"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Saturday, April 24, 2010
We are not victims of God's will, we are willing participants and grateful recipients.The words of a young man who just lost his wife, the mother of four young children, to brain cancer.
- Neal McHenry
That's reality, and wisdom born of suffering.
Speechless . . .
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Comments on ""We Are Not Victims"":
2. Brian
- 04/26/2010 9:32 am CDT
A few caveats - I realize this quote is without a larger context and I don't want to minimize the experience of suffering of Mr. McHenry...
But, are we saying that it was God's will that this Mom of four get cancer and die? And by "will" do we mean its His general will that we live in a world where that is possible or that He specifically singled out this person?
This is an issue I've been grappling with lately.
3. Shrode
- 04/27/2010 4:27 pm CDT
Brian, I can't answer that question fully in a way that would be satisfying. And I'm pretty sure no one else could either. But here are some Scriptures:
Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Somehow, this was God's will, even at the same time that Joseph's brothers were doing evil. How can his will coincide and even supercede events? It's not just that God "used it for good", like it was after the fact. He "meant it for good", in other words that was the plan all along. Yet, he is not responsible for evil.
And then there's Lamentations 3.
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
34 To crush underfoot
all prisoners in the land,
35 to deny a man his rights
before the Most High,
36 to deprive a man of justice—
would not the Lord see such things?
37 Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?
Notice he causes all things, yet he does not "willingly" bring affliction.
Yes, a paradox, but there it is. That's how the Scriptures speak of such things.
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Wow! This is awesome. Thanks Bill.
The problem with the ability to timestamp posts so they will go automatically later, is that a worthy post like this, is superceded by a dumb miley cyrus post. Sorry Bill.
But awesome. It would be a great quote anyway, even without the context...but with the context. Wow.
Can you put this in our quote rotation?