Using the Bible, How would you answer this?

[Murph]

Using the Bible, and assuming you would answer this question...if asked,

how would you answer it?

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

It is a question asked by Epicurus 2300 years ago. He was an athiest.

[Deleted]

It completely boils down to one simple answer . . . man has a free will and God in his omniscience "chose" not to interfere with that God-given right.

God could have prevented evil, but then nothing would have ever changed, but through his foreknowledge knew that a people would come to love Him because of Who He is, and not what He is, "We love God because He first loved us."

Could he have destroyed each sinner at the instant he rebelled? He would surely have to destroy everyone. But, even though generations belonging to one line might hate Him and revile Him, he saw that one that would be born that would be added to a crown of stars . . . and it was for them that he held back judgment which would have resulted in that one never being born.

Beyond this, we just don't know or understand the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through His Son.

[Murph]

It is that atheist on the hometown MB again. I am not going to say anything to him. Would do no good.

He riles my Irish so, but won't listen when we tell him so will do no good to try. But it still riles my Irish.

Just thought it would be interesting to see how ya'll might answer that question.

[veterinarian]

I would answer that God allows evil in order to allow us to choose whether we will follow Him. We then can reap the benefits of choosing to follow Him.

If God eliminated all evil, He would remove the ability of humans to make the choice of whether to follow Him.


[glow=red,2,300](Jeremiah 15:11) Jehovah said, Truly I will free you for good.[/glow]

and

[glow=red,2,300](John 8:36) Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.[/glow]

[Keith]

Aug 1, 2011 14:06:15 GMT -6 Murph said:

It is that atheist on the hometown MB again. I am not going to say anything to him. Would do no good.

There are no actual 'Atheists'. It's a manmade word defining those who refuse the concept of a Supreme Being. I say refuse because it's really a matter of acknowledgment, not belief:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:18-20)

We 'see God' through His creation: the heavens, the earth, and us [mankind]. We 'hear God' through His written Word, the Bible. Therefore, since God reveals Himself through His creation and makes His wishes known through His Word in the Bible, NO ONE will have an excuse not to have been saved when they stand before Him.

Tell your Atheist that one day he will bow his knee to Jesus, confess Him as Lord, and we'll be there.

[Murph]

Thanks you all for your wonderful answers...

I don't think the atheist would like any of then and I loved them all!

Sad thing is that God loves the atheist just as much as He does us...but His love is not returned.

[Murph]

Got an update for ya...

Here is what I said to the athiest. He has a little area where he posts and moderates.

"We Christians have told you over and over again. The proof of God's love is John 3:16. Even non-Christians know what that verse says...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

You choose willfully not to believe in spite of evidence and that is your choice but...

“... the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:18-20)

We 'see God' through His creation: the heavens, the earth, and us [mankind]. We 'hear God' through His written Word, the Bible. Therefore, since God reveals Himself through His creation and makes His wishes known through His Word in the Bible, NO ONE will have an excuse not to have been saved when they stand before Him.

Now let that be an end to it & Like Lori said, drop it. We believe and you don't. Seems we have all made our choices..."

(if some of that looks farmiliar it should...I lifted what Keith posted on this thread)

[Murph]

Then the atheist posted this and locked the thread...

"Please don't tell me to drop a subject I raised simply because you don't like the things I say. You are always welcome to comment in this forum...but by the same token no one is forcing you to read what is posted here. You have a Christianity forum where you discuss and share your beliefs: I wouldn't dream of going there and then demanding that you stop posting things I disagree with.

Disagree with me all you like but kindly don't tell me to stop writing. If you don't like what you read here, all you have to do is not open a thread. I clearly mark the topics of each one."

[Keith]

Praise the Lord! I'm blessed that I could help Marilyn.

[Murph]

Thank you very much...both the Lord and you Keith.

The amusing thing is that the atheist locked the thread because he didn't like what I said...and in essance told me I could only say what I believe in the Christanity section...

See...I mentioned the name Jesus. They all recoil from that name and from any direct quotes from the Bible.

[Keith]

This topic continues to bring me back Marilyn. These people ask a theological question, but then get their drawers in a wad when you provide an answer they don't want to hear. That's proof that they do have that 'God knowledge' in them, and they simply don't want to admit it.

[Murph]

and it seems to irk them to no end because they won't let it rest...

They keep attacking like the Pharisee did Jesus...they keep baiting and trying to draw Christians into debates, to conner and to disprove.

But by contrast I don't see them challenging any of the world religions in the same way. To me that is another indication that they do have a knowlege of God...but don't want to admit it. Their motive seem satanisque...like their father..."For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."Isaiah 14:13-14

It is also an indication to me, that we have the right God...Lord of Host, Creator of the Universe...the God of John 3:16...yeah! that One.

[Keith]

Good point! No, you don't see them confronting the subjects of Budha, the Dalai Lama, the Koran or *gasp* *choke* Allah! It's always Jesus by Name or the Bible itself. So yes, it says alot.

[Murph]

The Pharisee in Acts, said no one could use the Name of Jesus. The didn't deny what had happened...that Jesus had died on the Cross and then had risen from the dead...

They just forbid the use of His name...

Peter and John and the rest were not to preach using Jesus name...so even after all these centuries...nothing has changed.