by Chris H.

Created on: April 19, 2009

Some complain that while God has given people free will whether or not to believe in Him, it isn't much of a choice. Since the only 2 options are Heaven or Hell the idea of true free will strikes some as being ridiculous and unfair.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

A couple of comments first.

One- I'm struck at how when offered the opportunity to go to Heaven for eternity, the response isn't "Yes! Thank you, Lord!", but "No! This is unfair! This isn't really a choice, but a sham!" but that is something for a different discussion.

Second- We need to remember that God does want all people to go to Heaven:

Ezekiel 18:23- "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"

John 3:16-17-For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

1 Timothy 2:3-4- God our Savior "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

1 Peter 3:9- "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Let's look at the different scenarios that could play out within a Christian worldview, holding to people having free will.

1. Heaven and Hell are real and people can choose to go to either place by either believing in God or rejecting God.

2. People can reject God yet still receive His blessings. This seems to be the desired answer from those who critique the biblical position.

Both options are true, yet both are not eternal.

In our lives on earth, someone can reject God, hate God with a passion, yet still receive some of God's blessings- physical health, long life, material possessions and wealth, family, friends, talents, etc. But this is only temporary. If someone rejects/does not believe in God when they die, that decision is made permanent.

But let's say that option #2 was eternal. One could reject God, not go to Hell, and still receive God's blessings, without any personal relationship with Him.

This may sound ideal to some, or at least like a fairer choice, but a thorny question would be, "What about evil?"

On this world, people would still have free will to do right or to do wrong. Yet there would be no presence of God (or the church) to counter evil. Even if you don't believe in a literal Satan and demons, there is

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