Are freewill and predestination contradictions?

It depends on the sense in which your talking about them. If you are talking about man's autonomic will of choosing God versus God's sovereign unconditional choice of man? If so, then they both cannot be true at the same time. If both of these terms are used in the context of salvation they are polar opposites. In this sense, we are comparing salvation that ultimately comes down to man, with salvation that ultimately comes down to God. If we hold to a salvation-based predestination, we COULD still hold to a non-salvation-based style of freewill. I believe that salvation comes down to God choosing man, but we know from the bible and our experiences that we still make decisions and choices all the time. There are many interpretations about these matters, but this is how I see it: God chooses us for salvation, but it is up to us to pursue Him once we have become regenerated. We must exercise our "freewill" and choose Him daily over sin. For if we draw near to God, God will draw near to us. (James 4:8)