DOES GOD VIOLATE OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE?

              There were some controversies that Jesus Christ himself plotted his own death -- that He orchestrated Peter’s denial or led Judas’ to His betrayal. In short, does God violate our freedom of choice?

            Let’s chose a famous plot in the Bible to clarify this controversy like the conversion of St. Paul. Saul before becoming Paul was a member of the Pharisee, the strictest sect of Judaism. When he heard that the follower of Jesus is spreading the gospel he was outraged and vowed to prosecute them and even intended to kill them (Acts 8:1-3). His “cause” was that he believed he is actually obeying the law of God given to Moses; he also asked permission from the high priest. But something changes when he came to Damascus….God intercede that eventually made his conversion. (Acts 9) On that event, is there a particular transgression of Paul’s freewill?

            If we look back to the original intention of Paul, we will understand that he was actually doing this for his love of God. Although he was mistaken for the fact that he was actually plotting against the Messiah we can see his heart totally dedicated to obey God. He was ignorant of the truth, maybe because he has heard the leaders of his church falsely accusing Jesus believers and themselves was ignorant. (None of the rulers understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:8) Therefore, God did not violate Paul’s freewill but actually directed his intent to the truth.

            That is in contrast to the intent of most people who decide to be an atheist. They read the Bible with an objective to find fault in them so they fail to saw the truth and go to great length in obscuring its message. That is also true to most religious fanatics who deduce the scripture according to what they believed or to what seems to fit best in their traditions.    

            So does God violate your freewill? You can read the Bible anyway you like but I must asked you “…shall I crucify your King?” (John 19:15)