-------------- snip ---------------
August 29, 2007
Good morning family,
I pray that all are doing well this day. Today we will continue our study on the topic of evil. This week we will tackle the question of "Where in the world (or out of this world) did evil came from?" Last week, we were wrapping up how we defined evil which gave us a different way of looking at it. We did leave one open question which was "Did God create evil?". Well the wait is no more because now you get your answer.
Dah Haaaa! The problem is how we view perfection. Just what is perfection one may ask? According to WordNet, perfection is "the state of being without a flaw or defect".2 However, this would contradict what we would understand God to be. Let's look at something:
However, because we were made with this freedom to love, we also have the choice to choose good and/or evil. God did not create evil but because of our design, it made evil possible. God knew this, in the very beginning. Remember Satan was an angel in God's kingdom?
Until next week folks, be blessed and have a Happy Hump Day!
1 Geisler, Norman and Brooks, Ron. When Skeptics Ask. Copyright 1990. pp. 61-63
2 WordNet. http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=perfection
3 SATAN, THE ADVERSARY OF MANKIND. http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/satan.htm
-------------- snip ---------------
Regards,
Antoine E. Hall
Blog: http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22
August 29, 2007
Good morning family,
I pray that all are doing well this day. Today we will continue our study on the topic of evil. This week we will tackle the question of "Where in the world (or out of this world) did evil came from?" Last week, we were wrapping up how we defined evil which gave us a different way of looking at it. We did leave one open question which was "Did God create evil?". Well the wait is no more because now you get your answer.
Revelations 1:8 "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'"In the beginning there was God and He created the heavens and the earth. This same God we have is a perfect God....one without blemish. So, if this is the case why do we have evil in the world today? One would have to think that the flow of things would be broken, right? A perfect God creates perfect creations which cannot do what is imperfect.1 One look at humans and you'd immediately conclude that we are by far not perfect at all, so what happened? Does this means that God is now not perfect?
Dah Haaaa! The problem is how we view perfection. Just what is perfection one may ask? According to WordNet, perfection is "the state of being without a flaw or defect".2 However, this would contradict what we would understand God to be. Let's look at something:
- God made everything perfect1
- One of the perfect things God made was free creatures.1
- Free will is the cause of evil1
- So, imperfection (evil) can arise from perfection (not directly, but indirectly through freedom).1
However, because we were made with this freedom to love, we also have the choice to choose good and/or evil. God did not create evil but because of our design, it made evil possible. God knew this, in the very beginning. Remember Satan was an angel in God's kingdom?
Ezekiel 28:13-17 says, "(13) You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. (14) You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. (15) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. (16) Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. (17) Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings."Satan was also given the freedom to love and honor God, but He chose to love and honor himself. He thought he was higher than God, but was quickly excused from his post. Again, look back earlier. We said that God gave us this freedom in order to love one another. God wishes us to love as He also loves us. If He forced us to love, that in itself would be an act of evil which with God is not possible (we'll talk more on that later).
Until next week folks, be blessed and have a Happy Hump Day!
1 Geisler, Norman and Brooks, Ron. When Skeptics Ask. Copyright 1990. pp. 61-63
2 WordNet. http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=perfection
3 SATAN, THE ADVERSARY OF MANKIND. http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/satan.htm
-------------- snip ---------------
Regards,
Antoine E. Hall
Blog: http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22
