Catholic Answers Focus | Does God Change His Mind? | Jimmy Akin

[@thewaylifegoes1084]

I have been dealing with the struggling thought of “ if we have free will then how does God know everything that’s going to happen” - I was afraid of my future because I was afraid of , if I already walked away from God. But this video really helped me see clear

[@ZenexTheZealous]

The best part of the video, besides it being brilliantly well put as all CA videos are Is that amazing thumbnail

[@catholiccom]

😎

[@jeffthomas9768]

I do love the answers that Jimmy gives because they're so insightful, he explains it in a way that people who struggle with the idea can understand it, and there's not a single flaw (that I can see). Really helpful!

[@leoteng1640]

I agree with the answer in that God uses conditional to respond to our prayer which means God react to our asking or not asking. If this is the case, then His Will is not perfect because He reacts differently to the conditions. But He is perfect, therefore His Will is perfect and immutable, so can you explain this further how to reconcile this point.

[@gilsonbicudo]

Jimmy is so intelligent and very generous about sharing.

[@catherinecox8921]

This was so enlightening. I “like” totally get it now.

[@franciscowalker5104]

I studied these matters years ago using the Summa Theologica ....it was VERY pleasing and enjoying to hear you explaining very clearly all this...God bless

[@joeisokayy]

Best interpretation I have got so far

[@lonelyberg1808]

Love the thumbnail ahahahahah

[@eviek1122]

Delightful, indeed!

[@ninodjuras]

Wooooow, this did something for me ❤️

[@diannefarrar7500]

I'm in a bible study class and the question came up, does God change His mind? If man made God anthropomorphic to depict God as human and He was without form, then why does The Bible say God-made us in his image?

[@bestpossibleworld2091]

Good explanation. Progressive Revelation is important because the Judaic-Christian understanding of God is that He is historical in the sense that He reveals Himself in and through history. This is epitomized in the incarnation of Christ 2,000 years ago.

[@AlexRodriguez-ho2ws]

He chooses how to respond based on what we do but He already knew what I was going to do

[@tkjokester]

Finally, this question has been answered correctly. Bishop Barron has led people to stop praying because of his insistence that prayer does not change God’s mind. It does change the results. Miracles occur because people pray for them. Persistent prayer is specifically mentioned in the New Testament as having an effect. This idea that God doesn’t change His mind is a perfect example of academia causing more confusion than light and is why there has been anti-intellectual movements in the past.

[@bestpossibleworld2091]

Thomas Aquinas had a great grasp on this. He advocated that our prayers are necessary components of God's Providence. Therefore to refuse to pray is to tempt God. Aquinas uses the example that I can sit on the couch and insist that it is God's will that I go to the front door of my house. However, I will never go to the front door unless I get up and walk to the door. My legs and moving are our prayers.

[@tkjokester]

@@bestpossibleworld2091 Aquinas is a reliable and trustworthy source. I am just glad CA has released this video. I can now reference this anytime someone tells me they quit praying because Bishop Barron said it doesn't change God's mind.

[@hgv85]

Prayer *doesn’t* change God’s mind. That was the first thing Akin said. God can providentially make his gifts conditional on our prayer, and the act of prayer is an act of hope and charity, so it opens us up to receive an increase of grace, but Barron is right that prayer doesn’t change God.

[@madra000]

This means you are co equal in cause or ability to make changes as God, therefore under this view and applying Thomas own virtues -hes clever but contradictory- why is it only God worthy of esteem of worship in regards to the matter of doing his will. The best and telling when I read the new testament was the talents story, what did that servant do that made him judged to be beaten, if you give talents you surly cannot expect anything back( unless both parties are consenting) but it wasn't portrayed this way. I always thought Jesus was wrong here but hey he's the epitome of Good itself, so that's impossible. Please interpret this verse in a way that is consistent with the moral good of our time- where humane practice which everyone esteems is done away with when Big Jesus does it. In fairness I don't think Jesus said this story but if you believe, if now, you have to own up to his moral failure.

[@madra000]

It's still random though, even if it is providential, so he'd be in good conduct if He's ignored and the evil event persists, which also came from him in this case, venomous snakes and all, but if you do what he ask you feel it was his good heart that provides your safety, when it was predetermined or provident, irrelevant to your act. Ergo it is neutral except in God's favor of' mystery works'

[@stephenmerritt5750]

Question: Would the term anthropomorphic language also apply in the Old Testament whenever it says, God spoke'?

[@ElChe-Ko]

ahah right on time!

[@madra000]

If your outside of space and time you don't change? There is things in time that don't change. Meaning doesn't change otherwise it would fail to confirm statements. Or pictures on the paper but actual picture or story or books on life. So I don't think this works

[@nickk4851]

Can we explain why God chose progressive revelation? I don't see a reason. I also then have a level of sympathy for those who lived during ancient times who didn't know that God was love. Imagine trying to live today without knowing that. My whole being works daily to rest in that truth. I'd be a much uglier person without that knowledge. And how do we square this concept of progressive revelation with scripture being divinely inspired? Did the Holy Spirit inspire the writer to say that God changes His mind? Just some thoughts I've had. Share with me your ideas if you want :)

[@donrobertoni]

This is borderline Calvinism isn’t it? Since it appears that everything is predetermined ? I’m very curious what the early church fathers had to say on this topic.

[@LuisReyes-sm7kc]

His*