Free will

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peeteyg

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I need the most excellent advice of this forum. I have a protestant friend that doesn’t believe in the Free will of man. He has a calvinistic view. I am hoping that I can get passages and points of view that confirm the teaching of free will as the church teaches it.
 
peeteyg said:
I need the most excellent advice of this forum. I have a protestant friend that doesn’t believe in the Free will of man. He has a calvinistic view. I am hoping that I can get passages and points of view that confirm the teaching of free will as the church teaches it.
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There a numerous verses on this subject - your best bet is to consult a good Catholic Encyclopedia for an overview of free will and historical arminian theology.

Below are just a few to get you started:

Ez 14:6

Mark 1:14-15

Rev 3:20

Luke 13:3

Acts 17:30

Alls suggest “choice”.
 
Free Will is something which can be interpreted and defined differently by each individual on the planet. It is essentially a gift from God to be used within the limitations of our human state.Some use it wisely at times and less than wisely at other times.Our actions are the direct result of using free will but the moral status of the actions is governed by our conscience therefore free will is used to go with or against our conscience. I define it as the apparatus we use to stumble our way towards God and we fall many many times on our journey to Him but we used His gift to get us there!..not a very academic reply to your post but I hope it helps just a little. GOD BLESS
 
peeteyg said:
I need the most excellent advice of this forum. I have a protestant friend that doesn’t believe in the Free will of man. He has a calvinistic view. I am hoping that I can get passages and points of view that confirm the teaching of free will as the church teaches it.
Click to expand...
Before attempting to explain free will, first have a conversation with your friend about his Calvinistic view regarding the creation of man. Listen carefully in order to find out your friend’s beliefs regarding human nature before and after original sin. Since there are also different views about original sin, listen to his. Many, including Catholics, do not have a complete understanding of the consequences of Adam’s sin.

Understanding your friend’s viewpoint will help you decide how to approach free will. It may be as simple as understanding our marvelous human nature, rational and corporeal, spirit and matter, body and soul. Reason and will are two powers of our spiritual soul according to Catholic teaching. They guide us to the ultimate good which is God.

Unfortunately, we can choose a substitute good in place of God. Like Adam, we can choose not to walk in God’s friendship. God respected Adam and loved him deeply. So much so that immediately after original sin happened, God promised a Redeemer.

The best source is Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition,
ISBN: 1-57455-109-4
Or use this handy link www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Study paragraphs 355 -421. Check the references in the margins. You will find Scripture quotes in the footnotes. The Catechism’s index and glossary will give you info on free will. Put freedom, will, soul, etc. in the search bar of the website.

In my humble opinion, the best Scripture reference to free will is the Genesis story of Adam. This is free will in action.

Blessings,
granny
 
peeteyg said:
I need the most excellent advice of this forum. I have a protestant friend that doesn’t believe in the Free will of man. He has a calvinistic view. I am hoping that I can get passages and points of view that confirm the teaching of free will as the church teaches it.
Click to expand...
Your friend likely believes in Reformed Theology. I was an Evangelical Calvinist for several years, and know why they believe what they do. Ask your friend to explain Reformed Theology to you so you can get a feel for where he or she is coming from.

If you want a question to get your friend thinking, have him or her read this passage:

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

(1 Timothy 2:3-4)

Then ask your friend this: If God is in control of the decisions of all people, and God wants all people to be saved, then why does He not do what He wants? Hope you have a thoughtful and friendly conversation with your friend. Sounds like it might be fun!

🙂
 
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