Is our free choice real

[BobCatholic]

You wrote: “If I’m ignored by God, that’s pretty much abandonment to the devil.”
A. God gives grace so is not abandoning people.

How do I know if I’m getting the grace, if I’m not progressing in sanctity?

You wrote: “And how does one know if they are cooperating “good enough”?”
A. Before was posted the teaching that one cannot be certain without a divine revelation. Same for all of us.

Precisely, so I’m in the dark, looking for the light.

You wrote: “But I can’t get any help in my life.”
A. You believe that God does not help you, but that is contrary to the teachings of the Church.

In those two areas, there is no help.

A. You wrote “not here on earth” but do not say how you can be certain that is must wait for heaven.

Because God said no. God does not change his will, so that no is permanent. That’s how I know my boy will stay mentally ill until he dies.

You wrote: “I agree. I wish God understood that, and cared about the temporal things.”
A. Not sure what you agree with. God cares for the person that is both body and soul.

If God cared about the temporal, he would not say no to reasonable requests (i.e. not violating scripture).

You wrote: “Reducing spiritual punishment is a mercy. Why is not reducing temporal punishment or suffering not a mercy?”
A. Generally physical healing occurs secondarily from spiritual healing.

But without the temporal healing, the spiritual healing says that God only cares about the spiritual and not the temporal.

 

[Vico]

…

You wrote: “How do I know if I’m getting the grace,…”
A. If you have mortally sinned and do not repent then you will not receive sanctifying grace, otherwise, having been baptized you are still in the state of sanctifying grace. God also helps with actual grace, in conversion.

You wrote: “In those two areas, there is no help.”
A. But you do not know that certainly.

You wrote: “Because God said no. God does not change his will, so that no is permanent. That’s how I know my boy will stay mentally ill until he dies.”
A. You said before that God does not communicate with you, but now say he does. So you say because of the belief about the past (that God did not help) you conclude the future, however this prediction is not certain, is is?

You wrote: “If God cared about the temporal, he would not say no to reasonable requests (i.e. not violating scripture).”
A. Reasonable in your way of thinking. You do not know God and the plan he has for you.

You wrote: “Reducing spiritual punishment is a mercy. Why is not reducing temporal punishment or suffering not a mercy?”
A. Generally physical healing occurs secondarily from spiritual healing.

You wrote: “But without the temporal healing, the spiritual healing says that God only cares about the spiritual and not the temporal.”
A. Then there would never be physical healing would there? Some things are given to demonstrate the power of God and other things are given that we struggle with them for the better. There are three kinds of evil: moral, physical (from the moral), and metaphysical. Consider all three.

 

[BobCatholic]

You wrote: “How do I know if I’m getting the grace,…”
A. If you have mortally sinned and do not repent then you will not receive sanctifying grace, otherwise, having been baptized you are still in the state of sanctifying grace. God also helps with actual grace, in conversion.

But how do I know I’m not fooling myself? That I (fooling myself) believe I’m in a state of grace?

You wrote: “In those two areas, there is no help.”
A. But you do not know that certainly.

My son is not healed.
My job situation is not improved.

You wrote: “Because God said no. God does not change his will, so that no is permanent. That’s how I know my boy will stay mentally ill until he dies.”
A. You said before that God does not communicate with you, but now say he does. So you say because of the belief about the past (that God did not help) you conclude the future, however this prediction is not certain, is is?

God did not communicate anything with words. His non-action tells me he said no.

You wrote: “If God cared about the temporal, he would not say no to reasonable requests (i.e. not violating scripture).”
A. Reasonable in your way of thinking. You do not know God and the plan he has for you.

And he won’t tell me. I wish he would so I could cooperate better.

You wrote: “Reducing spiritual punishment is a mercy. Why is not reducing temporal punishment or suffering not a mercy?”
A. Generally physical healing occurs secondarily from spiritual healing

.

This does not answer my question.

You wrote: “But without the temporal healing, the spiritual healing says that God only cares about the spiritual and not the temporal.”
A. Then there would never be physical healing would there?

God does help OTHER PEOPLE but chooses not to help me.

Then clearly God is playing favorites.

When a parent showers favors on one child while ignoring another, that’s just capricious and arbitrary and not just.

 

[Vico]

…

You wrote: “But how do I know I’m not fooling myself? That I (fooling myself) believe I’m in a state of grace?”
A. Same as anyone, you cannot be certain unless it is revealed by God.

You wrote: “In those two areas, there is no help.”
A. But you do not know that certainly.

You wrote: “My son is not healed. My job situation is not improved.” and “God did not communicate anything with words. His non-action tells me he said no.”
A. You speak of the present but do not know certainly the future, rather you speculate. Many were healed through their faith, or anothers faith, but by deciding it will not happen one demonstrates lack of faith.

You wrote: “Because God said no. God does not change his will, so that no is permanent. That’s how I know my boy will stay mentally ill until he dies.”
A. You said before that God does not communicate with you, but now say he does. So you say because of the belief about the past (that God did not help) you conclude the future, however this prediction is not certain, is is?

You wrote: “Why is not reducing temporal punishment or suffering not a mercy?”
A. Temporal punishment due sin is eliminated through penance and this may be increased through indulgences and by sufferange for the faithfully departed, and it is merciful.

You wrote: “When a parent showers favors on one child while ignoring another, that’s just capricious and arbitrary and not just.”
A. No a gift is given by the giver without owing it to the receiver. It is not unjust to give a gift to one and not the other. Note in the Gospel
Matthew 20:
14 Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.
15 Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?

 

[Zaccheus]

I cross the street in the middle of the block when traffic is frantic. I get hit by a car and die.
Or: I walk to the end of the block, what for the green light, and cross in safety.
Do I have a free choice?

The fact that choice A ends in pain and death while choice B ends in safety does not mean I lack the power to choose,.

The choice to obey God or defy Him is real. Nor is God being a tyrant when He says 'This is how to do it". God is telling us the truth. This is the way to do it.

 

[Lucretius]

I think the choice is better understood in terms of responsibility. I chose sin, and hell is the consequence of sin. Since I chose sin, I’m responsible for the consequences of that choice.

Christi pax.

 

[stacks26]

Humans are not the judge so our standards do not apply God is the judge.