Free Will vs Initiative

[Classik]

Free Will vs Initiative
Do they mean the same or are there differences in meaning? Examples?

 

[Danus]

Free Will vs Initiative
Do they mean the same or are there differences in meaning? Examples?

No they do not mean the same thing. Free will simply refers to ones desire whereas Initiative is an aspect of free will to initiate an opportunity to act or take charge, possibly before others do, based on a desire to do so.

What is often misunderstood about free will, from a theological perspective, is that it is totally dependent on it's own desire if it is to be called free at all. That means that for a will to be free it MUST choose what it desires. Otherwise it is not free.

So, whether someone takes the initiative to do something, or does nothing, they are still acting within the confines of their own free will.

 

[Classik]

No they do not mean the same thing. Free will simply refers to ones desire whereas Initiative is an aspect of free will to initiate an opportunity to act or take charge, possibly before others do, based on a desire to do so.

What is often misunderstood about free will, from a theological perspective, is that it is totally dependent on it's own desire if it is to be called free at all. That means that for a will to be free it MUST choose what it desires. Otherwise it is not free.

So, whether someone takes the initiative to do something, or does nothing, they are still acting within the confines of their own free will.

Thanks
Someone defined freewill as: acting without God's permission. This made me begin to wonder if it's right at all (especially for a Chrstian).

And it seems to me Chrstians may not need freewill since we act upon the word of God. That is, we obey God's command.

 

[Danus]

Thanks
Someone defined freewill as: acting without God's permission. This made me begin to wonder if it's right at all (especially for a Chrstian).

And it seems to me Chrstians may not need freewill since we act upon the word of God. That is, we obey God's command.

I don't think we can say that free will is acting against God necessarily. It could be acting in accordance with God, but the bigger picture suggest we are all not in total step with God being that we are sinners by nature, saved or not. The question is our desire.

If we are free in our will, and if we are sinners by nature, then our desire is not for God, but that which we are, which we choose freely and with full liberty given us by God I order that we can freely choose.

This is a critical understanding that pivots the understanding of theology. In a very real sense, no man makes a choice because he must choose freely, and the only way he can choose freely is to choose what he desires. No man chooses what he does not desire. That's the irony of free will, because basically man only has one choice he will make.

This is a very good topic. Let's see where it goes.

 

[Igloo]

Free will isn't evil- it simply means we have the power to make choices in our lives, and that we aren't being controlled like robots or by a video game controller.

Initiative- Imo, often tends to mean one has chosen to do something without being pressured by someone else to do it- like getting up early to make your wife breakfast because you love her, as compared to getting up early to make your wife breakfast because she said she would never talk to you again if you didn't.

So, you can have no initiative (not doing anything in life), but still have free will, as you are freely choosing to sit around and be a bum. You can also choose to use your free will and initiate something new in your life. It's up to you.

And I do believe that Christians have free will, and that they are capable of making good choices. The Bible doesn't call us sinners after we get saved; it calls us saints (Acts 26:10). The Bible also says " <sup id="en-NIV1984-28111" class="versenum">9</sup> You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature..." Romans 8:9 NIV 1984.