Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....November 27, 2017
Uh
As soon as I mentioned that I was going to speak on the problem of evil, a question came in immediately:
Pastor Patrick, I have a question that has been on my mind for months so I thank you for writing about the evil in the world today. Here is my question, why did God allow evil in the world?
The Bible describes God as holy (Isaiah 6:3), righteous (Psalm 7:11), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and sovereign (Daniel 4:17-25). These attributes tell us the following about God: (1) God is capable of preventing evil, and (2) God desires to rid the universe of evil. So, if both of these are true, why does God allow evil? If God has the power to prevent evil and desires to prevent evil, why does He still allow evil? Perhaps a practical way to look at this question would be to consider some alternative ways people might have God run the world:
1) God could change everyone’s personality so that they cannot sin. This would also mean that we would not have a free will. We would not be able to choose right or wrong because we would be “programmed” to only do right. Had God chosen to do this, there would be no meaningful relationships between Him and His creation. In other words, God would have a world full of robots.
Instead, God made Adam and Eve innocent but with the ability to choose good or evil. Because of this, they could respond to His love and trust Him or choose to disobey. They chose to disobey. Because we live in a real world where we can choose our actions but not their consequences, their sin affected those who came after them (us). Similarly, our decisions to sin have an impact on us and those around us and those who will come after us.
2) God could compensate for people’s evil actions through supernatural intervention 100 percent of the time. God would stop a drunk driver from causing an automobile accident. God would stop a lazy construction worker from doing a substandard job on a house that would later cause grief to the homeowners. God would stop a father who is addicted to drugs or alcohol from doing any harm to his wife, children, or extended family. God would stop gunmen from robbing convenience stores. God would stop high school bullies from tormenting the brainy kids. God would stop thieves from shoplifting. And, yes, God would stop terrorists from flying airplanes into buildings.
While this solution sounds attractive, it would lose its attractiveness as soon as God’s intervention infringed on something we wanted to do. We want God to prevent horribly evil actions, but we are willing to let “lesser-evil” actions slide—not realizing that those “lesser-evil” actions are what usually lead to the “greater-evil” actions. Should God only stop actual sexual affairs, or should He also block our access to pornography or end any inappropriate, but not yet sexual, relationships? Should God stop “true” thieves, or should He also stop us from cheating on our taxes? Should God only stop murder, or should He also stop the “lesser-evil” actions done to people that lead them to commit murder? Should God only stop acts of terrorism, or should He also stop the indoctrination that transformed a person into a terrorist?
3) Another choice would be for God to judge and remove those who choose to commit evil acts. The problem with this possibility is that there would be no one left, for God would have to remove us all. We all sin and commit evil acts (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). While some people are more evil than others, where would God draw the line? Ultimately, all evil causes harm to others.
Instead of these options, God has chosen to create a “real” world in which real choices have real consequences. In this real world of ours, our actions affect others. Because of Adam’s choice to sin, the world now lives under the curse, and we are all born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). There will one day come a time when God will judge the sin in this world and make all things new, but He is purposely “delaying” in order to allow more time for people to repent so that He will not need to condemn them (2 Peter 3:9). Until then, He IS concerned about evil. When He created the Old Testament laws, the goal was to discourage and punish evil. He judges nations and rulers who disregard justice and pursue evil. Likewise, in the New Testament, God states that it is the government’s responsibility to provide justice in order to protect the innocent from evil (Romans 13). He also promises severe consequences for those who commit evil acts, especially against the "innocent" (Mark 9:36-42).
So we live in a real world where our good and evil actions have direct consequences and indirect consequences upon us and those around us. God’s desire is that for all of our sake's we would obey Him that it might be well with us (Deuteronomy 5:29). Instead, what happens is that we choose our own way, and then we blame God for not doing anything about it. Such is the heart of sinful man. But Jesus came to change men’s hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He does this for those who will turn from evil and call on Him to save them from their sin and its consequences (2 Corinthians 5:17). God does prevent and restrain some acts of evil. This world would be MUCH WORSE were not God restraining evil. At the same time, God has given us the ability to choose good and evil, and when we choose evil, He allows us, and those around us, to suffer the consequences of evil. Rather than blaming God and questioning God on why He does not prevent all evil, we should be about the business of proclaiming the cure for evil and its consequences—Jesus Christ!
I hope this answers your question:)
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
Look back over the last 100 years of publishing in the self help genre, and you would find many titles revolving around the subject of getting rich. At one point in time - it seems - people considered becoming a millionaire the panacea that would solve all of their problems in life.
These days we seem to have gotten wiser. No longer do we believe that money will solve all of our life's problems. But we seem to have fallen into another insidious trap. What was once all about getting rich has now turned into finding one's passion. Why? Because life will become so much easier, work won't feel like work anymore, and we would never have to worry about meeting our basic economic needs by "trading our time for dollars."
So deep is this thought process embedded into our culture that even the most successful people in the world repeat it. Never mind in what way they mean it, and in what way the rest of us understand it. The point is that the "find your passion" maxim has become the magic bullet solution of our times.
Frankly I am starting to believe less and less in this. Well at least in the idea as it is conceived in popular culture. Not sure if you agree with me? Here's a quick test: would you be willing to slog 80 hour work weeks at a job you hate, for the opportunity to pursue your passion for 1 hour a week? I think I'm safe in assuming the average person would not take that deal. Yet passion implies "at any cost" and "whatever it takes." If a person were truly passionate about something, they would do whatever it takes to earn the time to invest into it.
This is why I think becoming a passionate person is more important than finding your passion. It all starts with self transformation. Finding the best version of yourself from within yourself, rather than finding the ideal medium for expression out in the world.
We lose a lot of time in life over this confusion of "what exactly is my passion and life purpose." There is this feeling that one's passion should be self-evident from the moment one lays eyes on it. And that a burning desire for it just persists in our consciousness on it's own, carrying us through all the hardships and difficulties of the path.
The truth is, if you want an extraordinary life, then you have to endure extraordinary hardship. And nothing outside of you is ever going to get you through that. The only thing that will make you endure are the resources that you find within yourself.
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
The Parables of Jesus
Parables are stories drawn from everyday life that illustrate a religious truth. They compare familiar situations, persons, or events to an unfamiliar or unrecognized truth. The hearers of parables often identify with a particular character and react to the parable’s reversal of expectations. Parables act as both a window to the kingdom of God and a mirror that convicts listeners, trapping them through the element of surprise.
The beginning of the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard offers insight into the graciousness of the God of the kingdom (Matt 20:1–10), whereas its conclusion raises a mirror to the ungraciousness of the first workers (Matt 20:11–16). Listeners who identify with the first workers get caught in the trap of Jesus’ story—identifying this element of surprise is crucial to understanding the theme of the parable.
Parables are frequently organized according to their literary form. Parables that use simile present an explicit comparison using “like” or “as” (e.g., “I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves,” Matt 10:16). Parables that use metaphor equate two things in order to compare them (e.g., “You are the salt of the earth,” Matt 5:13). Those using similitude link a common event with a spiritual lesson (e.g., the parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:3–7). Parables often occur as example stories, where characters serve as examples for listeners, such as in the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37). There are also parables that are allegories, which consist of a series of metaphors that together establish an extended comparison at a number of points, such as in the parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1–9).
Themes that can be seen in the parables include:
Responses to Jesus’ teaching. These stories call listeners to respond faithfully to Jesus; examples include the parable of the 10 Virgins (Matt 25:1–13) or the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24–27).
Warnings about an imminent judgment. These include the parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16–21) and the Shut Door (Luke 13:25–28).
Kingdom of God parables. These stories proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God and illustrate its characteristics. Examples of this theme include the parables of the Wedding Guests (Matt 22:1–14), and the Patch and Wineskins (Mark 2:19–22).
Growth of the kingdom parables. The parables of the Mustard Seed and Yeast (Luke 13:18–21) illustrate the special presence of God.
Parables of God’s mercy. These stories show God as one who offers unconditional love; examples include the parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son (Luke 15:1–32).
Displays of God’s mercy by Jesus. Jesus showers the mercy of God upon marginalized people as in the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) and the Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14).
Calls to deeper discipleship. These stories stress the importance of obedience (the Two Sons in Matt 21:28–32), placing the kingdom first (the Hidden Treasure and Costly Pearl in Matt 13:44–46), humility (Places at the Table in Luke 14:7–10), and prayer (the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1–8).
Consequences of a lack of discipleship. The parable of the Wicked Tenants in Mark 12:1–9 and the Children Playing in the Marketplace in Matt 11:16–17 illustrate how destructive a lack of discipleship is. The majority of Jesus’ parables center on discipleship or a lack of discipleship.
The identifying marks of godly community. Stories like the Kingdom Scribe (Matt 13:51–52) and the parable of the Weeds (Matt 13:24–30) illustrate the true community of believers.
The influence of Jesus’ followers. These parables show the effect of Jesus’ followers upon the world as in the parables of the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World (Matt 5:13–16).
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus employs memorable parables to depict life in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is like a festive wedding banquet (Matt 22:2; 25:10); everyone desires invitation to this jubilant celebration. For field laborers, the kingdom is like the unbelievable harvest—the kind every farmer plagued with drought and insects dreams about (Matt 13:8). For fisherman, the kingdom is like a net that unexpectedly catches a huge multitude of fish (Matt 13:47). And for everyone, the kingdom of God is like a hidden treasure one stumbles upon unexpectedly (Matt 13:44).
Jesus also uses parables to present a brilliantly painted image of God as a compassionate father overflowing with grace and mercy (Luke 15). God dresses himself to serve, as one who places our needs first (Luke 12:37). Imagine a debt that would take 164,000 years to repay—God forgives it entirely (Matt 18:24, 27).
Parables also show God coming to the aid of the social outcasts, the marginalized, disenfranchised, and underprivileged. Samaritans (Luke 10:29–37), tax collectors (Luke 18:9–14), beggars (Luke 16:19–26), and widows (Luke 18:1–8) become the heroes in parables.
Jesus uses parables to note how people can live his teachings on love and justice. The follower of Jesus must be like a tree that bears fruit (Matt 7:16–20; Luke 13:6–9); God’s true children not only hear but do His will (Matt 7:21–23; 21:28–30). Jesus’ disciples must be ready as they actively wait for His second coming (Matt 24:42–25:46).
Finally, Jesus’ use of parables helps envision the type of difference a community of Christ followers can make in the world. It is the salt of the earth and the city set upon a hill (Matt 5:13–16).
Deppe, D. (2012, 2016). The Parables of Jesus. In Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Deppe, D. (2012, 2016). The Parables of Jesus. In Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Deppe, D. (2012, 2016). The Parables of Jesus. In Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Deppe, D. (2012, 2016). The Parables of Jesus. In Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou