"i" is for irresistible

For those kind souls who want to know how I am doing since my recent surgery: I'm doing okay and getting better. The gall bladder removal was quick and recovery was quite normal. But we are still trying to get my blood pressure under control. I get tired a lot and still have pains in my neck and frequent (mild) headaches. But as I said, I'm getting better; I can mow the lawn now without the fear of tearing things up inside.

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I heard this on the radio:

"We have a free will. If we were forced to love him (God), it wouldn't be love." --Chuck Colson

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First, let me say that I have a great respect and admiration for Chuck Colson. His efforts to help the incarcerated, and society-in-general are noble. Wisdom abounds in his public discourses concerning the matter of "world view." But politely and respectfully, I believe the above quote reveals a common theological error and is biblically unsubstantiated.

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When it comes to "free will," R.C. Sproul explains it well. I paraphrase: We are free to choose anything we want; the problem is that we are incapable of wanting God (on account of our natural/fallen state).

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Since the unredeemed are dead in their transgressions, the Holy Spirit must first quicken a person, and only then he or she is able to appreciate and respond to the irresistible grace of God. It is a mistake to call that "forcing his love" ...it is grace.

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The apostle Paul was on the Damascus road looking to persecute Christians when the Lord apparently "violated" his free will. That sounds silly, doesn't it? Don't worry; nobody will be dragged into heaven kicking and screaming.

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Imagine that a lifeboat approached a drowning person from the Titanic. We would not say that the rescuer is forcing life upon those he reaches out to. Those who were grabbed from the dark and icy deeps would be grateful for having been rescued.

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Neither would we imply anything evil of the rescuer on account of those who were not plucked from a watery grave. (That is double-predestination.)

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If we pressed the illustration to be more accurate, we'd say that the lifeboat pulled an already dead body from the water and resurrected the victim to life. Is that "forcing" life upon a dead person?