Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: HarleyD
It is, in fact, a denial of the sovereignty of God when one states that God does not have control over every aspect of one’s life-including the decisions one makes.

Nonsense, Harley. It is the denial of the sovereignty of God not to realize that he allows free will decisions that does not effect His sovereignty while still being in control.

Here is a good explanation from a protestant AW Tozer

“An ocean liner leaves New York bound for Liverpool. Its destination has been determined by proper authorities. Nothing can change it. This is at least a faint picture of Sovereignty. On board the liner are several scores of passengers. These are not in chains, neither are their activities determined for them by decree. They are completely free to move about as they will. They eat, sleep, play, lounge about on the deck, read, talk, altogether as they please; but all the while the great liner is carrying them steadily onward toward a predetermined port. Both freedom and Sovereignty are present here and they do not contradict each other.” -A.W. Tozer (The Knowledge Of The Holy, XXII, p. 111)

607 posted on 04/28/2012 10:13:23 AM PDT by stfassisi ((The greatest gift God gives us is that of overcoming self"-St Francis Assisi)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 606 | View Replies ]


To: stfassisi
With all due respect to A.W. Tozer, he's simply wrong. Where his analogy breaks down is people are not set adrift to some destination with no control over what they will do. There is no sovereignty in that. (While heading for NY will God protect you on the shuffleboard course?)

And this is NOT what Psalms 23 states. The Lord is my shepherd. He make me lie down... He leads me besides still waters... He restores me... He leads me into righteousness... Honestly, I wonder if people really think about what Psalms 23 actually means. Do people think they just board a cruise ship and off they go? This isn't the Love Boat.

Here is a better example not from Tozer but from God:

Under the "free will" paradigm this story would make no sense. Once Jonah decided to go to Tarshish that would be that. Jonah's activities most assuredly were determine by decree and not only did Jonah know it but so did the people who threw him overboard.

We know Jonah's "choice" and God's "choice". God has a way of convincing His people to do what He wants done. Our choice is how do we want to smell after we get there.

And this is a recurring theme of scripture...

But, as Nebuchadnezzar points out, one only understands this when their reason returns. ;O)

608 posted on 04/28/2012 11:41:51 AM PDT by HarleyD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 607 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson