Predestination vs. "free will" vs. the TRINITY
(This is a separation I have made on the basis of their faults--most people who say they are one type probably are a little bit of both, as you shall soon see.)
summary
P. G-d has total control over everything and time and has free will to predestine
fw. We are in time and choose G-d and have free will to do anything.
T. G-d can only do what is right, what is true. G-d cannot lie or sin. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He defines truth, He obeys truth, He is the truth.
contradictions:
P."G-d can do anything he wants" doesn't match with keeping covenants(can G-d break a promise?) and crucifixion (Jesus didn't have to die). (Allah can do anything)
fw. "I can choose G-d before I die" means you can choose heaven and thus be in control of it--not G-d (I can do anything for Allah--choose my suicide and salvation).
bad actions...
P. fatalism,blaming G-d for evil, no prayer...
fw. "choosing when to repent...i.e. choosing to sin", cheap grace, "justifying G-d" or reasoning away suffering, ("you deserved it"--no, actually you don't have to--read Job or Jesus.)
emphasized person of the trinity:
P.God the father: (omnipotent,omnipresent,omniscient--"irrational" concepts), seen from eternity. The observer--> the way things "should be"
fw.God the Son: morality, choosing G-d, reasoning within human concept of time.
The observed--> the way things actually appear to us
T: The knowledge of G-d, the love of G-d, and the life of obedience to G-d all individually support each other. This includes the observation-->the way things may appear change depending on who is seeing it. (To the pure, you show yourself pure, but to the perverse you show yourself crooked. psalm 18:26)
So what should you pray?
--if you obey G-d but don't feel any love, ask the Holy Spirit to give you love.
--if you want to obey but can't, ask the Holy Spirit to help you. He will.
--If you don't know what love feels like or what obedience looks like, pray that G-d will reveal it to you. (and go to church, and read the Bible etc.)
