Does the Christian God Play with Free Will?

NO....!!!what about when King saul took the ark out to battle with the Philistines, and lost? Why did they go into years of bondage and slavery to the Egyptians? And the Old testament is not written by one "sect" Not all the authors of the OT can even be identified to prove that.(just read the commentary before the books of the Bible) Also it depends on how you believe the OT was inspired. I think the most accepted version of this is the verbal plenary inspiration. You make it sound like God said somthing to them, and they wrote whatever they felt like. But what you need to do, is take into account what that book of the Bible was trying to accomplish, most books have a certian literary purpose. (tell me to slow down if im using too many big words) God did no harden the Israelits hearts, they are his chosen people, that he has set apart for himself, there is one way they are different. He showed them favor, along with many miracles and signs of wonders. Also, God could of let them die in the desert after they were disobedient and refused to enter the promise land and take it over becuase they were scared of the Giants in the land *yes I said Giants, look it up, the Nephilim and their descendants* I think you need to get a little more info on the OT before you call the Prophets a bunch of "terrorists" But I dont mind clearing up some things for you since you seem to bea little confused about some events in the BIble. Romans 8:28 explains a lot of things, no matter what happens, God does it to bring Glory to His name. I believe there was a big difference between his people, and the heathen nations around Israel. Although they struggled with sins, a judge or someone always rose up, and told the people of Israel to repent, and to go back to the LORD. It also talks about some of the sins of Canaanites...Homosexuality, star worship, incest, Beastiality, and it does no specifically say that Isreal indulged herself in all of these things (im not saying that some Israelites didnt do this, but that they did not partake in ALL of these as a nation)Actually, didn't moses talk to the Pharoah before the exodus? I could of swore that he had some form of interacting with him, somthing having to do with let my people go? also, reading from exodus 7, it appears as though God hardened Pharoah's heart, in order so that he could get the point across that he is GOd, through his plagues.I encourage you to read some of the NT, its cool to see thatyou have some knowledge of the OT, but I think its important to know what happened in the NT and then to go back and see how it all incorporates together.GOd bless

you guys throw around free will and election, I just need this to be clarified, do you mean this having to do with Salvation? becasue I think that is what the main debate now a days is about (maybe im wrong, but if thats what you are wondering about, you are off track a bit, you seem to be asking if there is free will in general) I believe that if God calls you to be saved, that you cannot resist GOd. I also believe that we make our own decisions in some areas, but they still come with consequences. It's funny that you mention that Ephesians verse, just read the next verse down and it might clear somthing up. I think you can disobey God's commands, Achan did in the OT, and he was stoned. Peter denied Christ. If God wants somthing to happen, it will happen whether the first person he chooses accepts the task or not. If God dictated our every move, then i feel that there would be no point in living,becuase we would just be GOd's puppets. also in exodus, I thought he just hardened Pharaoh's hearts, that doenst necesarily mean he doenst believe, I think that after the miracles, that he believed God was on their side.(and thats why he let them go, same thing happened to the Philistines when they had the ark)Check out Romans 9:16-24 (this would point out that God chooses us, in the sense of election towards salvatoin) Also GOd calls many prophets to be his throughout the OT(Jeremiah, and samuel for 2 examples), and they did no resist (I am not a super-Electionist, nor am I a free willist, I think I have clearly stated where I stand)[This message has been edited by Pringlesguy7, 10-09-2003]

Ah, I see i see. But you could get into the debate that God inspires people to do things. ( yes i know, it could be quite similar as saying he makes them do things) I believe that God can make you do things. But you have to realize we are living in a different time now, than thousands of years ago in the OT days.[This message has been edited by Pringlesguy7, 10-09-2003]

In the OT days, God dwelt in a "place" Now it is very specific that the presence of God is not in a single place. NT and present day christians have the holy spirit living in them.When I say GOd can inspire you to do things, I am talking about when Scripture was first written. I believe now a days very rariily will GOd write it out on a wall for you. God's voice is not some thundering flash of lighting. It is still, small and quiet. Many times it says "to be still and wait quietly before the Lord" and to "be still and know that I am God"Alot of things changed when Jesus came to earth, the old covenant was replaced with the new covenant. (such as sin, and forgiveness, Jesus is how you can be forgiven of sins, instead of sacrificing a bull)(i'm not saying that abrahams covenant was discontinued)yes, he does harden Pharoahs heart. BUt that is not forcing him to believe. He did intervene, he sent his son Jesus as our sin offering, and he has given all of us the chance, we CHOOSE whether to accept it or not, like right now, it seems as you are choosing to reject it.And if you look at it this way, we all deserve to die and go to tell. no where does it say that we are worthy, or righteouss on our own. So GOd sent his son for the sake of the elect, those that would believe. THere is room for everyone in Heaven, but not everyone will accept it, lets face it, sin is mankinds downfall.Our worship is different now, we do not offer sacrifices, we do not have one day of atonement. We do not have one certian group that can be priests.(Levites) Our religious situation is way different, Polytheism is not such a problem as is people not caring abou religion at all. The office of Prophets is not what it was like. IT says in the NT that people want to see miracles to believe, but that even then they will not believe. Miracles are not common like they were in the days of Elijah and Moses.Hope that helps------------------
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God."