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Quote from Gary Habermas.com
'Dr. Gary Habermas is able to argue persuasively for the real, historical death and bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth using only those facts that 95% of critics concede. In other words, using the facts about Jesus that virtually all scholars agree upon, Dr. Habermas is able to establish the historical reality of the resurrection. Listen to this brief audio description to learn more.'
Gary Habermas Resurrection Scholar Approach
Question 36: God allows evil to exist to build human character
Eighty-one
(38%) persons supported this idea; 46 (21.6%) were ‘NC’; 86 (40.4%) were not in
support of the proposition. This is a
controversial question among respondents.
I agree strongly with the proposition in that I reason God creates
significantly free creatures that will eventually commit wrong actions. However, through the atoning work and resurrection
of Christ applied to believers, they will develop a character that tires of
rebellion against God and awaits God given restoration in his culminated
Kingdom.[1] If creatures never sinned
and experienced evil, it is possible they would not have the steadfast
commitment to God of creatures that have been rescued from the problem of evil,
through the atoning work and resurrection of Christ.[2] I am not stating that this is the only reason
why elected individuals will have a steadfast commitment to God. The regeneration and resurrection process
will turn a previously sinful nature into a holy one.[3] Moltmann writes that the resurrection message
of the early Christian community was the anticipation of what was to come.[4] The resurrection of Christ created the hope
for the eventual world of a new righteousness.[5] In the new heaven and new earth, the life of
the believer will be transformed in completion.[6] Believers will share the likeness of God,[7]
and this will be a life of moral perfection.
[1] This is not to presume that all Christians
will develop character in a similar mature fashion. I admit that, in some cases, Christians may
live relatively disobedient lives, but I am confident in finalized regeneration
through the resurrection.
[2] With this speculative idea, my personal
sovereignty theodicy goes beyond that of Feinberg’s which, in my opinion, lacks
in this area. It is better if a theodicy provides some good reasons why God
would allow evil, and Feinberg’s explanation remains very general in nature. I
do not pretend, however, to know why God allows evil in certain situations, for
example, as in the premature death of loved ones.
[3] Thiessen (1956: 383-384). Erickson (1994: 1184).
[4] Moltmann (1993: 177).
[5] Moltmann (1993: 177).
[6] Mounce (1990: 388).
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.
FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.
MOLTMANN, JÜRGEN (1993) The Crucified God, Minneapolis, Fortress Press.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
After a one hour walk outside in the Spring air...Blessings this Easter
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| Mom living downstairs makes tea in the coffee maker and puts a tea bag in, but forgets to take out the previous coffee grinds. ‘You have made ‘Toffee’, I stated, as I drink it anyway. She tries to blame me for it after I showed her the coffee grinds. |
