Subject: God is not the author of evil. |
Bible Note: Thanks, John. I agree that God is not a helpless griever, and I think your point is excellent in that we can't possibly know God's infinite comlexity by intellect alone, but by the simplicity of a relationship based on faith through love ("For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5.6 NIV). And no, God is certainly not powerlesss to persuade us to repent, otherwise there would have been no Jesus. We get our capacity to love from God (1 John 4:19), as well as our ability to know Him, (Psa 51:6 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."). Yet, though God has equipped us for knowledge, He also cautions us to trust in Him with all our hearts and not to lean on our own undertanding (Prov 3.5). So there is a danger in philosophising scripture, I mean reducing God's grace, His love, to a formula: "This proves that He is responsible for evil", or "God didn't actually give us freedom of choice." Now, love involves choice, which makes it precious. And since love is supreme (1 Cor 13: 1-13), we can't have God pamper us too much. God, in Texas terms, keeps a stretch on love so that we don't turn out like those spoiled brats in the wilderness. If God is love and love involves choice then God is not a puppeteer, which means that man chooses his poison, not God. If I understand your drift, you might be arguing that God is the author of all, both good and evil. From the standpoint of love I disagree, so I can't blame God for the evil of men. From the standpoint of knowledge, however, I could make a case that God knew all from beginning to end and therefore owns the good, the bad and the ugly, but I don't buy it. To argue that because God is outside of time, omniscient, eternal, all-powerful thus makes Him responsible for my stealing a squirtgun at Lampstons is pointless (and silly!). The fact and attributes of love destroy this argument. There is a boxing in of God that happens on this side of eternity; I think that because we have this tendency He has asked us to depend on His love, rather than on knowledge. "Do not all charms fly at the touch of cold philosphy?" (From "Endymion", by John Keats). Colin. |