thistle93
Puritan Board Freshman
Hi! Does anyone know some good resources that discuss the huge difference between free agency and free will?
I think a lot of people assume these are the same thing but from my understanding they are very very different.
Basically my understanding of free agency is that we do what our nature tells us (if unregenerate than enmity with God and if regenerate than spiritual) and not forced by God to do such things so we are responsible to God, whereas my understanding of free will is that it claims no one is truly spiritually dead as a result of the fall and all people are completely able to chose spiritual things whenever they like. To me this is a huge difference and why I think we must ask people what they mean by free will. I have actually heard some Reformed/Calvinists use "free will" but really mean "free agency" and I have heard some Arminians use "free agency" but really mean "free will".
I do think there is a reason that the Southern Baptist (though not a majority are Calvinists) use the wording of free agency rather than free will in their Faith and Message statement.
So any leads on where to find out more on differences?
For His Glory-
Matthew
I think a lot of people assume these are the same thing but from my understanding they are very very different.
Basically my understanding of free agency is that we do what our nature tells us (if unregenerate than enmity with God and if regenerate than spiritual) and not forced by God to do such things so we are responsible to God, whereas my understanding of free will is that it claims no one is truly spiritually dead as a result of the fall and all people are completely able to chose spiritual things whenever they like. To me this is a huge difference and why I think we must ask people what they mean by free will. I have actually heard some Reformed/Calvinists use "free will" but really mean "free agency" and I have heard some Arminians use "free agency" but really mean "free will".
I do think there is a reason that the Southern Baptist (though not a majority are Calvinists) use the wording of free agency rather than free will in their Faith and Message statement.
So any leads on where to find out more on differences?
For His Glory-
Matthew