Re: Exceptional Measures

From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Sat Jan 01 2000 - 20:52:35 EST

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    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/
    



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