God sometimes allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves
God sometimes allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves
Pastor B mentioned this quote (he mentioned that this was said by a co-author of one of Joni Eareckson's book) during his last sermon with us today. He was speaking on decisions that shape our life. As he mentioned this quote, my mind just begin to ponder through the reality of these words ...
We live in a world make up of all fallen creatures, sometimes out to hurt one another so as to satisfy our very own selfish pleasures and desires. Little wonder why there are so much hurts and agony, cries that penetrate up to heaven's walls. Very often, we ask the question "why", more so when the hurt is directly afflicted at us, and we are the bearers of pain. I have to be honest that I'm still struggling and wrestling with this very issue too, although it is always easy to give answer to someone else when you are not caught in that agonizing situation.
I quoted from Thomas Oden's "Pastoral Theology" in my earlier blog, and incidentally, I'm into the 15th chapter of his book (as I rush to complete it for my critical book review) where he mention theodicy for pastoral practice. "Theodicy means to speak justly of God amid the awesome fact of suffering. Its task is to vindicate the divine attributes, especially justice, mercy, and love, in relation to the continuing existence of evil." (Pg 223) Oden suggested that ministers should take time to ponder through issues of theodicy before ministering to any parishioners. And here's some consolations pastors can apply (Pg 223-248):-
1. Suffering is not directly willed by God, even though it occurs by the divine permission as a consequence of finitude and sin.
2. When God chooses to give us the extraordinary gift of finite freedom, that carries with it the possibility of abuse. Creation would have been spared sin only at the cost of giving no creature free will.
3. God would not have permitted any evil at all unless He could draw good out of evil.
4. Only God is so surpassably powerful that He is willing to take the "risk" of living in intimate dialogue and communion with a foreseeably fallen, sinful, self-alienating creature, and all this without any threat to God's own identity or holiness!
5. Evil and suffering are at times experienced as a purgative, like a needed medication that clears out the system, or a regimen that in the short run is rigorous but in the long run promotes health.
6. God's purpose in suffering is not to increase pain, but rather to increase our capacity for joy by making out of pain something that would have been less good without it.
7. Christian faith does not despair over the social mysteries of evil and suffering - it faces them in the hopeful awareness of God, whose complete will is beyond our knowing.
8. God did not want to protect human existence from the possibilities of growth that can come only through being challenged, facing conflict, and struggling with divergent powers. Perceived evils and suffering do not simply or necessarily corrupt and impede but, rather, form a significant part of our human education, permitted by God for a greater good.
Well, I guess at the end of the day, the heart of God aches and pains more than anyone of us when He sees things done against His will, or when He sees His children suffers. Just like any good father, He is always to for us to run to, and always there to lift us up from our miry pits. If it could be avoided, I believe God would have shielded us from a lot of pain and agony, but I guess the statement about "God sometimes allow what He hates to accomplish what He loves" does have profound wisdom. Doesn't it?
Pastor B mentioned this quote (he mentioned that this was said by a co-author of one of Joni Eareckson's book) during his last sermon with us today. He was speaking on decisions that shape our life. As he mentioned this quote, my mind just begin to ponder through the reality of these words ...
We live in a world make up of all fallen creatures, sometimes out to hurt one another so as to satisfy our very own selfish pleasures and desires. Little wonder why there are so much hurts and agony, cries that penetrate up to heaven's walls. Very often, we ask the question "why", more so when the hurt is directly afflicted at us, and we are the bearers of pain. I have to be honest that I'm still struggling and wrestling with this very issue too, although it is always easy to give answer to someone else when you are not caught in that agonizing situation.
I quoted from Thomas Oden's "Pastoral Theology" in my earlier blog, and incidentally, I'm into the 15th chapter of his book (as I rush to complete it for my critical book review) where he mention theodicy for pastoral practice. "Theodicy means to speak justly of God amid the awesome fact of suffering. Its task is to vindicate the divine attributes, especially justice, mercy, and love, in relation to the continuing existence of evil." (Pg 223) Oden suggested that ministers should take time to ponder through issues of theodicy before ministering to any parishioners. And here's some consolations pastors can apply (Pg 223-248):-
1. Suffering is not directly willed by God, even though it occurs by the divine permission as a consequence of finitude and sin.
2. When God chooses to give us the extraordinary gift of finite freedom, that carries with it the possibility of abuse. Creation would have been spared sin only at the cost of giving no creature free will.
3. God would not have permitted any evil at all unless He could draw good out of evil.
4. Only God is so surpassably powerful that He is willing to take the "risk" of living in intimate dialogue and communion with a foreseeably fallen, sinful, self-alienating creature, and all this without any threat to God's own identity or holiness!
5. Evil and suffering are at times experienced as a purgative, like a needed medication that clears out the system, or a regimen that in the short run is rigorous but in the long run promotes health.
6. God's purpose in suffering is not to increase pain, but rather to increase our capacity for joy by making out of pain something that would have been less good without it.
7. Christian faith does not despair over the social mysteries of evil and suffering - it faces them in the hopeful awareness of God, whose complete will is beyond our knowing.
8. God did not want to protect human existence from the possibilities of growth that can come only through being challenged, facing conflict, and struggling with divergent powers. Perceived evils and suffering do not simply or necessarily corrupt and impede but, rather, form a significant part of our human education, permitted by God for a greater good.
Well, I guess at the end of the day, the heart of God aches and pains more than anyone of us when He sees things done against His will, or when He sees His children suffers. Just like any good father, He is always to for us to run to, and always there to lift us up from our miry pits. If it could be avoided, I believe God would have shielded us from a lot of pain and agony, but I guess the statement about "God sometimes allow what He hates to accomplish what He loves" does have profound wisdom. Doesn't it?
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