Recognition of Free Will is essential
God gave us free will, because, although He could have created humans to be a crowd of automatic God-worshippers, He chose not to, because a person who chooses to worship Him is something very special to Him. For example, I could cause my computer here to tell me that I'm wonderful, on the hour, every hour. I can assure you that even if I had a huge ego, I wouldn't find these constant reminders from a dumb machine particularly satisfying.
So, free will is God-given. So what does that tell us? That systems of government that supress it are wrong, even if the ultimate goal of these systems is well-meaning.
That's not to say that free will is an excuse to be reckless. On the contrary, we are holders of huge responsibility. God knows that we could do ourselves harm with it. Humanity has the power to destroy itself with free will. But, in the same way that a parent would never prevent a fit child from learning to swim because of the chance of drowning, God doesn't take free will away, even from those of us who abuse it. What he does do, is have an attendant there by the poolside. He is our Saviour, Jesus Christ! Now, if I, with my free will throw myself into the pool in a reckless manner, and harm myself, I could thrash for a few moments and stay afloat, maybe for minutes. Jesus would through me a lifeline, which I might foolishly, or proudly refuse to accept but eventually, I'd tire myself out. Then I would surely drown. But if I take that line and show willing, he will pull me to the edge and then out of the pool.
Why then, regulate? Why must the government dabble in the excercise of our free will? Because greed and other sin stifles our good nature, and we then misuse our free will. We stop working socially, and start to work for ourselves alone. We isolate ourselves in the pursuit of personal wealth, then become apathetic and shallow and community crumbles.
I'm going to try and see what I can do to make sure everyone gains from what I do, first locally, then in the wider community. Now there's good use of free will! Pray for me, will you? And join me if you like.
So, free will is God-given. So what does that tell us? That systems of government that supress it are wrong, even if the ultimate goal of these systems is well-meaning.
That's not to say that free will is an excuse to be reckless. On the contrary, we are holders of huge responsibility. God knows that we could do ourselves harm with it. Humanity has the power to destroy itself with free will. But, in the same way that a parent would never prevent a fit child from learning to swim because of the chance of drowning, God doesn't take free will away, even from those of us who abuse it. What he does do, is have an attendant there by the poolside. He is our Saviour, Jesus Christ! Now, if I, with my free will throw myself into the pool in a reckless manner, and harm myself, I could thrash for a few moments and stay afloat, maybe for minutes. Jesus would through me a lifeline, which I might foolishly, or proudly refuse to accept but eventually, I'd tire myself out. Then I would surely drown. But if I take that line and show willing, he will pull me to the edge and then out of the pool.
Why then, regulate? Why must the government dabble in the excercise of our free will? Because greed and other sin stifles our good nature, and we then misuse our free will. We stop working socially, and start to work for ourselves alone. We isolate ourselves in the pursuit of personal wealth, then become apathetic and shallow and community crumbles.
I'm going to try and see what I can do to make sure everyone gains from what I do, first locally, then in the wider community. Now there's good use of free will! Pray for me, will you? And join me if you like.
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