I got in e-mail by someone who is reading our study...any thoughts...
So not to confuse things, but where does this fit in free will?
It is also a blessing to see and know that GOD is in control of the good and the bad. So we can reason that when bad comes our way always know there is a master plan from GOD himself for the GOOD of all He has chosen.
Is everything pre-ordained by God or does he use our free will against us? Does it not mean that no matter what we do our path is already decided by God? Where does free will end and God's control begin?
I can't answer any of those questions...just throwing out thoughts
Dr Walter Martin had an analogy that always made a lot of sense to me in this ball park.
First, I want to speak forcefully in behalf of FREE WILL.
I do NOT believe there can be any
MEANINGFUL, FUNCTIONAL
LOVE or RESPONSIBILITY
WITHOUT FREE WILL.
For the CHOICE TOWARD, FOR, IN BEHALF OF LOVE
to make any difference, any sense, there has to be
A DIFFERENT RESULT, A DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCE
than would occur following a choice toward, for, in behalf of NON LOVE.
And, it has to be a REAL consequence. One may be able at some point in the proces to apply a "get out of jail free card" but there has to be a REAL consequence that is different from the real consequence on the other side.
And, in fact, this is what Christians for centuries have observed. God's Grace is incredible. But often, even with forgiveness, there's still consequences for sinful, deadly choices. The parents of the murdered only son may forgive the murderer but prison can still be appropriate.
OTHERWISE,
there would be no sense to life or reality at all and chaos would reign. I may as well shoot you as feed you or give you flowers. One would make as much sense and be as 'fitting' as the other.
Walter Martin's analogy was, roughly paraphrased from memory:
Imagine a computer as massive as the universe. Programmed into the computer by the Master Programmer were all the possible choices by all the possible choice-ee's--choosers. At the level of and moment of choice, the individual components and contingencies of each situation are the realities impacting the awareness of those choosers.
The Master Programmer has a different level of awareness. He sees all and knows all and even knows which choice each component is going to make at a given point in time--which the Master Programmer is also outside of.
AND, THE MASTER PROGRAMMER ALSO HAS CHOICE about how to adjust the programming to result in HIS CHOICES for each individual component and for REALITY as a whole. He is NOT limited by our choices in bringing about HIS ULTIMATE RESULT OR CONDITION, SITUATION. He has dozens upon dozens of alternative ways of bringing about HIS CHOICE, HIS WILL.