This morning I was reading John of Damascus for a class. In An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, he write words which reminded me of Mark 9. Jesus said it is better to enter life crippled, lame, or with one eye than with two hands, two feet, or two eyes to be thrown into hell.
"Notice that there are certain things that occupy a place intermediate between what is voluntary and what is involuntary. Although they are unpleasant and painful we welcome them as the escape from a still greater trouble; for instance, to escape shipwreck we cast the cargo overboard."
And the next paragraph by John of Damascus reminded me of the kingdom parables (and an emphasis of John Piper's teaching) . . .
"Notice also that children and irrational creatures perform voluntary actions, but these do not involve the exercise of choice: further, all our actions that are done in anger and without previous deliberation are voluntary actions, but do not in the least involve free choice. Also, if a friend suddenly appears on the scene, or if one unexpectedly lights on a treasure, so far as we are concerned it is quite voluntary, but there is no question of choice in the matter. For all these things are voluntary, because we desire pleasure from them, but they do not by any means imply choice, because they are not the result of deliberation. And deliberation must assuredly precede choice, as we have said above."
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