Posted on 06/02/2008 12:57:45 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
There are likely no words that would really satisfy our minds with the reason evil exists. The radical atheists conclude its very existence is proof God doesn’t exist. We somehow know different.
However, the Bible clearly sets out that He is the creator of everything ex nihilo, including evil. Either that or someone else brought something out of nothing and has creative powers equal to His. I don’t find that in the Book.
And, your perception that nothing happens in history that He does not manage, is also true according to the Scriptures. So, (get set to beat me sensless) free will as we think of it, is even managed according to the Scriputres. Trot out the proof-texts to prove otherwise if you wish, but there are ten thousand episodes of God managing all of man’s affairs (and Scriptural statements stating this unequivocally). I would include in this those who are granted faith and those who are reserved for destruction.
If anyone would like to conduct a rational discussion of this matter, I would be willing. But, put the flame throwers down, first.
I don’t know if I agree completely with Hagee but I know he is NOT an anti-Semite, for certain.”
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Ditto here.
His reasoning falls short in that Scripture does not mandate or command the return of the Jews, but that the end time will follow their return. The problem with the above statement is that God’s time is not our time and that we are to be ready at any time for the return - also, the matter of free choice being a divine gift means He takes our actions, good and bad, and uses them for His purposes.
Illustration of magnifying God's glory:
John 9 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
John 9
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3”Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7”Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10”How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.
11He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12”Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don't know,” he said.
Emphasis added.
Me too. I'd take Hagee over McCain anytime and twice on Sunday.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Anyone who claims to know the Mind of God is arrogant beyond belief.
Hagge’s statement was portrayed by the ‘media for Obama’ as anti-Jewish. That’s funny since it is a quote from the OT and it is what many religious Jews believe.
>You think that wonderful plan includes killing six million Jews to prod the survivors into moving to the middle east?
Psychotic.<
It is psychotic to twist the words to mean what you want them to mean, NOT what Pastor Hagee meant.
>I have wondered why an omnipotent, omniscient God could allow such suffering and evil to exist or even thrive.<
Satan wields much power on this planet. Unfortunately, he has many followers.
Men have been created with free will. God has nothing to do with evil. Thank Him for the will of America and her allies in defeating the inhumane Nazi monsters.
See post #31.
I'm not following how this post relates to what I've previously posted. Are you saying God does not use evil to accomplish good?
I trust most of the evangelicals about as much as I trust the political parties, and that’s basically not at all. When a church is more interested in telling me why I’m going to hell for not living the way they say, than in love, and tolerance, and service, then they don’t get any trust or attention from me.
Any evangelical who can say Hitler was God’s plan, or God’s punishment on anyone, in my opinion is the same kind of monster that Ahmadinejad and other Muslims are. They all preach the same kind of hate, and wish for the same kind of control over people.
No, no, no. God allows free will, and mankind can fall into the deepest evil, like the Holocaust. But it is written that God can make all things work together for those that love God.
The Holocaust was not ordained, it was the work of evil men, but out of the slaughter houses, the state of Israel arose. Don't ever think the Holocaust was God's will, that was man's free will run wild.
I am saying that I do not believe that God creates evil. He may inspire goodness to come out of evil, but I do not think He causes evil.
I would be inclined to agree but Rev 17:17 causes problems.
So do you believe in God or not? If you do, then is God powerless to stop this event? If you don't, perhaps you need to open your mind a bit more. If Evil exists, does God allow it to exist or is evil part of God's will? When God directed Satan to put Job through pain and trial, why did God do this? Meanness? Vanity?
What’s the difference between God causing something vs. allowing it to occur even though he had the power to prevent it? God’s will can be both passive or active.
Read the book of Job. God did not direct that punishment on Job and his family, he allowed satan to do what he did with the exception of not killing Job.
Job remained faithful, and was rewarded with much more than he had lost during satan's testing time.
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