Vernon Jenkins wrote:
>
> George Murphy wrote:
> >
> > Vandergraaf, Chuck wrote:
> > ...................................
> > > If you can see God's
> > > wisdom, power, and glory in this, good for you. I would guess, though, that
> > > you present some circular arguments and that it is unlikely that it will
> > > bring (m)any to realize the saving power of Jesus's death on the cross.
> > > But, God does work in mysterious ways. ...................................
> > I think a general caution about the idea in the first sentence is in order.
> > I appreciate the sentiment, but unfortunately people can see "God's" - i.e., whatever
> > God they believe in - wisdom, power, & glory in all sorts of strange things. There
> > are people who imagine that they're "Christian" who think that God's power would be
> > displayed in exterminating one or another ethnic group.
> > I am NOT NOT NOT saying that anyone in this discussion has such ideas: That is
> > simply a _reductio ad absurdum_ of the theory that it's good if anyone thinks they see
> > God's wisdom &c in anything at all. In fact, as Chuck points out - & as the Gospel of
> > John & I Cor.1:18-31 make clear - the real God's wisdom, power, & glory are shown in
> > Christ crucified, & any of our ideas about those things have to be tested against that
> > standard. ..................................
> I'm not sure where your comments are intended to lead us. It seems to me
> that Christians in general are woefully short on understanding the
> matter of God's sovereignty! He does what pleases him. It has pleased
> him to endow us with intellect in order that we might test all matters
> that come our way, and respond with integrity.
>
> Am I not correct in seeing the 'Genesis 1:1 - A4 mystery' as a prime
> instance of God working 'in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform'? ..................................
I think it's all too easy for us to imagine a divine sovereignty in which
God acts arbitrarily whenever he wishes - because that's the kind of God we'd be
if we could be God. It's a lot harder for us to understand God's self-limitation
or "emptying" which is exemplified in the cross.
I have not been following this thread in sufficient detail to know what the
"Genesis 1:1 - A4 mystery" is supposed to be.
Shalom,
George
-- George L. Murphy gmurphy@raex.com http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Jan 01 2000 - 20:52:32 EST