Comments on: Sorting Out the Mystery of the Problem with Evil http://idsblog.com/?p=195 Equipping the Believer with a Theological Foundation Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:47:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Wanda http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2159 Wanda Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:26:55 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2159 Mr. Volker, Thanks for your response. Maybe I did not state my thoughts clearly enough. I totally agree with you. People are responsible for their evil choices and thoughts-for sure. I don't think that I indicated otherwise. I also agree that God uses evil in His sovereign plan--in a way that does not annul His holiness. I believe that God decreed it within His eternal plan -without creating it. I was referring to Genesis 3--that humans are given a choice to adhere to God's word or not. In turn, if we miss the mark-then it affects other people (and those people are still responsible to make good choices even if the have inherited a lot of garbage from their forefathers) Thanks for your response. I enjoy the site and helps. Wanda Mr. Volker,

Thanks for your response. Maybe I did not state my thoughts clearly enough. I totally agree
with you. People are responsible for their evil choices and thoughts-for sure. I don’t think that I indicated otherwise. I also agree that God uses evil in His sovereign plan–in a way that does not annul His holiness. I believe that God decreed it within His eternal plan -without creating it.
I was referring to Genesis 3–that humans are given a choice to adhere to God’s word or not. In turn, if we miss the mark-then it affects other people (and those people are still responsible to make good choices even if the have inherited a lot of garbage from their forefathers)

Thanks for your response. I enjoy the site and helps.
Wanda

]]> By: Geoff Volker http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2157 Geoff Volker Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:55:46 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2157 Wanda, Thanks for your response. Your comments seem reasonable except that Scripture does not view it that way. Those who do evil are responsible for their evil and they cannot blame God. But, in a way that we do not fully understand evil is a part of God's sovereign plan (Act 4:27-28). Thanks again for your comments. Geoff Wanda, Thanks for your response. Your comments seem reasonable except that Scripture does not view it that way. Those who do evil are responsible for their evil and they cannot blame God. But, in a way that we do not fully understand evil is a part of God’s sovereign plan (Act 4:27-28). Thanks again for your comments. Geoff

]]> By: Wanda http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2156 Wanda Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:31:39 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2156 I believe God allows evil due to his unbelievable gift of free choice. Our lives cannot work out in God's plan if we did not have choice. God told us to choose 'life' or 'death'. Unfortunately, the evil of people affect others, innocent others; but , we must see the unbelievable opportunity God has given us to make the choice to walk with Him--or not. If He stopped all evil, then there would not be the working out of the choices He has given. I believe God allows evil due to his unbelievable gift of free choice. Our lives cannot work out in God’s plan if we did not have choice. God told us to choose ‘life’ or ‘death’. Unfortunately, the evil of people affect others, innocent others; but , we must see the unbelievable opportunity God has given us to make the choice to walk with Him–or not. If He stopped all evil, then there would not be the working out of the choices He has given.

]]> By: Dustin S. Segers http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2108 Dustin S. Segers Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:36:11 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2108 Hi Geoff, Great article. I wrote something similar almost two years ago titled "God Decreeing Sin": http://graceinthetriad.blogspot.com/2008/03/god-decreeing-sin.html Hi Geoff,

Great article. I wrote something similar almost two years ago titled “God Decreeing Sin”: http://graceinthetriad.blogspot.com/2008/03/god-decreeing-sin.html

]]> By: R.Curry http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2099 R.Curry Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:20:21 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2099 Thanks! Thanks!

]]> By: Geoff Volker http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2098 Geoff Volker Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:10:45 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2098 R. Curry, I think that it might be a bit clearer to say that the sovereign will of God contains all things both good and evil (Acts 4:27-28). His moral will (Scripture) reveals the holy life that he requires of us all. Though his sovereign will contains evil acts he cannot be blamed for them because he his a holy God. Those who do the sinful acts and they alone are to be blamed for the evil that is done. This is a tough subject. Not because the the truths are complicated but because we struggle with putting it all together, just like the trinity. I hope this helps. Geoff R. Curry,
I think that it might be a bit clearer to say that the sovereign will of God contains all things both good and evil (Acts 4:27-28). His moral will (Scripture) reveals the holy life that he requires of us all. Though his sovereign will contains evil acts he cannot be blamed for them because he his a holy God. Those who do the sinful acts and they alone are to be blamed for the evil that is done. This is a tough subject. Not because the the truths are complicated but because we struggle with putting it all together, just like the trinity. I hope this helps. Geoff

]]> By: R.Curry http://idsblog.com/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-2096 R.Curry Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:38:31 +0000 http://idsblog.com/?p=195#comment-2096 Geoff, great post. My thoughts are not fully developed or thoroughly thought through, but please critique my thinking here: God cannot sin nor perform evil actions because... sin and evil are things contrary to His will. His will is the perfect standard of holiness. The same event (such as Joseph being sold into slavery, or Christ's redemptive work on the cross) can be both God's will (and therefore perfect and holy) as well as (from the human perspective) sinful. God has the right to do as He pleases (He is the Potter) which includes judging someone for something He determined would happen. When Christ was being crucified, God was accomplishing His own will (therefore God was not sinful nor evil), but the humans involved were performing the same action without the consideration of God's will. Their purpose had nothing to do with pleasing God. I appreciate your time. Geoff, great post.

My thoughts are not fully developed or thoroughly thought through, but please critique my thinking here:

God cannot sin nor perform evil actions because… sin and evil are things contrary to His will. His will is the perfect standard of holiness. The same event (such as Joseph being sold into slavery, or Christ’s redemptive work on the cross) can be both God’s will (and therefore perfect and holy) as well as (from the human perspective) sinful. God has the right to do as He pleases (He is the Potter) which includes judging someone for something He determined would happen.

When Christ was being crucified, God was accomplishing His own will (therefore God was not sinful nor evil), but the humans involved were performing the same action without the consideration of God’s will. Their purpose had nothing to do with pleasing God.

I appreciate your time.

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