Some thoughts on the hypocrisy of the carnal mind...

I recently posted this as a comment on somebody's blog. I figured I'd share it with my readers.

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Also, I can see your problems with the existence of natural and moral evil in the world. That is often a difficult problem that gets much attention.

The answers aren't anything new though:

1. The world was made perfect.

2. Sin brought death and suffering to a perfect world, which is now corrupted.

3. God has a plan for all creation that includes the temporary allowance of suffering and death for all, but will ultimately result in everlasting pleasure and life for some.

I have a question for you though. I hear many an atheist talking about how they cannot believe that this sovereign God is responsible for all the BAD (natural and moral evil) that occurs in creation.

But, I'm wondering if you stop to thank God for all the GOOD (natural and moral) that occurs in creation too?

It seems to me that many who 'cry wolf' against a sovereign God who allows death and suffering are totally inconsistent and reveal a horrible hypocrisy.

Now if it IS true that if God is totally and utterly sovereign and sustaining of creation, then he is currently allowing for evil and suffering. More than that, he is ultimately the one who ordained that evil and suffering be, since nothing happens outside his sovereignty.

So:

Every baby that dies, dies because he allows it.

Every rape that occurs, occurs because he allows it.

Every flood that occurs, occurs because me allows it.

I will definitely concede those points, as hard to swallow as they are.

BUT,

If God is sovereign over and sustaining of all creation, then every good thing that happens ALSO happens because he ordains that it happens.

So:

Every beat of every heart happens because he commands that heart to beat.

Every birth of every infant occurs because he commands that infant to be formed and born.

Every good feeling, every laugh, every hug, all music, poetry, literature, love and joy all all exist and occur due to his sovereign will that they would be so.

You may 'cry wolf' at every death and every injustice, but I would suggest that if you gave God glory for every heartbeat, every breath and every letter in every word of this post (language too would only exist because God willed that it would be), your ratio of "wolf" to "worship" cries would be a few million to one.

Why then do you only complain about the bad and not thank for the good?

Until Next Time,

The Armchair Theologian