Free Will

"I don't understand how we can really have free will if God already knows what we are going to do."

If we look at the creation story in the book of Genesis (GN 1-2:3) God created all things and put them in motion... In other words, he set them in motion to be as they were created to be... Cows to be cow, creeping things to be creeping things, wild animals to be just that, wild animals. When it came to the creation of the human race he gave them a command... "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all the living things that move upon the earth etc."

If we look at the second story of creation (GN 2:15) we hear the following... "The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The Lord gave man this order: "you are free to eat any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and bad. From that free you shall not eat, the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die." Just look at how God created...water, light, land, oceans, vegetation, day and night, fish, animals, human beings, placing humans over his creation as their steward. God not only set the humans over his creation, he gave them responsibility. Care for the garden and my creation doing as you see fit in all things except one thing... Do not eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. One can see from this story line the development of "Free Will"

Although God is all knowing he let human beings participate in his knowledge to a point. He tried to prevent our first parents from choosing something he already knew would bring them death and devastation, not only their relationship with himself, but ultimately with one another. However, even in the midst of knowing what they would choose, He let them choose, for their ability to reason and make decisions was the very thing that made them different from the animals.

Yes, God knows at the moment of our creation what will happen in our life, but he does not treat us like pawns on a chess board. This is why a life of faith, rooted in prayer is essential! Through living a life rooted in prayer, grounded in a Christian community, nourished and strengthened by the sacraments, we strengthen our communion with God and become more aware of what is of God and what is not of God.

This holy rhythm of life then forms and shapes our consciences to the point where we consistently choose those things which are of God and not of this world. God desires nothing more than to draw all creation back unto himself, but yet in an act of Love, God wants his children to freely and lovingly choose to come back to their source and creator. God himself!