Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

FreeDestination and PreWill

I choose to believe in predestination

I was destined to believe in free will

Now, sort that out.

6 responses to “FreeDestination and PreWill”

  1. Kalessin Avatar

    Well I’m For-Destination and Pro-Will. 🙂
    Of course, if you can’t tell which you or anyone else is, does it really make any difference what you (think you) think about it.
    (I’m Pro-Millennial too, incidentally. Whatever the Millennium is, I’m SO there.)

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  2. tom Avatar
    tom

    Greetings Matt. I happened on this site when I googled “freedistination.” I meant it as a single word, not a combination. I am a devout Christian and was recently listening to a reflection on Judas Iscariot. Trying to find personal peace with prophecy, revelations, and pre-destination, I heard this Judas discussion in a new light. So I am sharing this with you, for reaction, feedback, etc. I totally agree with Albert Einstein when he said, “I have no interest in being right, only in knowing whether I am or not.” So, Prophecy worked with Jesus. Revelations seems to be working with the Anti-Christ…so it would seem that predestination is at work. Someone had to betray Jesus, for all of the prophecies to be fulfilled. Seems like predestination. BUT, the free-will portion comes into play with the fact that JUDAS, if he had the faith, COULD have trusted Jesus as Savior, and like Peter, and all of us who accept Him, could have been forgiven and done something good with the rest of his life instead of ending it the way he did. So, at this point I am believing that God’s plan for the universe will play out according to HIS omniscient plan, but we, a people made in His image and likeness, have the free will to accept or reject His love. And He respects us enough to allow us to do that. OK. That’s it. Thanks much. Peace.

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  3. Matt Stone Avatar

    Tom
    I think there is a significant distinction that needs to be made between foreknowledge and predestination. God certainly had foreknowledge that Judas would betray Jesus, that’s clear. But I agree that’s a far cry from suggesting Judas was incapable of exercising self will. For starters, that confuses temptation with dictation. But more, it suggests God wills people to go against his will, which is kinda self contradictory. You might find this explaination of interest: http://www.scripturessay.com/article.php?cat=&id=724
    But could you expand though on what you mean by “Prophecy worked with Jesus. Revelations seems to be working with the Anti-Christ.” Not sure I understand what you’re driving at there. The book of Revelation speaks of John being guided by an angel from God.

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  4. Andrew Park Avatar
    Andrew Park

    I also believe in the above. But I also believe that God journeys with us and responds to things, to us and our prayers, faithfully, practically and on a day to day basis. A God with free will also gifted us with it too as an act of great faith, hopefulness for our choosing to partner in a joint future and destiny with God, but also as something we are given freedom to choose to engage in or not. We are not robots pre-programmed toward some future destiny and nor is God.

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  5. Andrew Park Avatar
    Andrew Park

    Maybe I’m a bit post-destinational in some ways. To me holding a rigidly predestinational doctrinal view seems fraught with some problems logically.

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  6. Andrew Park Avatar
    Andrew Park

    Maybe I should have said pan-destinational. It will all pan out in the end one way or another.

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