In a previous discussion, on Irresistible Grace, there arose the question of Free Will versus Free Agency. Free Agency is still a new concept for me, and I’m trying to understand further about this in the context of making a choice to follow God. In the previous conversation, @Lakshmi helpfully explained to me that,
I’ve been thinking about this and would be keen to hear different perspectives on this. I have a couple of queries.
1 . Using the Will to make moral choices:
Charlotte Mason, a nineteenth century British educator, who wrote 6 volumes on education, addresses the role of the Will in making moral choices, in A Philosophy of Education. She says:
The Will, we are told, is ‘the sole practical faculty of man’. But who is to define the Will? We are told again that ‘the Will is the man’; and yet most men go through life without a single definite act of willing. Habit, convention, the customs of the world have done so much for us that we get up, dress, breakfast, follow our morning’s occupations, our later relaxations, without an act of choice. For this much at any rate we know about the Will. It’s function is to choose, to decide, and there seems to be no doubt that the greater becomes the effort of decision the weaker grows the general will.
She seems to understand the Will is a given, when it comes to making moral choices, but sees that it can be compromised the more a decision requires self regulation of Will. So, the harder a choice is, the harder it is to will the right thing. Taking this further, I suppose it follows that to make a choice for God must be very hard in this context, without supernatural intervention. I’m trying to work out if the Free Agency view resolves this at all.
2. Using the Will to develop character:
I find it interesting that Mason then connects Will with character. Mason illustrates the whole concept with an analogy of a city called Mansoul, ruled by a Premier named The Way of the Will. The ruler of this city aims to create a place of moral riches and beauty, seeing the main focus as developing character. She writes:
But the one achievement possible and necessary for every man is character; and character is as finely wrought metal beaten into shape and beauty by the repeated and accustomed action of will. We who teach should make it clear to ourselves that our aim in education is less conduct than character; conduct may be arrived at, as we have seen, by indirect routes, but it is of value to the world only as it has its source in character… and with every choice we make we grow in force of character.
I see this laid out in Romans 5:3-5 where suffering can lead to formation of good character if we make choices to persevere.
Either side of the Will, writes Mason, “stands Conscience and Reason”. All these work together to make moral choices, “whether it’s object be right or wrong; it is a matter of choice and there is no choice but free choice". I’m trying to resolve this with the idea of Free Agency with regards to making the greatest moral choice of that to follow Christ.
What roles do Conscience and Reason have in the idea of Free Agency? And can Free Agency - “the ability to make voluntary choices following our natural desires” - refine our character, as Free Will is said to do?
Does anyone have any thoughts of any part of this?
(I’m sorry if this question is a little complicated; it’s certainly caused me to think hard! 
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Give me time to think about this some more…
I still find Charlotte Mason’s statement “there is no choice but free choice” makes more sense in this context.