Participants:
Series Code: AU
Program Code: AU000041S
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00:01 - It's the biggest problem that human beings
00:02 have ever wrestled with, 00:04 the question of why we suffer 00:06 if the one who made the universe in the first place 00:09 is supposed to be good. 00:10 That's our subject on today's episode of "Authentic." 00:14 [upbeat music] 00:36 It occurs to me now that we're 30 some episodes 00:38 into this show 00:39 that it's probably time to have a little talk 00:41 about theodicy, 00:42 which is a $10 word for the problem of evil, 00:47 and the problem of evil kind of runs like this. 00:49 People say that God is perfect 00:51 and that he is all powerful and that he is love, 00:54 and that he's all those things at the same time. 00:57 So you would think that God would be able 00:59 to stop human suffering if he wanted to. 01:03 In other words, the problem runs like this. 01:05 We have a good God and a bad world, 01:07 and you've got to wonder why. 01:09 any answer to that question is considered a theodicy, 01:13 which amounts to a defense of God and his character. 01:16 We get the word theodicy 01:18 from an 18th century German philosopher 01:20 by the name of Gottfried Leibniz, 01:22 who went out of his way to defend the idea 01:24 that the universe is ultimately a good place, 01:28 in spite of what we might perceive it to be 01:31 from our perspective. 01:33 And you'll notice that somewhere underneath the question, 01:36 the question of a bad world and a good God, 01:39 there's an implicit accusation 01:41 that maybe there's something wrong with God. 01:44 Of course, my atheist friends will insist 01:47 that there's not just something wrong with God, 01:49 but that there's something wrong with the idea of God, 01:52 and to their way of thinking, 01:53 the problem of evil probably proves 01:56 that God doesn't exist at all. 01:59 I'll give you an example of this kind of reasoning, 02:01 one that I've read before on show, probably more than once, 02:05 because, well, this example's so blatant. 02:08 It's the first one that comes to mind, 02:09 and I'm, guess I'm gonna take the easy path here. 02:12 Maybe one day I'll find some new quotes 02:14 so you don't start thinking I've just read one book, 02:16 but for the last time perhaps, 02:19 here's a statement from Richard Dawkins, 02:21 everybody's favorite atheist whipping boy, 02:23 because, well, he just makes this so easy. 02:26 Here we go. 02:27 An argument from an atheist 02:28 that is really just a different version 02:30 of the problem of evil. 02:31 He writes, "The God of the Old Testament 02:34 "is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: 02:37 "jealous and proud of it, 02:39 "a petty, unjust, unforgiving, control-freak, 02:42 "a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser, 02:45 "a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, 02:48 "infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, 02:51 "pestilential, megalomaniacal, 02:53 "sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully," 02:58 ha, end of quote. 03:00 And I'm not sure I need to unpack that for you, 03:02 because what he's saying is pretty obvious. 03:04 He's telling us, look, if God is real, 03:06 then he can't be what people claim he is. 03:08 He most certainly is not a God of love. 03:12 And Dawkins is drawing 03:13 from some admittedly difficult passages 03:15 from the Old Testament, 03:17 but what he's do is cherry picking the data 03:20 to create the worst possible picture. 03:23 He ignores the all important context, 03:26 the bigger picture provided by the other parts of the Bible. 03:30 But for right now, it's important to notice 03:32 that Dawkins is questioning the goodness of God 03:35 in a world where very bad things happen, 03:38 and the conclusion he wants you to draw 03:40 is that God probably does not exist. 03:43 For a lot of atheists, the argument kind of runs like this. 03:47 Evil and the idea of a loving God 03:48 are completely incompatible, 03:51 and because evil exists, 03:53 that probably means that God does not. 03:57 The problem of evil is one of the most 03:59 fundamental questions in philosophy, 04:01 and it can lead to any number of disturbing conclusions. 04:05 Some people will say that if God and evil 04:08 both exist simultaneously, 04:11 that would mean that God is either uncaring, 04:14 which is not a great conclusion, 04:16 or he's powerless to do anything about our condition, 04:19 which is also not a great conclusion. 04:22 Now, the other possibility is that God 04:25 is just a figment of our imagination, 04:26 he doesn't exist at all. 04:28 Which means that you and I might be 04:30 utterly alone in this universe, 04:33 and of course that is also an unappealing conclusion, 04:37 a conclusion that kind of defies this inborn sense 04:40 that most of us have 04:41 that there must be something else out there. 04:45 The idea that we are nothing but accidents 04:47 makes it hard to explain 04:49 why we happen to be such complicated accidents 04:52 with deep emotions and the ability 04:54 to reflect on our own existence. 04:56 The very phenomenon of human consciousness 04:59 suggests that somehow mind existed before matter existed, 05:05 because it's really hard to fathom how consciousness 05:07 could emerge from mere physical particles. 05:11 So the idea that God doesn't exist 05:13 really rubs most people's fur the wrong way. 05:16 Unless of course you happen to suspect 05:19 that your choices in life 05:20 might require you to give an answer for what you've done, 05:24 in which case the idea of meeting God 05:26 can seem very unappealing. 05:29 But even then, I don't think that most people 05:32 hope that God isn't real. 05:34 I mean, there are a few out there, but not many. 05:37 Most people hope that God is merciful, 05:40 because who in the world wouldn't want 05:43 a loving and merciful God? 05:46 You know, years ago I was working in the city of Rome 05:48 and I met this guy who was really interested 05:51 in a seminar I was presenting over a number of weeks 05:54 there in the city, 05:56 and after getting to know him, 05:57 we met for a friendly discussion. 05:59 And at one point he suddenly said, 06:00 "Look Shawn, I don't know how I can possibly accept 06:04 "what you've been talking about, 06:05 "because we don't even know if Jesus ever really existed." 06:10 Now, very few people actually doubt 06:13 the existence of a historical Jesus. 06:16 They might have argue that he was nothing 06:17 but a popular countryside teacher, 06:20 or they might argue that he simply died on a cross 06:22 and never rose from the dead, 06:24 but very few people doubt that he actually existed, 06:27 because the mark he left on this world 06:29 is just far too obvious. 06:32 Even if you happen to believe 06:34 that the stories in the New Testament are exaggerated, 06:36 or that a lot of erroneous dogma 06:39 has been piled on top of the story, 06:41 few people doubt that Jesus was a real historical person. 06:48 So I decided I wasn't gonna argue with my new friend, 06:49 because I figured what he was saying 06:51 was a bit of a dodge anyway, 06:53 and it wasn't really the issue he was struggling with. 06:56 So instead I pointed to my Bible and I said, 06:59 "Listen, let me just ask you one question. 07:02 "Do you hope what this book says is true, 07:06 "or do you hope that it isn't?" 07:08 And he was quiet for a moment, and then he started to cry. 07:11 He said, "I'd have to be a fool 07:14 "to hope that it wasn't true." 07:16 And I guess I'm telling you that story 07:18 to underline the point that most people don't hope 07:21 that God isn't real. 07:23 I mean, they might not like God, 07:25 or at least the picture of God they were raised with, 07:28 but when you actually see the narrative 07:30 presented in the scriptures, 07:32 the story of a loving and merciful God 07:34 who goes out of his way to save us, 07:37 well, most of us want that to be true, 07:39 and a lot of us are just really afraid 07:41 that this wonderful story might not apply to us, 07:46 which brings us back to the problem of evil. 07:49 One of the conclusions people come to 07:51 when faced with the existence of evil in this world 07:54 is that God does not exist, 07:56 and as I've already said, that is not a happy a conclusion. 08:00 But the other possibilities, 08:02 that God is powerless to deal with evil, 08:04 or that he doesn't care, 08:06 well, those aren't appealing either. 08:09 So then what do we do with the idea of pain and suffering? 08:12 How do we reconcile that idea 08:14 with the loving and merciful God 08:16 that Christians sing about in church? 08:19 Well, I sincerely doubt 08:21 that I'm gonna be able to answer that question 08:22 in just a few short minutes, 08:24 because this is a question that philosophers 08:27 have wrestled with for thousands of years, 08:30 and most of the people who wrestle with it 08:32 are a lot brighter than me. 08:34 Now, I've seen some people suggest 08:36 that this is the question behind all philosophy, 08:40 people like Susan Neiman, 08:42 whom I'm starting to suspect is probably right. 08:45 I mean, if life on this world was paradise, 08:49 we might still contemplate the meaning of life, 08:52 but without suffering, 08:54 you've got to wonder how much the question 08:55 would actually bother us. 08:57 Because there's something about suffering 08:59 that really makes us wonder 09:01 what in the world we're doing here. 09:04 So if the problem of evil is not the big question, 09:08 there's no doubt it's one of the big ones, 09:11 and in a moment, I'll be right back to look at this 09:13 just a little bit more. 09:19 - [Announcer] Dragons, beasts, cryptic statues. 09:23 Bible prophecy can be incredibly vivid and confusing. 09:27 If you've ever read Daniel or Revelation 09:30 and come away scratching your head, you're not alone. 09:33 Our free "Focus On Prophecy" guides 09:35 are designed to help you unlock the mysteries of the Bible 09:38 and to deepen your understanding of God's plan 09:40 for you and our world. 09:42 Study online or request them by mail 09:44 and start bringing prophecy into focus today. 09:48 - Near the beginning of the enlightenment, 09:50 there was this great deal of enthusiasm 09:53 for the burgeoning art of scientific discovery. 09:58 We began to suspect that maybe our human ingenuity 10:00 and our capacity for reason 10:02 could be used to tame the world we live in, 10:05 and solve many, if not most of our biggest problems. 10:08 And to a small extent, it's kind of been true. 10:11 For example, I'm deeply appreciative 10:13 of the extended lifespans that we seem to enjoy now. 10:17 But then of course, the senseless violence 10:19 we witnessed in the 20th century 10:21 kind of put the breaks on our optimism, 10:24 because when you have something like 200 million people 10:27 dying from warfare in a single century, 10:30 you start to realize that scientific discovery 10:32 and technological advancement 10:34 have only magnified our problems instead of solving them. 10:38 It turns out there's something wrong with us, 10:41 and until we can correct the human heart, 10:43 the bigger problems just aren't going to go away. 10:47 And of course from a Christian perspective, 10:50 that's really the issue. 10:52 The suffering in this world doesn't stem from God, 10:54 it comes from us. 10:56 It's an indication that what the Bible suggests 10:59 about our fall from grace is true. 11:00 It says, "All have sinned 11:02 "and fall short of the glory of God." 11:05 But back in the early days of The Enlightenment, 11:07 they were discussing an additional problem. 11:10 Sin might explain some of the moral evil we experience 11:13 like murder, theft, or adultery, 11:16 but then what do we do with natural evil 11:18 like fires, floods, and earthquakes? 11:21 How in the world do we account for that kind of suffering, 11:24 which is not caused by an act of the human will? 11:29 What they were doing in the early years of The Enlightenment 11:31 was trying to explain this 11:33 in a way that preserved the idea of the biblical God. 11:36 We often think that science and faith 11:38 have always and radically opposed to each other, 11:41 but that wasn't true in the beginning. 11:43 The famous poet, Alexander Pope, 11:45 kind of highlights what we thought we were doing 11:48 when we started into the era of scientific discovery. 11:52 Let me read you an epitaph that he wrote 11:54 for Sir Isaac Newton, 11:55 the man who gave us a much clearer picture 11:57 of how the universe works 11:59 when he laid out the law of gravity. 12:02 This epitaph from Pope reads like this. 12:05 "Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night. 12:08 "God said, 'Let Newton be!' and all was light." 12:14 What Pope is saying is that God used Newton 12:16 to reveal something more about himself to humanity, 12:19 which was the prevailing attitude back in that day. 12:22 Scientific discovery was going to help us understand 12:25 more and more and more about God, 12:28 and that knowledge would help us resolve 12:30 some of our biggest questions. 12:32 Every time a new scientific principle was discovered, 12:35 it underlined the idea that we live in an orderly universe, 12:39 where if you only have the right tools, 12:41 you really can understand things, 12:43 and maybe even understand the creator. 12:46 Today, we're still excited by the idea 12:48 of exploring the far reaches of outer space, 12:51 an excitement that's reflected in our endless production 12:54 of new Star Trek variants. 12:56 And it's exciting to us because, 12:58 I mean, who knows what we're gonna find out there, 13:01 and who knows what those discoveries 13:02 are going to teach us about who or what we really are. 13:06 Now, our generation doesn't think of this 13:08 as a search for God, 13:10 but people in the 17th and 18th centuries really did. 13:14 Here's another example from Alexander Pope's famous poem, 13:17 "Essay on Man." 13:19 He writes, "Observe how system into system runs, 13:23 "what other planets circle other suns. 13:25 "What varied being peoples every star, 13:28 "May tell why heaven made us as we are." 13:32 What these people were hoping to do 13:34 was learn more about God, 13:35 which in turn would help us understand ourselves. 13:39 Now, that brings us to the German philosopher, 13:41 Gottfried Leibniz, 13:42 the person who coined that word, theodicy. 13:45 In fact, the only book he wrote 13:47 that was published during his lifetime 13:50 was his work on the problem of evil. 13:52 And in that book, he makes a couple 13:54 of very interesting contributions to the overall discussion. 13:58 He really digs into the idea that it must be possible 14:01 to reconcile the loving attributes of God 14:04 and the existence of suffering. 14:07 And again, the problem these philosophers were working on 14:10 kind of ran like this. 14:12 If God is pure and holy, 14:14 and he's also the creator of everything, 14:17 that would mean that he's also the creator of bad things, 14:20 and that would make him less than pure and holy. 14:23 So what these people were trying to do 14:25 was balance the moral universe and suggest that somehow, 14:28 all the good in the universe 14:29 actually outweighed all the bad, 14:32 and in the end God's character will be vindicated. 14:36 In other words, they were saying, 14:37 you and I just don't understand enough 14:39 in order to comprehend the problem, at least not yet. 14:43 Given enough time, Leibniz suggested, 14:45 we will understand the problem, 14:47 because our scientific pursuits will help us 14:49 see the universe as it really is. 14:52 He even suggested that we don't have the right language 14:55 to work on the problem, and until we do, 14:58 we're not really going to understand anything. 15:01 Leibniz speculated that once upon a time, 15:03 before the Tower of Babel, 15:05 human beings shared a universal language 15:08 that was much more powerful and much more complete 15:11 than the assortment of tongues that we speak today. 15:15 If only we could devise a new universal language, 15:19 he argued, one that allowed us to explore 15:21 deep philosophical questions 15:23 the same way we work on math problems, 15:27 then we would finally understand 15:28 that the overall condition of the universe is good. 15:32 We simply lack the ability to see that right now. 15:35 Now, here's the way he describes it in one of his essays. 15:38 He says, "But no one has put forward a language 15:42 "or characteristic which embodies, at the same time, 15:45 "both the art of discovery and the art of judgment, 15:48 "that is, a language whose marks or characters 15:51 "perform the same task 15:53 "as arithmetic marks do for numbers 15:55 "and algebraic marks do for magnitudes 15:58 "considered abstractly. 16:00 "And yet, when God bestowed these two sciences 16:03 "on the human race, 16:04 "it seems that he wanted to suggest to us 16:07 "that a much greater secret lies hidden in our intellect, 16:10 "a secret of which these two sciences are but shadows." 16:16 Now, Leibniz was kind of tapping into the world 16:19 of medieval alchemy, 16:20 because he mentions the mystic Jakob Bohme 16:22 in this same paragraph. 16:24 The Alchemist were big fans of Pythagoras, 16:27 the Greek thinker who attached mystical meanings 16:30 to geometry and numbers. 16:32 But the basic idea here is still science. 16:35 If we only had the right language, he argued, 16:38 then we could finally understand the universe. 16:42 And it's probably important to mention that Leibniz, 16:44 along with Isaac Newton, invented a calculus, 16:47 which is a mathematical way of measuring change. 16:50 Some of you probably had to take 16:51 calculus classes in school. 16:54 So Leibniz was coming to the universe 16:56 with the mind of a mathematician, 16:58 hoping that we can use scientific language 17:01 to open up the secrets of the universe. 17:04 This, he suggested, would give us the ability to see 17:07 that God really is good, 17:09 and that we have been wrong when we give so much weight 17:12 to the evil in this world. 17:14 Scientific exploration would finally reveal 17:17 that God really did create the best world possible. 17:22 Now, I've got to take a really quick break, 17:24 because, well, that's how things work around here, 17:27 but in a moment I'll be right back 17:28 to examine whether or not Leibniz was right 17:31 from a scriptural point of view. 17:35 - [Announcer] Here at "The Voice Of Prophecy," 17:36 we're committed to creating top quality programming 17:39 for the whole family, 17:40 like our audio adventure series, "Discovery Mountain." 17:43 "Discovery Mountain" is a Bible-based program 17:46 for kids of all ages and backgrounds. 17:48 Your family will enjoy the faith-building stories 17:51 from this small mountain summer camp and town. 17:54 With 24 seasonal episodes every year 17:56 and fresh content every week, 17:59 there's always a new adventure just on the horizon. 18:07 - The German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz 18:09 argued that God really did make the best possible universe, 18:14 but that we're too limited in our understanding 18:16 to grasp that. 18:17 We just don't know enough. 18:20 And here's where I really want to give Leibniz some credit 18:23 because in many ways, 18:25 the Bible kind of supports that argument. 18:27 I'll give you a few examples. 18:28 There's a statement over in the book of Romans 18:31 where it tells us that human language 18:33 is inadequate to describe some things, 18:35 and that's where the mind of God begins to take over. 18:39 This passage admits that something is wrong with this world, 18:43 and then it tells us that we barely have the language 18:46 to describe it. 18:50 Eight, it says, "For we that the whole creation 18:53 "groans and labors with birth pains together until now." 18:58 So that's a description of the world we live in, 19:00 and it's telling us that human sinfulness 19:03 has not just caused the moral evil 19:05 committed by individuals, 19:07 but it has also led to natural evils, 19:10 because our rebellion has affected the whole of creation, 19:13 turning it into something it never used to be. 19:17 Paul continues by saying this. 19:19 "Not only that, but we also 19:22 "who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 19:24 "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, 19:27 "eagerly waiting for the adoption, 19:29 "the redemption of our body. 19:31 "Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. 19:35 "For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 19:38 "but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us 19:41 "with groanings which cannot be uttered." 19:45 So there you have a number of elements 19:48 that Leibniz believed in. 19:49 Somehow, natural evil like fires, floods, and earthquakes, 19:54 and the evil choices of human beings are connected, 19:58 and you and I struggle to understand how and why that works. 20:01 In fact, we barely have the language to pray about it. 20:06 But are we really going to develop a new scientific language 20:09 that makes up for this deficit of understanding? 20:12 No, not in this lifetime, 20:15 not according to a famous passage 20:16 in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. 20:19 Here's what he says. 20:21 "For we know in part and we prophesy in part." 20:25 So again, he's admitting that human knowledge 20:27 is very incomplete. 20:28 He continues, "But when that which is perfect has come, 20:32 "then that which is in part will be done away." 20:35 So he's looking forward to a time 20:38 when our knowledge will be more complete. 20:41 He says, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child. 20:45 "I understood as a child, I thought a child, 20:48 "but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 20:52 So now as a mature believer, 20:54 Paul is starting to understand things a little bit better, 20:57 not perfectly, but better. 21:00 It goes on. 21:01 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, 21:04 "but then face to face. 21:06 Now I know in part, but then I shall know 21:09 "just as I also am known." 21:12 What Paul is saying is that you and I 21:14 only have a vague concept 21:16 of what perfection actually looks like, 21:19 and we won't understand the subject 21:21 until the human race has been completely restored. 21:25 So according to the Bible, 21:26 what Leibniz suspected is true, 21:29 you and I simply do not have complete understanding. 21:33 That same idea is reflected in what might be 21:35 the most ancient book in the Bible, the book of Job, 21:38 which is entirely dedicated 21:40 to the problem of suffering and evil. 21:43 For 37 chapters, Job and his friends 21:46 are trying to figure out why do Job has to suffer 21:49 when he's always been devoted to the creator. 21:51 And when job is done asking his questions, 21:54 God shows up and begins to ask some questions of his own. 21:57 Here's how that plays out now, in Job 38. 22:01 "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 22:03 "'Who is this who darkens counsel 22:05 "'by words without knowledge? 22:08 "'Now prepare yourself like a man. 22:10 "'I will question you and you shall answer me. 22:13 "'Where were you? When I laid the foundations of the earth? 22:15 "'Tell me, if you have understanding. 22:18 "'Who determined its measurements? 22:19 "'Surely you know! 22:21 "'Or who stretched the line upon it? 22:22 "'To what were its foundations fastened? 22:24 ""Or who laid its cornerstone, 22:26 "when the morning stars sang together 22:28 "'and all the sons of God shouted for joy?'" 22:32 So in other words, God is saying, 22:33 "Look Job, you really don't have the tools you need 22:36 "to understand everything that happens in the universe. 22:39 "When this creation was first established, 22:41 "the sons of God, or the angels, shouted for joy. 22:44 "It was good. 22:46 "In fact, I declared it to be very good. 22:49 "And yes, it's different now, and now there's suffering. 22:52 "But you weren't there and you don't really understand." 22:56 Now that doesn't mean there aren't any good answers. 22:59 It just means that our human perspective is compromised 23:01 by a lack of understanding. 23:03 And it also means that God is going to help us 23:06 understand one day because Paul makes it clear 23:08 that when we finally see God face to face, 23:11 we will understand. 23:14 I'll be right back after this. 23:19 - [Announcer] Life can throw a lot at us. 23:22 Sometimes we don't have all the answers, 23:25 but that's where the Bible comes in. 23:27 It's our guide to a more fulfilling life. 23:31 Here at "The Voice of Prophecy," 23:32 we've created the Discover Bible Guides 23:34 to be your guide to the Bible. 23:36 They're designed to be simple, easy to use, 23:38 and provide answers to many of life's toughest questions, 23:41 and they're absolutely free. 23:43 So jump online now, or give us a call 23:46 and start your journey of discovery. 23:49 - Well, we're running out of time again, 23:50 so it's probably a horrible idea 23:52 to move into brand new territory, 23:54 yet I do wanna point out that the Bible provides us 23:57 with something that the enlightenment philosophers did not. 24:00 It provides us with a promise. 24:04 I mean, Leibniz hinted at a promise, 24:06 he hinted at a time when people would finally understand 24:09 why we suffer, 24:11 but he places that promise at the feet 24:13 of rationality and science. 24:15 The Bible takes a different approach. 24:18 There are a number of scenes in the scriptures 24:20 that describe a final judgment 24:22 that takes place in several phases. 24:24 In Daniel seven, we see the angelic hosts 24:27 assembling at the throne of God 24:29 where the Books of Judgment are opened, 24:32 and the question you probably need to ask is this. 24:34 Why would an all-knowing God need books? 24:38 The answer is he doesn't, 24:40 but a mere created angel might. 24:43 You find the same thing over in Revelation 20, 24:45 but with human beings instead of angels. 24:47 It tells us we get to look at the books, 24:50 which is another way of saying 24:51 that we will eventually understand. 24:55 Now I know that argument doesn't make some people happy, 24:57 because we don't like to wait, 25:00 and we don't like to think that we don't know enough 25:02 to solve a problem, but there it is. 25:06 And we're gonna come back to this on another show. 25:09 At that moment, the Bible says, 25:11 God himself will reach out and wipe away our tears. 25:14 He will make us perfectly satisfied. 25:18 Here's what it says in Revelation, chapter seven. 25:22 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. 25:26 "The sun shall not strike them nor any heat, 25:27 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne 25:29 "will shepherd them and lead them 25:31 "to living fountains of waters. 25:33 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." 25:39 In other words, it's not going to be like this forever. 25:42 Now, that doesn't mean you can't get a better grasp 25:45 of the subject right now, 25:46 even if our own understanding is incomplete. 25:49 The rest of the Bible offers good answers 25:52 to the problem of evil that would frankly blow your mind 25:55 if you took the time to look at them. 25:59 You know, Leibniz predicted that in the future, 26:01 our understanding of God's goodness would grow, 26:04 and during the very next century, 26:06 a number of Christians 26:07 really to tackled this subject seriously. 26:10 One of those 19th century Christian writers 26:12 wrote about it in 1888, and she said this. 26:15 Now, this is one of my favorite passages 26:18 from Christian literature. 26:19 It's such a thought-provoking statement 26:21 that I thought I'd finish with it today. 26:23 She wrote, "It is impossible to so explain the origin of sin 26:28 "as to give a reason for its existence. 26:31 "Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin 26:33 "and the final disposition of sin 26:36 "to fully make manifest the justice and benevolence of God 26:39 "in all his dealings with evil. 26:42 "Nothing is more plainly taught in scripture 26:45 "than that God was in nowise responsible 26:48 "for the entrance of sin, 26:50 "that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, 26:54 "no deficiency in the divine government 26:56 "that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. 26:59 "Sin is an intruder for whose presence 27:02 "no reason can be given. 27:04 "It is mysterious, unaccountable, 27:06 "to excuse it is to defend it. 27:09 "Could excuse for it be found, 27:11 "or cause be shown for its existence, 27:13 "it would cease to be sin." 27:16 Apparently David Hume, the famous philosopher, 27:18 came to the same conclusion. 27:21 You can either recognize that evil exists, 27:24 or you can explain it, but you can't do both. 27:28 So I think I'm gonna let you chew on that idea 27:30 for this week. 27:31 Evil is a problem you're not gonna solve 27:33 only by using human logic, 27:35 because if you could find a good reason 27:38 for the existence of evil, 27:40 well, it wouldn't still be evil. 27:42 So maybe Leibniz was right. 27:43 You and I don't have the philosophical language 27:46 to describe the problem. 27:47 But that doesn't mean there isn't an answer, 27:49 because there is. 27:51 We're just gonna have to wait for God 27:53 to fill in some of the blanks. 27:55 Thanks for joining me this week. 27:56 This has been "Authentic," I'm Shawn Boonstra. 28:00 [upbeat music] |
Revised 2022-02-24