Thursday, June 12, 2014

ANSWERING THE PROBLEM OF EVIL


The problem is normally stated as follows:

  • There is evil.
  • If God were all-knowing He would know of evil. 
  • If God were all-powerful He could stop evil.
  • If God were all-good He should prevent evil.
LOGICAL CONTRADICTION? 

Some have suggested that Christianity is stuck here in a contradictory predicament.  The presence of evil is a very real presence indeed and any belief system that denies this lapses into certain incoherence. The Bible presents God as the all-knowing being and yet to some it seems as though God may not be aware of the evil we face in this world.  Christian theology states that God is all-powerful and yet there is so much evil that continues in human experience.  Christians believe that God is all-good and yet people wonder why does God not prevent the evil that causes so much pain.  Does God know what we are going through?  Can He stop it?  If He knows and can stop it, why doesn’t He?  

There is a difference between a set of propositions that humans do not understand and an actual logical contradiction.  A contradictory statement is one that presents at least two propositions that both cannot be true at the same time and in the same sense.  For example, it is contradictory to say that all bachelors are married or that Richmond is married to Leanne and Leanne is not married to Richmond.  These are contradictions because they are opposing statements that both cannot be true at the same time and in the same way.  To consider it necessary for God to now (He will in His timing) stop evil because He is all-powerful does not mean that God contradicts Himself for not doing it, but only that we have an expectation that we prefer to impose upon Him.  The same is true of God’s goodness and knowledge.  God is all-knowing, but to question whether He actually knows about the evil only exposes a presumed human expectation upon the divine.  The only reason the question is presented in this manner is to impose an expectation upon God by assuming how He should handle the situation.  The implication is that if God knew, or was really all-good, what was happening here below then He would certainly do what I want Him to do.  These ideas present disappointment in what God should do according to a certain human perspective but they do not offer formal contradictions.  It is perfectly possible that God is all-knowing and knows all about the evil in this world and yet has a purpose for what He now permits.  It is also plausible that God is all-powerful and is moving history to a pre-appointed time in which He ultimately and finally will eradicate evil.  It is also conceivable that God is all-good and is using His power to redeem that which is evil for a greater good. 


THE WAYS OF GOD

God has His ways of handling the wickedness of this world and His ways are not our ways.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  God has a perspective of the universe that we simply do not have.  The Bible also says that God has a divine way of manipulating the evil that occurs in order to achieve an even greater good.  As Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.”  The Almighty is constantly working in people’s lives to redeem that which the world meant for evil and transform it into something which brings about a greater good.  I remember enduring some great difficulties as a child and at the time I did not understand and just wanted someone to take the pain away.  There is still much that I do not understand but I can now look back at the difficulties of my childhood and see how God used that to make me the person I am today.  Those previous times of misery have been turned into beautiful and more effective opportunities of ministry toward others who are enduring the pain of this fallen world.  Romans 8:28 displays all three of the divine attributes in the lives of His people, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  God is all-knowing in that He knows “all things” in the lives of those who “love God”.  God is all-powerful in that He “works together” all things.  God is all-good in that He “works together for good” all these things.  I admit this verse speaks only of God’s attributes actualized in the lives of His called out ones, but rather than debate the extent to which He exercises His attributes I prefer to encourage the reader to receive Christ and enjoy the benefits of God’s knowledge, power, and love.

DEFINING EVIL AND ITS ORIGIN
The presence of evil demands something absolutely good by which one may determine what is evil.  Evil is defined as that which is morally wrong or bad.  In order for something to be morally wrong there first must be a standard of what is morally right.  This perfect righteousness is part of who God is.  Before anything can be categorized as bad there must be a standard of what is good by which to measure that which is bad.  This absolute good is God.  When we say “God is good” we are not only saying that God acts in ways that are good but that God is intrinsic goodness.  The presence of evil is the departure and its results of rebelling against God and His goodness.  

God created life and granted His creatures the gift of actual freedom.  This freedom of agency allows them to be significantly free which allows for the potential of at least two alternatives.  Humans were given actual freedom and the moment this freedom was actualized there came with it two options.  The first option was that which is good, or morally consistent with God, His character, and His commands.  The second option was that which is evil, or morally inconsistent with God, His character, and His commands.  Someone may wonder at this point why did not God just create His creatures in such a way that they were determined only to do what was right?  This determination would not have allowed for actual freedom because if we are not significantly free then we cannot do what is right freely.  The absence of actual freedom would also remove the possibility of doing that which is actually good.  The presence of good actualizes the possibility of that which is evil.  Actual rightness actualizes also the potential for actual wrongness which results in the existence of two alternatives therefore bringing about significant freedom.  The propositions may be stated this way:

  • One of God’s eternal attributes is absolute goodness.
  • God created beings and actualized goodness in the experience of created beings.
  • The actualization of goodness produced the potentiality of it’s opposite which is evil.
  • The actuality of good and the potentiality of evil presented two alternatives which actualized freedom of agency in created beings. 
  • One created being actualized evil by exercising freedom of agency to choose it.
  • Evil originated with this one being.

This one being in whom evil originated is called Lucifer or Satan.  He is the one who initially actualized evil and rebelled against God and later introduced sinful rebellion also to the first humans (Adam and Eve) which God created.  The freedom of agency which was granted to the first humans allowed for the capability of both moral good and moral evil.  The exercise of this freedom resulted in the choosing of evil.  This explains the beginning of the problem with which we are still plagued today, and so we continue in the choosing of evil.  Romans 5:12 puts it this way, “just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

GOD’S REMEDY

God knows all about it.  God has power to overcome it.  God lovingly grants His power to all who will turn away from evil and receive His provision.  Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus was “tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.”  He knows about the evil in this world and He knows about each individual way that evil manifests itself in our lives.  In all of the perfect holiness of Jesus we find the One who is absolute goodness and has power to not be infected by evil.  He was born of a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by the seed of man, indicating the evil of man’s sin was not transmitted to him as it has been to every other human born.  He lived such a perfect moral life that even His judicial prosecutors (Herod and Pilate) confessed they could “find no fault in Him” (John 18:38; 19:4, 6).  When Jesus died on the cross He, “disarmed principalities and powers (evil), He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)  On the third day after His crucifixion Jesus rose victoriously from the dead.  His resurrection reveals the exercise of power over evil and the effects of evil (pain and death).  The Bible also promises that Jesus Christ will return at a time which has been appointed to completely eradicate evil forever (Revelation 19-22).  God is completely aware of the evil in this world and He is acting.  He is alleviating the suffering of many through a variety of means today and one day He will completely eliminate the evil of this world and consign it all to a place called Hell.  He has all the power to do it and He will.

1 In technical philosophical terminology the opposite of good would normally be recognized as not-good rather than evil.  I do not intend to propose a dualistic equality in considering evil as the opposite of good but it seems to me that to identify not-good in practical terminology is to call it evil.  Good is more powerful than evil just as light is more powerful than darkness and it is with this sense of reference in mind that I express these propositions.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Making the Most of What You Have


1 Timothy 4 reminds us to make the most of what we have been given, "14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

Let me cut through my normal sermonic meandering and may we ask ourselves a few very pointed questions from this text:

  • Am I fully utilizing that which God has imparted to me? "do not neglect the gift that is in you"
  • Am I thoughtfully stirring up the giftedness which God has given me?  "meditate on these things"
  • Am I giving myself entirely to the expression of these gifts?  "give yourself entirely to them"
  • Is my progress in Christian growth and service evident to others?  "that your progress may be evident to all"
  • Is my salvation steadfastly persevering?  "take heed to yourself...continue...save yourself"
  • Are others being saved because they are seeing and hearing God's grace alive in me?  "you will save...those who hear you"

Make the most of what you have for the glory of God, your good, and for the eternal sake of others. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

A Most Important Moment for the Future of the Southern Baptist Convention


The International Mission Board (IMB) is in another transition of leadership after 3 years of blessings with Tom Elliff in the top spot.  Although this may be a little sooner than some expected, it is certainly no big surprise considering Elliff’s age (no offense intended).  The IMB is at a pivotal point in its existence and many missions-loving Southern Baptists like me are earnestly praying for a strong, loving, and capable leader to lead this far-reaching ministry at this momentous time.  This is probably the most important moment before us in determining the future of the Southern Baptist Convention.  The IMB is our primary rallying point for cooperative efforts and this moment in time is of colossal importance.  There is so much I do not know but I offer these simple contemplations about connecting with the IMB with the hope that they may in some way make a contribution to our cooperative missions efforts across the globe.

1.  We Need To Win Souls.
I realize that bridge-building needs to take place and in some areas it may take longer than in other areas.  However, too often there are missionaries (and local pastors) who spend so much time building bridges that they never cross over and actually share the gospel.  I also know that different situations around the world sometimes require our missionaries to work through various vocations just to be allowed to be present in the region without persecution and/or expulsion.  We may also want to reconsider any missiological strategy that focuses the vast majority of our personnel in areas of the world that are least responsive to the gospel.  Definitely we should be wise in these matters and be sensitive to where God has prepared people’s hearts to receive the gospel, but we must always be intentional about the one purpose for which we are alive - to preach the gospel and make disciples.  I also don’t want to do construction work that robs local workers of employment and call it missions.  Nor do I see much sense in spending thousands of dollars to send people across the world to have only a “cross-cultural experience” and call it missions.  This is not meant as a grumbling criticism at all, rather it is a clarion call for Southern Baptists to stay focused on what made us the largest missionary sending agency in the world.  May our hearts beat for the winning of souls!  May we constantly be focused on leading people to Jesus!  When people are getting saved, God and His people get excited and there will be great blessings.  “He that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30)

2.  We Need To Train National Leaders.
Jesus is coming back at the pre-appointed time.  We don’t know when that is and we can’t make it happen.  I appreciate the zeal of those who are in a hurry to reach every people group with the gospel and there must be a sense of urgency to our task.  However, we must not stop short of the fullness of the Great Commission.  We must make disciples who will do the same.  2% of a people considered to be evangelized hardly seems like a sufficient number.  I have been in parts of the world where the numbers are much higher among those who are considered “reached” peoples only to find cults that are called churches and faithful members who have heard the name of Jesus but not the Jesus of the Bible.  If there is not faithful pastoral leadership training following the initial evangelistic efforts the work either dissipates altogether or the leadership falls into heresy and departs from the faith once delivered.  I have personally talked with indigenous pastors who say they are thankful to the IMB for bringing them life in Jesus, but now they are infants and still need help only to find that personnel is either not available, not being appointed to that area, or not very helpful.  Some experts may dismiss me as naive or even somewhat ignorant.  I must admit that there is always more that I don’t know but I do know what I have seen and heard in various parts of the world.  Let us be committed to the fullness of the Great Commission and may we train pastors to biblically lead the churches Jesus loves so dearly.  “commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2

3.  We Must Improve Connections With Local Churches.
The days of local churches blindly sending CP gifts is rapidly vanishing.  Churches want involvement in their missions efforts in the least and some even want complete ownership.  The IMB has done well in the attempts to connect churches through the EMBRACE program.  Although there should be extra careful attention to avoid the usual pitfalls of a denominational bureaucratic program these efforts deserve thundering applause.  Churches want to know who they are supporting and are now even adopting people groups for long-term relationships of reaching and teaching.  Praise God!  Be careful, I have been invited on 2 separate occasions to bring a team of volunteers halfway across the world that we might provide childcare for our missionaries while they have a regional meeting amongst themselves.  Please take note, that does not excite missions-minded churches in the U.S.! We want hands on soul-winning and to work side by side with national church leaders in Christ’s building of His church.  Read 1 Corinthians 16 and see how well Paul informed the churches regarding his missionary efforts.  The churches were involved and Paul’s “missions agency” thrived. 

I love the SBC Cooperative Program.  I love the IMB.  I have greatly benefited from the CP efforts of faithful Christians in Baptist churches.  I love being a Southern Baptist.  I don’t really care how young or old the next IMB President may be.  I don’t really care if he has been a pastor, missionary, or VP.  It makes little difference to me how “famous” he is in SBC life.  I do think he should be a man who weeps for souls to be saved and strategically works to get it done in the power of the Holy Spirit.  I love the IMB and I will continue to support our CP efforts, but I really hope the next President agrees with these 3 simple contemplations.