Good God... Please answer all four..

Maria Billingsley

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Oct 7, 2018
9,576
7,775
63
Martinez
✟893,955.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
“The LORD hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16:4)

“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” (Amos 3:6)

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

“Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?” (Lamentations 3:38)

“For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: But evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.” (Micah 1:12)

“For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?” (Ezekiel 14:21)

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1–5)

“The LORD said to him [Moses], “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)
I'll take these one by one:
1. The wicked are evil men. Yes He made man in His image, gave them free will and they choose evil.
2.The Lord allowed it. Evil man did it.
3. This is the annointing of Cyrus who God ALLOWED and empowered to do His will. This is a prophecy not a characterization of God Himself.
4. This is not a characterization of God. It is His ALLOWING the woes and well-being of man to proceed.
5.Again ALLOWED evil, not create it.
6. Indeed He allows evil to take place as wrath and judgment.
7-8. These are judgments, not creating evil.
9. Allowed it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrewn
Upvote 0

Dave L

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 28, 2018
15,549
5,875
USA
✟580,110.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
"Caused that evil be". Dave misspoke, I'm guessing. However, there are verses that need explained away....
If God is the creator, who besides Him created evil? He even turns people into cannibals. How evil is that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mark Quayle
Upvote 0

Dave L

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 28, 2018
15,549
5,875
USA
✟580,110.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I get the impression that the actual translation is 'calamity' not evil. So NET : I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity.

So God creates calamity or peace as necessary.

Evil is the absence of good, which is why it is so often associated with darkness, the absence of light.
Have you considered all the passages where God turns people into cannibals? How evil is that?
 
Upvote 0

Dave L

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 28, 2018
15,549
5,875
USA
✟580,110.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I'll take these one by one:
1. The wicked are evil men. Yes He made man in His image, gave them free will and they choose evil.
2.The Lord allowed it. Evil man did it.
3. This is the annointing of Cyrus who God ALLOWED and empowered to do His will. This is a prophecy not a characterization of God Himself.
4. This is not a characterization of God. It is His ALLOWING the woes and well-being of man to proceed.
5.Again ALLOWED evil, not create it.
6. Indeed He allows evil to take place as wrath and judgment.
7-8. These are judgments, not creating evil.
9. Allowed it.
People are bound to their sinful nature. Nobody has free will. Try going for one hour without sinning.
 
Upvote 0

Maria Billingsley

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Oct 7, 2018
9,576
7,775
63
Martinez
✟893,955.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
People are bound to their sinful nature. Nobody has free will. Try going for one hour without sinning.
We have different theological views. Thanks for engaging.
Be blessed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cormack
Upvote 0

Marumorose

Active Member
Nov 30, 2019
329
321
45
Polokwane
✟37,738.00
Country
South Africa
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
✝️Could God do evil if he wanted to?
✝️Would it be possible for him to want to do evil?
✝️Is anything God does by definition good.... but if I were to do it then it would be evil?
✝️ Is there a principle of right and wrong that transcends God?
There is only one answer to your questions.
Answer: GOD is Good All the time and he does no evil
Mark 10:18 Jesus Christ said "Why call you me good? there is none Good but ONE, that is GOD"
May God Bless You
 
Upvote 0

topher694

Go Turtle!
Jan 29, 2019
3,828
3,038
St. Cloud, MN
✟186,760.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
If God is the creator, who besides Him created evil? He even turns people into cannibals. How evil is that?
And here is a great example of the absolute lunacy of Calvinism and why people like the OP are more likely to stay away from Christianity.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Mark Quayle

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist
Supporter
May 28, 2018
13,005
5,622
68
Pennsylvania
✟780,935.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Widowed
Evil is the absence of good, which is why it is so often associated with darkness, the absence of light.
You have a point, though I have been straightened up when I said that myself: It can too easily be taken to validate a duality, a yin-yang sort of flavor to reality, that denies the power of God.
 
Upvote 0

Mark Quayle

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist
Supporter
May 28, 2018
13,005
5,622
68
Pennsylvania
✟780,935.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Widowed
If God is the creator, who besides Him created evil? He even turns people into cannibals. How evil is that?
The way I see it is pretty much like quite a few see it. "In philosophy, privation may refer to the absence of a necessary quality in the universe. For example, as part of his theodicy, Augustine denied the existence of evil as its own entity; rather, he described evil as a privation, or going wrong, of good, privatio boni."

As I understand it, where God says he creates evil, he is referring to calamity, hard things, even suffering, but not sin and not evil in the sense of moral depravity or moral negation. He caused that sin be, but did not create sin.

It is the devil, the author of sin, that is evil, (he and his minions), and humanity, slaves to sin, that are evil.

There is a truth concerning God, however, that is largely lacking in modern Christian dogma and doctrine, a horrifying holy truth, that God has a side to him that we cannot abide at present in our sin ridden world. I think this is evident in such things as the angel he sent to slay the firstborn of Egypt, and in his severe wrath at the deeds of men. We have not been taught the horror that is sin, and the texture and flavor of God's power against it. "Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Mark Quayle

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist
Supporter
May 28, 2018
13,005
5,622
68
Pennsylvania
✟780,935.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Widowed
And here is a great example of the absolute lunacy of Calvinism and why people like the OP are more likely to stay away from Christianity.
Can you show what is wrong, can you disprove him, rather than to simply ad hom?
 
Upvote 0

ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran
Oct 2, 2011
37,341
26,785
Pacific Northwest
✟728,115.00
Country
United States
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
In Relationship
Politics
US-Others
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Mark Quayle

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist
Supporter
May 28, 2018
13,005
5,622
68
Pennsylvania
✟780,935.00
Country
United States
Faith
Reformed
Marital Status
Widowed
If, "God made evil & cannibals" isn't self-evidently wrong, then best of luck to you.
I didn't say he was right. I just asked if you can prove him wrong. Apparently you can't.
 
Upvote 0

topher694

Go Turtle!
Jan 29, 2019
3,828
3,038
St. Cloud, MN
✟186,760.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
I didn't say he was right. I just asked if you can prove him wrong. Apparently you can't.
Can you prove throwing puppies in a wood chipper is wrong? Or perhaps the exercise itself is ridiculous and not worth the effort.
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Mullally
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Dave L

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Jun 28, 2018
15,549
5,875
USA
✟580,110.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The way I see it is pretty much like quite a few see it. "In philosophy, privation may refer to the absence of a necessary quality in the universe. For example, as part of his theodicy, Augustine denied the existence of evil as its own entity; rather, he described evil as a privation, or going wrong, of good, privatio boni.

As I understand it, where God says he creates evil, he is referring to calamity, hard things, even suffering, but not sin and not evil in the sense of moral depravity or moral negation. He caused that sin be, but did not create sin.

It is the devil, the author of sin, that is evil, (he and his minions), and humanity, slaves to sin, that are evil.

There is a truth concerning God, however, that is largely lacking in modern Christian dogma and doctrine, a horrifying holy truth, that God has a side to him that we cannot abide at present in our sin ridden world. I think this is evident in such things as the angel he sent to slay the firstborn of Egypt, and in his severe wrath at the deeds of men. We have not been taught the horror that is sin, and the texture and flavor of God's power against it. "Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Just take him at his word and spend more time in the OT looking for his creation of evil in the many examples.
 
Upvote 0