Monday, May 31, 2004 AD
The free will of the Christian?
A couple of responses by Christopher Jones in the comments to my previous post raise the thorny issue of the extent to which the regenerate Christian can truly be said to have free will.
Here is what the Solid Declaration has to say on the subject (SD II 63ff., Kolb edition, emphasis added). It's interesting how this extract reflects the difficulty of maintaining a proper balance between synergism and a "hyper-monergism" which treats us as automata - which is in part a reflection of the limitations of human language itself:
Perhaps this is why Norman Nagel's question is, "Who's driving the verbs?" The point is not that we are not, in grammatical terms, the subjects of many of the verbs in the Christian life. The point is that even where we are grammatically the subjects - so that these are truly our actions, truly our own wills acting - it is only the Holy Spirit within us that enables us to do these things - i.e. it is He who is, in that sense, "driving" the verbs.
Here is what the Solid Declaration has to say on the subject (SD II 63ff., Kolb edition, emphasis added). It's interesting how this extract reflects the difficulty of maintaining a proper balance between synergism and a "hyper-monergism" which treats us as automata - which is in part a reflection of the limitations of human language itself:
...before conversion one can in no way ascribe to the human being a modus agendi or certain way of accomplishing the good in spiritual matters.A delicate balance indeed.
When, however, people have been converted and thus have been enlightened, and the will has been renewed, then such people desire the good (insofar as they are born anew and are new creatures) and "delight in the law in the inmost self". From that point on people do good only to the extent that and as long as the Holy Spirit impels them. As Paul says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God". This leading of the Holy Spirit is not a coactio (or a compulsion), but rather the converted person does the good spontaneously...
It follows from this, as has been said, that as soon as the Holy Spirit has begun his work of rebirth and renewal in us through the Word and the holy sacraments, it is certain that on the basis of his power we can and should be cooperating with him, though still in great weakness. This occurs not on the basis of our fleshly, natural powers but on the basis of the new powers and gifts which the Holy Spirit initiated in us in conversion ... This should be understood in no way other than that the converted do good to the extent that God rules, leads, and guides them with his Holy Spirit. If God would withdraw his gracious hand from such people, they could not for one moment remain obedient to God. If this passage [2 Cor 6:1) were to be understood as if the converted person cooperates alongside the Holy Spirit, in the way two horses draw a wagon together, this interpretation could not be tolerated without damaging the divine truth.
Perhaps this is why Norman Nagel's question is, "Who's driving the verbs?" The point is not that we are not, in grammatical terms, the subjects of many of the verbs in the Christian life. The point is that even where we are grammatically the subjects - so that these are truly our actions, truly our own wills acting - it is only the Holy Spirit within us that enables us to do these things - i.e. it is He who is, in that sense, "driving" the verbs.
