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Faith vs Fatalism

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Scriptural Reference:
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love"
Galatians 5:13

"Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own"
John 7:17

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

" Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me"
Revelation 3:20

Reflection:
How far can or should you push your faith? When does it become fatalism? President Abraham Lincoln was reportedly a fatalist. So essentially a fatalist is a person who believes the idea that all events are naturally predetermined or subject to fate. Oddly most fatalists have been atheists. Those who may not believe in a supreme god but somehow believe that events are predestined and unavoidable. So in Lincolns case, he may have believed that even by not going to the theatre he would be killed jjust the same. So was it his fatalist attitude that made him vulnerable to being assasinated?

So what is fatalism in Christianity? Does it have a place within the faith?

If something is predetermined, then it must be predetermined by something. For example, in Greek mythology, this was attributed to the Fates, or in Norse mythology, to the Norns or dísir. In Christianity, this something is God. When fatalism is merged with Christianity, it becomes theological fatalism. The basic premise of theological fatalism is that, since God knows what is going to happen, it follows that it must happen. Or does it?

Let's breifly look at the three main concpets that we are now considering.

Determinism: The view that every event has a cause and that everything in the universe is absolutely dependent on and governed by causal laws. Determinism is related to fatalism, since determinists believe that all events, including human actions, are caused by something else. Determinism is typically thought to be incompatible with free will.

What Is Determination in Christianity?
Having a level of determination as a Christian can mean that we are completely focused on achieving Gods' goal in both our life and the world we live in. Determination is a valuable thing to have as it helps our resolve and gives us the passion to reach deep inside ourselves. It can be perceived as the passion that drives our faith.

Fatalism: The belief that “what will be will be,” since all past, present, and future events have already been predetermined by God or another all-powerful force, such as “Fate.” In religion, fatalism may sometimes be confused with predestination, the doctrine that God chooses those who go to heaven before they are even born. It’s important to note that the Bible teaches predestination but not to the exclusion of free will; thus, the Bible does not teach fatalism.

What Is Fatalism in Christianity?
Fatalism really has no place in Christianity. There are some who will try and point to predestination as a form of control over Christians. Yet in all things God has given us the freedom to choose. The freedom to accept Jesus the Christ as out Lord and Saviour. Or the freedom to turn away and face the consequences.

Free Will: The freedom of choice or self-determination that human beings possess; those who believe in free will believe that, given any situation, a person could have done other than what he did. Philosophers have argued that free will is incompatible with determinism and fatalism.

What Is Free Will in Christianity?
As expressed above, the freedom of choice is a crucial part of Christian faith. As John Calvin expressed it God has given "free will" to all people in the sense that they act "voluntarily, and not by compulsion." He elaborated his position by allowing "that man has choice and that it is self-determined" and that his actions stem from "his own voluntary choosing." So perhaps the biggest difference between Christianilty, other religions and the rest of the world is our God given gift of free will. Through our free will we will be able to make a great change in the world or nothing at all.

Prayer:
Precious Lord,
Thank you for,
Your grace and love,
Your encouragement,
Your guidence and teachings,

I promise to excercise,
My free will for your glory,
My determination to follow you,
My commitment to the gospel.

I pray these things in your name.
Amen

Faith vs Fatalism
HOME SCRIPTURE BOOK REVIEWS POETRY RECIPES GARDENS FILM REVIEWS	Scriptural Reference: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love" Galatians 5:13 "Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own" John 7:17 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 " Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" Revelation 3:20 Reflection: How far can or should you push your faith? When does it become fatalism? President Abraham Lincoln was reportedly a fatalist. So essentially a fatalist is a person who believes the idea that all events are naturally predetermined or subject to fate. Oddly most fatalists have been atheists. Those who may not believe in a supreme god but somehow believe that events are predestined and unavoidable. So in Lincolns case, he may have believed that even by not going to the theatre he would be killed jjust the same. So was it his fatalist attitude that made him vulnerable to being assasinated? So what is fatalism in Christianity? Does it have a place within the faith? If something is predetermined, then it must be predetermined by something. For example, in Greek mythology, this was attributed to the Fates, or in Norse mythology, to the Norns or dísir. In Christianity, this something is God. When fatalism is merged with Christianity, it becomes theological fatalism. The basic premise of theological fatalism is that, since God knows what is going to happen, it follows that it must happen. Or does it? Let's breifly look at the three main concpets that we are now considering. *Determinism: The view that every event has a cause and that everything in the universe is absolutely dependent on and governed by causal laws. Determinism is related to fatalism, since determinists believe that all events, including human actions, are caused by something else. Determinism is typically thought to be incompatible with free will. What Is Determination in Christianity? Having a level of determination as a Christian can mean that we are completely focused on achieving Gods' goal in both our life and the world we live in. Determination is a valuable thing to have as it helps our resolve and gives us the passion to reach deep inside ourselves. It can be perceived as the passion that drives our faith. Fatalism: The belief that “what will be will be,” since all past, present, and future events have already been predetermined by God or another all-powerful force, such as “Fate.” In religion, fatalism may sometimes be confused with predestination, the doctrine that God chooses those who go to heaven before they are even born. It’s important to note that the Bible teaches predestination but not to the exclusion of free will; thus, the Bible does not teach fatalism. What Is Fatalism in Christianity? Fatalism really has no place in Christianity. There are some who will try and point to predestination as a form of control over Christians. Yet in all things God has given us the freedom to choose. The freedom to accept Jesus the Christ as out Lord and Saviour. Or the freedom to turn away and face the consequences. Free Will: The freedom of choice or self-determination that human beings possess; those who believe in free will believe that, given any situation, a person could have done other than what he did. Philosophers have argued that free will is incompatible with determinism and fatalism. What Is Free Will in Christianity? As expressed above, the freedom of choice is a crucial part of Christian faith. As John Calvin expressed it God has given "free will" to all people in the sense that they act "voluntarily, and not by compulsion." He elaborated his position by allowing "that man has choice and that it is self-determined" and that his actions stem from "his own voluntary choosing." So perhaps the biggest difference between Christianilty, other religions and the rest of the world is our God given gift of free will. Through our free will we will be able to make a great change in the world or nothing at all. Prayer:* Precious Lord, Thank you for, Your grace and love, Your encouragement, Your guidence and teachings, I promise to excercise, My free will for your glory, My determination to follow you, My commitment to the gospel. I pray these things in your name. Amen