"Does God Allow Evil?"

There's a book called “Being Christian: Exploring Where You, God, and Life Connect” by Stephen Arterburn and John Shore that that has really impressed me. The book tackles some simple but complex questions that just about everyone has about being Christian. And they do it in everyday, easy to understand language, as opposed to the language of seminary professors (which they are not). Some of the questions include:

· How do I know that God loves me personally?

· Is there any sin that’s beyond forgiving?

· Will being a Christian help me get rid of my bad habits?

· Why are there so many Christian denominations?

· Should I join a Bible study group?

One of the questions the book addressed was “Why does God allow evil to exist?” This is a tough question, and one that I’ve heard asked more than once. Certainly there are several different kinds of evil; human generated evil and “natural evil” – earthquakes, floods, cancer, etc.—to name two. This month we’ll focus on human generated evil. Here is how Stephen Arterburn and John Shore answer that:

      God allows evil to exist because he allows people to exist. It’s people who do evil, not God. What people at heart almost always really mean when they ask the question is “Why doesn’t God stop evil from happening?” – which, in practical terms, necessarily boils down to the question, “Why doesn’t God stop people from doing evil things?”

      God doesn’t stop any of us from doing what we want to do because doing so would require his taking back the free will he gave us. Because he loves us (not to mention that he created us in his image), violating our free will is not something that God is going to do. And it’s definitely not anything any of us would want God to do. Our free will is what makes us human. Our free will is proof positive that God loves us so much that he endowed us with the ability to completely ignore or deny him if we want to. That is love. God would have to love us a lot less than he does in order to start overthrowing our free will. He’d have to hate us, in fact.

      Stopping people from being able to do evil would mean stopping them from thinking about doing evil, which would mean stopping them from ever having the negative thoughts that necessarily precede evil actions. And that could only result in full mind control.

      When does a thought become “evil”? If I think a person is wearing clothes that look bad, is that an evil thought? If I think that person shouldn’t have left home wearing those clothes, does that thought now qualify as evil? If I wonder how they could possibly look in the mirror and think they look okay, is that thought finally evil? You see the problem. The whole range of thoughts between “not evil” and “evil” constitutes a gray scale of such infinite shade gradation that virtually the only way to stop all evil thoughts (which, remember, necessarily precede evil actions) is to stop all thoughts, period.

      Do no evil = think no evil = have no evil thoughts = the absence of life as we know it. That is why no one really wants God to stop people from doing evil. That evil exists doesn’t prove that God isn’t benevolent. It proves just how benevolent he is.

                So, there is evil in this world because it’s one of those very sad prices we must pay to have free will; to have the ability to be human in the sense that we now define humanity. Overcoming the evil is pretty straight forward: believe in Jesus Christ and allow him to control your life. Turn your thoughts and actions over to Him. At some point we are all going to have evil thoughts. With God’s help through the Holy Spirit we can choose not to act on those thoughts. And then we can ask God to forgive us those thoughts and wipe that sin from our slate.

                Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

by Ed Olson

"The Trinity"

Why do we as Christians believe in the Trinity?  I think we all know the answer is pretty simple, we believe because the Bible teaches that God is a Trinity of three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.  Yes, we also know this is not an easy concept to grasp.  It is very difficult to comprehend how three “persons” can all be one God. Of course, our human existence limits our ability to understand.  Some think it is a logical contradiction. Others call it a mystery.  The Scripture most often cited as proof of the Trinity is Matthew 28:19–20.  It is the Great Commission Jesus gave to His apostles:  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."  At first it might look like Jesus’ baptismal formula includes three figures; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit except he then tells them “I have commanded you” and “I am always with you.”  So He is telling the apostles, and ultimately us, that He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is defined as one God who exists in three eternal, simultaneous, and distinct persons known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  This definition may be enough for some, but for others it isn’t.  There are several analogies used to try and explain the Trinity and all of them fall a little short. But allow me to use one that I found from Matt Slick, President and Founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.  Of all the analogies I’ve heard this one works best for me.  Look first at Romans 1:20: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."

This verse tells us God's attributes, power, and nature, can be clearly seen in creation.  What exactly does that mean?  Should we be able to learn about God's attributes, power, and nature by looking at what He has made?  Certainly.  When a painter paints a picture, some of his personality, some of what makes him who he is can be seen in the painting.  Likewise, when a sculptor creates a work of art, it is from his heart and mind that the source of the sculpture is born.  The work is shaped by his creative ability.  The creators of art leave their marks, something that is their own, and something that reflects who they are.  Is this the same with God?  Has God left His fingerprints on creation?  Of course He has.  So, consider this.  The universe consists of three elements: Time, Space, and Matter. Each of these is comprised of three 'components.' For Time it is Past, Present, and Future.  For space it is Height, Width, and Depth.  For matter it is Solid, Liquid, and Gas. 

As Christians we believe each of the persons of the Godhead is distinct but they are all each God.  As with time, for example, the past is distinct from the present, which is distinct from the future.  Each is simultaneous, yet they are not three 'times,' but one.  They all share the same nature: time.  With space, height is distinct from width, which is distinct from depth, which is distinct from height.  Yet, they are not three 'spaces,' but one.  Again, they all share the same nature: this time it is space. And likewise with matter, solid is not the same as liquid, which is not the same as gas, which is not the same as solid.  Yet, they are not three 'matters,' but one.  

Isn’t it curious that there are three sets of threes?  In other words, there is a trinity of trinities.  If we can look at the universe and notice these qualities within it, isn’t it fair to say then that these are the fingerprints of God upon His creation?  I think so.  Not only is this a simple observation, something that we can really understand, but I like this as a good source for an analogy of the Trinity.

Some non-believers of the Trinitarian doctrine say that the Trinity is really about three gods, not one.  They say that God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit make three gods, since the Father plus the Son plus the Holy Spirit would make three.  But why do we have to add each to come out with three.  Instead of adding, why not multiply?  One times one times one equals one.  Who says it must be addition by which the doctrine is judged?  I don’t think it has to be.  The doctrine should stand or fall based upon biblical revelation, not human logic.  So we may not be able to completely understand it.  We may not be able to convince everyone that it is true.  But, I think, we can rest assured that the Bible tells us it is true, God’s creation of nature gives us a glimpse that it is true, so we need only believe it.

 

—Ed Olson

 

"While We're Waiting..."

 Ever wonder what the Bible says about the end times? If you have, you don't want to miss out on this sermon series! Come join us on Sunday mornings at either the 8:30 or 11:00 am service as we dive into the Word of God. We're located at 14900 San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio, TX. We'll also have the sermons posted online at our website: http://www.sppcsa.com/pages.asp?pageid=93516

Date                            Text                                                                                        

September 9               Acts 1: 6-11     ("Looking is Not for Us")                                                     

September 16             Matthew 25: 1-13 ("Carpe Manana")             

September 23             Zephaniah 3: 8f ("Stay True to the Faith")                                              

September 30             II Peter 3: 1-15a ("What is the Significance of My Life?")                        

October 7                    Isaiah 25: 6-10 ("Anticipating God's Great Party")

October 14                  Ephesians 1:3-23 ("What Does Your Seal Say?")                   

October 21                  Matthew 13: 24f (Wheat and Weeds)                                   

October 28                  Rev. 21:1-4, 22-22:5 (Heaven---God’s Presence) 

November 4                Matthew 25: 14-30 (10 Talents)                                            

November 11              Habakkuk 3:17f (Faithfulness w/out reward)

November 18              I Thessalonians 4: 13-5:11 (“Rapture”/Day of the Lord)       

November 25              Rev. 5 (Worthy is the Lamb; King crowned on cross)            

December 2                Isaiah 11: 1-9 (restoration of paradise) 
   

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