Within Christianity, there is a camp that believes humans have no free will (illustrated by this post from Parchment and Pen). That our lives, and salvation, are predestined from before the time we are born. Of course, I’ve been on a run recently (or in a rut), discussing free will in several posts, including these two called, “People, Places, and Things,” this one on Romans 9, and this one on the shape of free will. Now, for a challenge: Cain’s challenge.
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:3-7
The story is simple; Cain and his brother both make offerings (sacrifices) to the Lord. Abel’s is accepted, Cain’s is not. God drops by Cain’s tent (or house, we don’t know which) for a little chat, and tells Cain, in effect, that if he doesn’t control his attitude, he’s going to sin.
The really interesting point here is that God is telling Cain he has a choice. This is after the fall, so the objection that God only gave Adam and Eve free will (that the Fall removed free will, because we are now ruled over by sin) doesn’t work here. It is also God speaking, so there’s no way to say, “oh, this is just some human putting words in God’s mouth, and that’s the way humans talk to one another.” No, this is God talking, and He’s saying to Cain, “use your free will.”
There are a number of other places where we see similar situations. The latter half of Genesis 19, when Abraham is talking to God, for instance. God is having a discussion with Abraham about His justice, and the balance between justice and mercy (in effect). Abraham is certainly illustrating free will in this situation.
You really have to try hard to believe humans have no free will, based on the Scriptural evidence. The general tone of the Scriptures, throughout, and the specific situations where we meet with Cain’s challenge, all argue that men have some form of free will, and that free will impacts their decisions—even, ultimately, their salvation.
So why does much of the Christian community continue to believe humans have no free will? Because they are afraid that by admitting to free will, they are somehow destroying the sovereignty of God. Of course this isn’t true, but it’s what happens when we get fixated on a system, rather than the Scriptures, and on a single attribute of God, rather than on God Himself.
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