Alex,

Hello.. I was replying the other day and my home computer locked up. Sorry about that..

>Doug:
>
>Interest reply. I regularly do not have exposure to such a lucid explanation in my daily life. I sincerely thank you for it.
>
>Of course, and no personal attack or disrespect intended, but I see it as ludicrous. What I understood is that you believe that God lets us do whatecer we want, gave us freedom of choice, but of course He knows all the choices we'd make anyway. So he condones everything we do if at some point we repent and embrace Him. Something like that?

First of all I know and accept that you mean no disrespect whatsoever. And, I appreciate that very much! I hope you are aware that I, too, mean none, though we might disagree. I seem to recall that you are Muslim and I know that I will most likely and inadvertantly offend you when I am able to ask you some question, which I hope you will not take personally should I ask a 'dumb' question. <g>

Now, as to your thinking that what I said was 'ludicrous'. I can understand why you might have that reaction. One of the very difficult concepts to reconcile is this apparent contradiction between the notion of God's omniscience (all-knowing) and His justice and his mercy. It's confusing if you haven't studied it no doubt - particularly since today's socity so poorly explains it.

First of all, while God has given man choice, and has chosen to honor the choices man has made, God also has warned man about making bad choices. Sexual impurity is one of these areas for example. By not being sexually 'faithful' mankind has unleashed upon himself all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. Some actually would blame God for this and that is unreasonable. God told man not to do this and that if man did there would be bad consequences. Well, man has disobeyed God many times here and, guess what, some very bad consequences have happened. Man is responsible for misusing those 'choices' in this case.

God does not condone everything we do, which I think is one area you may have misinterpreted what I said.

Having said that God does forgive man if man turns around 180 degrees (old English word is 'repent') and goes the opposite direction. However, there are many times people 'fake' this and it's pretty obvious when you watch their lives whether or not they really meant it.

IOW, it's something that has to be really meant. But think about it for a minute. Say, for example and using the example of sexual impurity, that everyone actually came to the independent conclusion that they would have one partner for life and followed through. In only one generation all sexually transmitted diseases would be gone. Now, I'm enough of a realist to know that this will never happen but it serves the point I'm trying to make.

>
>So in that view, the Crusades, Inquisition, pogroms, slavery, torture, burning young women at the stake, child labor, child pornography, etc. ad nauseam are OK because we can have our choice, just repent for your sins at the end?
>
>Amazing!

No, not at all. I would wholeheartedly condemn all of the above. From my pov this would be an example of people making bad choices and personally I think that God will hold each individual personally accountable for those decisions.

I must congratulate you though. Paul the Apostle was accused of doing exactly what you brought up and I am impressed with your deductive skills.

Essentially, in terms that I would typically use in Christian circles, what you have stated is this:

God's grace gives me total freedom from the consequences of ALL past bad decisions. Rather than using that freedom for more bad choices (your example above) we should use that freedom for new good choices.

IOW, don't use your new freedom to do the same things that made you not free in the past. While I may be forgiven for the past, what I did that was 'wrong' in the past is still 'wrong' today! <g>

Does that help???

When you are satisfied, and if you are willing, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your faith - presuming I've correctly understood you. I feel like a dunce and I'd like to learn more - understanding that you may not be comfortable with it.