Maybe Garth Brooks said it best
Submitted by Dakota on November 14 2001 14:15:56
In reply to Doing a great ministry. submitted by Samiel on November 13 2001 13:19:51
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I've read with interest this post and all the replies. As far as what you said in one of the replies about not existing being better than living since there would be no pain.....well there would be no pleasure either. Garth Brooks sang a song where he said maybe he could have missed the pain, but then he would have had to miss the dance. He was talking about a love, but I think this "dance" we call life is also worth the pain that sometimes goes along with it. The struggle you're having with determining how much, if any, free will we have is also interesting. I don't claim to have the definitive answer, but the fact that you are having those thoughts tells me you have free will. If not, God wouldn't be letting you question how much free will He gives us or how much mercy He shows. I believe each man and woman will be held accountable for what they do or don't do in this life in relation to what opportunities they've had. I think this is supported if you look at the Bible as a whole. But only God can know to what degree our background or past or other circumstances contribute to what we do. I, personally, think we have a lot more free will than you think. Except for certain times where God may overrule what we want to do for various reasons (maybe we would be harmed or it would go against his ultimate purpose) I think we are left pretty much to do what we choose. But as a Christian, I have surrendered my will to God. But that isn't just a one time commitment, I have to do it every day, and I admit that I fail many times. As I said before, I don't have all the answers. But thru the years, I've learned to trust God. And there are enough things that I do understand that persuades me to trust God in the things I don't understand. I like to read the part of the Bible where Job is questioning God. And God replies "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation." Then He goes on to question Job, letting him know that God is God. I don't think that means we are not expected to question at all. I think it means that we are to build our faith from the things we CAN see and understand, and that faith can carry us thru the things we don't understand. After all, GOD made US, WE didn't make HIM. Dakota |
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