish us..... or commit us to eternal doom, and damnation.

I don't buy that thesis.... at all! What about you?

Furthermore, I repeat that no human individual is truly "free" to make spiritual choices. I believe that God Himself awakens each of His accepted people.... at the exact moment, and in the precise manner that God has pre-ordained.... and that God instills His own Spirit into each Godsperson.... and that God continues to follow one's progress throughout this life.... revealing more and more spiritual wisdom, as one's journey inexorably progresses.

I consider it to be profoundly inappropriate for a spiritually-drawn individual to be repeatedly pestered and pressured by a religious "sect", to make urgent and immediate doctrinal choices and "decisions", which that particular rigid human denominational organization has claimed to be the one-and-only "correct" choice.

To repeat (and to summarize), in a slightly different way.... I contend that no one is literally "free" to make choices and decisions. All of us humans are the "product" of multiple factors.... "worldly" factors, and "spiritual" influences. Every human-being ever created is either born with, or is bound by, specific restrictions, prejudices, cultural inhibitions, intellectual limitations, genetic variations, physical defects, gender differences, parental attitudes, national political dictates, geographical mores, religious impregnation, "chance" events, ethnic superstitions, experential differences.... and Divine "assignments". All of these factors influence (dominate) our theoretical attempts to utilize our human "free-will".

I believe that every human creation of God has been assigned special individual traits, intellect, duties, talents, and tasks.... which profoundly overpower and outweigh anyone's "free-will". (See link Individuation by God.)

In other words, one's "will", and choices, and "decisions".... are dominated by the human factors listed above.... and by God's overriding control of spiritual thought and understanding. Hence, an individual's "will" is indeed not "free".... at all.

Consider the following references, from God. Read these out loud, so that you may hear what God has to say on this subject:

Romans 9: 15 (NRSV) For He (God) says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So it depends not on HUMAN WILL or exertion.... but on God, who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 So then, He has mercy on whomever He chooses, and He hardens the heart of whomever He chooses.

2 Corinthians 1: 21 (NEB) "And if you and we belong to Christ, guaranteed as His, and anointed.... it is ALL God's doing. It is God, also, who has set His seal upon us; and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our heart."

Romans 10: 3 (Jerusalem Bible) Failing to recognize the righteousness that comes from God, they try to promote their own idea of it.... instead of submitting to the righteousness of God (link).

Job 42: 2 The plans and purposes of God cannot be thwarted by man.

Same NRSV: I know that you (God) can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Mark 7: 6 (NRSV) He (Jesus) said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me.... teaching human precepts as doctrines.' 8 You abandon the commandment of God -- and hold to human tradition."

1 Corinthians 7: 17 (NRSV) However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned.... to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (RSV) "We give thanks for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you, from the beginning, to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit, and belief in the truth." (See link Chosen by God.)

Luke 16: 15 (NEB) Jesus speaking: "You are the people who impress your fellow-men with YOUR righteousness.... but God sees through you.... for what sets itself up to be admired by men, is detestable in the sight of God."

1 Corinthians 7: 7 (NRSV) I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God.... one having one kind, and another a different kind.

John 6: 44 and 65 (NIV) (Jesus speaking) No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me, draws him.... 65 He (Jesus) went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

1 John 3: 9 (NRSV) Those who have been born of God, do not sin.... because God's seed abides in them. They cannot sin -- because they have been born of God.

Acts 17: 24 (NRSV) The God who made the world and everything in it.... He who is Lord of heaven and earth.... does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath, and all things. 26 From one ancestor He made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and He allotted the times of their existence, and the boundaries of the places where they would live.

Daniel 4: 25 (NRSV) (Daniel re: Nebuchadnezzar's vision) "You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the KINGDOM of MORTALS, and gives it to whom He will."

Psalm 100: 3 (KJV) Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us -- and not we ourselves. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

John 15: 16 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking) You did NOT choose me.... but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last -- so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name..... 18 "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world -- I have chosen you out of the world -- therefore the world hates you.


Who will refute these direct quotations.... from our Lord God?

So, which is it? Human "free will".... or God's will? What do you say?

END

 


(4/19/03 -- Now, here, I want to mention the magnificent book by Martin Luther "The Bondage of the Will". For years, I have enjoyed the version translated by James I. Packer, and O. R. Johnson.

Luther's entire book, and its marvelous introduction by the translators, are devoted to Luther's arguments against "free will" (in Luther's on-going written debate with "Erasmus".... in Erasmus's accumulated written remarks in his "Diatribe").

"The Bondage of the Will" is certainly one of the great books about "religion", and Protestantism. Every real student of God should read this important book, and consider the theses expounded by Luther.

Luther states, in his "The Bondage of the Will".... "The foreknowledge and omnipotence of God are diametrically opposed to our 'free will'." And.... "This ominpotence and foreknowledge of God, I repeat, utterly destroy the doctrine of 'free will'."

And, the translators of the book say, "In particular, the denial of 'free-will' was to Luther the foundation of the Biblical doctrine of GRACE; and a hearty endorsement of that denial was the first step for anyone who would understand the GOSPEL.... and come to faith in God."

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The following two paragraphs were copied from "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets; Page IV". These paragraphs are pasted here for quicker access to a link ("Free-will", for a child in the playroom) shown above in the main document:


I consider God's children (link) to be like young "human" children, in a "PLAYROOM". In this simile, the human Father allows the children, in the playroom, to do whatever they like to do.... under the Father's careful observation -- so long as the children's games and toys and interactions with each other -- are compatible with what the Father wants (or requires).

That is, the children are granted "FREE WILL", by their Father. Their "free will" continues, so long as the Father's children "respond" appropriately (see link Responding to God) -- within the purview of the plans and purposes of the Father. The children may actually begin to "believe" that they have indeed been allowed "free will" -- that is, "freedom" to do and decide and "choose" whatever seems appropriate to their developing, juvenile, human-minds. But..... in reality, what the "children" soon learn, is that if, at any time, in the opinion of the Father (and regardless of the pleas and arguments of the "children") the children "misbehave", or involve themselves in activities and thoughts that do not please and satisfy the Father -- then the firm-but-loving-and-caring Father steps in, and makes himself "seen" and "heard" -- in order to instruct, or guard, or protect, or teach, or discipline His Children.

And, so it is with our Heavenly Father -- and the "FREE WILL" that He permits -- for His "children".