“I form the light. I create darkness. I bring prosperity. I create disaster. I, the LORD, do ALL these things.”
The second is clearly a result of the first. That is why it is written in relation and in the same structure.
“The point the teacher makes is a stupid one, whether or not God created something that was evil, does not mean he is evil—it means he’s omniscient.”
Obviously I can’t speak for God but since we are having this discussion I would say that God in his infinite wisdom knew that when he created light and it was good, that there would be darkness and also evil as a result.
You see - as a result. Just like Isaiah 45:7 tells us. First comes the good and following comes the bad. In the same structure, for a reason.
positive - negative, positive - negative
Look at it this way:
If all there was is good with no evil then good would flourish and prosper forever and ever. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it?
If all there was is evil with no good then evil would torment itself (hell) and be stagnant.
So evil needs good for a purpose but good does not need evil.
If God created evil like he created good (light,life,etc), then evil would be as powerful as good. Evil is not as powerful as good because evil NEEDS to corrupt good (sin).
We can agree that what the teacher said is incorrect, but there is an important reason why he is incorrect and it is important to understand it. Otherwise, according to the teacher, it could be misunderstood that evil would ultimately prevail and consume everything including God and his Kingdom of Heaven.
And that is not the case - at least not in my Bible!
But anyway - if i have not convinced you by now then we just simply disagree.
I think we both agree that God is in complete control, and leave it at that.
I for one think his consciousness is BEYOND good and evil, and feel that it’s not a contradiction of the bible when someone interprets the contended scripture as him creating evil.
God is ALL there is IMO, everything else is just form.
“In Christ were created ALL things in heaven and on earth
EVERYTHING visible and everything INVISIBLE.... Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in UNITY.” —Col. 1-15-17