Or in other words, why, if God is 'good,' does 'evil' exist?
This is the question "The Shack" seeks to answer. I don't know how it answers it yet. But I figured I'd give you four answers God gives.
1) Shut up. (That is, don't question God. He's God, and you're not.) (Job 38 through the end and Romans 9)
2) Evil exists to show the glory of God in his love (Romans 9, Romans 5:12-21, John 9:2-3, Matthew 11:25-26).
3) Wait - God's going to fix it! (Which is a good thing for those he's forgiven - bad for those he hasn't.) (ALL over the prophets, psalms, etc.)
4) Suffering exists as the beginning of punishment for unbelievers, and as holiness-producing discipline for believers (Luke 13:1 and following; 1 Peter 4:12 and following; Hebrews 12:1-10 ish).
If you want more ref's, I can grab 'em.
It's too bad that people aren't willing to just say - 'hey, what's the Bible say on this?' I shouldn't ask my pastor or someone to explain what the bible says - I should read some stupid book that denigrates God. But hey, it's written well and makes me feel good.
A friend of mine coined the term 'spiritual masturbation' to refer to such things. He's right. And I'd apologize for the ugliness of the term, except for the fact that what is being done in creating and worshiping an idol is worse.
Very good post Derek. It is very true, who are we to say to God, "why have you made me this way?"
ReplyDeleteWe suffer because in the beginning, starting with Adam and Eve, we all choose to rebel against God, therefore we bring judgement upon ourselves.
God will fix it someday, God does use suffering for good, and God does reward the meek.
So what do you think of C.S. Lewis's fiction?
ReplyDeleteHe was heretical, wasn't he?
Hey Joy,
ReplyDeleteWell - to be honest, the last time I read any CS Lewis fiction, my age was in the single digits. So I don't remember all too clearly.
That said, his writing didn't ever make the error that The Shack makes - making an image of God. He wrote an allegory to explain the real.
He did say some weird stuff elsewhere, though. And I remember that someone gets saved in the last Narnia book without hearing of Aslan.
Whoops. Clive. Come on. You know better! (And now he does.)
Yeah, that had me scratchin' my head too (about the Tarkaan who was saved w/o hearing Aslan). It bugs me that some people say that God can't really know everything and that he's just piecing things together as he goes...where can we find peace in that? Four great points, Derek!
ReplyDeleteI think that was supposed to say that faith in God is what is important, not calling him Allah, Jehovah, God, Adonai, etc. God responds to many names and those who do His will are safe, even if they call Him something different than someone else. That's what I got out of that.
ReplyDeleteThat is what Lewis seemed to be trying to say. Sadly, it's completely false.
ReplyDeleteLewis, in his theological writings, thankfully, usually introduced his thoughts with "I'm not a theologian and could be wrong, but"...