God's Sovereignty and Man's Free Will
Some Christians have a hard time believing that man's free will and God's sovereignty can work together. They think that it somehow is a threat to the sovereignty of God. But this belief makes God less than what He is. Nothing can threaten God's control. He is so strong that He can allow man the freedom to choose, and still be completely in control. Oswald Chambers said it well in My Utmost for His Highest: "Man's apparently free choices are God's sovereign decrees." If Jesus can be both fully God and fully Man (and He is), if the Immortal can die (and He did), if Jesus could be born of a virgin (and He was), if God can be three Persons and still be One God (and He is), then He can let man have free will and be completely in control Himself. He does the impossible all the time! Those who think that man's will can't be free, and God still be Sovereign also carry this over into their relationships with people. They tend to be very controlling (which is an indication of insecurity). In a relationship in which they are in authority, they think that if they allow the "other guy" any leeway, then they themselves will lose control. I have actually been in such relationships, so I know what I'm talking about. They seem to idolize their authority (the cult of authority, as I call it). In a way, I feel sorry for them, because they are so insecure. However, their attitude is wrong, because they don't trust the Holy Spirit. They really need to trust Him.
posted by leeward at
4:52 AM
1 Comments:
God alone initiates salvation. He always turns toward man first and seeks him, as when God walked in the Garden (Genesis 3:8). Man does not seek God or turn to him without God first calling man to Himself (John. 6:37, 44; 1 John. 4:10,19).
Second, God’s initiative does not exclude man’s free response, but demands it (Catechism of the Catholic Church [Catechism], nos. 154, 155, 2002; Philippians 2:12, 13). In other words, God wills that man be free to choose His grace or reject it.
Third, salvation is extended to each and every human person, not limited to just some, and one can fall away from grace (Hebrews 2:1-4; 6:4; 2 Peter 1:10; 3:9; 1 John 5:16, 17).
Furthermore, it is imperative that once one is touched by grace, he perseveres in charity lest he forfeit the free gift of salvation (Lumen Gentium [LG], no. 14). Within the confines of these principles, Catholics have sought to understand the mystery of predestination.
Though opinions and formulations have varied among Catholic theologians, with these principles left intact, there is room for legitimate speculation.
The only proper framework to understand predestination must be rooted in the notion of a communion of persons in love. Why? The nature of God as Trinity is this very kind of communion and God created man to share in that “blessed life” (cf. Catechism, no. 1).
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