Introducing Doctor Freefall and Slidefoot
No. 378
They say, to what purpose are praying and striving and attending on means, if all was irreversibly determined by God before? But to say that all was determined before these prayers and striving is a very wrong way of speaking, and begets those ideas in the mind which correspond with no realities with respect to God. His decrees of our everlasting state were not before our prayers and strivings, for these are as much present with God from all eternity as they are the moment they are present with us. They are present as part of his decree, or rather as the same, and they did as really exist in eternity with respect to God as much at one time as another. Therefore we can no more fairly argue that these will be in vain because God has foredetermined, than we can that they would be in vain if they existed as soon as the decree; for so they do, inasmuch as they are a part of it. - Jonathan Edwards, WJE 13:248–49
Behind the Scenes . . .
Letters on Theology and the Art of Temptation
“Misleading Questions in the Realm of Faith”
Ah, Slidefoot, you must appreciate the splendid opportunity such confusion presents for our cause. Humans grapple endlessly with the paradox of predestination versus free will. They say things like, "What's the point of praying or striving if God has already set everything in stone?" This kind of thinking is fertile ground for us, for it seeds doubt and inaction.
You see, the crux of the matter lies in their linear understanding of time. They think of divine decrees as something that was set "before" their prayers and efforts, in a past tense. It's this misleading framework that we must exploit. The Enemy's decrees, however, are outside of their temporal confines; their prayers and strivings are as present with Him now as they ever will be. They are part of the whole plan, intrinsically woven into the fabric of their fate.
The key for us is to keep them fixated on the wrong interpretation. Encourage them to believe that their actions are futile, thus paralyzing them into inaction and despair. When they see their efforts as pointless, they begin to drift away from the Enemy's influence and closer to our grasp.
Don't forget, humans find it difficult to grasp simultaneous causation—their prayers and the Enemy's decrees exist together, not sequentially. By perpetuating their misunderstanding, we do our job efficiently. With a bit of nudging, we can lead them to a place where they see no reason to pray, strive, or attend to the so-called means of salvation.
Never underestimate the potential of a well-planted doubt, Slidefoot. It can grow into a towering tree of despair that blocks out all light.
Your affectionate doctor,
Freefall