How free are we?

One of the most vexing questions in Christianity regards our choices. How free are we to choose Christ and new life? This question has been a point of contentious debate in the church for centuries, but it really need not cause us consternation when we understand how free we are (or are not). The folks at pleaseconvinceme.com lend insight into this question through the following quote:

Most of us would like to think that we are free to make any choice possible in any given situation, but if you think about it, you'll quickly recognize that even the choices you thought you were free to make were limited by your pre-existing nature (your inclinations, desires, likes and dislikes). Have you ever cleaned out your closet and discarded an ugly shirt, tie or dress that was given to you as a gift? Why did you throw it away? Every day, as you decided what to wear, you were free to choose that article of clothing, but you never did. Your nature (in this case, your taste in clothing) restrained your choice. In order to understand what the Bible teaches about "free will", we need to distinguish between two concepts of freedom: "Libertarian" Free Will: This view of "free will" maintains that humans have the ability to choose anything, even when this choice might be contrary to our nature (our inclinations, desires, likes and dislikes). We might call this "Unfettered Free Will". "Compatibilist" Free Will: This view of "free will" maintains that humans have the ability to choose something, but this ability is restrained by our pre-existing nature (our inclinations, desires, likes and dislikes). We might call this "God-Fettered Free Will". Our practical experience tells us that we don't make choices that are completely unfettered (unrestrained) by our nature. Many of us would never choose to order an anchovy pizza. Many of us would never choose to purchase a pink car. Many of us would never choose to cut our hair in a "mullet" hairstyle. Our natures (our inclinations, desires, likes and dislikes) restrain us. The Bible recognizes that God is sovereign and that humans are fallen and restrained by a nature that inclines us toward evil and toward the denial of God's existence (Jer 13:23, Mark 7:21-22, Rom 3:9-12, Rom 8:6-8). The Bible also teaches, however, that humans have the freedom and ability to choose the things of God, including the salvation offered through Jesus Christ (Joshua 24:15, John 7:17, John 7:37-39). So, how do we, as fallen humans inclined to deny God, have the ability to choose God? Well it appears that God (in His sovereignty) works at the level of our 'nature' rather than at the level of our 'choices'. God changes our hearts first, so we have the freedom to choose something we would never have chosen before (because our nature prevented us from doing so). You and I then have the freedom to choose within our new nature, and we are, of course, responsible for those free will choices. John 6:65 He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.'