Sunday, January 28, 2024

 When the focus is on the object of choice, the power in the decision-making process lies with the object. If the object is central in the power of choice, then the object is seen as the source of negativity rather than the condition of the soul. When the condition of the soul is not the focus, a pragmatic mindset emerges, leading to self-righteousness. When the object becomes the focus, the powerless will assumes self-righteousness in the choice. Faithfulness is measured by the will's activity to avoid the object's power that influences the choice. It appears that humans have a tendency to have multiple thoughts at any given moment. Throughout the day, we experience millions of these thoughts. This phenomenon can influence our predisposition to develop both good and bad habits. This pragmatic process can be described as a philosophy of choice rather than an evangelical choosing. The soul's original condition is one of spiritual darkness. Due to Adam's sin, who is seen as the representative head of the human race, all individuals born after him are considered sinners through imputation. As our natural state is spiritually dead, our will is corrupted and unable to make spiritual choices because it is a faculty of a spiritually dead soul. We are fundamentally supernaturalists because our souls require new life, eternal life that is beyond our comprehension. This is achieved through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The paradigm of supernaturalism involves an imminent miracle through sovereign action. The power lies outside our soul and manifests through all activity from the outside to the inside of the soul, acting upon passive faculties. It is true that we cannot control sinful thoughts through our own willpower. The Bible does not present choice as a decision between two equal powers, good and bad. Rather, choice involves preferring one thing over another. Various factors contribute to why one object may appear more appealing than another, but ultimately, our choices are based on the state of our souls. Making choices is necessary. Calvinism emphasizes the condition of the soul and places significant importance on an anthropology that focuses on the corruption of the soul's faculties. The seed of choice is desire. The seed of a spiritually good choice is regenerated desire. In that seed, a supernatural transformation takes place. By focusing on the spiritually dead condition of the soul, it becomes evident that self-generated transformation is impossible. In our inability to choose, we have a focused ability beyond our own limitations. This is the seed of supernaturalism! This process on the soul is not a one-time supernatural action. Our souls are continually being renewed with supernatural power. On the other hand, semi-pelagianism focuses on the objects of choice. If an anthropology represents the will as having pragmatic decision-making abilities, where the will is in an equal state with the objects of choice, then the will is actually powerless. It may appear to have power within this equal state, but the focus is on the object rather than on the condition of the soul, as the will is detached from the soul's condition in this equal state.

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