Willing Willful To Be Willed

A month ago I was in our Association office and I listened to three older pastors argue and debate on the issue of free-will. At this year's Southern Baptist Convention one of the opening addresses dealt with the divide over the issue of the Sovereignty of God and the free-will of man. The plea was for Southern Baptist to lay down their arguments and preach the Gospel.

A brief time spent in reading and research would reveal that this debate has been a long one to say the least. And it has been a heated debate also. I saw a little heat from those 3 older pastors as they debated the topic. I heard some grumbling and saw a few heads shake at the convention when that guy mentioned the "doctrines of grace".

While this topic has been one of great interest to me over the years I just can't make myself get all up in arms. Do I disagree with people? Most certainly! But I don't get fighting mad.

At the end of day I accept the Bible as authoritative and I do by best to let it be my guide as I seek to please Christ.

In my sermon prep this month I have been in Exodus and recently I came across a gem. Exodus 6:1, which says, "Then the LORD said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he shall let them go and under compulsion he shall drive them out of his land." What a great verse for in it the Sovereignty of God and the will of man are clearly seen and they fit together perfectly. God tells Moses that He is going to actively do something in and with Pharaoh yet Pharaoh will be acting under compulsion. Did he know it was God? I don't think he did. He thought it was his idea and based on his authority.

Do I have a free-will? Yes I do. But could it be that my choosing Christ was guided by an Omnipotent God whose will is stronger than mine? I must admit that from my reading of the Bible I believe the answer to this question is yes. Might I be wrong? Certainly but at this point in my life I am okay with being being willing willful to be willed by God.