If God is perfect and perfectly deserving of all glory; if
God is able to accomplish and reigns over the world, then I must believe that
everything which occurs is necessarily the best means to the
best end(s).
If God is perfectly deserving of all glory, and perfectly
accomplishes that which is good—it is good that he receive all glory due his
name—then God perfectly pursues and effects his glory.
God does not fail in procuring his honor and worship.
God does not fail in pursuing good.
God does not fail in accomplishing his intent.
God has established a good and perfect end—this is
undisputed in Christendom.
Curiously: it is often debated or questioned that the means
God uses are similarly good and perfect.
In fact: such a thought is so problematic that many
Christians remove God from the equation indeterminately: “God will win in the
end, but for now evil reigns.”
But that does not agree with Scripture. Throughout the
testaments it is God who reigns. And all evil is subordinate to God: “For the
earth was subjected to futility by him
who subjected it in hope…” It appears to the Psalmists that the enemies
of the righteous have the upper hand, but so they pray to God for deliverance—because
he maintains control (as Adam Ford has pointed out: what’s the point in praying if God is not sovereign?).
Do you believe that God is good?
Do you believe that God is perfect?
Do you believe that God is in control?
Do you believe that God is wise?
Then you must also believe that history is perfect. No—I don’t
simply intend: a necessary evil; a justifiable means to a better end. I mean
that it is a the best means to the best end. That history is a good in itself [because]
of God himself.
Anything less than such belief is a biblically unsupported
faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.