The Problem of Evil

I came across this great video by the renowned Christian Philosopher Alvin Plantinga and felt led to share it and add some of the common errors and misconceptions given by misinformed Christians.

Here is the short video,




THREE OPTIONS TO THE BELIEF IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE AND THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL

1-Calvinism | God created it, willed it, and gets glory out of it.  Even going so far as to say, "God is the 'author of sin."

2-Open Theism's Response to Evil | God simply created humans, then removed His power and influence from the world and everything that has happened has been both a surprise to God as it is to man.  Meaning, God is not in control of either good or bad- man is.

3-The Bible's Response As Presented By Alvin and the Church Fathers for the first 300+ Years of Christianity | God created free creatures who make bad decisions, but through His Holy Spirit He works in creation to hold back evil and regenerate the desires (wills) of mankind.


CALVINISM AND OPEN THEISM BOTH FAIL IN REGARDS TO GOD'S REVEALED CHARACTER IN THE BIBLE

Therefore, both Calvinism and Open Theism's biggest issues are not "free will," sovereignty," or "predestination," but rather the very character of our God.

Calvinism makes God out to be the cruelest of all monsters- who creates men only perish in hell without any hope- for He only loves the elect.

And Open Theism removes the holiness and righteousness of God from His character, who does nothing to prevent or disuade evil- He is simply a bystander refusing to help the good prevail.

Jonathon Edwards in view of God and Him being the author of sin, speaking as a true Calvinist, said the following:

"If by “author of sin,” is meant the permitter, or not hinderer of sin; and at the same time, a disposer of the state of Events, in such a manner, for wise, holy and most excellent ends and purposes, that sin, if it be permitted or not hindered, will most certainly and infallibly follow: I say, if this be all that is meant, by being the author of sin, I don’t deny that God is the author of sin."

ARMINIANISM IS THE BEST SOLUTION AND BRINGS THE MOST GLORY TO GOD'S CHARACTER

I believe this quote from Dr. Olson, states the rebuttal and the Biblical solution best in the following section from his book, "Against Calvinism."

"The high Calvinist doctrine of God’s sovereignty including evil as part of God’s plan, purpose, and determining power blatantly contradicts Scripture passages that reveal “God is love” (1 John 4:8), takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (ezek. 18: 32), wants everyone to be saved (Ezek. 18: 32; 1 Tim. 2: 4; 2 Peter 3: 9), and never tempts anyone (James 1: 13).

To be sure, Calvinists have clever but unconvincing explanations of these and numerous other passages of Scripture. For example, John Piper argues that God has “complex feelings and motives,” such that he genuinely regrets that sin and evil have to be part of his world, genuinely wishes that all people could be saved, and is grieved when those he predestined to die and even suffer in hell for eternity for his glory experience that fate.

But these are not convincing explanations of these important passages that reveal the heart of God. They make God double-minded. So how might one deal with the reality of sin and evil in God’s world without placing undue limits on God’s power and sovereignty? The only way is to posit what Scripture everywhere assumes— a divine self-limitation in relation to the world of moral freedom, including especially libertarian freedom. That freedom is a wonderful and terrible gift of God to human persons created in his image and likeness. In other words, God allows his perfect will to be thwarted by his human creatures whom he loves and respects enough not to control them."

Olson, Roger E. (2011-10-25). Against Calvinism: Rescuing God's Reputation from Radical Reformed Theology (pp. 99-100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.


A SUNDAY SERMON, "THE GOD OF THE GOSPEL."




MORE RESOURCES

1. Series of debates on Calvinism and Armianism, click here.

2. More on the problem of evil from a Biblical perspective from Dr. William Lane Craig, click here for the video and here for the article.

3. Great debate with Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. Bart Ehrman on the problem of evil, click here.

Top Three Unique Worship Bands

This is a follow up blog to the previous one in which I spotlighted the obvious lack of creativity in modern worship music and five reasons why.  In this new blog I will share the top five hidden gems of my worship experience that both bless my soul (creative mind) and spirit (union with God)!


MY TOP THREE UNIQUE WORSHIP BANDS

1. Benjamin Dunn | All of his work, especially the latest, "Fable," gave me so much joy and hope in today's worship genre.  I sooooo love it!  I have listened to my favorite tracks probably 50x each!  He not only draws you into God's presence but also tells great stories.

Below is a great worship-story-song called, "My Name is Eustace."  My other favorite more worshipful tracks are, "Sing" and "We Came Alive."  Plus, his older stuff is all great- the album, "Love Cloud" is powerful!




2. Will Reagan and United Pursuit | His acoustic stuff is so good, not mention all the work he does with the United Pursuit Band, but I really like his lyrics and heart when its raw without the bells and whistle.  Its like grunge meets folk music with a shot of "boom-shaka-laka" in your belly!  My favorite album of his is, "Live at the Banks House."  Tracks like, "Climb" and "Set a Fire," showed us all that "less" is so "much more" when it comes to deep-heart-felt worship.

Below is one of my favorite tracks, "If I Give it All (Live)."




3. Paul Meany and Elevator Music | Before his band Mute Math, Paul Meany was rocking hard as a worship leader in a local New Orleans church.  I remember him playing in small venues with less than 20 people and him blowing the roof off the place.  Though much of Mute Math is cutting edge rock, he only made one worship album that I'm aware of and I cannot find in digital form- so you gotta go ole' school and buy it from the church on CD.  Some of the best tracks are, "Kiss the River" and "Love Song."

Below is his rendition of "King of Glory," give it the whole go because his unique sounds and prophetic edge don't come out until the middle/end.  But when it does- hold on- its so rad!





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Side Notes

1. There are individual songs that have come out that I think are awesome, but as a whole, I don't see them keeping the standard in the worship genre.  For example, Sleeping Giant made a great hardcore worship song called, "Tithemi," and Wavedude did a great dubstep mix of Kim Walker which is great, "Kim Walker Dubstep."   

2. I kept the list short because I really wanted to spotlight those who have changed the game- I will add more as I find them.

3. Please feel free to add any suggestion of those you may have found to pass on.

4. Also, if doctrinal differences or the like exist with the artists they don't cause me at this time to look differently on their music- "sing the meat, spit out the bones!"  If I can rock a Taylor Swift song with my wife, I can appreciate these bands and musicians.

5. Yes, I know about IHOP, Morning Star, and Jake Hamilton- they're all awesome, I just don't think they're game changers.

6. If I was writing this blog five-ten years ago, Delirious? would have been at the top of the list- they were the most cutting edge worship band of their time and really brought rock based worship to another level. As well as David Crowder, their mix of techno/electric was definitely inspiring when it first came out!

7. As I stated in the previous blog I believe Kirk Franklin was a game changer in Gospel music, but because that is not my preferred style of worship music I'll leave that genre for others to write and talk about (though I still rock Kirk, Israel, Mary Mary, Eddie J., and Fred H. when I'm in the mood).

8. Someone commented and reminded me of a label that has the same intention of this blog and actually gives their band's music away for free.  Check em' out and try to discover the newest in cutting edge worship, www.comeandlive.com // Ascend the Hill is a good one to start with!

Top Five Reasons For Blaw Music in Worship

I'm writing this blog after the 110th time of trying to find new music to worship too and leaving itunes in a state of "blaw."  Its like 99.99% of the stuff always sounds the same, why is that?  Now, I've been a worship junkie since back in the day with Ron Kenoly and Touching the Father's Heart albums from Vineyard.  However, no matter what time period the church is in, there always seems to be a trend in the Christian community to stick to one style of music and make everything else sound the same.

First, everyone wanted to sound like Vineyard, then it was Hillsong, afterwards it was David Crowder and Chris Tomlin, now its Jesus Culture and IHOP.  Really?  The God who created the whole universe can only release one style of worship music per decade?!  God have mercy!  No wonder people love the best the world has to offer- it always sounds new and fresh.  Lady Gaga, Lil' Wayne, and so many others bring new creative sounds to the secular music scene almost every week.  My point isn't we should be more "worldly," but rather more "creative!"  

I know in overall Christian music we have all the styles of the world- rap, dance, country, even scream-o, etc... but I'm referring to "worship/prayer music."  Meaning, I believe we should be creative in what we present to the people in the way of worship.  And please don't get me started on Gospel- because that style has been basically the same for the last 15 years since Kurt Franklin (which by the way, God bless him for changing that style up)!  Not to mention- Southern Gospel, no revolutionaries there!

Its almost like I have to turn off my creative mind when listening to worship music and just say to myself, "This will not be creative or different, but it will be anointed- so open wide and take your worship medicine of 'blaw' talent!"

Please don't get me wrong, I know its not about me or the style, its about God and Him receiving praise- but why do we keep praising Him to the same tempo, cords, and style?  Can I pretty please praise God in church to other styles of music too?  Just maybe, someone will get this blog and change it once and for all and raise the standard higher than "Celine Dion" and the wanna be adult contemporary style of Chris Tomlin (God bless him for the song, "You're the God of This City," but let's be honest its about as creative as "Life is a Highway," by Rascall Flatts.)


TOP FIVE REASONS FOR BLAW MUSIC IN WORSHIP

1-LACK OF COMPETITION |  The worship industry is not as competitive as the world, thus the "cream doesn't have to fight to get on top and stay there."

2-WE USE GOD'S PRESENCE AS AN EXCUSE | We are people of God's presence and as long as the song touches our heart- we generally don't care how creative it is.

3-WE LOST THE ARTISTIC EDGE | In church, we don't like long songs or new songs that have an artistic edge- short and simple and to point is how we like it.  Thus, the song writers are not forced to be challenged or change up the style because sounding like everyone else is the easiest thing to do.

4-EXTREMELY NICE CAPTIVE AUDIENCES | The weekly church provides a regularly captive audience where people are just happy to not being going to hell and love singing about heaven with a joyful heart- they don't care about "what's new."  Its not like Sister SoandSo is used to new bands at the church every week and gets to decide which one she wants to pay and go see like bands have to do at bars and clubs every week.

(Side Note: Dear worship leader just because your church thinks your the "beezneez," it doesn't mean you are- get out of the nest and see how it works elsewhere.)

5-WE KEEP BUYING IT | We settle for less and keep buying new songs that sound like every other song we worship to because we're so desperate for a new song and don't have a choice.  Thus, they keep giving us the same stuff and the cycle never ends.  Not to mention most Christian radio stations are about as creative minded as PBS.

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Read the follow up blog, "My Top Three Picks for Creative Worship Music," here.