You didn't answer my questions, FK. You used this opportunity to attack the "Apostolic" definition of freedom, as being apart from God.
Evil is an expression of our freedom to choose apart from God. But the Reformed actually believe that we cannot do even evil without God's guiding hand!
If God preordained everything then there is no freedom to do anything and everything we do is God'swill; God is acting through all of us, be it good or evil!
Then how can we be condemned?
FK: As I said in another post, this is an example of the Apostolic definition of freedom, that is, freedom APART from God. Real freedom for good is found WITHIN God.
Kosta: You didn't answer my questions, FK. You used this opportunity to attack the "Apostolic" definition of freedom, as being apart from God.
I went all the way back to your source post (4831), and I didn't see any questions. :) I addressed the issue by saying that my opinion is that the Orthodox view of "freedom" is artificial, and does not match the reality that we experience by God's design. If you have questions, I will try my best to answer them.
Evil is an expression of our freedom to choose apart from God. But the Reformed actually believe that we cannot do even evil without God's guiding hand!
The first sentence is correct. The second is wrong because God does not "guide" anyone into evil. He leaves them alone, knowing the evil they will do.
If God preordained everything then there is no freedom to do anything and everything we do is God's will; God is acting through all of us, be it good or evil!
No, God acts THROUGH us when we do good. God DOESN'T act ON us when a certain evil is a part of His plan. Huge difference.
Now, at this minute I feel perfectly free to be typing these words to you right now. And, you will feel perfectly free to read them "right now". :) How is "real freedom" different because we have opposing views on God's sovereignty, GIVEN THAT we both experience the exact same thing? My freedom feels no less real than yours. We disagree on what God's POV is. That doesn't affect our reality via experience.
I don't mean to minimize the import of our difference. It just sounds like your side's position is that God isn't God UNLESS He makes everything up as He goes along, OR, He doesn't care what happens and metaphorically stands on the sidelines and watches. I don't understand why it is so important to your side that God be "out of it".
Then how can we be condemned?
The Bible says we are condemned for what we do. The Bible does not say God has a duty to prevent us from doing what we want to do. So, when we sin because we want to, we are responsible for it. If God did not want a particular sin to happen, that would have interfered with His plan, then He would have prevented it. I presume He does this with frequency we cannot possibly imagine, especially with His children. However, sometimes He allows things to happen. In any case, we are always still responsible.