I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'd really like to get some other people's feedback to the question. Exactly how much of what we do, think, and feel is a choice that we make, and how much of it can we not control?
I believe definitely that everything that we do is a choice. When someone has to either rebuke their faith or be killed, they still have two options. Later they will say "I had no choice," but in truth their options were to either sin by rebuking God and live, or stay faithful and die a martyr. I firmly believe that we have complete control over all of our actions.
Thoughts, in my experience, are generally thought of as uncontrollable. I disagree with that. I believe that they, like actions, can be completely controlled, though it may be a lot harder. My basis for these convictions comes from the ten comandments, and the knowledge that we will never be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Obviously, there are many passages telling us how to act. Also, one of the ten commandments is "Do not covet." Coventing is not an action, it is a thought. It is actually a fairly tough thought to control. Yet God commands us not to do it, therefore we must have the ability to control it.
Now to the question I've been wondering about: can we control how and what we feel? God commands us to love everyone. So we can "feel" love towards anyone. We do have that choice. But a lot of what I have seen suggests that love is a combination of actions and thoughts, not a feeling. I'm talking about agape love - love that is unconditional. But what about the other feelings? Can we really choose to like or dislike someone? What about the other forms of love, such as eros (romantic) and storge (friendship)? I definitely believe that we can choose who our friends are, but could we really simply change our minds and all of a sudden be friends with that person in class that we can't stand? How about eros? Is it possible to simply choose not to have a crush on that girl four rows in front of you in lecture? How about feelings other than love? Do we have the ability to just choose not to be happy, sad, angry, etc?
Anyway, that's been on my mind the last few days. I'm curious to hear anyone else's thoughts on the issue.
I believe definitely that everything that we do is a choice. When someone has to either rebuke their faith or be killed, they still have two options. Later they will say "I had no choice," but in truth their options were to either sin by rebuking God and live, or stay faithful and die a martyr. I firmly believe that we have complete control over all of our actions.
Thoughts, in my experience, are generally thought of as uncontrollable. I disagree with that. I believe that they, like actions, can be completely controlled, though it may be a lot harder. My basis for these convictions comes from the ten comandments, and the knowledge that we will never be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Obviously, there are many passages telling us how to act. Also, one of the ten commandments is "Do not covet." Coventing is not an action, it is a thought. It is actually a fairly tough thought to control. Yet God commands us not to do it, therefore we must have the ability to control it.
Now to the question I've been wondering about: can we control how and what we feel? God commands us to love everyone. So we can "feel" love towards anyone. We do have that choice. But a lot of what I have seen suggests that love is a combination of actions and thoughts, not a feeling. I'm talking about agape love - love that is unconditional. But what about the other feelings? Can we really choose to like or dislike someone? What about the other forms of love, such as eros (romantic) and storge (friendship)? I definitely believe that we can choose who our friends are, but could we really simply change our minds and all of a sudden be friends with that person in class that we can't stand? How about eros? Is it possible to simply choose not to have a crush on that girl four rows in front of you in lecture? How about feelings other than love? Do we have the ability to just choose not to be happy, sad, angry, etc?
Anyway, that's been on my mind the last few days. I'm curious to hear anyone else's thoughts on the issue.
1 comment:
ok...lots of food for thought in your comments. It has made me do a lot of pondering. I heard this tonight: The difference in knowing God's word and growing in God's word is action. Just kind of seemed to make me think more about what you are talking about.
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