[asa] RE: Theodicy continued

Further thoughts related to theodicy that I didn't have time to write this
morning.
 
There are two choices: Either this temporal existence will come to an end,
or it will go on forever. If it goes on forever, there will be no "new
heavens and new earth", because the old one is sufficient for eternity. If
there will be an end to it, as God said, there is nothing for us to do but
deal with it. There is no point in complaining that we only have so many
years to live, or that we aren't comfortable with suffering. If God had
granted us threescore and 10 _billion_ years of existence before we died
instead of just threescore and ten, we would merely push the question out
further and ask Him why we had to die so young. If God could make us die in
the twinkling of an eye without physical suffering, we would still complain
about the emotional distress of having to leave behind friends and family
who will grieve over our passing. If there is an end to finite existence,
there must be death, and there must be suffering. Period. There is no way
around it, it's a logical conclusion.
 
Given the conclusion that we have to deal with an end of existence, there
are two choices for dealing with this: presuppose God, or don't presuppose
God. If you don't presuppose that there is a God behind all things, it's no
good bringing in the concept of God just to have a scapegoat to blame for
all the things you don't think are right about this world. (I'm referring to
those who reject God because of all the suffering in the world.) That's a
cop-out. If there isn't anything beyond this life, we are like intelligent
animals and have to accept life as we find it, and then we die. There's no
one to blame, it's just the way things are. One must try to find meaning in
life as best we can. I happen to believe that presupposing God helps make
more sense of existence than not believing.
 
If we _do_ allow God to enter the explanation, then we must allow Him to
come in all the way. We must accept the whole program. God is not there
just to provide an answer to suffering, nor to only provide good for our
enjoyment. The unbeliever who brings in God only to complain about all the
suffering that He has allowed, as if to counsel God, is bringing in a
strawman god of his own choosing. The true God's whole program includes the
creation of a new heavens and a new earth, and a new humanity. That implies
the end of the present nature, and thus death, destruction, and decay. It's
not just part of His plan, ultimately this IS His plan. I am very
sympathetic toward those under the burden of suffering, but rather than
questioning God or trying to defend Him in allowing it, I would say, embrace
God and His help through the inevitable sufferings pf life, and embrace all
of His plan including the new humanity and eternal life.
 
[John 16:33] These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.
[Rev 21:4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

 
Jon Tandy
(confessing these are not all my ideas, but believe C.S. Lewis and others
are echoing in my thoughts)
 

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Received on Tue Feb 19 21:03:32 2008