>So God gave us free will, but doesn't want us to use it
>unless we are using it to do His will?

and since he created everything (including our 'sinful nature', and the 'tempter'), he shares responsibility for how messed up we are. i mean, it says we're flawed in genesis.

also, one of the things i've heard (yet to see it in scripture) as a differentiator between man and angels is that angels were not created with free will. and that some of them became jealous of people because of that.

how did lucifer rebel if he had no free will?

>
>Or, if he intended for us to make the wrong choices, but is
>still planning on punishing us for them, isn't that just
>mean as hell? :)

i know, right?

that's like you make your children have a race to see which ones you'll keep.

(having a uta thought). its predicated on the notion that judgement is necessary, that ranking is necessary, ie, somebody has got to be a loser. we can't all feel special about being god's children unless we know there are a (preferably larger) group who are NOT. depending upon one's religion, that differentiation is done based upon grace, or law, or personal 'worthiness'.




peace & blessings,

x.

"I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all." - Iron Mike