Subject: Does God lead us to sin? |
Bible Note: Hi, Val... Thank you for the expression of sympathy. Our brother Hank was a very dear man. My father's death was a scant eighteen months ago, yet I grieved at least as much. Hank is very much missed. Nonetheless, we rejoice that he now beholds the very Object of our adoration. Furthermore, his worship of our Lord is now perfected in all respects. Yet, the best is still to come, as they say -- for the certain consummation of God's eternal purpose is ahead. You asked, "...why do people ask questions that seems to put God in an inappropriate light...?" (sic) We could talk about spiritual perceptibility, cognitive acuity, secular education, church instruction, cultural influences, social sophistry, personal proclivities, and individual affections. I suppose they all come into play to one degree or another in all of us. Yet, as believers, we understand that understanding the true worthiness of God requires very specific acts by God Himself. He must absorb our offenses within Himself (redemption, 2 Corinthians 5:19), He must make the dead living (regeneration, Titus 3:5), He must draw the estranged into divine fellowship (forgiveness, Ephesians 2:16), He must illuminate darkened hearts (revelation, 2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:1-2), He must transform the worldly into Christlikeness (sanctification, 1 Timothy 6:11). Outside of these things, we ought not be surprised when we see idolatry -- after all, my own heart is a skilled and diligent manufacturer of idols! (cf Galatians 5:19-21) As usual, I'm probably not expressing these things very well, despite my most earnest efforts. Sorry, its been a long, tiring day. In Him, Doc |