Is Belief a Choice?

[cvanwey]

This question is centered around Christianity. Bible verses elude to non-belief being a 'sin', and may very well be unforgivable, if unbelief in Christ is still obtained at natural human death. But if belief is not really a choice, should humans be held accountable for eternity, if they genuinely did not receive their individual necessary evidence for belief?

All positions and viewpoints are welcome.

 

[Dave-W]

Yes it is. Anything that the bible COMMANDS us to do, we can choose to do that or not.

We are often told to "repent and believe the Gospel." "You believe in God, believe also in ME." etc.

 

[Hammster]

No. You cannot choose what you believe. I guess the best way to explain it is, try to believe the opposite of something you now hold to be true.

 

[Dave-W]

No. You cannot choose what you believe. I guess the best way to explain it is, try to believe the opposite of something you now hold to be true.

Then why would God command something we have no control over?

 

[cvanwey]

Yes it is. Anything that the bible COMMANDS us to do, we can choose to do that or not.

We are often told to "repent and believe the Gospel." "You believe in God, believe also in ME." etc.

Choice in an action, I agree. However, belief, maybe not... Ex: Make yourself 'believe' you can fly (without artificial means), and jump off of a tall building. Yes, you can still choose to carry out the action of jumping. But do you actually believe you can fly w/o artificial means?

 

[cvanwey]

Then why would God command something we have no control over?

Ding ding ding ding!

 

[Call me Nic]

It must be. People can misconstrue faith as a "feeling" but a feeling is a not something that would be conducive to righteousness. A person being saved based upon feelings wouldn't make sense; feelings and emotions themselves seem (more so than not) to be a product of the flesh, however, a choice is grounded in the condition of the soul. A soul/consciousness must make choices every minute about what it accepts as truth and what it rejects whether based upon evidence or not.

 

[Dave-W]

Choice in an action, I agree. However, belief, maybe not...

There we run into a language problem. The biblical words to believe do not mean quite the same as the English words we use. "Believe" in biblical parlance means to live in accordance with. It is less about what we think or feel and more about what we do.

 

[Call me Nic]

There we run into a language problem. The biblical words to believe do not mean quite the same as the English words we use. "Believe" in biblical parlance means to live in accordance with. It is less about what we think or feel and more about what we do.

Then, what does it mean to "obey from the heart that doctrine" as spoken of in Romans 6:17?

 

[cvanwey]

There we run into a language problem. The biblical words to believe do not mean quite the same as the English words we use. "Believe" in biblical parlance means to live in accordance with. It is less about what we think or feel and more about what we do.

I disagree....

Most Christians I speak with, whom have read the Bible many times, do not judge by works, but instead by belief.

If one does not accept a resurrection as factual, do you actually think following the ten commandments will get you into heaven?

 

[Dave-W]

Then, what does it mean to "obey from the heart that doctrine" as spoken of in Romans 6:17?

Or that "believes from the heart" Rom 10.9-10?

That we have a certain amount of control over what our heart believes. When misused, it can lead to self deception.

 

[TuxAme]

It's ultimately our choice, but God gives all of us the grace to say yes to Him.

 

[Dave-W]

If one does not accept a resurrection as factual, do you actually think following the ten commandments will get you into heaven?

Of course not. But we chose to live the resurrected life. God Himself will make up any difference we lack.

 

[cvanwey]

Of course not. But we chose to live the resurrected life. God Himself will make up any difference we lack.

Then your response does not make sense... Is true belief a choice, yes or no? And again, please address posts #4 and #5 for clarity.

 

[cvanwey]

It's ultimately our choice, but God gives all of us the grace to say yes to Him.

This does not answer the question. Is belief a choice? Please reference posts #4 and #5.

 

[durangodawood]

Yes it is. Anything that the bible COMMANDS us to do, we can choose to do that or not.

We are often told to "repent and believe the Gospel." "You believe in God, believe also in ME." etc.

"Because the Bible says so" may work as an argument for already-committed Christians.

But for the rest of us, its kind of hollow. Is there no argument about the nature of "belief" that comes from common human experience?

 

[Dave-W]

Then your response does not make sense... Is true belief a choice, yes or no? And again, please address posts #4 and #5 for clarity.

YES.

But you fail to catch where belief (faith) comes from. It is not something we just work up. Paul teaches that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word [Gr: rhema = a SPOKEN word] of God.

God spoke and the universe came into existence. God speaks to us and it changes us within. But here is the choice: We can receive what He says which will produce faith/belief, or we can reject it. Indeed the author of the book of Hebrews three times quotes this passage from Psalm 95:

Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart...

 

[cvanwey]

YES.

But you fail to catch where belief (faith) comes from. It is not something we just work up. Paul teaches that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word [Gr: rhema = a SPOKEN word] of God.

God spoke and the universe came into existence. God speaks to us and it changes us within. But here is the choice: We can receive what He says which will produce faith/belief, or we can reject it. Indeed the author of the book of Hebrews three times quotes this passage from Psalm 95:

Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart...

You are insinuating that all have heard this voice, and some instead choose to deny such a voice. Are you then calling all these people liars or deniers? I hope not? I've never heard this voice. So I guess I'm just in denial. Case closed, right?

 

[Dave-W]

You are insinuating that all have heard this voice, and some instead choose to deny such a voice. Are you then calling all these people liars or deniers? I hope not? I've never heard this voice. So I guess I'm just in denial. Case closed, right?

Not really. Just because you have not heard the voice YET, or perhaps did not recognize it does not mean it does not exist or that anyone is a liar or denier.

I am just saying that when you DO hear it, respond in the affirmative.

 

[Call me Nic]

You are insinuating that all have heard this voice, and some instead choose to deny such a voice. Are you then calling all these people liars or deniers? I hope not? I've never heard this voice. So I guess I'm just in denial. Case closed, right?

When a Christian says you "hear his voice", what he is referring to is the hearing of the truth of the Word of God as written in the Bible, and believing in your heart the things written.