Atheists often bring up this claim stating that since Christians believe God is Omniscient and Omnipotent (which means all-knowing and all-powerful), does that not take away our free will?
In simple terms, since God already knows our actions and thoughts and has pre-ordained our future, are we not just robotic toys in this world?
These are valid claims; however, few have gone beyond this question to understand God’s eternal ways and motives.
This question delves into the profound mysteries of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. It raises the age-old debate of predestination versus free will.
To answer this, we will examine one scenario from the book of Genesis. Where Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, which God had already known they would do and therefore, were therefore predestined to eat from it.
However, it is important to note that God’s foreknowledge didn’t compel their decision. Their action was a result of their free will, albeit influenced by sin. This understanding supports the belief that God’s “sovereign preordination” and “human free will” operate simultaneously.
“Why did God make the wrong choice (forbidden fruit) available in the first place?”
We should note that while there are bad choices; God always provides us with more opportunities for making the right choice.
Considering the story of Adam & Eve, God said to them that they could eat from ‘any’ tree in the Garden, but there was only ‘one’ wrong choice they could make.
This singular restriction was not to entrap humanity but to offer a real opportunity for trust and obedience, which are essential for a meaningful relationship. The emphasis lies not on the wrong choice that was available, but on the overwhelming abundance of good choices that God provides, inviting us to live in harmony with His will.
“Likewise, why does God still make the wrong choices available to us today?”
Could God eliminate all wrong choices? Certainly He can. Yet, He allows them, inviting us to choose Him freely, for love is only genuine when it is given freely, not under compulsion. Love’s true essence shines brightest when we, facing both right and wrong paths, choose the good.
Moreover, God’s sovereignty is such that He can weave even the wrong choices and the resultant suffering into the grand tapestry of His redemptive plan, showcasing His glory. The presence of evil serves as a backdrop to the radiant display of His grace and mercy, drawing sinners to repentance and highlighting the beauty of His holiness against the darkness of a fallen world.
“If God knows everything about us, how then does that give us free will since He would know all our choices and actions?”
The idea that God’s foreknowledge of our actions compromises our free will is a common concern, but foreknowledge in itself does not influence choice.
Consider if given a choice between a pizza and a rat for dinner, it’s predictable that you would choose the pizza. This prediction doesn’t control or limit your freedom to choose; it’s simply an informed assumption based on understanding your preferences. Similarly, God’s omniscience allows Him to know our actions in advance, but this divine foreknowledge doesn’t negate our ability to choose freely.
Furthermore, the Bible presents God as deeply relational, implying that He understands our disposition and tendencies. Yet, this intimate knowledge doesn’t override our moment-to-moment decisions. While we face various choices, our circumstances and character are fully known to God, and this knowledge is a dimension of His relationship with us, not a determinant of our will.
Conclusion
At the heart of our discussion lies a poignant question: why do we, as humans, repeatedly make wrong choices even when we know what is right? This tendency can largely be attributed to our fallen nature — a fundamental aspect of our humanity that predisposes us to sin. However, this is not the end of the story. The beauty of Christianity lies in the concept of grace and redemption. These divine gifts offer us a pathway to restoration and growth, transcending our flawed inclinations.
God’s omniscience and omnipotence mean that He is fully aware of our sinful tendencies. Yet, rather than leaving us to grapple with our imperfections alone, He provides a means of salvation. The crucifixion of Christ is central to this plan. Through the cross, God offers redemption, preemptively addressing our disobedience with an act of unparalleled love and mercy. In this divine scheme, we find not only the acknowledgment of our inherent weaknesses but also the provision for our spiritual renewal and redemption.
Thus, our journey through the complexities of free will, sin, and divine foreknowledge leads us to a profound realization: God’s overarching plan encompasses our failings and transforms them into opportunities for grace and redemption, ultimately guiding us towards a deeper relationship with Him.
