2005-05-12 - Flawed Logic

Originally Published 2002-01-24

Ex 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)

One of the names that is given to God in the Bible is "I AM." Think about that for just a moment. Self-existent, for all of time and eternity past and future. There is no consideration given to a beginning or an ending because there is none. God is not learning, He knows - omniscience. God is not limited in any way - omnipotent. God is not limited by time or space - he created everything including time and space - omnipresent.

When Jesus is surrounded in the Garden of Gethsemene, the Lord asks the men who had come to arrest Him who it was they sought. When they answered they were looking for Jesus something awesome happens. Jesus answers, "I AM." and the company of men and soldiers tumbled to the ground like fire wood. The power of just His name was enough to show everyone Who was in control of the situation.

When someone says, "There can't be a God because of all the evil in the world." You may also insert starvation, pain, or the bad item of your choice in for "evil". If you know Jesus Christ as Savior, you know that God does indeed exist. The statement is often said with such resounding conviction and authority, and it is so socially accepted, that speaking up for the truth is often difficult, especially if you have not thought the matter through. The logic must be flawed, but where?

The first item is that you are assuming a standard of good and evil where there must be an ultimate good or best situation - and you are assuming that you know what that standard should be. If there is no God, then standards are what we make them, and there will be no definitive or authoritative supreme standard since there is no one capable of providing it.

Is there evil in the world? Yes, no argument. Did God have to create it? No. Evil entered the world with sin. God created the potential for evil, but not evil. God created the standard for good, and defined the ultimate of that standard. In doing so, the Creator made the opportunity to sin, to violate the standard. God also gave us free will when he created us. He created us to have fellowship with Him. In order for there to be love, friendship and fellowship, there must be free will or we would just be dolls that cry, "Ma ma!"

If something doesn't make sense, think it over. If you can't come to the answer, ask a friend, a group at a Bible study, or Pastor. Dig on the Internet for a discussion on the topic. When your heart and mind want an answer, it can be found. If your faith doesn't make sense, you are standing on dangerously thin ice. It's also okay to say to someone, "I don't know, but I'll get back to you." Nobody can know everything. In the end it is a benefit to you and to the questioner to have an answer to flawed logic.

Ps 90:1-2 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. ² Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. (NAS)

Lord Jesus - give us confident, curious hearts to find the answers where they are available so that we have a faith that works for both ourselves and those around us that You are reaching out to in the world.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org