Do we have free will? That is a question for the ages. It has kept mankind busy for centuries and has even brought about violence and bloodshed. Yet, it is a question that every believer will be faced with at one time or another.
Maybe we should start out defining free will. The definition of free will is the ability to make your own decisions that are not directed by a higher power. Already this has opened the door to be a discussion that could fill volumes.
Do we have the ability to make our own choices? Depends on where you life and who you are. Here in America, we would typically say yes. Yet, we could also answer no because many of our decisions are directed by a higher power. I am not even talking as high as God yet. We have our own governments that we have to answer to. They direct many of our decision making paths and even take some of our choices away from us. In that aspect, we have no free will.
We are already struggling with this idea without even having to bring God into the picture. Then why do we only focus on Him and fighting the subject of free will? We’ll come back to that in a little bit.
Free will in our family? Not really. Yes, we have the ability, but our choices are limited by the fact that we have responsibilities. If we take on the responsibility, then we give up some of our free will. I don’t want to go out on Thursday night to the soccer game. I want to get my work done. Free will is not there for me as I have taken on the responsibility of having a child and allowing him to be a part of the sport. Though, now I can argue that free will allowed me to make that choice. Boy, what a semantic vortex we find ourselves in.
See how this cannot be cut and dry? We do have the freedom of choice. We do many decisions that are not forced on us by others, but the vast majority of our decisions are heavily influenced. Now, we can turn to the area of religion and God.
If you believe that God is in control, then free will begins to fall to the wayside. If you believe that God is distant and hands off, then free will reigns. Yet, the Bible has a little to say on this, if you believe that it is the Word of God. It says that His will be and that the tapestry has been laid out.
It all comes down to how you view God and your relationship with Him. If He is the God of the universe and the Alpha and Omega, then free will is limited to the choices that do not have eternal consequences. Do we have free will? Yes and no.
What did you expect? We need something to argue about. :)
