We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Love, Evil, & Free Will

A very interesting article with my subject title was in the November-December issue of Worldviews, the newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center, written by Jim Edwards.    It was a good article in defense of the skeptics’ claim against a loving God allowing evil in the world.  I think the summary would give you enough information to respond to anyone questioning this subject.
1.  Being made in God’s image means we have real free will, real choices, and the deep desires to love and be loved and honor and be honored.
2.  The alternative of evil (nonconformance with God’s will) is necessary for us to have free will with real choices.
3.  Love and honor would have no meaning without free will.
4.  The benefits of loving and being loved far out weighs the reality that we are allowed to choose evil and this arrangement is consistent with a God that is good and love us enough to make us in His image.
5.  The consequence of mankind’s choices is that evil was brought into our world and is sustained here.  All of mankind’s evil is a result of mankind’s real choices.
6.  Although we come into this world as a slave to evil due to our earthly father Adam’s choice, God provides us each a real choice to deny evil and do good through faith in Jesus Christ.
Summary of summary: In order to have real free will, evil must exist as a real alternative, but real free will also allows us to love and be loved by God and others, if we choose to follow Jesus Christ instead of Adam.

5 comments:

ali said...

Without free will, we all would act as robots - but God in His loving mercy has given us an opportunity a choice to love and serve Him or reject Him.

The fruits of our lives, be they good or bad, for we all have fruit, show our devotion to our Beloved Creator God our Abba Father - or lack thereof.

Bob Kovsky said...

Thank you for your post. The notion that "people are robots" follows logically from the notion that "Laws of Physics" describe and control everything.

I have a different approach to questions or "puzzles" of free will. In my approach, "Laws of Physics" are useful but limited. They work with certain simple physical objects bu they fail to connect to actual life. Failures are shown in free-will puzzles that can't make a connection between mental imagery and muscular movements.

My approach is grounded in muscular movements. I show that Laws of Physics do not describe such movements. Claims of comprehensive knowledge by physicists and other scientists are false because their knowledge does not cover muscular movements.

The chief difference between my approach and "Laws of Physics" is that Laws of Physics are based in space, especially geometrical space that is rigid and continuous. My approach is based in time. Instead of a basic form of a "particle," I use "the beat" as a basic form. Beats are flexible. Spatial Laws of Physics can't handle forms that jump discontinuously (called "phase changes" or "phase transitions" in scientific literature) -- that is the function of new temporal forms that I propose.

My approach is consistent with spiritual purposes.

My approach is posted at
http://www.quadnets.com/puzzle.html

Spiritual purposes are at
http://www.quadnets.com/spirit.html

Thanks
Bob Kovsky

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Bob,

I think you try to get too deep with the issue. Your whole idea of "muscular movements" is something I've never even heard of, so I'm wondering if this is a personal belief system or if it is recognized among the scientific establishment.

Nevertheless, love, evil and free will have nothing to do with anything physical, including "muscular movements." These are spiritual issues and therefore the physical realm has no bearing on them other than how we react to it with our spiritual nature.

Bob Kovsky said...

Hi Glenn

Thanks for your comments. My new ideas are not recognized by scientists and my ideas are contrary to those held by scientists, e.g., I deny that which scientists affirm, that "laws of physics govern the Universe."

I respond to your second comment according to Christian and Biblical principles that are my guides. I do not see a conflict or a split between spirit and muscular movements. The Lord Jesus came in the flesh. 1 John 4:2. Through his Earthly life and resurrection, he frees us from fear of death. Heb. 2:14-15. Our life here on Earth is carried out through our muscles; but we are raised in Spirit after our deaths. 1 Cor. 15:42-44. Our purpose here is to use our bodies in action through which we grow in Spirit and bear fruit in his name. John 15:1-8.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Bob,
The fact that no scientists recognize your idea about muscular movement says a lot about it.

Things of the spirit are not tangible and cannot be associated with "muscular movements." Your theory is unbiblical and the passages you cite do not support it. I am sorry, but I cannot allow your continued comments on this subject because I do not permit false teachings to be promoted on my blog.