The problem of evil goes something like this:
(1) Evil exists.
(2) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(4) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(5) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).
However, (1) need not necessarily lead to (2). Alternatively,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) Either God does or does not exist.
(3) If God does not exist, He is not responsible for evil (if there is such a thing as evil in the first place if God does not exist).
(4) If God exists, He is sovereign and good.
(5) If God exists, He is both able and willing to eliminate evil.
(6) If God exists and evil exists, He has good reason(s) for not eliminating evil yet.
(7) Therefore, the existence of evil does not disprove the existence of a sovereign and good God. In fact, the existence of evil proves the existence of a sovereign and good God.
In particular,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) The opposite of evil exists.
(3) Good exists.
(4) The supreme good exists.
(5) Therefore, a sovereign and good God exists.
Why it is Sensible to Trust in God
(1) God is sovereign and good.
(2) If God is sovereign, He is able to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is good, He is willing to eliminate evil.
(4) Therefore, God is both able and willing to eliminate evil - even though He has not eliminated evil yet.
(5) Therefore, God will eliminate evil one day.
[This is the exact reverse of the problem of evil.
(5) Evil exists.
(4) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(2) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(1) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).]
Of course, the question is why God does not eliminate evil yet. But that's another story.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Saturday 27 August 2011
Accepting Our Calling
"He chose our inheritance for us," said the psalmist (Psalm 47:4). This means He decided in advance where He wanted us to be in a given time. First of all, He chose the time and place of our birth - the place, parents, and circumstances (Acts 17:26). We had no control over our birth. We did not choose our parents; God did. We did not choose the time and place of our birth; God did.
Secondly, He gave us our bodies - even while we were in our mother's womb. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139:14-16). This means our brains were formed by Him. Our intelligence was determined by Him. We no doubt can improve on how well and clearly we think, but our basic ability is already set - like it or not. Wow. I love this. It takes the pressure off to perform! Why be jealous of the person who is cleverer than I when it is God who gave them their superior brain?
Third, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Those were John the Baptist's words. It was his reply to the observation that Jesus was gaining more disciples, getting bigger crowds, and upstaging John's popularity. How did John cope? His answer was that God in heaven is the one who bestows success, blessing, favour, and grace. It was easy, therefore, for John to say, "He must become greater; I must become less" (v30). Was John tempted to jealousy? Almost certainly. And this is how he coped.
So with our calling. The same God who gives and withholds mercy is the one who determines our calling. And talent. And promotion. He opens and closes doors. Either way it is in our interest. Be thankful for the closed door as much as you rejoice in the open door. He calls some to be doctors, some to be nurses, some to be preachers, some to be computer experts, some to be astronauts, some to be secretaries, some to be scientists, some to be lawyers, some to be firemen, some to be policemen, some to be politicians, some to be executives, and some to have little or no profile whatsoever.
- R. T. Kendall, Jealousy - The Sin No One Talks About
Secondly, He gave us our bodies - even while we were in our mother's womb. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139:14-16). This means our brains were formed by Him. Our intelligence was determined by Him. We no doubt can improve on how well and clearly we think, but our basic ability is already set - like it or not. Wow. I love this. It takes the pressure off to perform! Why be jealous of the person who is cleverer than I when it is God who gave them their superior brain?
Third, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Those were John the Baptist's words. It was his reply to the observation that Jesus was gaining more disciples, getting bigger crowds, and upstaging John's popularity. How did John cope? His answer was that God in heaven is the one who bestows success, blessing, favour, and grace. It was easy, therefore, for John to say, "He must become greater; I must become less" (v30). Was John tempted to jealousy? Almost certainly. And this is how he coped.
So with our calling. The same God who gives and withholds mercy is the one who determines our calling. And talent. And promotion. He opens and closes doors. Either way it is in our interest. Be thankful for the closed door as much as you rejoice in the open door. He calls some to be doctors, some to be nurses, some to be preachers, some to be computer experts, some to be astronauts, some to be secretaries, some to be scientists, some to be lawyers, some to be firemen, some to be policemen, some to be politicians, some to be executives, and some to have little or no profile whatsoever.
- R. T. Kendall, Jealousy - The Sin No One Talks About
Monday 8 August 2011
Back to the Word
"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." - Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)
Thursday 4 August 2011
Rekindle Heart Work
This is no unusual occurrence; it is the general rule of the moral universe that those men prosper who do their work with all their hearts, while those are almost certain to fail who go to their labour leaving half their hearts behind them. God does not give harvests to idle men, except harvests of thistles, nor is he pleased to send wealth to those who will not dig in the field to find its hid treasure.
It is universally confessed that if a man would prosper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is in other things. If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart work, and let it be done with all your heart.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
It is universally confessed that if a man would prosper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is in other things. If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart work, and let it be done with all your heart.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)