The Issue of Libertarian Free Will...

Anthony W Brooks

Often I'm asked, "How can humans be responsible for their sin if God Works all things in his decree?" And then I ask, "Where is God's sovereignty and decree when human beings are autonomous?"

Both compatiblism and libertarianism are philosophical ideas... And both have been extremely popular within the history of the church. Compatiblism is a form of determinism (not hard determinism) and libertarianism is autonomous free will, simply stated.

One thing that the fallen nature always wants is to say they are in control... But the Christian who holds to a TRULY BIBLICAL Christian Worldview should not desire this freedom at all. You will hear Libertarian opponents say all the time "I can't do it by myself" but they are fighting for their own autonomy.

Argument: If God ordained a system, then he cannot break that system. If he goes against that system even once then that is dishonest. It is a Christian ideal to speak of God's immutability (or unchangingness) that states he can change nothing about himself or the plans he ordained. Which is why he can never decide to save everyone apart from the plan of salvation he placed into being.

You will hear all the time, Leighton Flowers and others say that God sovereignly chose to create libertarianly free creatures, yet, in the Bible he broke that freedom on three separate, blatant, occasions to bring about a specific result, namely: Genesis 50, Isaiah 10, and Acts 4 with other small occasions spread throughout. This is an issue for a consistent Christian.

See further explanation of these texts here:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php…

Now, the errant view of libertarian free will is blatantly substantiated by their denial of God's absolute decree and raises questions:

1. Does God truly know all things? Molinism is truly the only option for anyone who wants to hold to libertarian free will and believe in God's omniscience. Otherwise your decisions wouldn't be truly free because God created the world knowing what decision you would make at what time you make it and in whatever situation without any possible variation. If you add possible variation then you are a primative molinist and you should know that molinism isn't Biblical!

2. If the source of God's knowledge is himself, then where is human libertarian freedom? If my choice was based on me and not God then God is taking in knowledge passively and not omniscient... Again, molinism is your only option...

So, this has been fun. Please respond to this article on the original "The Reformed View" page.

Soli Deo Gloria!