The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Gods Character??

Paul,

Good point and the distinction is often confused. A man's will is always free to choose that which is most important according to his nature AND according to the circumstances one is in. A couple of examples that I really like are:

1. You can make a child sit in a chair who doesn't want to, but he's still standing on the "inside". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" />
2. John Gerstner used a very poignant example to illustrate that although circumstances may limit the choices of one's will, the will is still free to choose: "I can be sitting at my desk writing and a man points a gun to my head and says, 'Stop writing or I'll kill you!'. I have thus two choices, to keep writing or go on living. The choice is mine (the will is still free to choose). My choice will be determined by what I think/feel is more important; to go on writing or to stay alive. Thus the person with the gun cannot force (compel, violate) my will. He can limit the choices I have but it is still my choice to make.

In His grace,