Ok...this might seem like a strange topic. I have been studying some Wesleyan theology...which is what our denomination stems from...and have had some interesting thoughts. According to Wesleyan tradition...it is believed that God limits his foreknowledge at the point of human free will. If that is true...then does God know everything that will happen. So many say that God is in control. I believe that he has set our world in motion and that sin has tarnished what God made. So we have famine, floods, storms, babies born deformed, disease, and so on. If we say God is in total control, then God caused these things and causes every event in our lives. Where's the love?

Here's my take...I believe that God has set the world in motion to work as it does today. I believe that some of the environmental hazards of our day are a result of our mishandling of the earth. I believe bad things just happen and are a result of a fallen world. God wants to be Lord in our lives. He wants us to follow his ways or will which is to do as Jesus did. He wants us to make good and wise choices...with his help. But we are not puppets and he is not going to force us. So there is where God needs hope...hope that we will make the right choices...hope that tomorrow will be better than today. We can walk with God, but he won't make our choices for us...and we can change what will be if we are willing.

So...what are your thoughts?

Zandradanielle wrote:
Ok...this might seem like a strange topic. I have been studying some Wesleyan theology...which is what our denomination stems from...and have had some interesting thoughts. According to Wesleyan tradition...it is believed that God limits his foreknowledge at the point of human free will. If that is true...then does God know everything that will happen. So many say that God is in control. I believe that he has set our world in motion and that sin has tarnished what God made. So we have famine, floods, storms, babies born deformed, disease, and so on. If we say God is in total control, then God caused these things and causes every event in our lives. Where's the love?

Here's my take...I believe that God has set the world in motion to work as it does today. I believe that some of the environmental hazards of our day are a result of our mishandling of the earth. I believe bad things just happen and are a result of a fallen world. God wants to be Lord in our lives. He wants us to follow his ways or will which is to do as Jesus did. He wants us to make good and wise choices...with his help. But we are not puppets and he is not going to force us. So there is where God needs hope...hope that we will make the right choices...hope that tomorrow will be better than today. We can walk with God, but he won't make our choices for us...and we can change what will be if we are willing.

So...what are your thoughts?

I don't disagree. We cannot confuse knowledge with control. I'm still wrestling with Open Theism in my own mind, but I am certainly able to understand that he gave us a free will, and there are consequences and rewards for our actions.

This has always been a tough and confusing subject. Free will vs. destiny. God ultimately knows the end result, but we control our own lives. Thank goodness for the Spirit's guidance.

Interesting thought. You have got to read the book The Shack. It's a big eye-opener to God's involvement in our lives, free will & the heart of God. It really gets into why God "lets" bad things happen & how he longs to have relationship with us. Love is not real if it's forced.

Post edited by: irishsheila, at: 2008/01/05 20:31

Thank you all for your insights. Here is another image to think about. My dad has said that God is not on a couch watching a DVD. If He already knew everything that would happen to us, there would be no reason for him to be personally involved. He is watching and walking with us. He is personally involved in all of our decisions and some things he says...You choose! Many times we think that things have gone bad because we didn't follow what God wanted us to do or something tragic happens to teach us a lesson. He can use anything, but he doesn't cause it to happen.

Just my thoughts!