Mark

Tl,

Perhaps you missed my point. I do believe we have a ‘free-will’, all Calvinists believe that. Where we disagree, is what a free-will is? A free-will is always governed by our desires is It not? We choose what we desire? If our desire is toward sin we choose that, if toward God we do that? It is never a ‘choice’ that is free from desires. That is my point. Now an Arminian needs to show from scripture where God gives everyone a ‘clean slate’ so to speak to enable them to desire him. I ask this because the Bible declares that our natural or flesh nature is to desire sin, thus we choose to sin.
Now in relation to Adam and Eve, the Calvinists agrees with the Arminian at this point that they both had the ability to not sin. They did not have a ‘sin nature’ therefore their desire was not directed toward sin (as ours is). They rightly had the choice to either sin or not to sin. However everyone else since then has been born in inquity.(Psalm 51)

Kay,

I have struggled many times in studying God’s providence in relation to my children. No, none of my children were born before I was a Christian, and no I do not think ‘non-christian’ (if i can use that term) children are born against God’s will. Gen 1 makes clear God’s command to multiply and fill the earth. However I love God and love his Bible. I am utterly convinced from Scripture that God providentially governs this world. The sun rises everyday under God’s power, not by accident. People believ in Jesus becasue God governs that, it does not happen by accident. Therefore I trust that God is faithful to save his elect. I am commanded to train my children in the way of the Lord. If they reject Him they have no excuse. However if God is merciful to my children I will praise him for that- he is not obligated to, but it is His sheer mercy and grace.
Now I assume you also believe in God’s divine foreknowledge. Therefore how do you handle knowing that God may have created your children knowing they might end up in eternal torment?