Free Will in the Day to Day Life of a Christian

[alwayscurious]

What does free will look like in the day to day life of a normal Christian? I have been feeling under attack in my mind as of late relating to this matter. I don't really know how to explain this as it's just in the back of my mind, and I can't ever seem to be at peace. I feel like I am imprisoned within my own thoughts. I'm an over-thinker (if that's not obvious yet, LOL)...

I say "day to day" because I'm not talking about predestination vs free will. This may sound stupid, but I'm talking about free will as in what to do for the day, what to buy, what to eat, and in matters that are to come like in who to date/marry (the other being a Christian), what job to have, what car to get, etc... Maybe I shouldn't post this but I'm going to go ahead and do it. I haven't explained it in the way I really want to due to a lack of words at the moment, but I have been feeling trapped as of late, especially these past few months relating to this.

[aron]

Originally Posted by alwayscurious

What does free will look like in the day to day life of a normal Christian? I have been feeling under attack in my mind as of late relating to this matter... I'm talking about free will as in what to do for the day, what to buy, what to eat, and in matters that are to come like in who to date/marry (the other being a Christian), what job to have, what car to get, etc...

I'll give my qualified opinion. Qualified because I fail, and miserably, and often.

For me, life is about balance. And life is about relationships. Those two things make the whole thing work. The cars, the school, the job, the "which breakfast item should I choose" dilemma. What pair of pants to wear, the brown or the black.

There are two relationships that I key on. The first is Jesus with the Father. Jesus is in the flesh, even the flesh of sin, yet has untrammeled access to and guidance and protection of the Father. "He shall set His angels over you, to guard you and protect you, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

The relationship is twofold, and reciprocal: the Son loves and obeys the Father always, and the Father delights in and blesses the Son. Jesus knows the Father's will, and does it, and the Father supplies the Son of Man with every blessing promised aforehand. Long life (eternal life), glory, rule, power, dominion, and a name above every name.

A good characterization is found in Psalm 18:20-24

20 The Lord [Father] has dealt with me [Jesus the Son] according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord [the Father] has rewarded me [the Son of Man] according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

This Psalm is a companion piece to Psalm 16. The vision of the Son in relationship with the Father is the singular (to me) revelation of the whole Scripture, and determines all else. "I [Christ] run in the pathways of Thy [Father God] command, for Thou [Father] hast set my [Christ's] heart free." ~Psa 119:32

This is the one singular reality that subsumes all else. Then, to balance (remember the two parts of the Great Commandment) comes our relations with others, mirrored/seen in Jesus' with his Twelve. Sometimes Jesus was strong with them, yet always loved them, lowered himself and served them. Such can be our relations with others. Think of adult with child: you may correct them, not always "soft and cuddly" but once they repent you're there to support them. Your love never leaves, but sometimes love means rebuke, or saying, "no".

My point is, in our relations, there is always a seeking to serve, to love, to support, to aid and comfort. This is our discipleship to Jesus. In faith we see Jesus with the Father, and try to mirror this in our relationship with those nearby "who cannot repay you." Love those who are not lovely. Care for those who are careless. Rescue them even as they perish. In this we follow the Master, and everything else follows, the car the job the house the girlfriend.

I recently quoted Hebrews 5:5-10. The Son obeyed the Father and was given glory and honour, and an intercessory place forever, now we obey the Son and follow unto salvation. But we obey knowing the Word, not blindly, not as infants tossed about, and we obey in and through our relations with those around us. We intercede for them, and through us Jesus intercedes for them. Everything else follows this. Without this, we are forever mired in self.

As soon as you see the love of God (Jesus' for the Father and vice versa) you begin to sense the love of God for fallen humanity. This love wells up and pours out. Then you begin to know the love of God. Everything else follows.

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by alwayscurious

What does free will look like in the day to day life of a normal Christian? I have been feeling under attack in my mind as of late relating to this matter. I don't really know how to explain this as it's just in the back of my mind, and I can't ever seem to be at peace. I feel like I am imprisoned within my own thoughts. I'm an over-thinker (if that's not obvious yet, LOL)...

I say "day to day" because I'm not talking about predestination vs free will. This may sound stupid, but I'm talking about free will as in what to do for the day, what to buy, what to eat, and in matters that are to come like in who to date/marry (the other being a Christian), what job to have, what car to get, etc... Maybe I shouldn't post this but I'm going to go ahead and do it. I haven't explained it in the way I really want to due to a lack of words at the moment, but I have been feeling trapped as of late, especially these past few months relating to this.

Hi alwayscurious,

You can't feel trapped - I AM TRAPPED.

Just kidding.

But I do relate to your question.

Your question here reminded me of a related question I asked a while back on this forum - how do you know the Lord's leading? Here's the link to that thread in case any of the discussion there helps you: http://localchurchdiscussions.com/vB...ead.php?t=6145

Some answers are helpful, some not as much. Hopefully some there will help you. I found the most help from hearing things like "just live" and "we are free in Christ to live our lives, etc". There is truth to the facts that we can't take a step without God, that He sustains us, we depend on Him for every step, yes, however.......in practical living, Witness Lee literally made it seem like we were not allowed to make any decision without getting some kind of green light from the heavens, or from within ourselves (our spirit), or some speaking or trumpet of "leading" from the Lord.

That isn't really what happens. The reason God can judge us at the end is because we do have free will and discernment to made decisions and choose paths. The local church has an atmosphere of the "paralysis of analysis", and the thought that we can make our own decisions ends up feeling overwhelming. I'm actually right there now - got some big decisions to make and I'm literally letting weekend after weekend go by.....as major deadlines get closer......and I'm trapped. Can't move. Because I'm not used to making decisions and bearing the consequences......and these are normal things that people all over the world deal with every day without this dumb struggle I'm having.

I think there's more I want to add, but I gotta run...can't type too much at work.

Trapped

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by alwayscurious

What does free will look like in the day to day life of a normal Christian? I have been feeling under attack in my mind as of late relating to this matter. I don't really know how to explain this as it's just in the back of my mind, and I can't ever seem to be at peace. I feel like I am imprisoned within my own thoughts. I'm an over-thinker (if that's not obvious yet, LOL)...

I say "day to day" because I'm not talking about predestination vs free will. This may sound stupid, but I'm talking about free will as in what to do for the day, what to buy, what to eat, and in matters that are to come like in who to date/marry (the other being a Christian), what job to have, what car to get, etc... Maybe I shouldn't post this but I'm going to go ahead and do it. I haven't explained it in the way I really want to due to a lack of words at the moment, but I have been feeling trapped as of late, especially these past few months relating to this.

Some brothers I meet with regularly in a small group have discussed this off and on. At first I didn't know if I agreed or not as it almost didn't seem spiritual enough. I'll paraphrase what these bros have said: "When I have a decision to make I give it to Him and then do what seems right. If it's not a right decision, I trust in His ability to let me know." And it was further shared that if someone has been seeking Him and spending time with Him in the word, prayer, song and fellowship, these decisions shouldn't be rocket-surgery (i.e., in most day-to-day things). If He lives in us (He does), and if we have the mind of Christ (we do), then it's an organic thing because of our spirit union with Christ. Turn to Him and trust He will let you know and that you have the freedom to make choices in whatever you see as faith (or not).

As said, at first I thought of this as not spiritual enough or too simplistic, but eventually I've come to see that there is a simple wisdom with it. And will we make mistakes? Sure. But there is zero condemnation and He knows we have the flesh influence and are mistake prone. And in the process we eventually get more and more keen at hearing His voice. I find this approach liberating!

[Awoken]

Hi alwayscurious -

Okay, my 2 cents. The Bible says -

Galatians 5:5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

On the other hand, perplexingly, we are told that we definitely do need to obey the Lord by hearing His voice (there are so many verses about this it would be hard to gather them all, here are a couple I found by brief search).

John 14:15 ESV
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Furthermore, we know that we have an inward anointing from God that teaches us to respond to Him (1 John 2:20). His sheep will know His voice.

Your question is a good one. Personally I feel we DO have an inner anointing that compels us to do some things and avoid others, and we know very well when we violate His direction. The less deaf we become, the more sensitive we are to it, and the more we learn what that inner speaking is and isn't, and the more sensitive we get to be to our disobedience (which sometimes include acts of doing the things He wants us to do, but OUR way, not His way). We are slaves of God who are learning obedience from the only obedient Son of God.

But how do we reconcile that with Galatians 5:5? We have been freed to be free. Man was able to walk around freely in the Garden of Pleasures, eating of everything that had been condoned by God (which included everything except one tree).

I think free will in the life of a Christian looks basically like free will in the life of anybody else, except better, because we also have been given the freedoms not to be enslaved to sin and the freedom to obey the voice of God. I think sometimes we hear God's voice very clearly telling us something, which we may or may not like to do, and it is at these crucial moments we have an opportunity to react in obedience by depending on Christ. Other times there may not be much of an overt sense of direction "from the heavens" at all, i.e., dictating that you can only wear one shirt on a particular day. I suspect God USUALLY doesn't care a lot about those kind of minor choices and does in fact give us freedom as He says, except in cases where there is an overt reason beyond our comprehension that He wants us to do (or not do) something for the sake of His purposes.

[Nell]

I'm bringing a thread to the top "The Park Bench". I posted 3 experiences of living as a Christian, day to day, obedience, decision making, and being and/or becoming the person God meant you to be.

I look back at "The Park Bench" experience and thank God that he gave us a free will and rewards us for choosing to obey him.

Nell