We’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for submitting questions and following our series so far. This episode, we’ll be talking about how Free Will affects our faith, as well as the differences between the Presbyterian denomination compared to other denominations. Some questions have been shortened for clarity, but if you would like to know the full question please do not hesitate to reach out!

To check out last episode’s questions click here, and for Jim’s foreword on answering these questions click here.

QUESTION 1.

HOW DOES ‘FREE WILL’ AFFECT MY FAITH? SOMETIMES I QUESTION, “DO I CHOOSE GOD OR DOES GOD CHOOSE ME?”. SO, HOW DOES ‘OUR CHOICES’ DIFFER FROM THE ‘PRE-DESTINED’ OR ‘CHOSEN’ LIFE DECISIONS FROM GOD?

There is water, then there’s water depth. I can drink water, swim in it, but beyond certain lung-crushing depth, I simply cannot survive—let alone enjoy a variety of willful activities. (Fun fact: the world record for “no limits free-diving" is 214 meters/702 feet. Mariana Trench is 11,034 meters/36,200 feet deep. Most average divers do not go beyond 15 meters/50 feet—and that’s with breathing apparatuses.) Our consciousness of and exercise of our “free will” is the same. On a certain level, we seem to freely exercise our will every which way we please. Then as other people and circumstances are involved, such exercise of our will becomes more constrained, like we can’t do everything we want to do, when we want to, the way we want them. Then there is another level where our nature, subconsciousness, deep character, deep disposition and inner spiritual condition are so “hard wired” that they are for all practical purpose, beyond our control. Then there’s God! God freely acts on all levels both seen and unseen.

The artificial juxtaposition between “our free will” vs. God’s will is a false assumption of our being on the same plane as God. This is an audaciously low view of God, as well as an unattainably high view of ourselves. But also, it does tremendous disservice to ourselves by unnecessarily constraining our activities on the only level we can manage whether in thoughts or action. Within our immediate sphere of influence, in this limited context, we are indeed “free”. But can we do anything like God can? No. But we are helped by being aware of God’s original design for us, the fallenness of all creation while retaining some of the original goodness, and God’s redemptive plan as well as the benefits the Redeemer (Jesus) brings.

Now to directly answer your questions: When you choose God, it is because on a level too deep and mysterious for you to fathom or sense, God has first chosen you. It is God who initiates, sustains and completes our salvation [Phil.1:6; Heb.12:2]; but we consciously realize it and act on it at some point in time. If God does not “regenerate” our dead spirit and make it come alive [Eph.2:4], we simply lack the faculty and desire to choose God. To a dying soul, the “good news” of Jesus is a foolish proposition [1Cor.1:18], and the whole thing will smell like stench of death [2Cor.2:16]. But the opposite is also true. When the mercy and grace of God reaches out to us, we “see” His wisdom in the gospel, and it smells like sweet aroma of life. Clash of these ideas happen only when philosophy is devoid of good theology.

QUESTION 2.

WHAT SEPaRATES THE PRESBYTERIAN DENOMINATION FROM OTHER DENOMINATIONS?

Presbyterians are “Reformed” in theology, and “elders-lead” in governing structure. The name comes from a Greek word for “elders” (Gk. presbuteros). The Presbyterianism is basically a Reformed church of Scotland which started in the 17th century under the leadership of John Knox. It added the emphasis on specific polity (governing structure) where a congregation is to be lead by a group of ruling and teaching elders known as the “session.” Presbyterianism eventually spread to other parts as the new worlds were discovered post 16th Century (America, Australia, etc.) and later through missional works.

What “Reformed faith” is requires more explanation. But in short, it highlights absolute sovereignty of God in all things, including our salvation. The finer points of this theology was refined in the decades following the Protestant Reformation during a period and arrangement known as “Magisterial Reformation,” especially around leaders such as John Calvin, Theodore Beza, Philip Melanchthon, Heinrich Bullinger, Huldrych Zwingli, Martin Bucer, etc..

Today, there are several Presbyterian denominations in countries like Australia, U.S., N.Z., S. Korea, and others. But they are mainly distinguished by the liberal ones who have compromised much of the classic theological tenets of their heritage (i.e. – PCUSA, PCNZ, Uniting*, etc.), and the conservative ones who continue to preserve the original theological tenets (PCAmerica, WPC, PCAustralia, GPC, etc.).

*The Uniting church of Australia is a result of merger movement of the 3 former liberal** denominations of Presbyterian churches, Methodist churches, and Congregational churches.

**The term “liberal” specifically refers to the loose or leveled-down view of the Bible as being not entirely or accurately the Word of God, and this affects all interpretive methods as well as applicational implications. Conservative churches tend to believe that the Word of God (the Bible) as entirely trustworthy for salvation, and that it is error-free for all doctrinal guidance.

If you have ever wondered about topics such as these, are curious about the how’s and why’s of Christianity or have any other questions in general ask Pastor Jim anything here.