Iaian and I were discussing this topic today. Lots of interesting points to ponder. Adam and Evil were not asked to give up their individuality but to freely submit their inner desire to believe God.
Free will is central to understanding the relationship between God and humanity, especially in light of the problem of evil. At first, the idea of surrender may seem to contradict free will, but in reality, they work together in a profound way.
C.S. Lewis once wrote that true love requires choice. If God had created us as beings who could only do good, we would not truly love Him—we would simply be programmed to obey, like machines. Free will allows us to choose love, goodness, and obedience, but it also makes sin and evil possible. This truth is evident in the account of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:16-17, God commanded Adam, saying, “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 when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The command itself implies that Adam and Eve had the ability to choose. Without moral freedom, the instruction would have been meaningless.
Surrendering to God does not mean losing free will. Instead, it means choosing to submit our will to His, recognising that His ways are higher than ours. Jesus Himself demonstrated this in Luke 22:42 when He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Even though He had the freedom to act otherwise, He chose to surrender to the Father’s plan. Surrender, therefore, is an act of free will—it is not forced, nor is it the loss of autonomy. God invites us to submit to Him, but He does not coerce us. This is why Joshua 24:15 calls us to make a decision: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Choice is essential for true faith and obedience.
The analogy of a robotic dog, such as Sony’s Aibo, helps illustrate this point. A robotic pet may be convenient and predictable, but it lacks genuine affection, personality, and emotional connection. A real dog, on the other hand, may misbehave, but its love and companionship are authentic. Similarly, God did not create us as robotic beings but as creatures capable of real love, which means we must also have the ability to reject Him. Free will is what makes authentic love possible, even though it also carries the risk of rebellion and sin.
The misuse of free will is what introduced evil into the world. Adam and Eve’s disobedience in Genesis 3 led to the fallen state of humanity, and in Genesis 4, Cain’s choice to murder his brother Abel revealed how quickly sin escalated. The freewill defense argues that evil is not God’s doing, but rather the result of human choices. God permits free will because it allows for genuine relationships, but He is not the author of evil. Nevertheless, He has provided a path to redemption through Jesus Christ, ensuring that love and righteousness will ultimately prevail.
Free will and surrender are not opposing forces; rather, surrender strengthens free will by aligning it with God’s perfect plan. The ability to choose is a gift, and choosing to trust and follow God is the highest expression of that gift. In the end, true freedom is not found in doing whatever we please, but in willingly surrendering to the One who created us for love, purpose, and eternal life.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk