new church life: jan uary/february 2017
Viewed in light of these teachings, it
appears our freedom is not an absolute,
fixed-for-all-time set of decisions or
staked-out territory. Rather it can be
thought of more as our affections and
their thoughts at any given time being
affected or influenced by an array of
external or internal forces. We can, and
often should, change our minds or the
exercise of our freedom. So what was a
decisive position from our freedom at
one stage can evolve.
In a sense, our freedom can grow.
Or, as the Writings put it, the Lord
bends a person to be “set in freedom.” (Arcana Coelestia 5993:2) Hence the
Lord is not disrespecting our free choices when He exerts pressure upon us.
He is merely engaged in the ongoing process of providentially leading us. If
we insist on maintaining a position that is in disorder, He will not force us to
change. But He will continue knocking at our doors, using endless means to
steer us, to shift our feelings, thoughts and eventually choices.
The Lord is not
disrespecting our free
choices when He exerts
pressure upon us. He
is merely engaged in
the ongoing process
of providentially
leading us.
How Forcefully Will the Lord Act?
The fact that the Lord’s leading (bending) is gentle and silent does not mean
it is in any way weak or passive. “It is like a strong current in the ocean which
unseen draws a vessel.” (True Christian Religion 652:3) Consider this image:
Ocean currents are incredibly powerful. Well-known advice for swimmers
caught in a riptide drawing them further into the ocean is to go with the flow
and await rescue. For to fight it will exhaust and soon drown them. Even ships
with powerful engines are affected, burning extra fuel when they go against it.
In the other world the Lord is frequently described as using force.
Separations of evil from good are often dramatic. (Apocalypse Revealed 549,
842; Arcana Coelestia 582; Spiritual Experiences 4632; Apocalypse Explained
426, 489:2, 681) Keeping evil spirits within limits so the angels are not harmed,
and the devils are not harmed more than is allowed, also involves force. (Arcana
Coelestia 8054:2; Charity 157) And “angels in heaven plainly perceive that . . .
by the Lord they are withheld from evil and kept in good and so in truth, and
this by a mighty force.” (Arcana Coelestia 5758, 6952:6, 7989)
In our own regeneration the Lord’s providence is described as powerful.
The Lord withholds us from evil “by an influx of the life of the Lord’s love,
and this with a force exceeding great,” (Arcana Coelestia 3318:5; see also ibid.
6945:3, 7206:2, 6474; Spiritual Experiences 4521), and “by a mightier force than
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