Tracy Hall wrote:

>> What the Bible IS replete with is examples of God, very
>> emphatically, interfering with men's agency.
>
> I don't see it that way.  Let's contrast two of the examples:

That's too bad, because the issue of "repleteness" is clear.
You supplied _zero_ examples showing choices are freely made.

I can supply plenty of examples of choices being coerced.
Jonah, Moses, Pharoah, e.g.



>>> Gen 4: 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou
>>> doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
>
> Cain's offering was not made with a pure heart  -- in fact, other
> sources indicate that he made his offering in obedience to Satan.  God
> rejected Cain's offering but still pointed out to him his privilege to
> choose the right, to "do well."

God said nothing about choice.  He said that if one does well one
is accepted.  But there is nothing here that indicates that
Cain has the "free choice" to move himself to the "acceptable"
club.


> The Father's entire plan of salvation hinged on Jesus' free choice to
> offer himself for our sins.

No, salvation hinges upon Jesus' sacrifice.  There are two
things wrong here.  Jesus is God, so He's not an example
of someone who doesn't have free will.  Second, you're
basing salvation upon His "choice" rather than on His action.


>  How could we love the Son, or even
> respect Him, if we knew His choice wasn't free?

A rhetorical question is never an argument.  Does an
infant "freely choose" to love its mother?  Hardly.
It grows up loving its parents, unless something
horrible happens.  There is no "choice" involved.


> You and I can't both be right about this matter,

That is true.

> but it appears to me
> that God is allowing us each to freely hold and express our views!

So?  Where is the _choice_?  Did you just flip a coin, and
when it came up tails you decided to be a Free Willer?
We don't come upon our convictions by choice, but rather
we hold them becaused we are convinced (note the passive
verb.)

Bart

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