Jeff Carter
Last month we began a discussion of the issue of God’s sovereignty and how the free will of mankind works within that sovereignty. We discussed how the bible seems to present the sovereignty of God in a way that still allows mankind to exercise its will and make free choices. We then made a distinction between different ideas of what free will really entails.
Some have delineated being “totally free”, from being “truly free”, and then distinguishing those from what it means to be “genuinely free”. We described how mankind is not totally free, in that this would make us more powerful than God—for even God is subject to limitations ( in terms of logic and character). We also began a discussion of what being truly free might mean—being able to fully choose between good and evil. But we found that perhaps all the options are not still available to us “post-fall.”
Augustine seemed to explain this well when he distinguished between what man was able to do throughout the various stages of his existence. He said that when man was created (before the fall) he was posse non peccare (able not to sin). He was able to choose between the options of doing what pleased God and what did not. Then after the fall man was now non posse non peccare (not able to not sin). He was now limited in what he could and could not do. He still had the ability to choose, but his options were now limited to one. Then through the process of redemption man is once again in the state of being posse non peccare (able to not sin). Mankind now, once again, has more than just the one option of choosing evil. Then ultimately, in our glorified state, that redemption will be complete and man will be made non posse peccare (not able to sin). He will then be truly free, for it is in the ability to always choose the good that true freedom must be measured.
Although one might argue that in the glorified state freedom is once again constrained in that only one option is available, this argument reveals a warped, unregenerate perspective in which the ability to choose evil is somehow seen as a viable and desirable choice. It is in glory that our ultimate choice is confirmed for eternity and we will never again be attacked by the desire to choose anything other than God. So we see that currently mankind is not totally free, and apart from God, is also not truly free.
The fact that mankind has, through the fall, lost that “true freedom” does not mean that he does not have the ability to make choices. It is said that man still makes choices, but now makes the wrong ones. He now sins willingly, choosing to do so. But that does not obviate that fact that actual choices are being made. We are able to make real choices with our own wills that have real effects. We are not automata walking around with a pre-programmed set of instructions. In this sense what we are is “genuinely free”. We are able to make genuine choices and our choices have consequences. That is not to say though that these choices are not conditioned and influenced.
Every choice we make is subject to our beliefs, motivations, desires, and inclinations—not to mention our own inherent limitations. We make choices based on what we believe is good or advantageous to us. If we did otherwise, we would be insane. So even at the most basic level of decision making our choices are subject to a variety of influences. These influences can include our upbringing, in which we were taught to respect our elders, or to eat all the food on our plates. Or, we can be influenced by societal pressures that dictate, for example, that torturing puppies for fun and profit is frowned upon.
Then, still deeper, we are influenced by what God has determined is right and what is wrong—which has filtered down to us in a variety of ways; through possibly a church upbringing (if not our own, then perhaps our parents’); through the remnants of an originally Christian nation with the fear of God at its core; through the benefits of general revelation and the witness it provides; through our conscience, and many others. So even our genuine choices are not ultimately “free”. There are always influences and constraints upon them. It is here in these influences and constraints that a possible solution might be found to how we can be seen as being able to make genuine choices and God be seen as still being sovereign.
We must accept that God is sovereign. It is clearly taught in Scripture. Attempts to sidestep the ramifications of this central doctrine surely stem from man’s fallen reason and desire to be free from the constraints of His moral demands upon us. So God does work His will, in His way, and in His time. Still, we humans make choices which, at least, on the surface, appear to be in direct contradiction to God’s revealed will. Thus God must be able to direct and manage circumstances, events, and the results of free choices made by man in such a way that His ultimate purposes are achieved. This must be done through our individual, internal make-up. We each have unique histories that have shaped us and molded us in distinct ways. We all have propensities and bents which determine what we consider the best option in every situation. And it is that “best option” which we will always choose. This is the exercise of our wills.
We do exercise our own wills, but when we exercise our wills the causal power we exert is secondary to God’s overarching sovereign will. God knows our inner-most thoughts, desires and drives. He knows what we are going to do at every moment, and what we would do in every potential situation. What He allows to happen are the events which will further His plan and accomplish His purposes. So we do exert causal influence, but God orchestrates the outcome to His ends.
Evidence that God works through our wills, without violating our wills, can be seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers from the book of Genesis. Joseph says quite pointedly in Gen 50 that what his brothers had intended for evil, God meant for good. God knew the evil intent in the heart of the brothers and He also knew that a famine was coming and that He wanted to get Israel and his sons to Egypt for the incubation of that soon-to-be nation. So what the brothers freely chose to do, God used to accomplish His purposes. This principle can also be seen just a few hundred years later. In the exodus, the Egyptians freely gave their riches to the Jews upon their departure. God told the Jews this would happen and encouraged them to participate in this plunder, but it was still the Egyptians free choice to do this. The way God works in and through and for us does not violate our freedom but rather preserves it. He is able to do the seemingly impossible—to use events and actions that are done in direct opposition to Him, for His purposes and towards His ends.
The way God works in and through and for us does not violate our freedom but rather, allows us the ability to choose Him more and more as we are progressively redeemed (in the traditional understanding of sanctification). The process of sanctification will enable us to make more and more “truly free” choices as we grow more and more conformed to Christ. But in this life, while we are, in fact, genuinely free, we will never be truly free. That will not happen until we are freed to choose the good every time.
How this plays out in terms of us being made able to freely choose God in salvation is a rich topic and will have to wait for another day.
Unfortunately we do not know the exact procedure by which God orchestrates the eventuating of His will. There are a myriad of theories about how this happens. Whether it is in a Molinist middle-knowledge conception, wherein God chooses the exact universe to create in which all of the infinite choices that each individual free will would choose will ultimately produce His perfect will; or in an understanding of the outworking of the plan of God in which He directly influences our choices by allowing us to be exposed to certain stimuli and external influences that will shape our will and prompt us to act in a certain way; or in a multitude of other possible scenarios—God is able to effect His will in the world and in our individual lives by some means. There are always beliefs, motivations, desires, inclinations, influences and constraints upon our choices that are available to God to allow Him to produce the ultimate end that He has planned throughout eternity—all without sacrificing our freedom to make those individual choices ourselves.
-Jeff
If you are able, please consider joining us at the book table on Fridays on the campus of UCI. It is a great opportunity to have “God-conversations” with students and plant seeds for the cause of Christ. Please contact Hilliary for more information at adminasst@hadavar.org.