Question about free-will

theoneandonlypencil said:

Hello everyone! ^ ^

I'm back with a new question. So, in regards to the concept of 'free-will' in the biblical sense, I've heard that the only form of free-will we get is...well, to choose to obey either sin or God.

That's not my question though. My question is that, if I'm to totally surrender to God and he is to work through me, so to speak--do I have control over anything?

Like if I choose to take a trip somewhere, or I pick up a hobby or I want to watch a movie. Do I give up having choices over these matters? How far does God's control go?

Another question I've had is whether or not I have to get God's opinion on any decision I make...? Like what activities I'm going to do on a given day?

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You have and make choices .... those choices should be wholesome ones .... choices that glorify God (not go against his teachings) and by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, you have invited him into your heart (gave Him permission) to help you recognize and overcome your sins and change the way you think and do. Over time being conformed to His image. He helps you to make better choices.

You have free will to do anything and everything you want. There can be consequences for going against the will of God, however. Do you not want to please him?

If that's what you want to do, go for it! Sometimes we have to make a move to find out what his will is.

theoneandonlypencil said:

I understand, but what if the decisions don't go against his will? For example, do I need God's approval to become a programmer? Programming isn't a sin, and of course, I'd still go to church and read the bible.

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You should always be prayerful about employment ... if ... the employment you are pursuing is a sin, the Holy Spirt will let you know in your heart. Could programming be a sin? Maybe ... say for example ... if you are programming for a inappropriate content site .... yeah that would be sinful. So ... I guess with programming .... what is the benefit of your program? For good or not for good? Is the programming promoting anything sinful?

It's not that God wants to make all our decisions for us ... He wants us to make wise decisions that edify one another and thus glorifies Him.

@theoneandonlypencil , the problem is that our personalities have sin ingrained in them, which God cannot abide. God cherishes our individuality (minus sin). He will lead us away from sin which we, sometimes, mistake for a facet of our personality or culture.

In those times, we need to trust that He knows what He is doing and that, in the end, our dignity/personality/individuality will be retained and redeemed!

Jesus said,
"If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." Matthew 16:24-25 AMPC

That said, if your desires and interests are not in conflict with His call on your life, knock yourself out.

Your choices are under the control of God. Both good and wrong choices, all are working for the plan of God.

theoneandonlypencil said:

Like if I choose to take a trip somewhere, or I pick up a hobby or I want to watch a movie. Do I give up having choices over these matters? How far does God's control go?

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Does any of this interfere with the type of person you are, does it seek gain at the expense of others? Even animals have free will. What we have what sets us apart is self awareness.

theoneandonlypencil said:

Another question I've had is whether or not I have to get God's opinion on any decision I make...? Like what activities I'm going to do on a given day? What about deciding on a career, or having a 'dream'?

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God gave us all we need to know with the Bible/Holy Spirit, and that should be sufficient for us to make right decisions. I'd be concerned if God would even bother answering if I constantly asked him if everything i want to do is ok...pretty sure he expects us to run our own lives with the things we were taught, just as our dad/mom might expect from us.

theoneandonlypencil said:

Hello everyone! ^ ^

I'm back with a new question. So, in regards to the concept of 'free-will' in the biblical sense, I've heard that the only form of free-will we get is...well, to choose to obey either sin or God.

That's not my question though. My question is that, if I'm to totally surrender to God and he is to work through me, so to speak--do I have control over anything?

Like if I choose to take a trip somewhere, or I pick up a hobby or I want to watch a movie. Do I give up having choices over these matters? How far does God's control go?

Another question I've had is whether or not I have to get God's opinion on any decision I make...? Like what activities I'm going to do on a given day? What about deciding on a career, or having a 'dream'?

Click to expand...

God is sovereign over every detail of our lives, even the choices that we make. This is not to say that he is responsible for our actions, but that nothing is contingent or done by accident, luck or chance. However, while God is in control of all things, we are still moral agents that make conscious choices. God's sovereignty and human responsibility is a paradox that no one fully understands, but it is more than biblical. Like, how is it that Joseph was sold by his brothers by their own sinful will, yet we read him saying, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:20). All the events leading up to Joseph's promotion as the second ruler of Egypt were predestined and carried out by the sovereignty of God, yet the individuals in every event had no idea that they were acting according to what was suppose to happen. While God is in control of every word, thought and action we make, we are still responsible.

It all depends. I pick up subtle undertones of legalism in the issue, and understand the concern. I think it's best not to overthink it though; God set us free so that we can live in complete freedom. I don't believe choosing to watch a movie or engage in a hobby would be against God's will, unless of course it causes us to sin or interferes with our relationship with Him. These things in themselves are not bad, so I don't think it would be an issue. If living according to our freedom in some way is against God's will, He would let us know.

Sometimes, the thoughts and desires we have (such as a hobby to enjoy) are from Him anyway. And the more we yield ourselves and our lives to Him, the more we'll automatically live according to His will and control; it'll be like second nature to us. With major decisions however, it is best to seek His council and direction. We live in a fallen world, and do have to be careful; not everything that seems good is from God. These decisions will have a major impact on us and our future.

Living under God's complete control is a lifelong process to learn, and He doesn't give us more than we can handle. We should just do what we currently know we should do, and leave the rest up to Him. =)

theoneandonlypencil said:

Hello everyone! ^ ^

I'm back with a new question. So, in regards to the concept of 'free-will' in the biblical sense, I've heard that the only form of free-will we get is...well, to choose to obey either sin or God.

That's not my question though. My question is that, if I'm to totally surrender to God and he is to work through me, so to speak--do I have control over anything?

Like if I choose to take a trip somewhere, or I pick up a hobby or I want to watch a movie. Do I give up having choices over these matters? How far does God's control go?

Another question I've had is whether or not I have to get God's opinion on any decision I make...? Like what activities I'm going to do on a given day? What about deciding on a career, or having a 'dream'?

Click to expand...

Where the Bible is silent about an issue, the choice is up to us. God is not a micro-manager. There are tests we can apply to the choices we can make:
1. What does the Bible say about it?
2. Will it benefit us spiritually?
3. Will it preserve our testimony for Christ?
4. Will it show the fruit of the Spirit to others (kindness, gentleness, patience, etc.).
5. After considering the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, which side of the "coin" does your choice come down on?

I might sound super holy in giving these things, but I assure you that I have the same struggles, especially when I find myself spending hours working on a computer issue, or watching a spaghetti western, and then finding myself either not having enough time to pray or too tired late at night. I am in the process of selling our family home and relocating to another city. God has not said one way or the other about that, so I think He is leaving that choice up to me. When I have moved around the country with my teaching job (when I was teaching), I found God waiting for me when I arrived in the new locality. I spent a lot of time on Youtube, watching all sorts of things, and enjoy it, but I get convicted sometimes that I am spending more time on that than being in the Word or in prayer. When I am watching a spaghetti western, I get thoughts about whether I really am wanting to be watching all the violence in it. I am saying all this to show that my five point test is what I apply to myself, and I don't always succeed in obeying them!

theoneandonlypencil said:

Hello everyone! ^ ^

I'm back with a new question. So, in regards to the concept of 'free-will' in the biblical sense, I've heard that the only form of free-will we get is...well, to choose to obey either sin or God.

That's not my question though. My question is that, if I'm to totally surrender to God and he is to work through me, so to speak--do I have control over anything?

Like if I choose to take a trip somewhere, or I pick up a hobby or I want to watch a movie. Do I give up having choices over these matters? How far does God's control go?

Another question I've had is whether or not I have to get God's opinion on any decision I make...? Like what activities I'm going to do on a given day? What about deciding on a career, or having a 'dream'?

Click to expand...

The bible tells us that we are free to make choices in our lives, when it comes to entertainment etc.

Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

The bible tells us to take the middle road in these things, not to be so spiritual that you can't do anything natural.

Ecc 7:16-18 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.