Question:
Why?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Stealth3si Why?
I don't know since God can't do evil.
Chris
Answer:
Originally Posted by comitatus1 I don't know since God can't do evil.
Chris
allow evil i mean. Why can God allow evil to happen but Christians can't do evil so that good may abound?
Answer:
wait... what?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Stealth3si allow evil i mean. Why can God allow evil to happen but Christians can't do evil so that good may abound?
Well, first of all I'm not sure it's theologically accurate to say that God uses evil to bring about his purposes. On a global scale, perhaps, we can say that God has a hand in the rise and fall of nations, etc. And it's also accurate the say that God has a purpose in allowing sin to exist, in not stepping in and ending everything right now.
But there isn't much Scripture supporting the (unfortunately very common) view that God makes bad things happen in order to test us, to punish us, or to make us into better people. Evil happens because the world is messed up, and it happens at random: any attempt to find a logic or purpose behind the evil in the world will just lead you to a messed-up view of who God is.
Answer:
I like to think (and tell people) bad things happen in this old world because God has given us free will. And if we have free will to do just about anything we want, evil is going to happen because we basically are an evil race.
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Originally Posted by Jaymze13 I like to think (and tell people) bad things happen in this old world because God has given us free will. And if we have free will to do just about anything we want, evil is going to happen because we basically are an evil race. since free will is a myth your argument doesn't happen. Romans 9 is very clear about why God allows evil to happen, so that his people may know the riches of his mercy.

the answer to the original question, because he is God and we are not.
Answer:
Like Bryan said, God is God and we aren't. plus we aren't omniscient so we can't know if something would be for someones best or not.
Originally Posted by Blindman Well, first of all I'm not sure it's theologically accurate to say that God uses evil to bring about his purposes. On a global scale, perhaps, we can say that God has a hand in the rise and fall of nations, etc. And it's also accurate the say that God has a purpose in allowing sin to exist, in not stepping in and ending everything right now.
But there isn't much Scripture supporting the (unfortunately very common) view that God makes bad things happen in order to test us, to punish us, or to make us into better people. Evil happens because the world is messed up, and it happens at random: any attempt to find a logic or purpose behind the evil in the world will just lead you to a messed-up view of who God is.
That isn't how I see it. I believe God has a purpose for everything that happens. For those that love God and are called according to his purpose, he works everything (good or bad) for their good. For those that don't love God and are not called according to his purpose, I think sometimes it could be judgement, helping those who love God in some way or something like that.
Originally Posted by Bryan since free will is a myth your argument doesn't happen. Romans 9 is very clear about why God allows evil to happen, so that his people may know the riches of his mercy.

the answer to the original question, because he is God and we are not.
Free will is a myth? In what way?
(I probably shouldn't have asked, huh? here we go predestination and election again )
Answer:
Originally Posted by Bryan the answer to the original question, because he is God and we are not. Do you think you can elaborate on that? For instance, is it something that God has or can do that we don't have or can't do? Or something to do with God's nature and intentions versus a human's? Or is it merely a power trip?
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Because evil is simply doing something against God's will. He doesn't want us to do certain things, but when we do them anyways, we have done evil/sin. God isn't bound by His own commands.
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Because evil is simply doing something against God's will. He doesn't want us to do certain things, but when we do them anyways, we have done evil/sin. God isn't bound by His own commands.
God's standard of holiness for us is his holiness.
God is holy according to his standard of holiness.
He cannot be unholy.
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Originally Posted by Lightknight Because evil is simply doing something against God's will. He doesn't want us to do certain things, but when we do them anyways, we have done evil/sin. God isn't bound by His own commands.
God isn't bound by His own commands? I think Jesus' life refutes that.
Chris
Answer:
Originally Posted by cngp90 God's standard of holiness for us is his holiness.
God is holy according to his standard of holiness.
He cannot be unholy. It is not a sin for God to take someone's life. It is a sin for a human to take another's life. The fact of the matter is that God isn't human, He isn't bound by the covenant stipulations that were given to Israel. He is bound by His end and He keeps up His end despite all of the times we break our end.
Originally Posted by comitatus1 God isn't bound by His own commands? I think Jesus' life refutes that.
Chris What's that supposed to prove? Jesus was also 100% man along with Him being 100% God. He had to lead what was a perfect human life to be a spotless human sacrifice. So how does what Jesus do prove anything about God as we are refering to Him as?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Lightknight It is not a sin for God to take someone's life. It is a sin for a human to take another's life. The fact of the matter is that God isn't human, He isn't bound by the covenant stipulations that were given to Israel. He is bound by His end and He keeps up His end despite all of the times we break our end.
okay. I think I've gotcha
just sounded kinda wierd.
Answer:
Originally Posted by comitatus1 God isn't bound by His own commands? I think Jesus' life refutes that.
Chris If we applied that same logic to other aspects of the character of God we would have a very heritical view of God.
God is omnipresent? I think Jesus refute that.
God is omniscent? I think Jesus refutes that.
God can't die? I think Jesus refutes that.
It's difficult to use Jesus in these sorts of discussions because of His humanity. To be human He would have to have certain restrictions put on Him. If He didn't, then He wouldn't qualify as fully human.