Faithful Thinkers: Video: Natural Evil and Free Will

Here is an oldie but goodie. Norman Geisler gives an answer to the question of how physical evil is connected to Free Will.

I find a disagreement with Norman Geisler when it comes to Free Will. If we take Geisler's definition of Free Will, I'm not sure if it can be validated with the Bible. This can be shown from his arguments, and many people agree with him, when he tells people that without free will, as he defines it, people are nothing more than robots. He is right God did not say we were mindless robots or puppets on a string. What the Bible does say is that we are slaves to sin until we are liberated by Christ.

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?  - Romans 6:16

The Bible is pretty clear about our state if you are believer in Jesus and if you are an unbeliever.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. - Romans 6:17

Either you are a slave to sin or you are slave to God.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. - Romans 6:22

Considering that God loves us, I'd rather He be my master.

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We owe Jesus everything. This is what Easter is supposed to be about. Recognizing and thanking Jesus for redeeming His people from sin, shame, and death.

But I digress - back to Dr. Geisler. If a person is a slave to sin, how then can they be free to act or act otherwise? Easy:  We can't. If  we can only be free through Christ, I don't see how we can free ourselves on our own. Now the reason why most people would say the existence and evil is due to human free will is to avoid the implication of God being responsible. I think it's more complicated than that. The reason the world looks like it does is because of sin. God tempts no one to sin.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.- 1 Corinthians 10:13

So why does God allow evil to exist? If He obliterated evil now, He would have to annihilate every man, woman, and Child on earth - what we deserve. Instead, God chose to save some of us. All He requires is that we trust Him. He even gives us the faith we need so we can  believe and trust Him. All we have to do is ask. God will judge this world and get rid of evil - containing it forever. It is the way to really and truly be free.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. - James 1:5

Recall what the Bible says wisdom comes from -  see these scriptures.


Faithful Thinkers: Video: Natural Evil and Free Will

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