Why do people choose differently?

Huh? I said your answer was honest, didn't I?

I will admit no such thing. I CERTAINLY don't want you to say any of those things. That wouldn't be honest of you at all, would it? I'm asking you to explain yourself from a free-willer's perspective. You've already explained why the other person makes the wrong decision. Now, what is it about you that made it possible for you [edit: not only possible, but inclined] to make the "right" decision. If the best you can do is "I don't know," then that's fine. But if you can do better, great.

 

Is this your answer? Some are more hard-headed than others? So you made the right decision because you're not as hard-headed as the person who made the wrong decision? Before I respond to this, I want to know if this is your answer. (I feel like Regis -- Is that your final answer?)

 

Amy, the rest of your answer from scripture is just an attempt to prove free will. It doesn't explain anything about the difference between a person who makes the right choice and a person who makes the wrong one. All it says, according to your soteriology, is that they made the wrong choice.

If you can explain to me the difference - why you made the right choice, that would be answering my question. Or better still, all things being equal, why does one person make the right choice, and another person make the wrong choice? And if all things are not equal, then what makes the difference that they are not equal?

If it helps, the only other answer I've read on here that came close to being an honest/substantial answer was that it's "environmental". One person is raised in a Christian family, is raised with certain values, etc. Another is raised in a more rebellious environment and is taught that he/she is autonomous and has to always look out for #1 (him/herself). Those weren't exactly his words, but that was the gist. I don't really want to go there unless you agree (I don't think you do, but you can surprise me). But that was a solid answer - he gave a reason why he believed one person is more likely to make the right decision than another.

 

Please stop trying to second-guess me. I'm not trying to prove any such thing. I added to my post above - you may want to read what I added.

I thought I did. What did I leave unanswered?

 

That's why I assumed you didn't agree with him.

Then what are you getting at with the family example? Is this just a longer version of "I don't know?" Because you say (I paraphrase) "people are just different, do you know why?" That's what I'm asking you to answer. "They just are" isn't an answer. Asking me to explain it isn't an answer, either.

 

I answered that. All this says, according to your view, is that they made the wrong choice. It doesn't explain anything.

See post above.

 

That some people are more hard-headed than others? You made the right choice because you're less hard-headed than the person who made the wrong choice? Is that your answer?

You should know my answer by now. I'm not interested in how people who believe in election explain it. I'm interested in how a free-willer explains it.

 

That's what I said. What it does not do is answer my question. Given that two people are offered Christ, why does one make the "right" choice, but the other makes the "wrong" choice. I got a solid answer for why people make the wrong choice (pride, etc.). Now, all I want is a solid answer as to what it is about people that is different than the prideful/etc. person that they would make the right choice? Do they have less pride? Are they stronger and more able to overcome their pride? Are they more humble? Are they smarter? What is it that sets them apart such that they would make the right choice?

Edit: I'm heading for bed. I'll check into this sometime tomorrow.

 

I saw that, but there's a big gap between the free-willer view and that verse. I'm trying to bridge that gap a little at a time. No fair jumping to the last page.

 

It's interesting that your comparison is that God made grass green and dirt brown.

Let me ask you the question another way. Do you believe that we are who we are because of the choices we make? That's a very popular theme in movies and novels these days, but I don't want to assume you agree with it. There's a follow-up point but I don't want to waste time on it if you don't believe that.