[Alamo-Girl]

Again, thank you for sharing your views, dear smvoice!

But again I aver that what matters is Who did the choosing.

In Acts 1, they gave God a choice between two, Joseph and Mattias. That was a false dichotomy (emphasis mine.)

and having prayed, they said, `Thou, Lord, who art knowing the heart of all, shew which one thou didst choose of these two - Acts 1:24 (Young's Literal)

It would be like a faithful Christian maiden asking God whether she should marry Bill or John and then flipping a coin for His answer.

She may never have imagined God would want her to marry horrifying Harold. But God knew. Her coin toss was a false dichotomy.

[smvoice]

I LOVE your example! Like I said, we just have a different way of seeing their commission. Maranatha!

smvoice

[RnMomof7]

Excellent analogy sister !

[metmom]

That’s an excellent point. If they chose two men and drew lots for one of them, one of them would HAD to have been chosen, but it doesn’t mane that that was God’s choice.

There is that tendency among Christians to do that sort of thing instead of praying FIRST to find out what God wants to do. They make the decision and then add a prayer to look for God’s stamp of approval.

[caww]

Am smiling....you’re exatly right. I didn’t consider the “choice” they gave God...sheesh! So apparent too! But isn’t the selection of the next Pope rather like this...they put up those they determine worthy of the roll and then go thru the selction process....rather like drawing straws? What comes to mind is the blanket they toss outside the window once a Pope has been decided on. Guess I’ll have to look at that closer too.