Posted on 09/17/2001 12:48:19 PM PDT by RnMomof7
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW EVIL?
Pastor Rick Warren
Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA.
Tuesday’s horrific mass murder of innocent Americans leaves all rational people shocked, angry, grief-stricken, and numb. Our tears flow freely and our hearts carry a deep ache. How could this happen in our nation?
As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers begin to share their stories of the horror, this tragedy will be become even more personal. As this tragedy becomes more personal, it will become more painful and as our pain deepens, so will the questions. Why does God allow evil to happen? If God is so great, and so good, why does he allow human beings to hurt each other?
The answer lies in both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us a free will. Made in God’s image, he has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. This is one asset that sets us apart from animals, but it also is the source of so much pain in our world. People, and that includes all of us, often make selfish, self-centered, and evil choices. Whenever that happens, people get hurt. Sin is ultimately selfishness. I want to do what I want, not what God tells me to do. Unfortunately, sin always hurts others, not just ourselves.
God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose it. He could have made us puppets, or marionettes on strings that he pulls. By taking away our ability to choose it , evil would vanish. But God doesn’t want us to be puppets. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who voluntarily choose to do so. Love is not genuine if there is no other option.
Yes, God could have kept the terrorist from completing their suicidal missions by removing their ability to choose their own will instead of his. But to be fair, God would also have to do that to all of us. You and I are not terrorists, but we do harm and hurt others with our own selfish decisions and actions.
You may hear misguided minds say “This must have been God’s will.” Nonsense! In a world of free choices, God’s will is rarely done! Doing our own will is much more common. Don’t blame God for this tragedy. Blame people who ignored what God has told us to do: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. That’s why there is no sorrow, pain, or evil there. But this is earth, a fallen, imperfect place. We must choose to do God’s will everyday. It isn’t automatic. This is why Jesus told us to pray “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”
The Bible explains the root of evil: “This is the crisis we're in: God’s light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness...because they were not really interested in pleasing God.” ( John 3:19 Message Translation) We’re far more interested in pleasing ourselves.
There are many other questions that race through our minds during dark days. But the answers will not come from pollsters, pundits, or politicians. We must look to God and his Word. We must humble ourselves and admit that each of us often choose to ignore what God wants us to do.
No doubt this weekend houses of worship across America will be packed.
In a crisis we cry out for a connection with our Creator. This is a deep-seated, universal urge. The first words uttered by millions on Tuesday were “Oh God!” We were made for a relationship with God but he waits for us to choose him. He is ready to comfort, guide, and direct us through our grief. My prayer is that you will attend a house of worship this weekend and reconnect with God. But it’s your choice.
Dr. Rick Warren is founding pastor of America’s second largest congregation, Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, CA.
No, of course not.
What's gobbly gook about it? You don't believe there is anything spiritual? You don't believe there is anything material? You don't believe there is anything ideal?
If you believe that what I am saying is gnostic or pagan, you don't understand gnosticism or paganism.
It is philosophical.
I am full of life and purpose, but American Christianity seems to be dying all around me.
Have you noticed in wotan's philosophy that he is god and God is dependent upon man for His very existence. I noticed that the Bible specifically says that wotan has it 100% backwards.
Of course, I am intimately acquainted with the only True reality that He is and in Him we move and breathe and have our being, just like Acts 17 says. I'm sure that any saint who knows Christ Jesus personally understands this. Right!
CC,
(1) I don't believe that I am God and I never said I was God.
(2) I don't believe that God is dependent on man for his existence, and I never said that he was.
(3) I am genuinely puzzled how you could make such false assertions.
I guess it is a matter of what the defination of is .....is??
Now I know who "I AM" is :>)....
All that is includes you, me, the dog next door, telephone poles, etc., everything, without limit. I am an infinitesimal part of it, as are you.
Therefore, I am not God and you are not God, etc., and God's existence does not depend on any of us. When we die, God endures. My death will be only an infinitesimal change in God.
You are jumping to conclusions rather than trying to undestand what I am saying.
If Barry Bonds were in a room with all members of the San Francisco Giants and said "I define the San Francisco Giants to be all the people in this room", would you then conclude that Barry Bonds thinks he's the San Francisco Giants? That is exactly the kind of non-logic you are applying.
No, you have already called what I said about God as false. Part of it is the fact that in Him we move and breathe and have our being. Therefore, I read what you posted along with what you have already rejected.
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