From the dawn of history, human beings have demonstrated a unique propensity among earthly creatures to exercise free will in their daily decisions and actions. People may have natural instincts, but we are not necessarily slaves to them. All people, all individuals operate independently regarding their attitudes, actions, and interpretations. In Sociology, this is called, “Agency,” and it has been affirmed throughout the ages.
The Greek philosopher Epictetus wrote, “You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will.”
The great theologian Augustine of Hippo wrote, “There is no sin unless through a man’s own will, and hence the reward when we do right things also of our own will.”
The infamous author of The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli claimed, “God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.”
The pugnacious Reformer Martin Luther explained, “The very name, Free-will, was odious to all the Fathers. I, for my part, admit that God gave to mankind a free will, but the question is, whether this same freedom be in our power and strength, or no?”
The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy concluded, “Each man lives for himself, uses his freedom to achieve his personal goals, and feels with his whole being that right now he can or cannot do such-and-such an action; but as soon as he does it, this action, committed at a certain moment in time, becomes irreversible, and makes itself the property of history, in which it has not a free but a predestined significance.”
Sociologist George Herbert Mead diagnosed, “Our self exists in an interactive relationship with its environment.” Additionally, as part-time apologist and full time novelist C.S. Lewis put it, “The sin of men and of angels, was rendered possible by the fact that God gave us free will.”
The evangelical Atheist Richard Dawkins admits, “I am very comfortable with the idea that we can override biology with free will” and inspirational speaker Sean Covey proclaims, “You are free to choose what you want to make of your life. It’s called free agency or free will, and it’s your birthright.”
The Bible, too, is replete with stories, teachings, and admonitions discussing this exercise of personal freedom. From Genesis to Revelation, one does not need to read too deeply to encounter the biographical stories of biblical characters making choices and experiencing the fruits (sweet and sour) of their decisions.
The seeds of human agency began in with Adam and Eve, the first human couple on Earth. Genesis 2:15–17 state,
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for you eat from it you will certainly die” (Gen 2:15–17).
Despite this clear and ominous warning of God, Eve also displayed her own ability to make autonomous choices (separate from Adam and God)—
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then, the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Gen 3:6–7).
Agency is a human trait that gives all men and all women the right to choose as they will, regardless of consequences and common sense. This freedom is not a product of a fallen nature; the human ability of free choice existed in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. The reality is that based on the biblical texts, sometimes people choose wisely; other times, they come to lament their decisions, which the biblical texts clearly affirm.
Thus, agency can be seen in Cain’s slaying of Abel, in Job’s mournful resolution to wait for God’s explanation for his tribulations, in Abraham’s faithful migration from Mesopotamia to Canaan, in Hagar’s choice to return to a potentially abusive tent, in Jacob’s willingness to work seven more years to gain Rachel’s hand, in Joseph’s decision not to slay his wicked brothers who had earlier sold him into slavery, in Samson’s blinding vanity and suicidal final mission, in King Saul’s decision to disobey God, in King David’s decision to commit adultery and murder, in Esther’s courageous un-beckoned approach to King Xerxes to save her people, in Jeremiah’s decision to stand bravely before the Temple sharing God’s warning of exile, in Jonah’s escape of his prophetical duties to Nineveh, in John the Baptist’s passionate but politically incorrect warning to Israel (and her leaders) to repent, in the Disciples’ abandonment of their nets to follow a fisher of men, in the Apostles unwillingness to worship a crazed despot, in the early church’s willingness to sacrifice their social security to share the light of eternal security with those in spiritual darkness.
The Bible presents a checkered account of the darkest and most desperate corners of human pursuits, which seems to go on forever, without an end in sight some 2,000 years later. This leads many to an existentialist crisis, provoking the famed Renaissance artist Michelangelo to lament, “I live in sin, to kill myself I live; no longer my life my own, but sin’s; my good is given to me by heaven, my evil by myself, by my free will, of which I am deprived.”
Yet, the Gospel suggests a greater understanding of human agency fulfilled and perfected in the Son of God, Jesus Christ (and faithfully reflected in the loving submission of His followers, the church). No greater example of human agency can be seen than in the person and power of Jesus of Nazareth, who knew no sin, who was a teacher and preacher beyond compare, who could heal the lame and blind with a touch of his hand (or robe), who could command and cast out evil spirits with just a simple command—“Go!”—whose heart for humanity encompassed all brothers and sisters from all ages, and who willingly gave up His life that all may have everlasting life. He was the ultimate man of action and agency, choosing to fully obey God in life.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the incomparable Son of God in Colossians and writes,
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Col 1:13–18).
Despite the inevitable lethal repercussions for fallen people exercising free agency, the path of a stumbling humanity does not have to end inescapably in death. As the Apostle John proclaimed long ago,
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5–7).
The beauty of the Gospel story is that human beings are still allowed to exercise their free will, their personal agency—in a display of personal strength, wisdom, and courage—just as Jesus did over 2,000 years ago.
Jesus could have chosen a life of hedonism and carnality, but He did not—He submitted to the Word of God. He could have set Himself up as the ultimate ruler of the world, but He did not—He chose instead to be a servant of the Lord. He could have been a rebel, a doubter of God and His goodness, but He did not—He humbly trusted in His loving, righteous Father in Heaven.
Freedom is a gift, but nowhere near as precious a gift as choosing a life in God through Jesus Christ.