RE: Argument from evil, restated
May 31, 2013 at 2:39 am
(This post was last modified: May 31, 2013 at 2:42 am by Undeceived.)
Delighted to meet you, Zarith.
Before we enter heaven, we willingly ask God to make us righteous-- to put to death our sinful self. God cannot remove the impure part of us unless we first ask Him to. Suppose you're a brilliant sculptor who makes living clay people. You give them the desire for food, called hunger. But they are clay, they do not need food. Nevertheless, some choose to eat for pleasure. Others tell you, "Take this craving from us!" If you sever their hunger instinct, are you violating their free will?
Yes, they'd want to be in heaven. But they'd choose heaven for pleasure, not for God. Desiring something, no matter how much, cannot persuade you to love somebody. If a millionaire told you, "Love me and I'll give you a car," could you do it? You might love the car, but not the man. It is impossible to love someone who is a means (of instrumental value) and not an end (destination). If God is not an end in your life right now, the offer of a different end won't change anything. God said, "Have no other gods before me." If you value heaven above God, you cannot inherit heaven.
If this topic still interests you, read Luke 16:19–31:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sea...ersion=NLT
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: If the ability to choose is so important, why then do I end up in a place where I have no choice, if I make the right choice the first time? Free will is the most important thing ... but only up to a point?
Before we enter heaven, we willingly ask God to make us righteous-- to put to death our sinful self. God cannot remove the impure part of us unless we first ask Him to. Suppose you're a brilliant sculptor who makes living clay people. You give them the desire for food, called hunger. But they are clay, they do not need food. Nevertheless, some choose to eat for pleasure. Others tell you, "Take this craving from us!" If you sever their hunger instinct, are you violating their free will?
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: If god desires for people to choose to love him, then why is there an expiration date on this offer? Surely if hell existed, it would be filled with people who would make a different choice if given one more chance. Don't you think?
Yes, they'd want to be in heaven. But they'd choose heaven for pleasure, not for God. Desiring something, no matter how much, cannot persuade you to love somebody. If a millionaire told you, "Love me and I'll give you a car," could you do it? You might love the car, but not the man. It is impossible to love someone who is a means (of instrumental value) and not an end (destination). If God is not an end in your life right now, the offer of a different end won't change anything. God said, "Have no other gods before me." If you value heaven above God, you cannot inherit heaven.
If this topic still interests you, read Luke 16:19–31:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sea...ersion=NLT
