(Full extracts are given to get the verses in context). God chose people, often from the bottom of the heap (unlike man, who would choose from among the best) :- 1Co 1:22 For
…Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men , and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1Co 1:26 For you see your calling , brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 1Co 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world , that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 1Co 1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world , and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 1Co 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. God chose who He wanted from before anything was created Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; Eph 1:4 even as he [Christ] chose us in him before the foundation of the world , that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; Eph 1:5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, Eph 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Eph 1:8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, Eph 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him Eph 1:10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him; Eph 1:11 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; Eph 1:12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: Eph 1:13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation,--in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Eph 1:14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory. God does everything, from calling right through to glorification:- Rom 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son , that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom 8:30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. It is all God's work - we have no input at all - otherwise it would be our 'work' , and the Christian election, predestination, calling, justification and glorification is all done by God. The only thing a person can do is to run away from God, but if God has already chosen him He will bring him back one way or another. The only thing a man can do is to accept God because to God the outcome has already occurred. This is a paradox that will never be solved because there is a will on both sides. We like to think that we have chosen God ourselves from our own free will with no coercion from God at all, but actually God chose us and we chose to choose God after being chosen from eternity past . If you have a belief system then your religious text should tell you, whatever that text is. If you have no religious beliefs then the question is moot. (MORE)