Theo, the problem is that it’s illogical and contradictory.
It's "illogical" because .............. you say so, and no other reason?
It's "contradictory" because ............ you say so, and no other reason?
I studied formal logic in University, and there is NOTHING "illogical" about God creating evil.
I've studied the Bible for over 30 years, and there is NOTHING "contradictory" about God creating evil.
If you'd like to have a discussion, you need to offer some actual SUBSTANCE.
evil comes from our free will.
Well, first of all, there is no such thing as "free will".
And this is where I think you feel off the track. I think it's the wrong order to try to discuss where "evil" comes from, when you haven't even addressed the issue of "free will".
Further, suppose I accept that "evil" comes from our "free will".
Okay, so who created us? GOD.
So where did God ultimately come from? GOD.
Unless you want to say that we have creative powers independent of God, which is INCREDIBLY unBiblical.
(Btw, I've noticed that you never cite any Biblical passages for your answers. That's a problem, IMO. EVERY answer we base our theology from must be founded in the Bible.)
A gift God gave us to choose of our own volition. so many scriptures speak and in fact plead with us to serve God- to the non Calvinist evil is easily explained
And again, you never offer any actual passages.
But I know them all, and none of them teach "God gave man a free will".
"Choose life". That is an imperative, a command (not a "suggestion", or an "offer"), not some assertion that "God gave man a free will".
"Choose ye this day" This is direct at ISRAEL, not the world, and again is an imperative, and he is talking to someone who has already REJECTED Yahweh, and the "choice" he gives is between two sets of FALSE gods.
Where is "free will" in John 6:44? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in 1 Cor. 2:14? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in Rom. 8:7-8? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in John 3:3? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in Rom. 6:16-22? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in John 8:34? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in Eph. 2:1? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Where is "free will" in Col. 2:13? It's IMPOSSIBLE.
Our wills are ENSLAVE, either in sin, or in righteousness.
Once we have been freed (passive) from one, we get enslaved to the other (Rom. 6:16ff).
That’s been my position all along. That follows scripturally and logically.
You've offered no Scripture.
And you've offered no "Logic".
I’m not interested in fighting - I just want a good rational discussion to help me understand more clearly.
Please forgive me... I tend to be direct, and blunt.
I like to get to the point.
But I don't mean any ill-will.
Please try to concentrate on my content, and not on any perceived tone.
(Good advice for EVERYONE in a textual medium, where we don't see body signals or vocal intonations.)
thank you all for your patience- I am not an expert- just working this out in my heart
Fair enough.