But would you not agree that believing in something like human free will is more than just a personal liking and if someone who believes in free will went to a church that didn't, that person would end up extremely unhappy?
Hi
Yes, a person's beliefs about free will and destiny can be very significant.
But, in case you are with people who do not agree with you, Jesus wants you to be strong in His love so wrong people can not have power over you to hurt you and keep you from living and loving in God's peace.
If you believe what is right, in the right way, you will be humble about it . . . not merely fighting other people with different ideas . . . not mainly comparing your group to someone else's. But with God's way of understanding, we keep busy with how we are becoming in comparison with Jesus and obeying His example or not.
"For we dare not to class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)
I found that staying away from church until you know what the bible says is the best. Then pick a church that best fits the truth.
Let's say you are where people are in your face with what you do not believe about free will. But you have not yet found the church where you are sure you belong.
Possibly, in the church with the in-your-face people, there might also be really mature Christians you have not discovered, yet. They even might be much more mature than the pastor, who has immature beliefs and ways. But the mature seniors can turn out to be so beneficial to you, that you do well to stay with them and reach to the ones who are mistaken and not relating well.
Or, you feed on their example while you find a church with leaders and members who are more with it.
Now . . . about ones who treat free will and predestination like they are totally opposite to each other >
Whether we are destined or free to choose, still we need to treat each person like he or she is welcome to make one's own choice to love and obey Jesus; real love is freely given, whether you think there is free will or all is destiny.
And we need to willingly submit to our Father and how He rules us in His own peace > Colossians 3:15 >
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
This is a Bible basic of our Christian calling . . . to all who are
"called in one body". So, if your will really is free, then freely choose at all times to personally submit to our Father and how He rules us in our
"hearts" in His own peace. And in case you believe you are destined, being submissive to our Father in His own peace is a basic of living as a child of God.
And Jesus wants us to love and care with hope for any and all people. So, whether we are free to choose or not, and predestined or not, God's word requires us to submit to how our Father personally rules us in His own peace, plus love any and all people as ourselves, and be generously forgiving. And in the process of obeying God like this, He is changing us
"to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (in Romans 8:29)
But, I would say, there can be groups who are very strong about free will, but they are not choosing to stay submissive to how our Father rules His children in His own peace, and they do not love any and all people with hope for any person, at all . . . even though Jesus on the cross so suffered and died with hope for any awful person, at all. They might even preach that Christ died for our sins, but they do not use their wills to choose to love and have hope for any and all people . . . though it is written how love
"hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7). So, in case you are about free will, you can test if you and ones you meet in church are about constantly choosing to submit to God in His own peace and choosing to love any and all people like Jesus on the cross has done. After all, how Jesus loved us while on the cross is our example
required of us >
"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)
I am sure a number of free will people who call themselves fundamentalists are not choosing this which the Bible says is basic Christianity.
But, also, some number of predestination people are not living and loving the way God's word means . . . while they claim to be destined.
So, more than your beliefs, you need to find people who feed you their example of how God is conforming them to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:28-29) while they personally submit to how our Father rules us in His own peace (Colossians 3:15) so we are caring with hope for any and all people (Matthew 5:46) while sharing as His family in doing this (Ephesians 4:2, 4:31-32), growing more mature in this.
These are Bible basics which God is doing with every Christian, while we minister this to one another. So, share with ones who are doing this >
"that we" "speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head---Christ" (in Ephesians 4:15).