As I was working on this Sunday's message from Colossians I found what I believe is an important add on to this post of a week ago. You can check out what I added by looking at the part in italicsI was doing some research and came across this interesting response to a well-known argument concerning evil.
1. A good God would destroy evil.
2. An all powerful God could destroy evil.
3. Evil is not destroyed.
4.Therefore, there cannot possibly be a good and powerful God.
This is the classic argument. But if we look at the world through the eyes of Noah and the flood we know the truth--God can destroy evil. But such a destruction grieves the heart of God--deeply. (Gustave Dore captures the pain of such destruction in his woodcut "Deluge" that you can see to the right.) So much so that God makes a covenant with Noah and all coming after him that he will not destroy the earth again in a flood (notice in the covenant signified by a rainbow that God hangs up his "bow" [See Genesis 8.20-9.17]). In light of this a counter argument:
1. God is good and is able destroy all evil.
The idea that God is able to destroy all evil gets a bit of a different angle in Colossians 1.17 where we are told that Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together. The Greek word for "hold together" is "synistemi" and it gives the idea that all things have their existence in Christ. It is not merely that God is able to destroy evil, it is that if Christ stopped upholding the universe all would cease to exist. In this picture Christ does not stand apart from creation and creation rolls along until he intervenes, no, creation and all creatures depend on him for existence. In light of this we see all the more that God is in control and that he holds off with judgment out of love and desire to reconcile us and all things back to himself.
2. But in doing so, he would destroy humanity, which is precious to Him.
3. Evil is not destroyed.
4. God is infinitely good and powerful, but out of mercy, chooses to wait to judge. In response to sin, he sent his Son as an atonement for all who would receive him.
I think there are some holes in this counter argument, but it makes for a good response and makes us think differently about God and how he deals with evil.
2. But in doing so, he would destroy humanity, which is precious to Him.
3. Evil is not destroyed.
4. God is infinitely good and powerful, but out of mercy, chooses to wait to judge. In response to sin, he sent his Son as an atonement for all who would receive him.
I think there are some holes in this counter argument, but it makes for a good response and makes us think differently about God and how he deals with evil.
1 comment:
Evil destroys itself. "A house divided cannot stand" Despite all of Satans' attempts to keep the kingdom of heaven from descending to the earth, everyday we are brought closer together and people "are pressing to enter into heaven." (The poem, "The Law," on my blog, refers to this subject.) God doesn't judge, but has given all judgement to the Son. As far as the Father is concerned, we are all His, and bound by His law. Evil cannot stand up to this law, and is destroyed trying. For example: man wages war to kill an idealogy or race, and afterwards, even the victor is brought closer to the enemy in idealogy and race. Despite our efforts countary, one day we will all be one brotherhood. With the advent of mass-communication, mass-transportation and the internet, this progress has escalated tremendously.
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