Covenant Theological Seminary professor Dr. Robert Peterson make a reply to Rob Bell’s popular book “Love Wins.” Please see the seven minute YouTube video Dr. Robert Peterson responds to Rob Bell’s book, “Love Wins”
I recently finished reading Francis Colllins’ “The Language of God“. I plan to write about his book as well as the overall theme of evolution in a forthcoming post.
For now, I commend his chapter entitled “The War of the Worldviews”, for in it he simply addresses common stumbling blocks to Christianity.
In regard to “What about all the harm done in the name of religion” Collins writes, “The church is made up of fallen people. The pure, clean water of spiritual truth is placed in rusty containers, and the subsequent failings of the church down through the centuries should not be projected onto the faith itself, as if the water had been the problem.” (He alludes and I add — what about all the harm done in the name of non-religion such as that from Stalin and Pol Pot.)
In regard to “Why would a loving God allow suffering in the world?” Collins writes, “There are several answers to this dilemma. Some are easier to accept than others. In the first place, let us recognize that a large fraction of our suffering and that of our fellow human beings is brought about by what we do to one another. It is humankind, not God, that has invented knives, arrows, guns, bombs, and all manner of other instruments of torture used through the ages. The tragedy of the young child killed by a drunk driver, of the innocent man dying on the battlefield, or of the young girl cut down by a stray bullet in a crime ridden section of a modern city can hardly be blamed on God. After all, we have somehow been given free will, the ability to do as we please. We use this ability frequently to disobey the Moral Law. And when we do so, we shouldn’t then blame God for the consequences. Should God have restrained our free will in order to prevent these kinds of evil behavior? That line of thought quickly encounters a dilemma from which there is no rational escape. …What about the occurrence of natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, great floods and famines? On a smaller but no less poignant scale, what about the occurrence of disease in an innocent victim, such as cancer in a child? The Anglican priest and distinguished physicist John Polkinghome has referred to this category of event as ‘physical evil,’ as opposed to the ‘moral evil’ committed by humankind. How can it be justified? Science reveals that the universe, our own planet, and life itself are engaged in an evolutionary process. The consequences of that can include the unpredictability of the weather, the slippage of a tectonic plate, or the misspelling of a cancer gene in the normal process of cell division. If at the beginning of time God chose to use these forces to create human beings, then the inevitability of these other painful consequences was also assured. Frequent miraculous interventions would be at least as chaotic in the physical realm as they would be in interfering with human acts of free will. For many thoughtful seekers, these rational explanations fall short of providing a justification for the pain of human existence. Why is our life more a vale of tears than a garden of delight? Much has been written about this apparent paradox, and the conclusion is not an easy one: if God is loving and wishes the best for us, then perhaps His plan is not the same as our plan.”
Some good thoughts to consider.
Again, I intend to write re evolution and particularly the growing trend of theistic evolution in the evangelical church. For today, though, I am struck by humanity’s longings for justice and benevolence all the more displays the biblical truth of being created by a moral God and having morality stamped upon us.
Context sure does add perspective to the Scriptures! I read Psalms 20-23 this AM and was struck by the fact that the compiler of the Psalms (someone or some committee before Jesus’ day had put the psalms in the order we have in our Bible today) had reason to put these four psalms in the order that they are. Ps 20 reads much like a benediction – v.5 May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Then Ps 21 speaks of the blessings the King has received – v. 2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. v.6 For you make him most blessed forever. When I read those two psalms, I though to myself, “Wow! I want that blessing!” I also had self-pity: “Why don’t I have that blessing?!? Where is the great blessing that I read about in the Bible in my own life?” As I was wallowing, I next read Ps 22 and context was given me. Ps 22 speaks of the forsakenness that God’s people often experience. V.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? V.2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. King David is ascribed authorship for these psalms and we have no good reason to doubt this. This means King David who experienced great blessing (Ps 20 & 22) also experienced great forsakenness (Ps 22). The compiler of the Psalms was keeping a good perspective, preserving a right context to the salvation history of God’s people. I appreciate this — for I can relate to the blessing and to the forsakenness in this life. I will go a step further, not only do I appreciate this, I need this context. When I am experiencing blessing, I am reminded that that the blessing is not the ultimate good — for it can all be taken away. Similarly, when I am experiencing forsakenness, I am reminded that it is not the final word — for Jesus uttered those very words of forsakenness on the Cross to not only enter my forsakenness, but to take it away. This is where Ps 23 comes in — The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want… even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… I shall dwell in the in the house of the Lord forever. It is no wonder that this Ps 23 is one of the most beloved psalms! We relate well to it — it speaks of forsakenness (the valley of the shadow of death) as well as the blessing (You are with me). May the Lord continue to give me a right context to the mounts and vales that I experience in life!
Some of our seniors recently were in the Community Section of our local newspaper, the Maryland Independent. The print edition has pictures of Virginia Stone and Ann Gollaher. For the web edition, go to this link. As a reminder, the CCNRC Senior Service is at 1:00 PM on Sundays in the Red Room.
By now, many of you have heard that Harold Camping of Family Radio has predicted Christ’s return tomorrow, Saturday, May 21. The immediacy of this prediction has spurred in me surprising results. First, I found myself hoping that Mr. Camping is wrong in his prediction — not as a “see you really are a false prophet” type of way. Instead, I found myself wanting Jesus to return TODAY. Why wait any longer? May it be that Mr. Camping is wrong and Jesus returns before the predicted date! Second, I found myself wanting to heed Christ’s words in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” I’ve always believed that I am ready for Christ’s return. Yet, the hoopla, and particularly the immediacy, around Mr. Camping’s prediction got me thinking, “Am I really ready?” I wondered, “What would Jesus find in my heart at His return?” You see, lately, I am under the Spirit’s conviction that I easily go through the motions of Christianity. I do “God things” because I am a pastor — study the Bible, teach it, visit people, counsel, etc. However, I find that my heart is not always “there” — my Christianity can be what I call “utility” in that I do it because I am supposed to do it. Jesus wants us to want to do it. After all, that is a purer reflection of love! Thus, in a weird way, Mr. Camping’s prediction has stirred in me a bit of revival in my spiritual life. I am wanting to do my Christianity out of love not utility! Wow! I’m realizing all the more that I need to believe and act as though Jesus really is coming again — and soon! Let us affirm the words found in Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Sure I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
A short, insightful essay by a scientist who freely admits that science does not have the ultimate answers. Essay Link
This Sunday (3/6), we begin worshiping at the Port Tobacco Players theater for our AM service. Times remain 9:30 AM for Sunday School and 10:30 AM for worship. The theater address is 508 Charles Street — right across the street from our church office. Also, a reminder that we will hold the “Senior Service” at 1:00 PM at the Charles County Nursing & Rehab facility (10200 La Plata Rd. — near the intersection of Rts. 6 & 488).
Many of you were ill last week! And I thought it good to get you a link for last week’s sermon. As you know, our website is being redeveloped and our sermon catalog is offline. However, I figured out a way for you access last week’s sermon, “Honest Evaluation” from Nehemiah 2:11-18. Please go to the following link (or copy to browser address line) and scroll to 00:26 to begin the sermon. http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/scrapbook/45/459388/Neh2_11_HonestEvaluation.mp3
