"Soteriology 101" is a Facebook page that relentlessly promotes arminianism. Dr Flowers proclaims himself a former calvinist who has "seen the light" of free will. I responded to a post about how God does not determine our actions, and that we do indeed have free will.
logically, all you need is one example.
if you say, all men have free will all the time, then one example will refute this. then you have to say, "all men have free will some of the time", or "some men have free will all of the time". then where are you? how do you know who has free will? why do some men have free will all of the time? Is it because some men have some hidden ability that others lack? why would this be? are we not created equally? why would all men have free will some of the time? because of God. God has to be the determining factor. then ultimately we are subject to his will. bam: calvinism.
Response
Alejandro Roberto Gonzaga My problem is the examples I see aren’t actually destroying the free will of the person in question. And by the same token- all you need is one example of one person having free will in one instance to show it exists. — Manipulation is also not the same as determination or humans could be said to have the same power as God
My response
The will is not "destroyed" as if we're mere machines. Calvinists do not believe this. The will is _subject_ to a greater will, God's. "The kings heart is like channels of water in the hand of God". "He leads the nations as with a hook in the mouth". "He raises up and he brings down". True, one person having free will should conclude all do. But what does scripture say is universally true? We are sinners. We are slaves to sin. We are dead in sin. This description is the opposite of someone who trusts, loves, or hopes in God. Sinners by definition do not trust in God. They have a will, no doubt. But it is not free to love God. "Every perfect gift is above". "None are good but God alone". Any example of a man who loves God and turns to faith is an example of a man whose sinful nature has been redeemed, whose heart of stone has been replaced. The scripture does not say we are good at our core, but that we are evil. "Traditionalism" is humanism.
The will is not "destroyed" as if we're mere machines. Calvinists do not believe this. The will is _subject_ to a greater will, God's. "The kings heart is like channels of water in the hand of God". "He leads the nations as with a hook in the mouth". "He raises up and he brings down". True, one person having free will should conclude all do. But what does scripture say is universally true? We are sinners. We are slaves to sin. We are dead in sin. This description is the opposite of someone who trusts, loves, or hopes in God. Sinners by definition do not trust in God. They have a will, no doubt. But it is not free to love God. "Every perfect gift is above". "None are good but God alone". Any example of a man who loves God and turns to faith is an example of a man whose sinful nature has been redeemed, whose heart of stone has been replaced. The scripture does not say we are good at our core, but that we are evil. "Traditionalism" is humanism.
But God does determine. This is the problem we all have with calvinism initially. Self determination is a western ideal. It is not a scriptural one. Yes we are commanded to live responsibly and we are held accountable for our actions, but we are vessels in his hands, for his purposes, for him to do as _He_ pleases, for either wrath or mercy. This is why Paul answers the question "why does he still find fault?" Because he knew the idea is baffling to our proud hearts. He answers, "who are you to answer back to God?" Why do you think we have nothing to boast of? Because every good thing we do is from him, and every evil thing is from us. The question is not why does he do these things and allow these other things, but will we trust him?
