As I am trying to understand the place of law and grace, I keep coming back to the testimony that runs all through the Bible. People make choices. It is possible that is one of the key elements of being made in the image of God. We can choose.
I’m not talking about just every day choices about what to have for dinner or what to wear or what programs to watch. I’m talking about choices in direction. The book of Psalms, repeatedly contrasts those who choose righteousness with those who choose wickedness, those who choose God, as opposed to those who choose themselves.
Proverbs has a whole list of choices that reflect this basic truth. It might be simplicity as opposed to wisdom. It might be ignorance as opposed to knowledge. You have honesty being juxtapositioned against deceit. I’m sure there are other contrasts throughout scripture.
Of course, choice does not mean that we have the power to implement salvation. That is up to God. One of the choices we also do not have is to tell Him the standards by which He will make His choices. It is clear that the choices we make are important. God may give us insights, nudges, inspirations but He will not compel. That means we have responsibility and will face the consequences.
It is called free will. That free will results in the kind of direction we feel is right for us. God in His power and wisdom knew what He was getting into and decided to have a real free agent rather than a robot.
Sorry if that upsets your apple cart.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Opus 2024-022: Choices As Opposed to Compulsion
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.