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John Feinberg concludes that God could not both create a utopia and, at the same time, human beings as they are presently in a good world without constraining persons.[1] However, some critics such as Bertrand Russell, would deny that God will ever bring about a utopia,[2] and would deny that the world is a just place presently.[3] Bertrand Russell (1957)(1976) states that since the universe often lacks justice presently there is no good scientific reason to believe that God would eventually bring about justice.[4]
To Feinberg, if God had used any of the eight methods described in The Many Faces of Evil, the world would not be as good as it is presently.[5] God in his sovereignty has dealt with his creation in the correct manner, including with the problem of evil.[6]
There is within
Feinberg’s theodicy the assumption that God has brought about a good,
worthwhile world despite the problem of evil.[7] Feinberg, unlike
Russell,[8] assumes that the world
contains a level of goodness and justice that makes the idea of the Christian
God as creator reasonable.[9]
---
AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
AUGUSTINE (400-416)(1987)(2004) On the Trinity, Translated by Reverend Arthur West Haddan, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One, Volume 3, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
AUGUSTINE (421)(1998) Enchiridion, Translated by J.F. Shaw, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
AUGUSTINE (426)(1958) The City of God, Translated by Gerald G. Walsh, Garden City, New York, Image Books.
AUGUSTINE (427)(1997) On Christian Doctrine, Translated by D.W. Robertson Jr., Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.
AUGUSTINE (427b)(1997) On Christian
Teaching, Translated by R.P.H. Green, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
FEINBERG, JOHN S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
HICK, JOHN (1970) Evil and The God of Love, London, The Fontana Library.
HICK, JOHN (1978) ‘Present and Future Life’, Harvard Theological Review, Volume 71, Number 1-2, January-April, Harvard University.
HICK, JOHN (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN (1993) ‘Afterword’ in GEIVETT, R. DOUGLAS (1993) Evil and the Evidence for God, Philadelphia, Temple University Press.
HICK, JOHN (1993) The Metaphor of God Incarnate, Louisville, Kentucky, John Know Press.
HICK, JOHN (1994) Death and Eternal Life, Louisville, Kentucky, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN (1999) ‘Life after Death’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press.
PLANTINGA, ALVIN C. (1977)(2002) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
RUSSELL, BERTRAND (1957)(1976) Why I am not a Christian, Simon and Schuster Inc., in John R. Burr and Milton Goldinger (eds.), Philosophy and Contemporary Issues, London, Collier Macmillan Publishers.
[1] Feinberg (1994: 136).
[2] Russell (1957)(1976:
120).
[3] Russell (1957)(1976:
120).
[4] Russell (1957)(1976:
120).
[5] Feinberg (1994:
136).
[6] Feinberg (1994:
136). Augustine, Plantinga and Hick as well would reason God was good in
these dealings. Augustine (388-395)(1964: 3). Plantinga (1982:
167). Hick (1970: 217).
[7] Feinberg (1994:
136).
[8] Russell (1957)(1976:
120).
[9] Feinberg (1994: 136).
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Awakening to Biblical Relevance
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about Awakening for some time and much is getting clearer. I want to pass on now things that have come to be for me very precious insights, that I honor as the Lord’s kindness to me to give to his church.
A. Joseph Haroutunian’s Piety Versus Moralism has been long on my mind, along with Wheaton President Edman’s startling endorsement of Pelagian Charles Finney. Calvinism in 19th century New England--why was it this way? Either it gave a casual description-only of the gospel, or in order to make room for a gospel offer denied inability, imputation of sin and substitutionary atonement! Why tell people what has to happen in their hearts before they can believe, in ‘preparation for grace?’ It could come down to: you can’t believe so try harder! No wonder radical Enlightenment assertion of human ‘freedom’ seemed necessary. Those alternatives are ridiculous. Beeke and Smalley’s readings in Prepared for Grace by Grace are helpful but I just don’t find a final answer there.
B. II Corinthians in depth is becoming more important to me as the extended explanation of Paul’s delayed visit. The theme I believe is at the beginning: I share my comfort with you for your comfort but you need to know of my weakness first. Since when I am weak then am I strong in Jesus, joint sharing brings us closer to him, as stated here: 6: 1-13 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!
ReplyDelete7: 11-13 And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great. The Message.
Now there is a challenging and eye-opening look at what being a believer is like or should be, the Lord’s own alternative to our seeking identity in petty blame-shifting. In Awakening new life begins with the believers, giving credibility to their testimony to others. Is it enough to say, follow Jesus and avoid hell? Isn’t it better to speak of living openly and expansively? Or being more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible? Wouldn’t that help us take our flagging attention from some vague undefined grace to a vibrant look at our Savior?
I see that very close to Jack Miller’s understanding Paul through the lens of Luke, how God brings us his truth to us personally and in love. It does remind us that our identity and calling is to love the Lord and each other, much more than escaping hell, and that sin is in our exalting our feeble godlets in the face of the Lord who is there and never silent. There is a trust in Jesus Christ that we seek for ourselves and others, larger than what can be explained but must be lived.
I think also of recent work in ‘transcendental’ apologetics. Why should we be content merely with a god who is first cause when the real Lord gives reality and meaning to our lives in every way? This is especially true with the John Frame Triad that opens up for us the many dimensions of meaning in our lives in Jesus Christ. Then that goes immediately to David Powlison and his counseling colleagues, building upon the nouthetic breakthrough of Jay Adams but also Frame. Include our clearer understanding of the ordo salutis as we now see ‘union with Christ’ not as a distant mystery but as the source of all our blessings, now and then. Compare the Westminster Confession 8:8 on ‘Christ the Mediator’: To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.
The biblical gospel is so rich and deep and personal. Why have we offered it in such a puny ‘New England’ way?
(‘Preparation’ seems misleading to me. I find it makes much more sense to come to recognize retrospectively and comparatively the depths of our degradation, as in Berkouwer’s Sin, ‘knowledge of sin through the gospel.’)
C. ‘Applying’ God’s word describes what happens when Scripture is experienced as life-changing, when events or sayings thousands of years old become vividly timely and relevant. Before the Awakening that was not at all true; the best that could be said for preaching was that it was informative and interesting. Then the Awakening restored the reality that God was speaking to and for you and me, pro me. When God did that before, it challenged and changed the lives of those who heard it and that is what happens today—when we rely on it and pray for it.
ReplyDeleteDispensationalists have helped us with our eschatological perspective, as the grand story brings us to its climax. But when they told us again and again, that is not for you but for the Jews, they also did us harm. They intended to safeguard us from historical relativism but at the too great price of robbing us of biblical relevance. (That seems similar to recent developments at Westminster Seminary, when OT scholars focussing on the historical relevance of the text are no longer welcome).
For whatever reasons biblical application is rare today. We have streamlined dispensationalism and no longer need to talk about the Jews; it is more than enough just to avoid any relevance for us today. I do not really understand why, but am sure this underlines our deep need for application and relevance, and indeed Awakening, right now. Without it where is our gospel at all? This is where seminaries need to be, and preachers and all of us as we open God’s word. Then the Lord’s blessing of his strong presence in our hearts and lives will be so much clearer, I am positive.
D. ’Someone must have prayed’—in my teens I heard that again and again from my mentor Dave as another unplanned and unexpected rich blessing came to us. Any look at Awakening reveals the Lord’s people in vigorous and persistent prayer before it happened. Today as we look at the increasingly godless world all around us, it’s easy to get stuck in thinking that so much will have to change before the gospel of Jesus Christ can make any difference again. Is that how we should be praying now, for all those things to happen first, in the next century or so? Since Awakening couldn’t possibly come right now?
ReplyDeleteDoes the Lord hear our prayers like now and then and definitely not now? Since though Christ is risen indeed and the Holy Spirit has been given, indeed too, we are sure that the fields are so dry that there can be no harvest? I believe the Lord has given us so much needed wisdom in the remarkable little book Prayer by Norwegian O. Hallesby. Here it is, read it right now!
http://www.prayermeetings.org/files/P_Prayer_O_Hallesby.pdf
This is how the Lord and Hallesby opened my eyes: our Father is not sulking away from us until we get right the sincerity quotient level in our prayers. No, he is the one whose idea it is, that we not be alone while Jesus is away. He keeps knocking on the door, eager for us to come out to talk. He takes note of all we say—that he gives us more than we ask for doesn’t mean he tunes out. Don’t settle with him like how you treat your old best friends by calling up once a year, keep in touch throughout the day. Sure, bring up your sins too, he wants to hear your take on them too. Tell him about how discouraged you are, he has a plan. Oh, ask for Application and Awakening too, a lot—if that’s too hard ask for help.
I got couple things from others. From Jack Miller, pray for your praying. From Paul Miller’s Praying Life, especially the cynicism chapter to see what the exact opposite of prayer looks like.
II Corinthians opened up the Lord’s much bigger plan and vision for us and for those still outside, so what should we be doing with that bigger picture? Talk with him about it, thanking him and asking him to show you and all of us the next step to take and how to do it.
I’m thinking we know enough about it by now, so let’s just get with it. Ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full.
D. Clair Davis
Here @ work in the AM as a colleague is a no show (again). Another kind colleague in his fifties, divorced, two kids wants to date younger wonen and does but does not want to be married or have children. He mentions the topic often. I stated research tells me if that is your approach you will likely have the classic younger woman-older man, beauty for money arrangement. If you want a lasting relationship seems to me one needs to be youthful, willing to marry and have children which would be the biblical model and mine. My colleague prefers attempting a middle position, which I am skeptical on.��Reminds me of some of R Don Steele theory I have read...
ReplyDeleteI told my dentist my teeth are going yellow. he told me to wear a brown tie.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/rodney_dangerfield.html#sJYhjrkQZlh61HXV.99
Yeah, I know I'm ugly... I said to a bartender, 'Make me a zombie.' He said 'God beat me to it.'
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
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I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/rodney_dangerfield.html#8BF3pQQhupAAuxhi.99
Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide; he exposes himself.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
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I had plenty of pimples as a kid. One day I fell asleep in the library. When I woke up, a blind man was reading my face.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
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This morning when I put on my underwear I could hear the fruit-of-the-loom guys laughing at me.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
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Some dog I got too. We call him Egypt. Because in every room he leaves a pyramid.
ReplyDeleteRodney Dangerfield
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It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect But Plenty of Sex and Drugs (2004)[edit]
ReplyDeleteI was an ugly kid. When I was born, after the doctor cut the cord, he hung himself.
A very funny man, from a secular perspective...
ReplyDeleteWhat a childhood I had. Once on my birthday my ol' man gave me a bat. The first day I played with it, it flew away.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I got no respect. When my parents got divorced there was a custody fight over me... and no one showed up.
ReplyDeleteA homeless guy came up to me on the street, said he hadn't eaten in four days. I told him, "Man, I wish I had your willpower.
ReplyDeleteI tell ya, I grew up in a tough neighborhood. The other night a guy pulled a knife on me. I could see it wasn't a real professional job. There was butter on it.
ReplyDeletep. 16
Still @ work maybe a 16 hr shift...got the rest of day off...not as normal.
ReplyDeleteBad month for views according to Blogger but still 13 g both blogs. Why concern with what is out of control...same with better months.
ReplyDelete