New Church Life July/Aug 2013 | Page 45

Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve The Nature of Human Choice and the Problem of Universal Salvation The Rev. Grant H. Odhner SE C O N D O F A T H R E E - PA RT SE R I E S I n part one, I showed that the Writings given to the New Church, understood in their own light – taken at face value – clearly teach that human beings are given free will and can choose heaven or hell. This is remarkable in the face of the strong emphasis that we have absolutely no life, no power, no ability to respond, from our self. Yet these two principles are mentioned in the same breath, again and again. I ended with the conclusion: “The freedom which God gives us to experience as our own is a full one – enabling us to go against elements of His will.” What is the Lord’s will? I say “go against elements of His will,” because the Lord’s will is complex, just li