A physics teacher once asked his students whether God made both good and evil. A student answered �yes�. The teacher then said that this proved that God was evil, because �by their fruit ye shall know them.� The teacher�s conclusion was then shot down with the response that: just as cold is the absence of heat, darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of good. Heat, light, good, are all measurable mater, and the absence of them causes an affect: cold, darkness, evil.
However, what does the Bible say?
God says in Isaiah 45:7 �I formed the Light and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all these things." He created evil. Likewise, 1 John 1:5-7 says �� (5) God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.�
So, I�m just wondering how these two concepts work together? God is pure, but created evil. I feel that he created both to give us the majesty of choice. But how do you explain the presence of these two factors to someone like the physics teacher mentioned above when they ask �How come he created evil, but is good?�
PS. I love the Book of 1John, as John preaches against the Gnostic theory that �the deeds we do with our bodies (which are inherently evil) cannot contaminate our souls (which are inherently good)�. I like how the apostle John puts it, (1:8) �If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us�. And (1:9) �If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness�.
I agree with what the word of God says, And Isaiah 45, says it plaiinly, God saying that He "CREATES EVIL", nothing more and nothing less, doesn't matter if man has changed the word to mean calamities or not, calamities are still evil diasters.
Its all about understanding the character of God. Many people only see God as being so loving and good and kind, that they can't see past who He is as a SUPREME BEING who doesn't answer to no one but Himself... But man tries to change what God has said to make it fit his own acceptance of God, because it make people feel better about themselves and God.
To show His wrath AND His love God will create BOTH vessels of wrath prepared for destruction to make His power known, and He will create vessels of mercy to make His love and the riches of His glory know. Man tend to accept the latter, the goodness and love of God, rather than the wrath and anger of God. Becasue man can't seem to accept that God will create to destroy because He has the power to do as He please with whomever and whatever He pleases. That's what being soveregin is all about, having totla control and power over ALL people, places, and things.
To create evil meaning physical or calamities means just what it says GOD SAY HE CREATES EVIL, if anyone should care to READ the whole chapter for a better understanding and insight as to what God is speaking here. This does not say God created evil as in sin, God is not the author pf sin, but He will create EVIL happening around us and allow things to happen to us and come upon us that are evil to get our attention, and to show Himself as being God....sorry, but that's in the word from Genesis to Revelation.
Also, Live, please know that if a person DOES NOT believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, if they DO NOT believe that Jesus was the Only Begotten Son of God, if they DO NOT believe that Jesus died for our sins on the cross, if they DO NOT believe that He rose again PLEASE KNOW THESE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. Jehovah Witness DO NOT believe in any of this, so they are far from be classified as being Christians. Although 90 percent of those who are Jehovah Witnesses came out of the Christian churches, they TURNED their backs on the truth about Jesus and followed after a faith and religion that DOES NOT belief in the deity of Christ, a false gospel.
The Criterion for being a Christian is the belief in Jesus Christ's birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and His soon returning kingdom.
God bless you, and please know that just because someone disagrees with your views and spur out at your comments, doesn't mean the person is attacking you personally... if you plan to remain a Christian fighting for the faith of what you belief in Jesus Christ, then you had better buckle up for the ride, because contending for the faith means much more than a person speaking kind words to you just to please emotional feelings.
Strong Christians are not easily offended by what others say... God calls us to be strong soilders who fight, and not coward soliders who get thier feeling hurt in the race. Being a Christian is warfare, not a love game.
Hang in there and may God strength your inner self with power to stand... and when you have done all you can to stand... keep standing. But also allow yourself room for standing corrected, if you should happen to be in error... seacrh the scriptures.
Live, you sound like a very sweet and gently spirited woman of God... bless you. :glow: I have that mercy spirit about me too, but I have had to learn balance in that because Jesus was not just a lamb, but He is a lion and spoke truth at all times.
We have the mind of Christ, but can be fearful of offending others, and some people are rude about the way they correct, which can be a hindrance in bring them to God's truth. All truth is not God's truth.
The word "cult" can be offensive because it sounds like people dressed in black with blood sacrifices going on, so we must be wise and full of grace, about that language. Wrong doctrine is a better word, and leaves the attack on the person out of it.
Any doctrine that does not believe Jesus is God, the second person in the trinity, always was and not created at birth... is WRONG doctrine and we are to defend the TRUE doctrine and pray that our "offending" the people who believe wrong doctrine...will one day thank us for telling them the truth and saving them from hell.
Mormons do not believe this Doctrine of Christ:
Col. 1:15~Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16: for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him.
17: He himself existed before anything else did, and he holds all things together.
Just because a person says they are a Christian, yet deny the trinity (Jehovah's Witness) it is not God's truth, it is their truth or doctrine, and wrong according to Jesus' doctrine.
John 1:1~In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 8:58~"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!"
That is why He said "You shall KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free."
We can hear the truth, but unless we know it by revelation of the Holy Spirit, we do not really KNOW it or speak it. It is not God's truth to call wrong doctrine, God's doctrine. We must leave the person's heart for God to judge ALWAYS, but we must judge doctrine according to the word of God that He gave us for:
2 Timothy 3:16~ Every Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for convincing, for correction of error, and for instruction in right doing;
EVERYONE will once day call Him Lord, by embracing HIS truth now or by judgment later.
Phil. 2:10~that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
This is our God and our doctrine:
Revelation 1:8~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I AM the ONE who IS, WHO always WAS, and WHO is still to come--the Almighty One."
I like what you said twosparrows: �I think we can judge the denomination by it's doctrine, however I do not think we are free to judge the people in it�.
Chevy, I�m sorry also if I was a bit too aggressive in my language. I�m still learning how to be assertive whilst remaining kind. Sorry.
ETcallhome, thank you for explaining to me more about how God works, his nature, etc. I really like what you said, and it really helped me understand God more. Thank you.
Joeysings, I love those verses you shared with me, they�re awesome. Thanks.
I don�t really want to talk about denominations anymore, because for one, I�m nondenominational, and two, that wasn�t my original question to begin with. But, when I started this forum post, I was wondering about the nature of God, because I�ve seen people do things in life which were wrong, and it seemed like God didn�t judge them. I also traveled to and lived in about nine different countries and saw lots of suffering, and wondered why God didn�t get involved. So, I had that question that a lot of people have, �why�. After a while, though, I made my peace with God, and was able to wrap those questions up in a bundle of faith. Reading the Bible more also showed me that everything is seen by God, he remembers, and he will judge in his time. So, that�s sort of where my faith was at prior to this chat forum. I started out this post on the chat forum wondering how to answer agnostics or people with questions about God�but it turned out that my own questions were answered. So, thanks especially ETcallhome. You�re wonderful. You should write a book!
Live, sorry, I'm just getting back with you. Thank you Live for your encouring words. I appreciate you.
As a matter of fact, I have selfpublished a book, and working on a second one. Thank you.
Keep reading God's word ad He will enlighten you into His undersatnding, and not what man THINKS He is saying, God HImself will reveal to you through His Holy Spirit His word of turth, just as He has promised.
So do not lean to your own understanding or that of man, but allow God to reveal to you His word. Sometimes that means reading and then waiting for His illumination, and He will open your undersatnding just as He did the disciples and for all who depend totally on Him to reveal Himself through His word.
Light and darkness are simply words....nothing can exist without G.od, He is omnipotent.. darkness is just a human representation of evil but it is not...Evil are those rebel angels...sometimes could be us going against G.od will....But has G.od created evil, no way..!! misunderstanding of the words...let us try to think beyond human nature. G.od is Love Jesus said..Love is beyond all. John and Paul insisted on this too...Elijah understood this when he saw G.od. Think that G;od did not create evil. Rebellion and misunderstanding is Evil....I leave this open....
Thanks Pinkpanther. That's a good way to look at it.
I was reading another verse yesterday, and it sort of was a 'Archimedes in the bath' "Eureka!" moment. I'll share the verses with you that I stumbled upon.
James 1: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1: 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Shows me that God doesn't try us... Jesus said, "Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not, and when you are converted strengthen your brethren." ...I always kinda thought that Jesus was constantly testing us, but not now after my eureka moment. :D yay!
