I am glad that this is our first book for the summer because it has so much to offer and think about! Greg's answers to his father's challenging questions are very interesting to see him take a very in-depth and practical view of God and the gospel. Other Christians may just say things without taking into account the bigger view, like his dad noted. I think a lot of his explanations and clarifications can help me and others understand more and consider different aspects of the gospel and God.
Part 1:
In the first couple of correspondents there is a lot of discussion of love and the freedom of love. The question is brought up about how evil and suffering can exist with God. From his explanation and the world around us we can see just how evil we all can be. There is so much hate, violence, and anger in this world, that love may at times seems scarce. But as we read and know this is a choice we make, to choose to love or hurt, and like Greg shares it is a risk that God took with us. All of us have that potential inside to do harm and many have done harm, although we may not realize it at first. "If we have the potential to oppress or slay millions, it's because we also have the potential to liberate and love millions" (Correspondence 3, page 34). It is interesting the take that God took a risk when creating us, just as we now take risks in relationships. He took that risk, and now we have the choice to love those around us as He calls us to in many different places in the Bible.
I am so amazed by the amount of love that has been showed to me while I am so undeserving. Those who have loved me choose to, as I chose to love, and I think God has really loved me through people. In the recent months and weeks I have experienced so much love that others did not have to give. It is far better to show this love then to harm those around us, and from this I along with others can experience the richness of relationships that we are able to create.
From correspondent 4, Greg brought his perspective that God does not really know the future or that He is not all knowing of our future. When, in Jeremiah 29:11 it talks about the plans God has for us, is it talking generally about the good that He hopes will be in our lives or the things that He does have in store for our futures? We are given free will for our choices, and this may be why God does not know our set future since our decision may shape our future (Page 38). Greg does provide additional sources so they may be helpful, but does anyone have their take on this topic?
Happy reading,
Clare
I'm not fond of isolating man's free-will from God's providence, and similarly wary of using 'risk' to describe the way God relates to man. Simply put, my view is that nothing falls outside of God's intent, not even decisions of genuine human will--and there is nothing I can offer in the way of reconciling God's will and man's will though I believe in both.
ReplyDeleteThat nothing can surprise God, though a simplistic reason, if even that, intuitively argues against the strictly Armenian view of free-will, which I will henceforth call free-wheel, a shorthand for freewheeling free-will (I am proud to admit that I just came up with it).
Reconciling our will to the revealed will of God is of greater relevance to our lives than reconciling the concept of our will, free or not, to the concept of God's soverign will. The latter will be resolved in heaven, when our eyes shed their scales and minds their earthly fetters, but the former is the very reason Jesus had to die--because our wills would not reconcile themselves to God.
I do completely agree with you that God shows His love for us through other people. When people who have surrendered their lives to God, sharing in His heart and loving their neighbors as God does, when such people gather, they form a church, so it is no surprise that Christ's church should be a unique place.
-K.M.
Hello Clarissa. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I totally agree with the comment of Keith Min on your blog post " Letters to a Skeyptic". I am blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you and know you and your desire to travel and know different languages. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 37 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reachout to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. we also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come with your friends to work with us during your vacation time. I am sure you will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. Also wishing you a blessed and a joyous Christmas season and a bright, prosperous and a Christ centered coming New year 2017. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.
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