Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ. Forgive me ahead if the question I will pose has been asked and resolved already - I am new to the forum and have not yet explored the depths of its archives. I have not had the opportunity to pose this to a "learned" Arminian (that is, one who can make a half decent attempt to levy the scriptures in defense of their position, though to no avail), and I bring it to you all in case some here have.
The crux of it is asking what the basis of free will is from the Arminian perspective. As I understand it, our choices are effects that have a cause - we can trace them back to various influences, from conception and throughout the course of our lives (i.e.: genetic predisposition, environmental influences, spiritual influences, etc.). How we think, and the decisions we make, have a basis. They do not come from thin air (as from nothing), or from an in-born sovereign and objective quality - correct me if I am wrong but I do not see an iota of Biblical evidence for either. Therefore they must proceed from something. So when the Arminian says they have a choice in whether to accept or reject Christ, and it is of their free will and not "forced" as they might put it (though we would not quite put it that way). So what is the basis of their free will? As they understand it, what in them determines what choice they will make? What is the best argument they could make on that without completely sinking their argument (on that note I have follow-ups which I will likely pose after this fundamental issue is vetted).
Thank you for your time and consideration.
The crux of it is asking what the basis of free will is from the Arminian perspective. As I understand it, our choices are effects that have a cause - we can trace them back to various influences, from conception and throughout the course of our lives (i.e.: genetic predisposition, environmental influences, spiritual influences, etc.). How we think, and the decisions we make, have a basis. They do not come from thin air (as from nothing), or from an in-born sovereign and objective quality - correct me if I am wrong but I do not see an iota of Biblical evidence for either. Therefore they must proceed from something. So when the Arminian says they have a choice in whether to accept or reject Christ, and it is of their free will and not "forced" as they might put it (though we would not quite put it that way). So what is the basis of their free will? As they understand it, what in them determines what choice they will make? What is the best argument they could make on that without completely sinking their argument (on that note I have follow-ups which I will likely pose after this fundamental issue is vetted).
Thank you for your time and consideration.