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| Photo taken this evening after arriving home from work in Vancouver |
A kind co-worker, at our Vancouver work meeting today suggested I could present a webinar and related in regard to practical problems of suffering and evil.
As in for example: How does a person deal with the death of a loved one?
In agreement with this colleague, I am God-willing, aiming for greater ministry exposure in the future.
I have dealt with practical problems of evil and suffering in my British theses work and independently on this website.
From
PhD, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology
I can interject and state that academically solving the logical and gratuitous problems of evil by tying them back to God is an ultimate intellectual solution, but there are still practical ramifications to deal with, such as why certain evils occur. The fact that a sovereignty theodicy can logically and reasonably solve its problem of evil, does not mean that suffering often comes with an explanation.
Practical theology and empirical data can strengthen and complement a successful Biblically inspired sovereignty theodicy by explaining how the common church member and attendee deals with theological concepts relating to theodicy.
A theodicy can be adjusted in order to better assist persons in the Christian Church by being adaptable in message without compromising Biblical and intellectual integrity. I also reason that a logical and reasonable sovereignty theodicy presentation, even with its limitations, provides greater comfort to those trusting in the Biblical God and Christ than does fear inspired silence which completely capitulates to notions that human beings cannot in any meaningful way possibly understand why a holy God willingly allows evil within his creation.
From
MPhil, Bangor University, 2003: The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives
The problem seen from the Road, is very different. Those on the Road are suffering, and are wondering how on earth they will cope with it, and continue the life of faith as they suffer. They are participating in suffering, not observing it at a safe distance. Their difficulties are practical, not theoretical. They need something to help them keep going on that Road. The uncommitted and detached perspective of the Balcony seems to have little bearing on their position. McGrath (1992: 5).
I believe that the true solution to the problem of evil, in practical terms, is the work of Christ. His work leads to the culminated Kingdom of God where evil is arrested. At this point, the philosophical problem may still exist, but it is rather academic!
McGRATH, A. (1992) Bridge-Building, Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press.
McGRATH, A. (1992) Suffering, London, Hodder and Stoughton Limited.
