What is Free Will?

[Chad]

What is free will?

by Matt Slick

Free will is the ability to make choices. There are debates as to what extent this free will is to be understood as it relates to people. There are two main views: compatibilism and libertarianism.

The compatibilist view is the position that a person's freedom is restricted by his nature as is described in Scripture. In other words, he can only choose what his nature (sinful or regenerate) will allow him to choose. Therefore, such verses as 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20 are used to demonstrate that, for example, the unbeliever is incapable of choosing God of his own free will.

Libertarian free will says that the person's will is not restricted by his sinful nature and that he is still able to choose or accept God freely. Verses used to support this view are John 3:16 and 3:36. Two subdivisions of libertarian free will would be "open absolute free will" which says that man's choices are not knowable by God until they occur, and "non-open absolute free will" which would state that God can know man's choices but he cannot determine them.

The biblical position is compatibilism. Since the Bible clearly teaches us that the unbeliever is restricted to making sinful choices (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20) then we must conclude that anyone who believes in God (John 3:16; 3:36) does so because God has granted that he believe (Phil. 1:29), has caused him to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3), and chose him for salvation (2 Thess. 2:13).

All the cults and false religious systems teach the libertarian view of free will that salvation and spiritual understanding are completely within the grasp of sinners (in spite of their enslavement to and deadness in sin). For them, salvation would be totally up to the ability of the individual to make such a choice.

 

[Xian Pugilist]

Free will is a fantasy.

The people who usually make the most of this, take it beyond applicable extremes. (Not saying that is you...)

Free will isn't just making a choice. If you aren't "called" you aren't faced with something to choose. So not becoming His isn't a choice at all.

Example, God controls what you have to choose from, what is presented to you in your life, is what you have to choose from. You can't choose for what isn't before you.

Corny example to prove the point. I kidnap you, completely immobilize you, you are helpless, and I present you a choice, die by knife, or gun...

You got to choose, you had no choice.

This is akin to, you are called or not. If you are called, you are His. If you aren't called you never had a chance.

Go to romans seven, vss 11-19ish. Where people watch Paul describe the sinful nature's affects on a person.

Makes me do what I dont wanna do and not do what I wanna do. If you can't do what you want to do, where is free will there? So, people have to edit the scripture to squeeze free will in. That's an epic fail, editing scripture. Its also true, if you are made to do what you do not want to do, then then what is free will....? Do NOT add or take away from the statement there. Paul makes corroborating claims all through his works. In Romans 8:5, he says you belong to either the sinful nature"s mind set, or the Spirit's mindset. You OBEY the one you belong to. That sounds nothing like free will.

You do have choices, but you don't get to choose, what you can choose, only can you choose from what is before you.

Initially that is depressing, but, really, it changes nothing. You still have to live your life. You have to live it and make choices you find before you . So, if your choice is in your control to choose your fate, or if we are puppets is really irrelevant. To our comprehension, we still have the choices to make. God may control your choice, but you still have to make it. God is in a different reality/dimension, we have to function in ours...

 

[Chad]

You do have choices, but you don't get to choose, what you can choose, only can you choose from what is before you.

Wow, are you serious?

I have a free choice in all things I do. Its one thing to have free will and another thing to have your free will terrorized and wrongfully restrained (ie, your "kidnap" analogy which has nothing to do with free will on victims part).

You are greatly confused on this subject.

Some articles to consider reading:

Is God sovereign or do we have a free will?
Do human beings truly have a free will?

 

[David777]

Predestination and free will.

Romans 8:29-30 tells us, “For those God foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called,
he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:5 and 11 declare, “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons
through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

Many people have a strong hostility to the doctrine of predestination.
However, predestination is a biblical doctrine.
The key is understanding what predestination means.

We limit the application of the term "free will" to
the process of salvation. It has no real relevance apart
from salvation.

Free will does not exist before the influence of the
Holy Spirit. No one will ever choose Jesus without the
intervention of the Holy Spirit. This is not debatable as
no one may be saved unless they are able to identify
the Messiah and believe in Him. Conviction of sin and
the righteousness of Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit points all to Christ.We must be drawn
to Christ! We must be convicted of sin!

Salvation is purely the work of the sovereignty of God.
If it was not offered we all perish regardless of any
decision. Man has no free will!!!

The problem arises in narrowing down the process of this
predestination. We know Christ was predestined, we know
our salvation was predestined in Christ.

Now we do know;

That the Holy Spirit convicts the World.

The Gospel is proclaimed to all.

The message of the Gospel is available to all.

Reconciliation is for all mankind, all creation.

Why do not all respond to the love of the Father
in Christ Jesus?

Hmmm interesting question?

 

[lordjesuschrist]

Grace and peace to all,

Quite sure you all know these quotes of Jesus. You can google them, and those that don't know I can post them.
But doing this from an iPhone is difficult.

SO:
As Jesus says, " if you sin, then you are a slave to sin".
Also Jesus says, " if you do want I do you can call me friend, not servant".
Jesus also says HE spits lukewarm believers out HIS mouth.
Also HE says that HIS father knows who is HIS and asks HIM to keep them from evil
Jesus also tells us that some of the lame and sick people are born that way in order to show GOD's power through them.
Lastly, GOD has controlled people in the OT to go against prophets in order to make the prophet's faith stronge, or HE made the prophet do what HE said then gave a message( Moses and pharaoh, Jonah, Jonathan's father against David, and more......)
So we total that up, it's like this:

Some have free will
some don't have free will
some HE will force to do what HE wants
some HE leaves as examples.
The accountable ones are the knowing in the heart; and at some point in everyone's life you will go through all the stages mentioned. Because, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD!!
Enjoy the ride!!!

Whatever you call you have to answer to, and at IT's pace not yours.
You call on GOD, then it's HIS terms now.
You call on evil, then it's the devil's terms now.
You play in between then it's the devil's terms.
You don't know either, then you are like the blind man, just hearing and waiting for something.

Prayer with faith makes a difference.
Prayer reminds HIM of us.

PRAISE JESUS/ALL GLORY TO THE FATHER.

Enjoy the ride of faith ( seen, unseen, or both)

 

[will]

Free will is a fantasy.

The people who usually make the most of this, take it beyond applicable extremes. (Not saying that is you...)

Free will isn't just making a choice. If you aren't "called" you aren't faced with something to choose. So not becoming His isn't a choice at all.

Example, God controls what you have to choose from, what is presented to you in your life, is what you have to choose from. You can't choose for what isn't before you.

Corny example to prove the point. I kidnap you, completely immobilize you, you are helpless, and I present you a choice, die by knife, or gun...

You got to choose, you had no choice.

This is akin to, you are called or not. If you are called, you are His. If you aren't called you never had a chance.

Go to romans seven, vss 11-19ish. Where people watch Paul describe the sinful nature's affects on a person.

Makes me do what I dont wanna do and not do what I wanna do. If you can't do what you want to do, where is free will there? So, people have to edit the scripture to squeeze free will in. That's an epic fail, editing scripture. Its also true, if you are made to do what you do not want to do, then then what is free will....? Do NOT add or take away from the statement there. Paul makes corroborating claims all through his works. In Romans 8:5, he says you belong to either the sinful nature"s mind set, or the Spirit's mindset. You OBEY the one you belong to. That sounds nothing like free will.

You do have choices, but you don't get to choose, what you can choose, only can you choose from what is before you.

Initially that is depressing, but, really, it changes nothing. You still have to live your life. You have to live it and make choices you find before you . So, if your choice is in your control to choose your fate, or if we are puppets is really irrelevant. To our comprehension, we still have the choices to make. God may control your choice, but you still have to make it. God is in a different reality/dimension, we have to function in ours...

Unless you are going to tell us that you hear this directly from an angel sent by the Lord as it happened to Mary, we have no choice but to take what you wrote above as something that you came to believe at some point.

The ability to *believe* in something proves the existence of free-will. Does it not?

 

[Stan53]

What is free will?

by Matt Slick

Free will is the ability to make choices. There are debates as to what extent this free will is to be understood as it relates to people. There are two main views: compatibilism and libertarianism.

The compatibilist view is the position that a person's freedom is restricted by his nature as is described in Scripture. In other words, he can only choose what his nature (sinful or regenerate) will allow him to choose. Therefore, such verses as 1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20 are used to demonstrate that, for example, the unbeliever is incapable of choosing God of his own free will.

Libertarian free will says that the person's will is not restricted by his sinful nature and that he is still able to choose or accept God freely. Verses used to support this view are John 3:16 and 3:36. Two subdivisions of libertarian free will would be "open absolute free will" which says that man's choices are not knowable by God until they occur, and "non-open absolute free will" which would state that God can know man's choices but he cannot determine them.

The biblical position is compatibilism. Since the Bible clearly teaches us that the unbeliever is restricted to making sinful choices (1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 3:10-12; Rom. 6:14-20) then we must conclude that anyone who believes in God (John 3:16; 3:36) does so because God has granted that he believe (Phil. 1:29), has caused him to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3), and chose him for salvation (2 Thess. 2:13).

All the cults and false religious systems teach the libertarian view of free will that salvation and spiritual understanding are completely within the grasp of sinners (in spite of their enslavement to and deadness in sin). For them, salvation would be totally up to the ability of the individual to make such a choice.

Free will is our ability to choose what we do in everyday life, NOT just spiritual life. Free will allows us to obey the laws of the land or not. Free will allows us to obey God's laws or not. Free will is what is used to decide what the people did that Paul speaks about in Romans 1:18-23.
God draws us to Jesus, but our free will decides if we will believe or not. To say that sinful man cannot have free will goes against what Jesus says in Luke 11:13.
Why would Paul say godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ?
Just as God created man with free will, it has been part of our nature since that time in Genesis 1. It has always been God's intention to have a people who will FREELY worship and serve Him. As God said according to Paul in Acts 13:22; ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

This is what God wants from ALL of us, that we WILL do everything He wants us to, FREELY.

 

[Boanerges]

Predestination is by Divine foreknowledge of our actions and choice. It is in this marriage of foreknowledge that freewill and predestination meet.

1Pe_1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.



God responds to our choices and His response to choice is plainly demonstrated here:
(red emphasis mine)
Isa_66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.


From the Vines Expository Dictionary of the New Testament:

Foreknow, Foreknowledge

A. Verb.
proginosko (G4267), "to know before" (pro, "before," ginosko, "to know"), is used (a) of divine knowledge, concerning (1) Christ, 1Pe_1:20, RV, "foreknown" (KJV, "foreordained"); (2) Israel as God's earthly people, Rom_11:2; (3) believers, Rom_8:29; "the foreknowledge" of God is the basis of His foreordaining counsels; (b) of human knowledge, (1) of persons, Act_26:5; (2) of facts, 2Pe_3:17.
B. Noun.
prognosis (G4268), "a foreknowledge" (akin to A.), is used only of divine "foreknowledge," Act_2:23; 1Pe_1:2. "Foreknowledge" is one aspect of omniscience; it is implied in God's warnings, promises and predictions. See Act_15:18. God's "foreknowledge" involves His electing grace, but this does not preclude human will. He "foreknows" the exercise of faith which brings salvation. The apostle Paul stresses especially the actual purposes of God rather than the ground of the purposes, see, e.g., Gal_1:16; Eph_1:5, Eph_1:11. The divine counsels will ever be unthwartable. Cf. FORESHEW.

Many blessings in Jesus Name,
your brother Larry.

 

[David777]

The branch of Christian theology that deals with salvation and redemption is called Soteriology.
It is derived from Greek sōtērion (salvation).

Variant views on soteriology are among the main fault lines dividing the various Christian denominations,
both between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism and within Protestantism, notably in the Calvinist–Arminian
debate, and the fault lines include conflicting definitions of depravity, predestination, atonement,
but most pointedly justification. (wikipedia)

A Biblical discussion of "free will" should and only should concern
justification. Since without Christ's reconciliation our fate was decided.
We never had any choice regarding life or death! Without Christ no
choice for life could be made, we were dead in sin. Mankind was under
the complete control of the "spirit of the air".

Free will is not concerned with the color of the shoes that we choose
to wear. Free will is directly concerned with the predestination of
Christ and man's response ie; justification.

If you like I will expand the realm of free will outside of justification.

Here are some questions to answer that should
put the concept of free will to the test outside of Christ.

Please answer the questions below.

Did you have a choice as to what country you were born in?

Did you have a choice as to whom your parents would be?

What school did you choose to attend?

Which teachers did you choose to teach you?

What type of school did you choose?

What religion if any did you choose in your childhood?

Now, which national events that occur that strongly influence young
minds did you choose to experience. Which era in human
history did you choose to attend, what war, revolution, what
government and type of government did you choose?

What hair color, eye color, complexion, height and shape
of the body was your choice?

Did you chose to be a Jew or a Gentile?

You have up to this point not made any decisions have you!
These decisions were outside your area of influence.

At the point of leaving school virtually no choices were
made by you in these matters. Your fate as far as life is
concerned has already been caste.

Your employment and future aspirations are they really
a matter of choice. Or, are they really the decisions that
you would always choose to make?

When Christ was crucified would you have joined him
or fled with the rest of us?

Does a person have control of the decision making process
or are the apparent choices already programmed into the
genetic fabric and the conditioning of family, society and era.

Not many choose Christ, this is what concerns me the most
about free will or choice. The percentage that choose life
is far too low to support the concept of free will.

Either, Christians are not preaching correctly the Gospel to all,
or Christians have been destined to be Christians. Or is there
something I have missed?

What are your views on the above?

 

[canada]

I am "strongly opposed" ... it sounds a little fishy !!

 

[rstrats]

Stan53,

re: "God draws us to Jesus, but our free will decides if we will believe or not."


Is there any implication in that comment that you think that a person has the ability to consciously choose to believe that someone does or doesn't exist, or that a certain proposition is or isn't true?

 

[B-A-C]

Another subject debated by theologians through the centuries with no clear answer.

The way you answer the question about freedom of choice defines your worldview of God.

1. There is no God.
2. There is a God, but he is an impersonal force that made creation, now he is just sitting back and watching to see what will happen.
3. God controls who gets saved, and that's all. Everything else is random events.
4. God controls who gets saved and makes sure they stay saved. (Basic Once saved/Aways saved, Calvinism)
5. God controls all events and circumstances, but none of our decisions.
6. God controls all events and circumstances, and some of our decisions, in particular, the ones that don't determine sin. For example, where you work, where you live, who you marry.
He controls the courses of rivers, the stars, but not our decision for salvation.
7. God controls all events and circumstances, but we have limited choices, for example you might marry Bill and live in Toledo, or you might marry Tom and live in Albuquerque, but you'll never marry John and live in Peoria, because that isn't in your book.
7a. God controls the Salvation choice in this scenario.
7b. God doesn't control the Salvation choice in this scenario.
8. God controls everything, every decision.
8a. He controls everything but sinful choices. (hmmm....)
8b. He controls everything even sinful choices. (Some believe this to be different from 8 above, hmmm....)
9. God controls who has the opportunity to get saved (some believe he doesn't give everyone the opportunity) but he doesn't control the choice.
10. God only controls the Salvation choice of some people. For example there are certain key people that make decisions that control the destiny of many people.
(Martin Luther, the Pharaoh of Egypt, The President of the United States, John Calvin, Paul the Apostle, Judas the Apostle, the Beast of the Tribulation, etc...) but for everyone else, God doesn't try to control the Salvation choice.
11. The Salvation choice doesn't matter because everyone is saved whether they know Jesus or not. (Unitarian Universalism).

Almost everyone will fall into one of the categories. There are some scriptures could be taken to support some of the different views above.
As you can see, this ties very closely wth once saved-always saved and predestination doctrines.

Some believe that just because God "foreknew" the decisions people would make, doesn't mean he himself forced them to make that choice.

 

[brhal]

And let him that is athirst come. And whomsoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

 

[B-A-C]

Does God "force" himself upon us? Do we have the power to say "no"?
There are certain things God has ordained, and those things WILL happen.
There are certain people God has called. 1 Pet 2:9 says Israel is a chosen nation.

Isa 65:1 "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name.
Isa 65:2 "I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,
Isa 65:3 A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks;
Isa 65:4 Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine's flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.
Isa 65:5 "Who say, 'Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!' These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.

Isa 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight."

Deu 9:6 "Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.
Deu 9:7 "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.
Deu 9:8 "Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.

Neh 9:16 "But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.
Neh 9:17 "They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them.

Isa 46:12 "Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, Who are far from righteousness.
Isa 46:13 "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel.

Eze 2:4 "I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
Eze 2:5 "As for them, whether they listen or not--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Eze 3:7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.

Pro 1:24 "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
Pro 1:25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;
Pro 1:29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

Rom 10:20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."
Rom 10:21 But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

Acts 7:51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.

Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus is the only way, but is he the only way people choose?

Joh 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
Does all those God calls to Jesus accept him?

Mat 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Is there a difference between being called, and being chosen?
Rev 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Mark 13:20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
Some say the chosen elect are only the Jews. I'm not sure I agree, more research is needed here. (See 1 Pet 2:9)

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Who is Jesus talking to here? We have to back a couple of chapters to find out. Peter (John 13:36) Thomas (John 14:5) Philip (John 14:8) Judas (John 14:22) Acts 1:2
Acts 9:11-15 say Paul was also chosen by God.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
If God doesn't want anyone to die. Why do people who have heard of Jesus and the Gospel reject him?

Could it be, God is more of a gentleman than some give him credit for. He asks us to come to Jesus, but the choice is ours.
Rev 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Free will in man is an illusion.

 

[Chad]

Free will in man is an illusion.

And how do you figure this? Are we automatons? Back up your statement with Scripture.

 

[B-A-C]

A few more scriptures to ponder...

Deut 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
Deut 30:20 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Josh 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Does God almighty himself, allow us to make some choices for ourselves?
2 Sam 24:12 "Go and speak to David, 'Thus the LORD says, "I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you."'" ( 1 Chron 21:10 )

Psa 25:12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

Prov 1:29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

Does God force us to choose him, or can "join him ourselves" (by our own choice)?
Isa 56:3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from His people." Nor let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
Isa 56:4 For thus says the LORD, "To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant,
Isa 56:5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.

Jesus does choose some people specifically.
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?"

Do we have the power to reject what God offers us? Even something that is precious and "choice" to him?
1 Pet 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

1 Pet 2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"

Do we have the authority over own will? Can we decide things in our own heart?
1 Cor 7:37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.

 

[B-A-C]

If God has already decided everything, why have a Bible? Why have Church? Why even let us pretend we have a choice? Why evangelize?
Why study scripture at all? Why pray at all? If it makes no difference.

Amazingly, some churches are preaching this exact message. Not just Unitarian churches, but even more common denominations.
More and more churches are getting away from missions and evangelizing. Some churches don't even have altar calls for salvation anymore.

Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Rom 10:20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."
Rom 10:21 But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

Could it be that some people reject a loving God who is crying out to them? Who is stretching his arms toward them.
Is it his choice they reject him?