Opus 2023-154: I Couldn’t Help Myself

Free will.

To my thinking, one of the abilities given to human beings when they were created in the image of God was free will.  It is one of the abilities that separates us from the animals.  Remember the tale of the scorpion and the frog.  When asked why he doomed them both the scorpion answered, “It is in my nature.”  A human can resist what is in his nature.  We don’t like to admit it, but it is true.

God is love and He wants humans to love Him.  That is impossible, or shall we say meaningless, if there is no free will.  Is it possible to love if it is impossible not to love?  Does your dog really love you?  Have you noticed that he loves everyone?  If he is the right breed he does not have a choice.

Is free will real if none of the choices are hard?  I could walk through a jewelry store all day and not even think of buying anything.  I can “do” most malls in 15 minutes.  I am not tempted by a sushi bar but don’t put a bag of chips and a bowl of guacamole in the same room with me.  I could resist, or so I tell myself.  I might even ignore the promised joy, but I would not count on it.  It is a matter of how I respond though, not something forced on me.

Is “vanilla vs chocolate” really an example of free will?

Most of the problems we have in the world are a result of the sins committed because we have free will.  Could God have created a world where sin did not exist and sin was impossible?  I would say yes and it would have been as satisfying as four college seniors playing Candy Land.  There is a price to pay for freedom.

May you make wise choices.

homo unius libri