Peace Lady Fatima,
No, I'm not using the dictionary definition of slave in this context, but did want to know what you personally meant by being a slave of Allah, and how that stands with free will.
Slaves are usually slaves by being taken prisoner or being born a slave, or by selling themselves into slavery, so there is usually no free will involved. God's law decreed how long people could be in slavery, and how they should be treated, but they were none-the-less slaves without free will. Romans 6:16 however speaks of slavery in a different way, and I believe Lady Fatima, this may be your way of understanding it
" Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to ovey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey, whether you are slaves to sin which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to life."
Free will in slavery is when you choose to be a slave, to willingly give your full allegience to your master, putting away all your own rights, beliefs and
submitting completely to the will of your master. Paul calls himself a bondslave of Jesus Christ, and this also are all true believers.
Yes, you explained yourself well in your last post in relation to testing, and again, I think we share similar viewpoints there, however most of the calamity on this earth is caused by sin and man's refusal to follow God,
As people who say we believe in God and obey Him and who is in control of all things, we need to take those things back to God and believe that all things work together for good to those who love and serve God. That is the free will we are both talking about.. we can be like the friends of Job who suggest you curse God and blame Him when things go wrong, or you can be like Job, and acknowledge that "I know that my redeemer lives" Job 19:23-29
I think we would both agree with all of this?
Have a nice weekend
[/i]