And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Thanks to everyone who responded with questions and comments on the topic of God's will; please continue! We will stay with this topic until we address each comment, and probably a little longer. This note from my dear friend Priscilla:
"Jim: When I have been in Kenya I many, many times heard people say, "No choice. God's will." It's a fatalistic attitude, don't you think, and comes from being powerless in a powerful society in which you have no say? The Kenyan government, democracy though it is, is a far cry from what we think of as Democracy. One of the things that so astonished the Kenyans about our election of Obama was how peaceful and orderly it was. My friends there, as well as others interviewed, expressed great surprise and inspiration from how orderly and peaceful the process was..........unlike Kenya's "democratic" election a year ago which erupted in violence that killed thousands, burned homes and villages, left many homeless etc. In this country we are used to believing we have a choice in what we believe and what we do, and who we vote for. Those things are the blessings of true freedom. Most "democratic" countries have no idea what that's like. We are so truly blessed. Priscilla Young"
I had never heard this put quite this way, and yet it makes so much sense. Our earthly vision so affects our ability to see beyond! Satan uses whatever he can to block and blur our view of God. Those so oppressed by their governments may never have experienced real freedom and so doubt it, even in the Heavenly realm. I wonder if those of us who have been so blessed by civil liberties may have forgotten the true author of liberty? Does the church in America, rarely under any real oppression, determine that it is America that grants the liberty? True freedom comes only from God through His Son: If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Whether free or enslaved or some degree in between, we can be free in Christ, and; We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
...in all things...in all times, in all circumstances.
The question arises then, do we who have been given so many freedoms need to 1) truly remember that freedom comes from God; 2) understand that freedom in Christ is better than, and does not rely upon, any earthly circumstance; 3) use our freedom to bring others to Christ?
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
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Questions:
1. Do you think earthly oppression affects faith?
2. Do Americans have special responsibitlity to teach freedom in Christ?
3. Do you have any questions or thoughts to add to this discussion?
THINKERS' THOUGHTS ON FREEDOM
"The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely,
voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most
rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water.
And for that they must be free.
Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way:
apparently He thought it worth the risk."
voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most
rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water.
And for that they must be free.
Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way:
apparently He thought it worth the risk."
C.S. Lewis
"We are told in scripture that with God all things are possible.
But Lewis states that this does not mean that God can do anything.
God cannot, for example, answer nonsensical questions.
He cannot do both of two mutually exclusive things; for example,
He cannot create creatures with free will and at the same time withhold free will from them."
"We are told in scripture that with God all things are possible.
But Lewis states that this does not mean that God can do anything.
God cannot, for example, answer nonsensical questions.
He cannot do both of two mutually exclusive things; for example,
He cannot create creatures with free will and at the same time withhold free will from them."
Armand M. Nicholi
"Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind."
Matthew Henry
"Free grace can go into the gutter, and bring up a jewel!"
Charles Spurgeon
"God, having placed good and evil in our power, has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling, but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God.
Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved.
Now choose what you want."
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God.
Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved.
Now choose what you want."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
"God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God."
C.S. Lewis
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