Free Moral Agency

God Made Man a Free Moral Agent

Having free moral agency is a large part of what it means to be a person. A computer is not a free moral agent. It does exactly what it is programmed to do. It does not have the ability to go against its programming. An animal also does not have the ability to go against its programming. It does exactly what its DNA (its program) tells it to do, no more, and no less. Neither a computer nor an animal can do things that are original, creative, or unexpected (in an absolute sense). They can’t do differently than what they were always meant to do.

What does it mean to do as one was always meant to do? Imagine a long line of billions of dominoes set up and ready to knock down. When the first domino falls, the end result is already known. One by one the dominoes fall according to the laws of physics. Computers, animals, and everything else in the universe is contained (metaphorically) in this long line of falling dominoes. A person’s brain, some suggest, is simply part of this long chain of cause and effect. This is known as the doctrine of determinism.

At issue is whether humans are creatures that are wholly determined, or whether they are creatures that have free moral agency, free will. If humans have free moral agency, then they have the ability to act other than their DNA is programmed to act. They may be original, creative, and act unexpectedly. They may act contrary to their “programming.” They may choose to do other than what they would have done.

If humans do not have such ability, then they are, more or less, just complicated animals/machines. Consequentially, attitudes, thoughts, and actions would be simply products of their environment. As one atheistic philosopher put it, “The brain secretes thoughts as the liver secretes bile.” Or, as one atheistic psychologist said, “We don’t act upon the world; the world acts upon us.”

If man is a free moral agent, there is something about him that is radically different from his environment. He is not simply a collection of atoms, but something more than that, something beyond the material world. He must have some capacity outside the material world that enables him to know both that he is not just a rat in a material maze, and that he is capable of making such decisions as would move him beyond the maze itself regardless of how difficult that may be. This implies something about his non-material existence, and also about his non-material Creator: there is a God who exists outside of space and time who is responsible for fathering our free spirits (Heb. 12:9)!

A human person is thus a being that is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), with a body (his material self) and a spirit/soul (his immaterial self). Freedom is a gift from God that is part and parcel to the experience of being a person. Free moral agency is the ability we have to choose one way or the other, to live according to the dictates of the material world (our environment), or to choose to transcend those dictates so as to be something more than a natural product, as God told Cain, “Do thou rule over it” (Gen. 4:7 ASV).

Men who seek simply to gratify the desires of the flesh choose to live like beings of mere material existence without real freedom, and without hope for life beyond the material world. The longer they pursue such choices, the more materialistic/carnal they become. Those who choose to live beyond the dictates of the physical world and not allow those dictates to control their end become something greater than this natural world has to offer. They choose to follow the dictates of the spirit. We become that which we choose, the flesh, or the spirit (Rom. 8:1-13). This is the choice that God has given us as free moral beings.

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Leaving the Faith

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN THAT LEAVES THE FAITH

Possibly one of the most puzzling aspects of Christianity is the conscious decision of some that have been faithful to Christ – to leave HIM and go back into the world. I have agonized over this matter for many years and have prepared many sermons to encourage faithfulness realizing that others who are now faithful may be the next to fall away. Indeed, we know that the New Testament teaches that a Christian may “fall away”, may “fall from grace”, etc.  As I have consider this matter it has become evident to me that many leave the faith, that those that do leave the faith leave for many different reasons. It is never acceptable to God to leave the faith for any reason but I know through interaction and conversation with some that have left the faith that they had reasons that they considered more important than remaining faithful.

The question of keeping the faith is important as the Christian’s hope rests upon his faithfulness unto death – cf., Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)  The question is also of great interest to those that are continuing faithful. The faithful are concerned about, “why do the faithful leave?” Is there something that we should have done or are we in some way responsible for their failure? Let us look at the Bible’s teaching about the condition of the backslider.

First of all let us recognize that we must never become a stumbling block in the life of any Christian or anyone for that matter:

Rom 14:12-13, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” NKJV

1 Cor 8:9-10,“But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

Rev 2:14,“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” NKJV

In the second place we that are faithful have a responsibility to one another to love each other and to bear one another’s burdens:

Rom 12:9-10, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; ASV

1 Cor 13:4-8, Love suffereth long, (and) is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether (there be) prophecies, they shall be done away; whether (there be) tongues, they shall cease; whether (there be) knowledge, it shall be done away.” ASV

Gal 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”ASV

In the third place the faithful are to try to restore those that turn away from the faith (i.e., backslide):

Gal 6:1-2, Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ASV

Finally, whenever the faithful have been a pattern of good works, love, patience, and  possess a willingness to go to the backslider and try and restore him/her to faithfulness, surely they can do nothing else. After the faithful have exhausted all avenues of Biblical instruction in their attempt to restore such a one, the faithful ones must not blame themselves for the failure of the backslider to return to the faith. The guilt for sinning and leaving the faith belongs to him who has chosen to leave the faith and remain in the world.

CONSIDER THIS:

Ezek 18:19-21, The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. NKJV

THE PRECEEDING ARTICLE is presented to answer a question that was received by the editor. The question was, “Don’t you think that most of the people that leave the church leave because of other church members?”

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Water and Spirit

The Bible records an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus in John 3:1-21.  Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  The reason never stated, but fear of the Jews represents the likely cause for the dark hour.  Nicodemus presents a conclusion regarding Jesus identity and then he asks two sets of questions based upon the responses of Jesus.

First, Nicodemus stated that Jesus came from God and the signs which He performed verified that conclusion (vs. 2).  Often men see evidence, but refuse to accept it.  Jesus fulfilled a great number of prophecies in coming to man – Deuteronomy 18:18, Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-7, 32:1-4, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9-12 to note a few.  The Jews had been looking for the messiah.  They knew the signs and some accepted Jesus as Messiah.  However, the majority did not readily or openly embrace Him due to fear (John 7:13, John 11:48, John 19:38), hatred (John 15:18-23), or ignorance (Acts 17:30).  Unlike the men who do not act upon the evidence of God in creation (Romans 1:19-24), Nicodemus chose to embrace the evidence surrounding Christ’s origin and seek further knowledge (Matthew 7:7).  The Bible records all the evidence man needs to accept Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  The question for man today revolves around whether or not man chooses to accept or reject Christ.

Second, Jesus comment to Nicodemus (“Truly, truly, I saw to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5) caused Nicodemus to ask how exactly a man could be born again.  Nicodemus’ mind focused on the flesh and fleshly birth.  However, Jesus spoke of the birth of the spirit.  The spirit of man needs to be born again because when man sins his spirit becomes dead to God (Genesis 2:17, Romans 3:23, 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:13-14).  The question must therefore be how does this rebirth occur?  It occurs by water and the Spirit according to Jesus.  The Lord furthermore compares this teaching to the wind.  Man does not understand wind in complete.  Yet, he acknowledges the existence of wind because he sees the evidence of it.  Man also cannot see a spiritual birth, but this does not make it any less real as its evidence certainly exists.  Of necessity, this requires faith.  As Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Since Nicodemus recognized Jesus as coming from God, the concept of a rebirth should not have been questioned, but accepted by faith.

Finally, Nicodemus still not comprehending the concept of rebirth asks, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9)  Jesus expresses disappointment that Nicodemus cannot grasp concepts beyond the physical.  Through the Old Testament a teacher should have been able to discern the identity of Jesus as the Messiah.  In such discernment, adherence to Jesus Words would be paramount.  Unfortunately, the Pharisees did not grasp onto the teachings of Jesus.  Jesus makes it clear in verses 13-21 that those who do not believe in him love the things of the world and do the deeds of it.  By not believing on Jesus they can be judged to be of the world.  Those who do believe on Jesus would by necessary inference follow the teachings of Jesus and act accordingly.  Their actions judge them according to eternal life and salvation.

Taking the passage of Nicodemus and Jesus and examining it, the conclusion derived must be to believe on Jesus and His Word.  Jesus makes it clear this involves obedient deeds which verify one does believe.  Consequently, when Jesus says “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” man needs to accept such a teaching in faith and act.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles that they might receive “all truth” (John 16:13).  Knowing all truth, Peter told the Jews on the day of Pentecost to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).  Their dead spirits became born again out of a spirit of obedience to Christ and their bodies born out of water – A birth of water and spirit just as Jesus spoke.  This scene occurs throughout the book of Acts (Acts 2:38, 8:36-38, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15, 16:31-33, 19:15, 22:16).  Peter also told Christians in 1 Peter 3:21 – “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”.  The apostle Paul realized once he was alive, but he died with sin (a spiritual death – Romans 7-9).  When man washes himself in Christ through baptism, he dies to sin and becomes alive once more (Romans 6:5-11).

When someone truly believes, Christ said their deeds of obedience show it.  They will be born of water and spirit through baptism.  Where do you stand with Christ?  Are you choosing to reject Him as much of the world does, proclaiming you believe but continuing to walk in a futile way of life (Ephesians 4:17-19)?  Or are you choosing to demonstrate your believe through obedience showing your love for Christ (John 14:15)?  It is widely believed that Nicodemus examined the evidence and ultimately chose to be faithful to Christ, what have you done with the evidence before you?

Romans 6:16 – “Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

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You Have Ruined My Life

The other day my wife was working on laundry in our bedroom and, as is her standard operating procedure, she had some sappy, corny, love-story movie on as she was folding clothes. I must learn to avoid these times because, as much as I hate to admit it, I often get sucked into the show and I have far too many, more important, things to do.

However, as I struggled with my dilemma on this particular occasion, one of the characters in the show exclaims to her nemesis, “You’ve ruined my life!” At which time I looked at Colleen and asked, “Did she really?” How often do people over-estimate the importance or effects of certain events in their lives? I remember the first real girlfriend I ever had that broke up with me and how devastated I was. Looking back now in hindsight: not a big deal! The older I get, and the more I understand about what is really important in life; the less I see that could “ruin it.” The fact is the only thing, or person, that could ruin my life, is me! How I live, either in obedience and faithful service to God and man or not, will determine my success or failure. In 1 Peter 3.10-11 Peter quotes from the Psalmist David saying:

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Isn’t the simplicity of God’s Word beautiful? If we want to be able to love our lives and realize happiness then all we have to do is keep our tongues from speaking evil and lies, turn away from what God calls evil and seek what is righteous, desire the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4.7), and pursue it. Solomon in his God given wisdom said it in the most simplistic of terms when he wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12.13).

What is troubling you and me is more often than not simply not worth the trouble! We are instructed to cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5.7). If we desire the blessings of God in our lives we must “seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness…” (Matthew 6.33). We must be obedient to Jesus (i.e. we must obey the Plan of Salvation and be baptized into Christ and His body for the remission of our sins) in order to receive God’s spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1.3) and we must be faithful (Revelation 2.10; 1 John 1.7).

As we begin to put a close to the year that is almost behind us, and look forward to a new year ahead, let us be determined to not let anything or anyone ruin our lives! If you are not a child of God, because you have not yet turned your life over to him in humbled, submissive obedience, do it today. Repent of your sins (Acts 17.30), confess Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (Romans 10.10), and be buried with Him in baptism for the remission of your sins (Acts 2.38; Galatians 3.27; 1 Peter 3.21). And if you have done these things…Be Faithful!

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Defeated

As boys, my brother and I would always play a game where he would try to hit my hand before I could take it away.  We frequently played this game at the kitchen table and over the years, we actually wore a smooth spot into the table from all the times he missed my hand.  At times it really took a lot of coaxing to get my brother to play the game because he hated losing.  He felt defeated as if he could never win.  Why did he keep trying?

I watched a Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) playoff game last night.  The Lakers played the Oklahoma Thunder two nights before and had gotten flattened by more than twenty points.  In the next game, the Lakers nearly controlled the entire game.  Their confidence stood greatly bolstered compared to their prior loss.  Yet, with a seven point lead and two minutes to go in the game, the Lakers turned the ball over three times without a score.  In the end, they lost a game that looked like a win for them.  What more could they have done?  They played an excellent game, a commanding game, and still they stood defeated.  Only two losses from exiting the playoffs, the odds greatly against them, what motivation will push them to put forth the effort to win?

The apostle Peter loved Jesus.  He knew Jesus as a peaceful man who proclaimed the kingdom of God.  Yet, in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter acted outside of peacefulness.  He drew his sword as a mob of men led by Judas Iscariot encircled Jesus.  Then he chopped off the ear of one of the advancing men (John 18:1-11).  Jesus called a halt to the violence immediately.  Peter knew better, but could not control himself.  His own instincts momentarily overcame his devotion to Jesus teaching.  The moment represented a defeat for Peter.

Prior to the occurrence in the garden, Peter swore his allegiance to Jesus (Matthew 26:35).  After the men took Jesus from the garden to Annas, father-in-law of the High Priest Caiaphas, Peter followed behind to see what would happen.  Three times people questioned Peter if he knew Jesus.  Once again, Peter could not control his worldly instincts.  He denied knowing Jesus each time though he said he never would (John 18:12-27).  His bold proclamations of allegiance fell in defeat.

Peter recovered from his self defeat.  He went on to share the first gospel sermon providing entrance into the kingdom of God (Acts 2).  He taught the household of Cornelius, gentiles upon whom the Holy Spirit pouted out, who would also enter the kingdom of God.  Yet, Peter’s failing did not come to an end.  The apostle Paul speaks in Galatians 2:11-14 of Peter separating himself from Gentile Christians out of fear of the Jews.  Once again, Peter found himself defeated by his sinful actions.

What keeps a person going when he experiences defeat?  The motivation that appears and picks up the defeated is hope.  Hope of winning kept my brother playing our childhood game.  Hope that the Lakers can turn things around keeps them trying game by game year by year.  Hope kept Peter moving forward.  It is hope that he shares in the letter to the Christians scattered abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  The hope he directs Christians toward centers on the return of Jesus.  I Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober inspirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”   Christians rise above defeat because of hope.  Only defeat lies ahead if you are not a Christian (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).  Embrace Christ today and overcome defeat (I John 5:1-5)!

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