Christian Theology and World View
vs
Other World Views
Key Theological/World View Questions
►
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What is the nature of God?
What is the nature of creation/the physical universe?
What is the nature of the relationship between man and
God?
Where does Jesus fit into all this (Christology)
Outline
► Theology:
► World
ideas about God
View: What is man’s place in the
world?
B. Christianity: The Christian World View
►
One's world view is the
perspective one uses to process
and interpret information
received about the world.
►
James W. Sire put it this way, "A
world view is a set of
presuppositions (ie. assumptions)
which we hold about the basic
makeup of our world."
►
A Jain World
View
James W. Sire, The Universe Nex t Door
(InterVarsity Press, 1997)
A “Good” World View Defined
A. It is true.
It is consistent with reality.
It is consistent with what we know to be true from experience. It works.
B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want
answered.
What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of God?)
What is the nature of external reality-the world around us?
What is a human being?
What happens to a person at death?
Why is it possible for us to know anything at all?
How do we know what is right and wrong?
What is the meaning of human history?
What is my purpose?
What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime reality?"
C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than they would
otherwise have been if they held to competing alternative world
views.
Definitions
►
Animism: Anima = spirit. A religious system which includes the
belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects and phenomena.
►
Polytheism: Poly = many. A belief that the universe is
governed by many gods.
►
Pantheism (monism): Pan = all. A belief that a spirit fills the
universe. God is the universe, and we are part of God.
 Panentheism: God is in everything (stoicism)
►
Dualism: A belief that the universe is governed by nearly
equally matched forces of good and evil. (Zoroastrianism,
Manichaeism, Taoism)
Definitions (cont.)
►
Deism: A belief in a distant, uninvolved God who is creator,
but does not interact with his creation. (Epicureanism)
►
Monotheism: A belief that the universe is created/governed
by a single omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent spiritual
being.
The Christian World View
1. The physical world is: a. real
b. created out of nothing (ex
nihilo) and c. essentially good.
2. There exists an unseen spiritual reality which is not limited to or
defined by the physical reality. Human beings have a spiritual
aspect to their nature.
3. The creator of both the physical and spiritual realm is the God who
reveals himself in the Bible.
4. Human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature, The
spiritual nature is more essential as it is eternal.
5. God is not easily defined but he can be characterized by certain
qualities. God is a person. God is love, God is just, God is holy, God
is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
The Christian World View (cont.)
6. Although all God’s creation, including the physical world is
good, evil does exist. Such evil is the result of freedom of
will given to created beings and their subsequent decision
to use that freedom to rebel--to “sin”
7. Because of God’s justice and his holiness, those who choose
to rebel against him will ultimately be judged and separated
from God for eternity.
8. The solution to evil, to sin and its eternal consequences is
provided by God through the atoning substitutionary
sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Bible and Other World Views
►
If Genesis 1:1 is true, then animism, polytheism, pantheism,
dualism, naturalism, deism, postmodernism and every other
ism is false.
►
Conflicting world views cannot be accommodated with one
another. Biblical theism is incompatible with all these other
world views.
Biblical Theology
►
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
►
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at
God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of
what was visible.
Hebrews 11:3
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
son….
Hindu World View
►
Maya. The physical world is an illusion.
►
Brahman. Universal soul.
►
The goal: Nirvana; oneness with the universal soul which
is within yourself.
►
The Hindu world view has man looking inward, not
outward.
The Four Noble Truths of Siddhartha
►
Suffering is not getting what one wants.
►
The cause of suffering is desire which leads to rebirth.
►
The way to end suffering is to end desire.
►
The way to the end of desire and of suffering is the eightfold path.
►
Buddhism encourages dispassion, not compassion.
The eight-fold path to bodhi/dharma/nirvana/lack of
suffering
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►
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Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
viewpoint (the four noble truths).
values.
speech.
actions.
livelihood
effort
mindfulness
meditation
So, What is New Age, Really?
►
You are God, I am God, the trees are God, we all are
God!
►
New Age is Western pantheism
►
New Age is a syncretistic blend of Gnosticism, Hinduism,
Spiritualism, Mysticism, Buddhism and Paganism.
►
New Age is Monism! God is everything I am God!!!
“Once we begin to see that we are all God, then I think the whole
purpose of life is to re-own the God-likeness within us.”
Islamic Worldview:
God is very distant from mankind
In Islam, Allah determines everything, even
who will choose to follow him.
2:142, 6:39 6:125
Inshallah God willing. It is God’s will that
people suffer.
.
Islamic Theology
“Surely good deeds take away evil
deeds” (11:114).
Salvation by own effort
(40:9, 39:61, 7:43)
Charity atones for sins
(2:271,277)
► Earn
► Earn
► Earn
► Earn
grace.
favor of Allah.
salvation.
paradise.
Salvation by own effort
(40:9, 39:61, 7:43)
Charity atones for sins
(2:271,277)
►Earn
grace.
►Earn favor of Allah.
►Earn salvation.
►Earn paradise.
Sura 23:102-103
Those whose balance of good deeds is
heavy, they will be successful. But those
whose balance is light will be those who
have lost their souls
Islam: Salvation is earned through the
efforts of those who were pre-selected by
Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise.
Christianity: Salvation is granted by
the grace of a loving God to those who,
through faith and repentance and
baptism accept that love.
A Question: Who reaches out to whom?
Initiative
Hum an approach
God
Mankind
Truth
God
Mankind
Works Salvation: Man
reaches out to God.
Salvation by Grace: God
reaches out to man.
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Christianity
Jaina
Sikkhism
Gnosticism
New Age
Buddhism?
The Biblical World View
►
The physical world is real and it is good. Genesis 1:31
 Only Islam agrees with this conclusion.
►
This world is not our home.
►
But, compassion…
►
Christian groups are responsible for virtually all the world’s
efforts to deal with poverty and human suffering in general
and to work for social justice.
James 1:27 Micah 6:8
Summary
►
The theologies of world religions are fundamentally and
diametrically opposed to one another. Many paths to
the same God is a ludicrous philosophy.
►
The world view of Christianity is radically different from
any other religion. They cannot both be right!
►
The truth of the Bible is confirmed by
 Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy, types and
foreshadows, historical accuracy, scientific evidence, etc…)
 Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and others, and
especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:3,4).
How, then, should we interact with members of other
religions?
►
Find common ground.
►
Give respect where respect is due.
►
Acknowledge the good and do not make personal attacks—
especially toward revered people.
►
Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and introduce
them to Jesus Christ.
►
This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34
The Bible and Other World Views (cont.)
►
Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by arguing
for the Christian World View.
 v. 22-23 Paul finds common ground.
 v. 24-28 Paul argues for the superiority and the truth of
the Christian world view as opposed to
Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism
 v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher. “ For we
are his offspring.”
 v. 29-31 Having laid the groundwork, Paul points them to
Jesus.
 v. 32-34 Some, but not all were converted.
Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views
►
God is Creator. He exists outside creation.
 Disproves pantheism/Stoicism.
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God is close to us.
 Disproves deism/Epicureanism.
►
God is personal and has given us an individual
purpose.
►
God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil will be
defeated
 Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.
Greek Background to Christian Theology
►
Pythagoreanism/Platonism
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Gnosticism
►
Stoicism
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Epicureanism
Epicurus
Intro to the History of Christian Theology
►
Trinity and the nature of God
►
Christology
►
Nature of sin, grace and redemption
Early Motivations to Christian Theologians
►
Apologetics:
Response to Greek
philosophical
criticism
 Logos (Justin Martyr)
►
Heresy: Orthodox
response to
heterodox theology
Origen of Alexandria AD 185-254
Emmanuel Emeh
Evangelist, ICOC Nigeria
emmanuelemeh@yahoo.co.uk
A. The Trinity as an Apologetic Issue
►
A stumbling block to the Greeks.
 God distant, unchanging, impassive
►
A major stumbling block to Muslims.
 Tritheism/Polytheism
►
A problem for unbelievers in general.
 Not logical/not rational
Question: What is the trinity?
Do you believe in the trinity doctine?
Heresies
►
Most, if not all of these heresies were attempts to
rationalize the relation between Father and Son and
the nature of Jesus.
►
Ebionites: Jesus a mere man.
►
Adoptionism: God adopted the man Jesus at his baptism
►
Gnosticism:
►
Docetism Jesus only appeared to be human
►
Arianism Jesus was not divine—he was a created demigod
 Jesus a spiritual emanation which occupied a human.
Cerinthus, Valentinus
Early Heresies (cont.)
►
Modalism The “Father” the “Son” and the “Holy
Spirit are different aspect of a single entity,
appropriate to the situation.
►
Monophysitism Two natures before, one nature
after the union. “God in a bod.”
►
Nestorianism Jesus virtually two persons: one
human and one divine. Sought to emphasize the
humanity of Jesus.
The Orthodox Response
►
►
Use of Greek terms, modes of argument
Polemical Writings
 Against Heresies Irenaeus
►
Appeal to apostolic (later church) authority
►
Creeds
►
Councils
Doctrine of the Trinity
► Tertullian
AD 160-220
 The Father and the Son
are different “not in
condition, but in
degree; not in
substance, but in form;
not in power, but in
aspect”
Creeds
►A
second century Roman creed (said at
baptism)
 I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our
Lord, and in the Holy Ghost, the holy church
and the resurrection of the flesh.
Church Councils
►
Nicaea AD 325
 Arianism Jesus homoousios With the Father
►
Constantinople AD 381
 Nicene Creed Holy Spirit also homoousious
►
Ephesus AD 431
 Nestorianism condemned, Pelagius anathematized.
►
Calchedon AD 451
 Define the “two natures” of Jesus
►
Constantinople II AD 553
 Monophysitism
►
Constantinople III AD 680
 Monothelitism
►
Nicaea II AD 787
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of
all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the
Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios, of the same
substance, consubstantial as opposed to homoiousios) with the Father, by whom
all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was
crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the
third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to
judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from
the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped
and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism
for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life
of the world to come. Amen.
Is this what we believe?
Norwegian-1300AD
Apologetics and the Trinity
►
Bottom line, the trinity is a mystery. We cannot
defend it as a logical concept.
►
It is not rational, but it is also not irrational.
►
The “apologetics” of the trinity is that God became
a man so that he could reach out to us—so that we
could know Him.
Christology
What is the nature of Jesus?
Questions For Thought:
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How can God be a baby?
Who was taking care of the universe while God was
a baby?
Did Jesus know he was God when he was 3 years
old?
Did Jesus have the ability to work miracles at 5
years?
To what extent was the omnipotence/omniscience
of the Son limited while he was incarnate?
What happened at Jesus’ baptism?
When Jesus prays to the Father, is he talking to
himself?
Chalcedon AD 451
“In agreement with the holy fathers we all unanimously teach
that we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is one
and the same Son; the same perfect in Godhead and the
same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, the
same of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the
Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in
manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten of the
Father before all ages as regards his Godhead and in the
last days the same, for us and for our salvation, begotten
of the Virgin Mary, the theotokos (as opposed to the
Christotokos of the Nestorians) (the God-bearer, the
mother of God) as regards his manhood; one and the
same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two
natures without confusion, without change, without
division, without separation…
Chalcedon (cont.)
“Without confusion and without change”
to oppose monophysitism/Coptic Christianity
Monophysite = one nature
“Without division, without separation”
to oppose Nestorianism
Q: Are we splitting hairs here?
Sin, Redemption, Salvation
► Augustine!!!!!

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The City of God
Total depravity
Monoergism
Predestination
Original Sin
Infant baptism required for
salvation
Sacramentalism
Transubstantiation
City and State
Opposed Donatists
Augustine of Hippo (from 6th century)
Augustine
►
Strong emphasis on depravity of man.
►
The Sovereignty of God: “The City of God”
►
Monergism.
►
Very logical!
Augustine: “An infant who dies unbaptized is damned even
where no baptism is possible.”
► “Rightly, therefore, by virtue of that condemnation which runs
throughout the mass [of humanity] is he not admitted into
the kingdom of heaven, although he was not only not a
Christian, but was unable to become one.”
►
Augustine on Free Will
► “A
man’s free will avails for nothing
except to sin.”
Pelagius AD c. 354-430
Works Salvation?
Affirmed the existence
of free will. “Evil is not
born with us, and we are
procreated without
fault.” Rejected infant
baptism. Taught that we
become holy through
our own effort?
Adam was not immortal
“We are procreated
without fault”
Thomas Aquinas
1225-1274
Aristotle
Revelation by reason
Scholasticism
Arguments for existence of
God
Natural Theology
“Summa Theologica”
Thomas Aquinas:
“God, therefore, is the first cause, who moves causes both
natural and voluntary. And just as by moving natural
causes He does not prevent their actions from being
natural, so by moving voluntary causes He does not
deprive their actions of being voluntary; but rather is He
the cause of this very thing in them, for He operates
ineach thing according to his own nature.”
In other words, Aquinas believed in free will and not a
strict monergism.
Question:
Do you believe in Predestination?
History of the Doctrine of Predestination
► Augustine
of Hippo AD 354-430 “The City of
God”
► Martin Luther (1483-1546): an Augustinian monk.
► Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) Reformed Theology.
► John Calvin (1509-1564) “Institutes of the
Christian Religion”
► The key: A profound belief in the sovereignty of
God
► Double Predestination and TULIP
Martin Luther 1483-1541
Augustinian Monk
Faith Alone
Grace Alone
Scripture Alone
Predestination
Martin Luther:
“Away with James… His authority is not great enough to
cause me to abandon the doctrine of faith [alone] and
to deviate from the authority of the other apostles and
the entire Scripture.” St. James’ epistle is really an
epistle of straw, compared to these others (Romans,
Galatians, John) for it has nothing of the nature of the
gospel about it.”
Ulrich Zwingli
1484-1531
Opposed baptismal
regeneration
Double Predestination
Reformed Theology
“Those individuals who end
up damned forever in hell are
also eternally determined by
God for that fate.”
The Radical Reformation
►
►
►
►
Separation of Church and State
Opposed strict predestination
Opposed infant baptism
Believed in baptismal regeneration
Menno Simmons
John Calvin
1509-1564
Institutes of Christian Religion
His emphasis: the sovereignty
of God
TULIP
TULIP
► Total
depravity
► Unconditional election
► Limited atonement
► Irresistable grace
► Perseverence of the saint (once saved,
always saved)
Jacob Arminius
(1560-1609)
Opposed Reformed idea of
predestination.
Believed that man can
(and must) respond to
God’s offer of grace.
Are we Arminians?
►
Q: What is the nature of “the Fall” of mankind? What
happened in the garden?
►
Puritans: “In Adam’s fall we sinned all.”
►
Romans 5:12-19 What “death” is this in v. 12
► Q:
Scriptures which appear to support the
doctrine of predestination?
► Q:
Scriptures which prove free will and
refute predestination?
Predestination?
►
Romans 8:28-30
►
Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can separate us (except
we ourselves because we have free will)
►
John 10:27-29
hands…
►
Romans 9:10-21
No one can snatch them out of my
(read v. 14-18)
Free Will
► Deuteronomy
30:19-20 (and many others)
God calls us to make a choice.
► Ezekiel
18:19-20
Puritans: “In Adam’s
fall, we sinned all.”
Jonathan Edwards
“A Sinner in the
Hands of an Angry
God.”
How do we know we
are of the elect?
1800’s America: Predestination Light
Once Saved, Always Saved
►
Preservation of the Saints
►
Believer’s Prayer.
►
Once God saves you, in is impossible to lose your
salvation, no matter what.
Hebrews and Falling Away
►
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►
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They shall never enter my rest 3:11, 4:5
We have come to share in Christ if w e hold firm ly to
the end the confidence w e had at first. 3:14
They were not able to enter because of their unbelief
3:19
Be careful not to be found to have fallen short of it. 4:1
Some… did not go in because of their obedience 4:6
Let us make every effort to enter that rest so that no
one w ill fall by follow ing their example of
disobedience 4:11
Do you get the point?
Hebrews 6:4-6 Who is he talking to?
► a.
been enlightened (NT church “enlightened” =
baptized)
► b. tasted the heavenly gift (salvation?)
► c. shared in the Holy Spirit
► d. tasted the goodness of the word
► e. tasted the coming age (saved)
► Yes,
you can fall away! Conclusion: You had
better move on toward maturity in Christ.
Hebrews 6:4-8
►
It is im possible … if they fall away, to be brought back to
repentance.
►
They are crucifying the Son of God all over again.
►
Land that produces thorns… will be burned.
Falling Away Hebrews 10:26-31
►
►
►
►
►
►
Crucifying the Son of God all over again.
Subjecting Jesus to public disgrace
Trampling the Son of God under foot. (Heb 10:29)
Insulted the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29)
Blasphemed (spoken against) the Holy Spirit (Matt
12:32)
Committed the unforgivable sin (1 John 5:16 )
►
What is the “unforgivable sin?” To willfully, deliberately
continue in sin. (Hebrews 10:26)
►
Also; Hebrews 12:14-17, 12:25 you will not escape… if
you turn away…
God’s Assurance: Hebrews 6:9-20
Two unchangeable things:
God’s Word
God’s Oath (Genesis 22:16-18)
Jesus, your anchor, is behind the veil with the
Father
God’s Assurance: Hebrews 10:19-23
We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
Let us draw near to God… in full assurance of
faith.
For he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35-36 Do not throw away your
confidence; it will be richly rewarded…. You will
receive what he has promised.
Biblical Predestination: A Summary
►
God predestined all of us for salvation.
►
God’s sovereign will is that we have free will to
choose to accept or refuse the offer.
►
God predestined that Jesus would come and die to
provide salvation for our sins.
►
God intervened in history to make this happen.
►
But God did not steal free will from anyone.
►
God can perfectly predestine and perfectly give free
will at the same time. God is awesome!!!
Summary
►
Correct theology (God, Jesus, salvation) is harder to
find than you think.
►
Do not fall into the trap of relying on human reason
too heavily.
►
Always protect the mystery.




Trinity
Jesus
Faith, Works and Grace
Foreknowledge vs. Foreordination
Attributes of God
Eternal
► Immutable
► Omnipresent
► Omniscient
► Omnipotent
► Sovereign
► Righteous, Holy
► Love
► Justice
Ask yourself: If God is omniscient, then what does
that mean for me?
►
God is Eternal, God is Immutable
►
One of the greatest properties of God is his
existence
►
Exodus 3:14 Tell them “I AM” sent you.
►
Psalm 90:1-4 From everlasting to everlasting.
►
Psalm 102:25-27
►
Does God change? Does God change his mind?
(Gen 18)
God is Omniscient and Omnipresent
►
“Presence” = awareness, knowledge,
communication, connection.
►
1 Kings 8:27 Even the highest heavens cannot
contain you.
Jer 23:23-24 He fills heaven and the earth.
Acts 17:27-28 He is not far from each one of us.
Hebrews 4:12 Nothing is hidden from God’s sight.
Psalm 139:1-16 Where can I flee from your
presence?
1 Cor 2:10 The Holy Spirit searches all things.
►
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God’s Omnipotence and Sovereignty
►
►
►
►
►
2 Chron 20:6 You rule over all the kingdoms…
Ephesians 1:19-21 ...far above all rule and
authority, power and dominion and every title that
can be given, not only in the present age, but in the
age to come.
Job 42:2 You can do all things; no plan of yours can
be thwarted.
Isaiah 46:9-10 My purpose will stand. I will do
what I please. Romans 9:10-29.
Are there any things God cannot do? Yes!
 He cannot behave in an ungodly way.
 He cannot lie, he cannot commit an unloving act.
 God can do all things which his nature allows him to do.
God’s Righteousness and Holiness
►
1 John 1:5 God is light. In him there is no darkness
at all.
►
Psalm 119:137 Righteous are you O Lord.
►
God is righteous, pure, blameless, unmixed, without
fault
►
God cannot dwell with wickedness.
God’s Love
►
1 John 4:7-12 This is Love… God is Love
 God is not just loving, he is love.
►
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is.
►
Eph 4:14-19 Four dimensions.
God’s Justice
►
►
►
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Romans 3:21-26 God’s righteousness and justice
are connected.
Justice is consequences for rebellion and reward for
good.
Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust.
Romans 9:14 What shall we say, then, is God
unjust?
Jeremiah 12:1 You are always just.
Romans 8:1 The Law of sin and death.
Ezekiel 18:20 God’s ways (justice) are not our ways
(justice).
Summary
►
God’s justice and God’s love met at the cross.
►
Why did Jesus die? Because God’s justice and his
love were at cross purposes. Romans 3:25-26.
 Because of the cross, God is just and the one who justifies.
►
Who would have thought of this?
D. The Problem of Evil
If God is good, if God is
loving and if God is
omniscient, omnipotent,
omnipresent,… why is
there evil in the world?
What is Evil?
► Is
it real?
► Is
it a “thing”?
► Is
it simple “the absence of good” or “the
absence of God?
► Did
► Is
God create evil?
God responsible for evil?
Augustine: Evil and Free Will
►
About Augustine: “Evil arises from the corruption
of a nature which is essentially good. What is
called evil is good corrupted; if it were not
corrupted it would be wholly good; but even
when it is corrupted, it is good in so far as it
remains a natural thing, and bad only in so far as
it is corrupted.”
Augustine on Evil
►
When accordingly it is inquired, whence is evil, it
must first be inquired what is evil, which is
nothing else than corruption, either of the
measure, or the form or the order, that belong to
nature. Nature therefore which has been
corrupted, is called evil, for assuredly when
incorrupt it is good; but even when corrupt, so far
as it is nature, it is good, so far as it is corrupted it
is evil.
►
Sin is not the striving after an evil nature, but the
desertion of a better, and so the deed itself is evil,
not the nature which the sinner uses amiss. For it
is evil to use amiss that which is good.
Apologetics and Evil: What are the
alternatives?

Dualism: Good and Evil in an unending more or
less equal balance

Pantheism: The physical world is evil. Evil is
being tied down to the physical—it is missing the
god-likeness in you. Physical things are an
illusion (maya) and therefore are ultimately not
real. Therefore, evil is not ultimately real.

Naturalism: There is no evil. It is not real.

Postmodernism: Evil???

Determinism/Fate God is the cause of evil.
Christianity and the Problem of Evil
►
Evil is very much real. Quite indirectly, it is the
product of God’s love. God loved us so much that
he loved us and that he gave us a choice. We chose
evil, and thus evil came into the world.
►
Remember your alternatives:




Predestination/Determinism God is the cause of evil.
Deny evil exists
Physical creation is evil, but you are God
An unending battle/balance between good and evil.
Why Is There Evil?
► Because
► That
is why the tree was in the garden.
► What
► Can
God loves us.
does love do?
love exist without free will?
What about Satan and Demons?
►
Who created Satan?
►
Was Satan created evil? If not, how did he become
evil? 2 Peter 2:4.
►
Are demons real?
►
If demons are real, how did they become demonic?
Are they “fallen angels?” Jude 6
 Note: Isaiah 14 and “Lucifer” is problematic
Evil Beings (cont.)
►
Does demon possession still happen today? Why
or why not?
►
How does demon possession relate to free will?
►
Will there be free will in heaven?
E. The Problem of Pain and
Suffering
Haiti, January, 2010
The Problem of Pain and
Suffering
► An
►A
apologetic/intellectual problem
human problem
Pain and Suffering: An Apologetic
Problem
► Agnostic:
 God of the Bible is completely good and loving.
 God of the Bible is all-knowing and all-powerful.
 Conclusion: Given all the pain and suffering in the
world, the God of the Bible is not real.
Examples of Suffering
► Are
they truly bad/evil?
► Are
they God’s fault?
Kinds of Suffering
► Physical
pain: acute and chronic
► Disease: acute and chronic
► Broken relationships
► Poverty, hunger, etc.
► Violence; terrorism, genocide, violent crime, etc.
► Chronic fear (rape, natural disasters, abuse, etc.)
► Disappointment, feelings of failure, loss of hope
► Death of a loved one, mourning
Bottom line, there is a lot of pain and
suffering in the world.
Question: Is this because God does not
care, or is this because he is not
sufficiently powerful to prevent human
suffering and evil in the world?
Caution: There is no simple answer.
Causes of Suffering
► Free
Will
► Sin
► Natural
Disasters
► Foolishness
Free Will: God Gives Us a Choice
► Deuteronomy
30:15-20
► Joshua
24:15
► John 7:17
► Question:
What is the alternative?
► Question: Is this a sign that God does not love
us?
► God took a huge risk…
Free Will, An Illustration: The Prodigal Son
Cause of Human Suffering and Evil: SIN
► The
great majority (but not all) of suffering is the
result of sin






Addiction, lack of self-control
Sexual immorality, perversion and abuse
Anger, violence
Greed
Pride, arrogance, jealousy, desire for control
Selfishness
God’s Moral Law is Simple: Sin Produces Suffering
►
Exodus 20:5-6 You shall not bow down to them (the
idols you have made) or worship them; for I, the Lord
your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for
the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth
generation of those who hate me, but showing love to
thousands who love me and keep my commands.
►
God is love and God is just.
►
Bear in mind Ezekiel 18:19-20
Is Sin the Cause of All Suffering?
► Job:
Why did he suffer?
► John
9
► Is
AIDS God’s punishment for homosexuality?
No!
Tsunami off Sumatra in 2004: Whose sin was
this a punishment for?
Causes of Suffering #3: Natural Causes
► Plate
Tectonics
► Weather
► Bacteria
► These
are all very good things.
A Question: Is Pain Evil?
► Touch
a burner on the stove
► Broken Bone
► Overeating
► Emotional Pain
► Pain
is Good. Pain is from God
► But…
Not all pain is explained so easily.
A Question: Is Death Evil?
► For
plants and animals, death is a positive good.
► Isaiah 57:2
► Philippians 1:21
► For humans, death is a transition, not an end.
► If
the atheist is right, then maybe death is evil,
but if the atheist is right, there is no evil.
Question: Is Suffering Evil?
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Psalm 30:5 For Humans, without suffering there is no joy.
John 9:1-3 Suffering, if received correctly, glorifies God.
Romans 8:28 All kinds of suffering can be used for good
(but be careful how you use this passage)
Romans 5:3, James 1:2-3 Suffering produces good
character. No pain, no gain.
1 Peter 2:20-22, 2 Tim 3:12. Suffering is the natural result
of doing good.
Coll 1:24-29, 1 Pet 4:12-17 Suffering is how we come to
know Christ and to fill up his suffering.
Through shared suffering is how we become close to one
another.
Suffering and Evil: The Apologetic Problem
A Summary
►
Most suffering is the result of free will and our choice to
sin. It is because God loves us, not because he does not
care or is not powerful enough to stop us from suffering.
►
Pain is not evil, death is not evil, suffering is not evil. All
of these are gifts from a loving God.
The Problem of Pain and Suffering Part II
The Human Problem
► Our
response to suffering depends on our world
view.




What is the Hindu world view?
What is the Buddhist world view?
What is the world view of Islam?
What is the world view of the
atheist/naturalist?
The Christian World View
► The
physical world is real.
► The physical world is good, not evil. (Gen 1:31)
► Pain and suffering are very real, but they are not
the problem: the human problem is sin and
separation.
► The
Christian response: Compassion! Micah 6:8,
James 1:27
Julian “the apostate.” (332-363)
“Atheism (i.e. Christian faith) has been specially
advanced through the loving service rendered to
strangers, and through their care for the burial
of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a
single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless
Galileans care not only for their own poor but for
ours as well; while those who belong to us look
in vain for the help that we should render them.”
God Understands (and so should we)
►
God is ready and willing to hear our complaints.
 Habakkuk 1:2-4, Jeremiah 12:1
 Even Jesus cried out in his suffering. “My God, my God…
►
Jesus can relate fully to our suffering.
 Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:15.
 This ought to affect our response to others’ suffering. 2 Cor 5:14-15
 Look at Jesus’ response to suffering: John 11:35 Jesus wept.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… Compassion.
G. The Problem of Hell
► The





most difficult questions:
The Question of Evil
The Problem of Suffering
The Trinity
Violence for God in OT
The Problem of Hell
The Problem of Justice and the Problem of
Hell
► Would
a loving God send one of those
he loves to eternal torment in hell?
► We
► But
understand discipline….
hell is not about discipline. It is
not an improvement program. It is a
final state.
The Problem of Hell
►
Romans 3:10f There is no one righteous, not even one.
►
Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written
in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev
21:8 …the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second
death. Rev 20:10 … They will be tormented day and night
for even and ever.
►
Does God choose to send us to hell? No! We choose hell
and God, in his justice, accepts our decision.
►
Is suffering in hell literally eternal? Is joy in heaven
literally eternal?
Attributes of God
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Eternal
Omnipresent
Omniscient
Omnipotent
Righteous, Holy
Love
Justice
God is not merely loving, he is love
God, in his awesomeness is fully love and fully just
Love and Justice
►
For God so loved the world…
►
►
The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23
The law of sin and death Rom 8:2
►
We like God’s love, but we are not so fired up
about his justice.
How Should I Feel About This?
►
When we reach heaven, we will understand and
fully appreciate, on an emotional level, God’s
justice.
►
Rev 11:17-18 Rev 16:5-6 The elders are thankful
that God’s judgement has finally come. You are
just, O God.
►
Psalm 94:1-3 David How long, O Lord
Here is the Good News
►
God’s love met God’s justice at the cross. As far as
we are concerned, love won.
►
Romans 3:21-26
F. Violence and Slavery in OT
►
The critic of Christianity: The God of the Old Testament
is a sadistic, violent, ethnic cleanser.
►
1 Samuel 15:2-3 “This is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘I
witnessed what the Amelekites did to the Israelites when
they opposed them along the way as they were coming out
of Egypt. Now, go and attack the Amelekites, and
completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare
them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and
sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
►
This is pretty tough stuff!
Response to the Question of Violence in the OT
►
If you are not bothered by this on some level, I
am worried about you!
►
The argument assumes that physical death is
bad/evil. This is a false assumption. Sin is evil
but death is not. Death is a transition, hopefully,
to something better.
►
God has a perfect right to judge—not us.
►
There is the issue of the religion of the
Amelekites. Sacrificing of children in fire,
worshipping gods by having sex with a prostitute
in the temple, etc.
►
The situation for the children in this situation was
hopeless.
Violence in the OT (cont.)
►
In the case of Amelek and other Canaanites, both God’s love
and his justice demanded that something be done.
►
Either God was going to create a nation or he was not. If
God is going to have a “people,” then such people must
have a physical land and must have an army.
 God’s plan is to choose a man, then a nation, through whom to
send a savior. God’s plan to bless humanity through Jesus
trumps all else.
 It is sinful to take the life of another in anger, out of greed or
selfishness, but it is not necessarily sinful to take a life in war.
►
Everything God did to Israel as a nation was to limit their
ability to wage war.
 No authority to establish an empire.
 No standing army.
 No cruelty, no abuse, no rape
The Problem of Slavery in the OT
►
First, let us acknowledge that, on some level, God
legislating slavery is troubling.
►
God accommodated rather than approved slavery.
►
All of God’s regulations with regard to slavery were
to limit it. (Eph 6:9)
 Slaves could not be bought and sold.
 Humane treatment. Deuteronomy 23:15,
Leviticus 25:14
 All slaves were eventually given their
freedom at the Jubilee year.
The Question of Slavery (cont.)
►
God is not concerned with physical slavery nearly
so much as spiritual slavery.
►
Nevertheless, Paul asked Philemon to free his
slave Onesimus in an inspired passage.
►
William Wilberforce. It was Christian influence
which ended the slave trade world wide.