The other day I had someone ask me a hard question and I would like to share it with you. A young man asked me the question, "Why does God allow this to happen?" This young man had seen a situation where some young children were being abused and wanted to know how God could allow such a horrific thing to happen. I have heard this question many times over the years in many different forms. Some people want to know why good people die and evil people remain or why a loving couple cannot conceive their own children while the drug addict has multiple unwanted or aborted children. Hence the question, "Why does God allow it to happen?"
There are several steps to understanding this question and it’s answer. (1.) In the beginning God created a perfect earth with no suffering, sickness, or death. He created man to be perfect with no sin and it was His intention for things to remain this way. (2.) Mankind CHOSE by his disobedience to leave behind the perfection created by God and enter a world of pain and suffering. This is important to remember. God did not want man to suffer, but He also allows us to make a choice. He does not control us like zombies, He allows us to choose. (3.) All choices have a consequence. Some are good, some are bad, and some are unintended, but we are bound by our choices. The horrible truth is that many times others are hurt by our bad choices. (4.) I have said all of this to lead us to the conclusion that all sin and its bad consequences can be traced back to a sinful decision made by a person. The damage caused by these decisions not only hurt the guilty party, many times they also hurt the innocent.
In conclusion we must understand that the same free choice that allows you to choose to do right and become a better person also allows others to make wrong choices with terrible results. God does not force you to go to church, read the Bible, or donate money to charities, those are choices He wants you to make because you want to. That conversely means that people are also free to choose to steal, lie, and abuse those who cannot defend themselves. Both sets of actions have far-reaching consequences.
It is a matter of choice. We choose either to make life better for ourselves and other or we can choose to make life a living "hell" for ourselves and others. The choice is ours, not God’s. What will you choose?
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Pastor Joshua Graber ministers at the Cornerstone Baptist Church located at 510 4th Avenue, Vinton.
Services are held:
Sunday School for all ages 10:00 AM
Sunday Morning Worship Service 11:00 AM
Sunday Evening Service 6:00 PM
Wednesday Night Prayer Service 7:00 PM
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In regards to the opinion piece Mr. Graber submitted to the Gazette.
1) \"Science has not always been for the better.\"
The point you are attempting to make here is invalid considering you offer no examples to back your position. While there are examples of the products of science having been used for horrendous acts (the atomic bomb), there are far more examples of science being used for good. Modern medicine being the product of science with the biggest life saving impact and the countless technological advancements that you and every other American utilize daily.
Shall we discuss the horrendous acts committed in the name of religion throughout human history? If so you will find that far more human beings have been killed in the name of \"God\" then have been killed in the name of science.
3) \"I cannot begin to address all of the “scientific” shortcomings of Evolutionary Theory.\"
I find this statement to be hilarious. I must ask what background in science do you have as a Pastor? All you have done here is make a statement with no evidence to back your position. Though as a Pastor I wouldn\'t expect anything less from you as you present religion as truth even though it is based on no factual evidence.
Also, I find it hilariously ironic that you question the merits of evolution yet fully believe in the \"God created the earth in 6 days and made a woman from the rib of a man\"- yeah that\'s far more believable than evolution.
4) \"Really? Global warming? \"
Again you attempt to attack science with absolutely no understanding of it. The predictions of global warming are actually happening but I guess you have had your head in the sand the past decade? 99.9% of the scientific community consider evolution and global warming to be fact.
5) \"Why are you so afraid of people questioning?\"
Sir you deal in mythology plain and simple. You are the one who is afraid of science asking questions. Why? Because the questions posed by science generally serve to disprove the outlandish claims made by religion. You are fighting a losing battle as science and reason will win out over religious fear mongering.
Please leave the science to the people with an actual background in it.