Thomas Lee Abshier, ND
—-
Author, Speaker
Naturopathic Physician
Christian Counselor
—
Medical Consultations
Marriage Counseling
Seminars, Speaking
Books, Articles
Audio, Video
—
(503) 255-9500
drthomas@naturedox.com
Portland, Oregon
- Free Will in a Mechanically Lawful Universe:
The particulate processes that constitute the physical universe proceed in a mechanical
and lawful manner, but the interaction processes are so fundamentally complex as
to be unpredictable from the perspective of humans. It may be true the our trajectory
and interactions are predictable by God, but even so, we have no indication as to
how we should or will believe and act in the future. Thus, for all practical purposes,
we are totally free to choose the high or low road at any time.
If God can in fact discern the trajectory of life, He can intervene to miraculously
and invisibly change the momentum of the physical universe to produce an altered
outcome. Such intervention is typically seen as a miracle, or answered prayer.
- The universe is so complex that from the human perspective that it is impossible
for man to know all the forces involved in our lives at any moment. Thus, any decision
we might make will naturally be the result of a combination of factors and forces
(seen and unseen). We can have a conscious intention for action, but also acting
are subconscious habits, divine plans, and the natural sequences of a mechanically
causal universe. From our limited human perspective we cannot parse or perceive
all the causal factors creating any given circumstance. In effect, the veil of causality
is drawn because of the limitation of the human mind to detect all the forces operating
at any moment. The forces range over many orders of magnitude of intensity and interact
with unfathomable complexity on every level of spirit, soul, and body.
- There are forces which are too strong for us to oppose such as tsunamis, nuclear
blasts, and tornadoes. Such strong forces physical forces override our ability to
manifest our will. But, physical forces and circumstances need not alter our will.
There are spirit forces which press on the soul and confuse or tempt us, but there
is no phyiscal force or tempation which requires us to willfully act in opposition
to our governing principles. Overwhelming force will move us, but our choice need
not be enrolled by physical force or temptation. We are always free to choose, evaluate,
and pursue action. We will choose best when our spirit is clear to perceive God’s
will. If the spirit can perceive, judge, and then intervene in the sequence of mechanical
causality by force, we truly do have free will. As humans we have this power. The
mind is the screen through which the spirit can view life, create visions of future
realities, and make plans for action. The human spirit was created in the image
of God, and we therefore have similar creative and control powers. Our limitation
is perception and knowledge, which is why we are dependent upon our relationship
with Him. It is through our submission to the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit that
we are able to rightly discern and choose to act properly in God’s world.
- The cause and effect nature of the universe is the stage upon which we play out the
drama of our struggle to properly use the freedom available to us. We face the dilemma
of obedience to, or rebellion against, God. If we choose limit our satisfaction
of the flesh in deference to his Way, we will be rewarded with the intimate fellowship
with His nature, we will reap the rewards associated with being family. If we choose
rebellion against Him, following instead the satisfaction of the ways of the flesh,
we will experience the thrill of the satanic rush, but the cost will be slavery to
the natural tendencies of our humanity. In following the flesh, we are tempted by
the promise of satisfaction, but we reap emptiness.
- Choosing Godly actions often requires great effort and sacrifice in the short term,
but in the long term they produce good fruit. We are easily seduced by our human
nature because following the passions of the flesh produce immediate pleasures which
blind us to the long term pain. Thus, the difficulty in choosing Godliness comes
because of the delay in behavioral cause and manifestation of the enforcement effect.
Again, by knowledge of God’s Way, through studying His Word, and by nurturing a
relationship with the Lord, we will be sensitive to His leading.
- The spirit can choose rebellion or submission. We can choose and use our free will
to follow or flee God’s way. Force can be applied to interrupt, accentuate, or divert
the momentum of life and thereby alter the mechanical sequence of events. But free
will actually resides in our spirit’s ability to make choices as to how we will intervene
in the causal chain of life and change the sequence of the human experience. The
existence of free will is a fact, but the real significance of that freedom is the
fact that we have before us the temptations of the flesh and spirit. We truly can
choose one of these two roads.
