Here's another Q&A we can discuss!
Question:
Isaiah 45:7 says,"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Does it mean God is the creator and source of evil?
-- Eddie
Isaiah 45:7 says,"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Does it mean God is the creator and source of evil?
-- Eddie
This question came to me through the Baptist section of AllExperts.com. Here's my reply:
How would you answer?
Hi Eddie,
This is an important question.
From a standard Baptist (and general Christian) perspective, God is the sole Creator, hence, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Therefore everything that exists, directly or indirectly, stems from God (HaShem: The One Whose Name is Holy).
For we humans time is very important. We (hopefully) seek to understand the past but can only theorize about the future. God however is not limited in any way. He sees the past, present and future the same.
This means that when HaShem created Lucifer He knew that he would rebel and become Satan, but He created him anyway.
Why?
Because it was in the Mind of God that humans should have free will rather than worship Him as zombies, so to speak. God ALLOWS Lucifer, his demons, and our own human weaknesses like greed and envy, to test our faith and facilitate our free will decisions to accept or reject Him and the Good. Our time on earth is the field in which this all important question is resolved.
To understand this process and its importance I recommend the Book of Job. In that wonderful biblical book Lucifer questions Job's faith and obedience to HaShem. 'He only worships you because you pay him off!' Lucifer challenges Job (note that Lucifer does NOT challenge HaShem, he challenges Job). But Lucifer is a liar and the father of all liars! Job aptly demonstrates that we humans have the free will and the potential integrity to say, 'Yea though He slays me, still I will submit to HaShem's Will!'
Some people seem to believe that God and Satan are dualistic opposites engaged in an eternal struggle, but this is not what the Bible teaches.
HaShem has no opposite!
HaShem has no equal!
God is One. God is Sovereign over ALL. However it is in the Will of this utterly One God that we have freedom. For this reason, in the world there is dualistic good and evil... and a fair amount of gray!... and it is our lot in life to decide where we stand.
"... as for me and my house, we will serve HaShem" -- Joshua 24:15
The choice is ours.
Hope this clarifies the issue for you.
May God's best be yours,
~Pastor John
~John of AllFaith
How would you answer?
Hi Eddie,
This is an important question.
From a standard Baptist (and general Christian) perspective, God is the sole Creator, hence, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Therefore everything that exists, directly or indirectly, stems from God (HaShem: The One Whose Name is Holy).
For we humans time is very important. We (hopefully) seek to understand the past but can only theorize about the future. God however is not limited in any way. He sees the past, present and future the same.
This means that when HaShem created Lucifer He knew that he would rebel and become Satan, but He created him anyway.
Why?
Because it was in the Mind of God that humans should have free will rather than worship Him as zombies, so to speak. God ALLOWS Lucifer, his demons, and our own human weaknesses like greed and envy, to test our faith and facilitate our free will decisions to accept or reject Him and the Good. Our time on earth is the field in which this all important question is resolved.
To understand this process and its importance I recommend the Book of Job. In that wonderful biblical book Lucifer questions Job's faith and obedience to HaShem. 'He only worships you because you pay him off!' Lucifer challenges Job (note that Lucifer does NOT challenge HaShem, he challenges Job). But Lucifer is a liar and the father of all liars! Job aptly demonstrates that we humans have the free will and the potential integrity to say, 'Yea though He slays me, still I will submit to HaShem's Will!'
Some people seem to believe that God and Satan are dualistic opposites engaged in an eternal struggle, but this is not what the Bible teaches.
HaShem has no opposite!
HaShem has no equal!
God is One. God is Sovereign over ALL. However it is in the Will of this utterly One God that we have freedom. For this reason, in the world there is dualistic good and evil... and a fair amount of gray!... and it is our lot in life to decide where we stand.
"... as for me and my house, we will serve HaShem" -- Joshua 24:15
The choice is ours.
Hope this clarifies the issue for you.
May God's best be yours,
~Pastor John
~John of AllFaith
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