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| Kelowna 2018 |
Preface
I listened to a well-reasoned, good, online sermon today. I agree with the theology presented that God wills evil at times but in pure motives.
To paraphrase, the pastor mentioned that very often, the reasons for specific divinely willed (directly or indirectly/allowed by God, my add) evils and sufferings upon human beings are difficult to humanly understand.
I will add that apart from biblical teaching, at least typically, human beings are not provided with God's specific reasoning in particular situations and events.
I reason, in agreement with the pastor, (paraphrased) that far too often, many evangelicals, typically,
oversimplify problems of evil and problems of suffering in their attempts to help remedy the suffering (s) of persons and/or to set people and especially the sufferer, 'straight'.
It is actually a reasonable biblical, contextual understanding and Reformed theology that can set people straight.
I can acknowledge that philosophical theodicy, using theology and philosophy of religion does not take the place of effective practical theology that can assist a sufferer in having a true Christian religious experience.
From
2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University
God wills evil, but with pure motives
Calvin discussed in The Institutes the case of the Chaldeans attacking Job, that God, Satanic beings and human beings can all participate in the same evil acts:
Cited
How can we attribute the same work to God, to Satan, and to man, without either excusing Satan by the interference of God, or making God the author of the crime? This is easily done, if we look first to the end, and then to the mode of acting. The Lord designs to exercise the patience of his servant by adversity; Satan’s plan is to drive him to despair; while the Chaldeans are bent on making unlawful gain by plunder.
Such diversity of purpose makes a wide distinction in the act. . . . We thus see that there is no inconsistency in attributing the same act to God, to Satan, and to man, while, from the difference in the end and mode of action, the spotless righteousness of God shines forth at the same time that the iniquity of Satan and of man is manifested in all its deformity.
Calvin’s idea is that free human actions were first willed and determined by God. Calvin (1543)(1996: 37-40). God’s motives in willing an action were always pure, working toward the greater good even while human beings freely sinned. (1543)(1996: 37-40).
CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II.
CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
