Null/Voided Out

mlepfitjw

May you be blessed!
Jun 23, 2020
1,620
1,093
Alabama
✟44,897.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
What are your thoughts on this subject.

Is following Christ Jesus Christ a choice?

Did Matthew when Jesus stated ‘follow me’ make the choice to do so? Maybe this one was predestined?

Either way, can people make the choice to follow God or completely reject him in this life? Or is it a preordained thing and only some people get to the choice to?
 

Ceallaigh

Veritas Vos Liberabit
Supporter
Oct 2, 2020
18,748
9,860
The Keep
✟571,281.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
What are your thoughts on this subject.

Is following Christ Jesus Christ a choice?

Did Matthew when Jesus stated ‘follow me’ make the choice to do so? Maybe this one was predestined?

Either way, can people make the choice to follow God or completely reject him in this life? Or is it a preordained thing and only some people get to the choice to?

According to Calvinism the choice is preordained. According to Arminianism you have the free will to accept or reject the choice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rocknanchor
Upvote 0

rocknanchor

Continue Well 2 John 9
Supporter
Jan 27, 2009
5,846
8,319
Notre Dame, IN
✟979,041.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
According to Calvinism the choice is preordained. According to Arminianism you have the free will to accept or reject the choice.
Somewhere in there is the sweet allure of the power of His grace (John 6:44).
 
Upvote 0

mlepfitjw

May you be blessed!
Jun 23, 2020
1,620
1,093
Alabama
✟44,897.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
My counselor brought this point up to me today: What about sociopaths? People that can’t feel any emotion? If they wanted to follow Christ, then could they make that choice?
Missed your comment here tenth, that is a very good question. May the right person did not show up in their lives to help them yet, cause we all learn from each other going through this life. Would you say this would be true?

The choice is not in following the Christ but listening to His Gospel of the Kingdom and choosing whether to reject the will of man over the will of God, or to retain it.
That is a very good assessment here Timothyu. You are right about the hearing because faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God. Kind of matches up with Tenths conunselor's question about the sociopaths.

Yes it is a choice. Simple as that.
Hey thank you so much for your comment!

You are all important, matter, and God does love you.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

mlepfitjw

May you be blessed!
Jun 23, 2020
1,620
1,093
Alabama
✟44,897.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
As leading up going to work soon Lucian, I'll answer you with a biblical answer of what Love entails my friend.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
 
Upvote 0

Lucian Hodoboc

I've already read the Bible
Jul 8, 2017
561
413
-
Visit site
✟89,082.00
Country
Romania
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
As leading up going to work soon Lucian, I'll answer you with a biblical answer of what Love entails my friend.
I'd find it more helpful if you answered me with your personal opinion (when you have the time to do so, of course).
 
  • Prayers
Reactions: dqhall
Upvote 0

mlepfitjw

May you be blessed!
Jun 23, 2020
1,620
1,093
Alabama
✟44,897.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
I'd find it more helpful if you answered me with your personal opinion (when you have the time to do so, of course).

Lucian, my opinion is what God says about love. It’s the truest form of Love for he is Love. Sorry if that is not helpful enough for you.
 
Upvote 0

Lucian Hodoboc

I've already read the Bible
Jul 8, 2017
561
413
-
Visit site
✟89,082.00
Country
Romania
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
Well, according to that definition, not only am I not a Christian, but I also find it impossible to be a Christian. It is beyond my current abilities. How do I reconcile this realization with Jesus' statement that His yoke is easy?
 
Upvote 0

Rachel20

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2020
1,954
1,443
STX
✟58,109.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
My counselor brought this point up to me today: What about sociopaths? People that can’t feel any emotion? If they wanted to follow Christ, then could they make that choice?

Interesting you bought up sociopaths because I learned something from one watching their interview. He was asked what love was. And he replied, "you mean if I could point to something and say 'that is love'?"

That got me questioning - since love is a matter of the heart, what could you point to in the physical realm and say 'that is love'? For me, the answer was sacrifice. If you see someone sacrificing for another, you can point to that. John 3:16
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

TenthAveN

Puppies are an acceptable form of currency.
Jun 18, 2020
564
472
North Texas
✟49,506.00
Country
United States
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Single
Interesting you bought up sociopaths because I learned something from one watching their interview. He was asked what love was. And he replied, "you mean if I could point to something and say 'that is love'?"

That got me questioning - since love is a matter of the heart, what could you point to in the physical realm and say 'that is love'? For me, the answer was sacrifice. If you see someone sacrificing for another, you can point to that. John 3:16
I agree. Love might be a feeling, but love is also an action. With my mental illness, I feel quite numb toward God and others a lot of the time, and sometimes my feelings are completely contrary to Him, except I don’t want that. It’s been told to me by multiple people that I simply act in accordance with the truth, which is a choice.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Rachel20
Upvote 0

Rachel20

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2020
1,954
1,443
STX
✟58,109.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
I feel quite numb toward God and others a lot of the time

Feelings are deceptive anyway. I remember when I was young, I struggled to gain that "feeling" that I equated with faith. But I found that in trials, feelings didn't carry me far. I'm now aligned more with Paul, taking every thought captive that's contrary to God's word. So if I "feel" God is not present, or his love for me diminished, etc... I reject it immediately, choosing instead to believe his word. Or, as Paul said, with my mind only do I serve him (Romans 7:25). One can love (serve) others in the same way - choosing to do them no harm, helping them when needed, etc... So I agree with you - it's a choice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Navair2
Upvote 0

mlepfitjw

May you be blessed!
Jun 23, 2020
1,620
1,093
Alabama
✟44,897.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Well, according to that definition, not only am I not a Christian, but I also find it impossible to be a Christian. It is beyond my current abilities. How do I reconcile this realization with Jesus' statement that His yoke is easy?


Believe there is a God.
 
Upvote 0

Albion

Facilitator
Dec 8, 2004
111,138
33,258
✟583,842.00
Country
United States
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
Well, according to that definition, not only am I not a Christian, but I also find it impossible to be a Christian. It is beyond my current abilities. How do I reconcile this realization with Jesus' statement that His yoke is easy?
Hello, Lucian.

What Jesus was saying was that trying to live up to the Old Testament law and do it perfectly, plus the innumerable other legalisms of the Hebrew religion, was indeed burdensome. BUT that his yoke by contrast is easy because, in place of all of that, he takes the burden upon himself! We are then freed to accept that he fulfills all those demands in our stead.

Do not go through life thinking that you must satisfy every item on some "to do" devotional checklist. That would depress and discourage anyone, especially because it's impossible to accomplish perfectly, let alone consistently!
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

bling

Regular Member
Supporter
Feb 27, 2008
16,158
1,805
✟794,647.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
What are your thoughts on this subject.

Is following Christ Jesus Christ a choice?

Did Matthew when Jesus stated ‘follow me’ make the choice to do so? Maybe this one was predestined?

Either way, can people make the choice to follow God or completely reject him in this life? Or is it a preordained thing and only some people get to the choice to?
Just because one gospel writer shows Jesus saying come and they drop their nets and follow does not mean they had not already heard and seen miracles and their hearts were prepared, read all the gosple accounts at least.
 
Upvote 0