Christians use the phrase “free will” to excuse all manner of atrocities.

When asked why God doesn’t intervene when young girls all over the world are raped and kidnapped and forced into sex slavery, a friend of mine replied simply “free will”. That makes me puke. To excuse the most egregious behavior possible with the conceit that man has free will to do as he wishes is enough to make me sever the relationship with my friend.

The truth is, we don’t have free will. For the bible tells me so. The passages which follow make it clear to anyone reading without bias, that we have no control over our destiny and ultimately our salvation.

 
2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Ephesians 1:4-5
He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestined us … according to the good pleasure of his will.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Mark 4:11, Matthew 13:10-15
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Jeremiah 10:23

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Acts 13:48

And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Rom.8:29-30

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate…. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom.9:11-22

For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. …. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? … Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

We have no clue what that babble means but there are a lot of references to god’s control over man.

Eph.1:4-5

He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

2 Th.2:11-12

God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

2 Tim.1:9

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Jude 4

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation.