God's Omni-Benevolence

[RFCA]

Hi Steve (And to the others as well),

Is it right to say that God is omnibenevolent in the sense that He is good to everybody, all the time?
How should we describe God's goodness (all the time) in light of some scenarios like a child dying of hunger, a family killed by a tornado, a little girl raped by a psychotic, etc.. I've heard arguments like how could God permit such things to happen, being all-loving (He knows what happened is not good to the person involved) and all-powerful (He has the ability to prevent what happened) as He is?

[TK]

you might want to check out our fairly recent forum discussion here:

http://www.theos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=2771

TK

[RFCA]

you might want to check out our fairly recent forum discussion here:

http://www.theos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=2771

TK

Ok, there are lots to be read there. I'll read on. Thanks!

[steve]

I believe that God is omni-benevolent, because God cannot be at some times good and at other times evil. If this is so, then there must be a good purpose in all that He allows. This does not mean that God ordains all that happens—and thus, there might be some better thing that He could have wished for than the thing that He does not prevent. It only means that God can bring good out of every situation, and does not allow anything to happen except what He may turn for the good.

By "the good" I do not mean, necessarily, the most desirable outcome from the standpoint of every individual. Even the annihilation of a murderer, though not particularly beneficial to the criminal, can be seen as very good in the larger scheme of things, and thus producing an ultimately improved outcome. When it comes to the suffering of innocent children and other undeserving victims, we must assume that God either intends to settle the score beyond the grave, or that He is malicious (or merely negligent) in the management of His universe. In either case, God would have to be indifferent to justice, and would thus not be good.

[Paidion]

As I affirmed in the thread to which TK gave you the link (and I attempted to justify), I agreed and still agree with Steve that "God can bring good out of every situation". Where I strongly disagreed (and still do) is that "God has a good purpose in all that he allows". Indeed, I wouldn't even say that He "allows" these evil deeds. To "allow" something is to give tacit approval of it.

However, it is clear that God usually does not PREVENT these evil deeds. I think there are two reasons that He does not prevent these evil deeds.

1. Man was created with a free will, and God allows (in the true sense of the word) man to exercise his free will without interference (though He does occasionally intervene).

2. A father may not allow his teen-age child to make particular bad choices, and yet may do nothing to prevent his from doing so. Well, maybe he does have a "purpose" in not preventing him. Perhaps he hopes his child will learn from his bad choices. Some teens do, and many don't. So perhaps God has the same "purpose" in not interfering with free will. Yet, only a few evil doers learn from experience.

It seems that in most respects, God "lets" fallen nature take its course, for better or for worse (and it's usually for worse). But God does have an end-time plan to restore all things as He originally intended them to be.

[Jill]

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[RFCA]

Where I strongly disagreed (and still do) is that "God has a good purpose in all that he allows". Indeed, I wouldn't even say that He "allows" these evil deeds. To "allow" something is to give tacit approval of it.

However, it is clear that God usually does not PREVENT these evil deeds.

Hi Padion, just a pushback. Atheists and agnostics would rather insist on God's active participation (will) in ill events. While we may paint a picture of God's passiveness (thus exonerate Him) in his permiting (Steve's) or not preventing (Padion's), the fact remains that His sovereignty never lets go of the handle. In Matt. 10:29, Jesus exhorted us believers to trust in God in light of events (good or bad) that could happen to us -- for God's will is in the equation (even in the falling of a bird to the ground).

[Paidion]

Hi Padion, just a pushback. Atheists and agnostics would rather insist on God's active participation (will) in ill events. While we may paint a picture of God's passiveness (thus exonerate Him) in his permiting (Steve's) or not preventing (Padion's), the fact remains that His sovereignty never lets go of the handle. In Matt. 10:29, Jesus exhorted us believers to trust in God in light of events (good or bad) that could happen to us...

As I read your post, RFCA, I was saying "amen" right up to this point.

-- for God's will is in the equation (even in the falling of a bird to the ground).

Jesus stated that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father. To me that indicates, as the children's hymn states, "God sees the little sparrow fall." Jesus didn't say that it is the Father's will that it fall.

[RFCA]

Jesus stated that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father. To me that indicates, as the children's hymn states, "God sees the little sparrow fall." Jesus didn't say that it is the Father's will that it fall.

But in verse 29, it was stated that 'NOT one of them [birds] falls to the ground APART from your Father's will'. So this is the same as saying 'One of them does fall to the ground NOT APART from (not independent of) your Father's will.'

NKJ - Matthew 10
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

[Jill]

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