Starting about a week or two ago, John Jefferson (a good friend of mine) and I determined to read "God Passion for His Glory" together. The first half of this book is written by John Piper explaining the life of Jonathan Edwards and how he developed his theology. The second half is a book written by Edwards titled, "The End for which God Created the World."
This is probably one of the most intellectually rigorous works I have read. The first half Edwards uses philosophical argumentation to develop his theology for which God created the world. This is no easy read, but there is much to be gained from understanding it. Not only does it stretch you intellectually, but you are allowed to go into the mind of America's greatest theologian ever to exist.
This morning at Starbucks, John and I, talked over and wrestled with many of Edwards propositions. What was really cool, was that we discussed his thoughts and were able to solve many objections through philosophical thought. Unfortunately, we still have one objection! But, we are confident that when Edwards goes over the common objections that are raised against his thoughts, he will provide satisfying answers.
Here is our question that was raised...Mercy can only be displayed or understood if there is something to fix...(to have mercy upon). Obviously if there is nothing wrong, one cannot show his mercy. So, then was God compelled to allow evil (sin) exist and be present in His creation in order for Him to show His mercy?
Now, don't call us heretics...we believe God to be All-Sufficient and thus are trying to figure out the "philosophical" answer to this objection. Edwards and our whole thesis and foundation for our theology is that God is All-Satisfied within Himself, thus God cannot be forced or compelled to do anything.
Leave some comments here if you have any answers or ideas!
To Him be the glory forever!
2 comments:
Great question, and one of the few problems that I wrestle with as I continue to digest Edwards' argument.
Something that has helped me is Daniel Fuller's "Unity of the Bible" (pg 133), in which he writes:
"Edwards regarded as the mainspring behind all of God's acts in creation and redemption his benevolent love-his merciful and gracious desire to diffuse his glory and goodness throughout all the earth. Moreover in speaking of God's loving the people in the created world before creation took place, Edwards is able to talk about God's desire to be merciful from all eternity, thus showing how mercy exists in the Trinity even before the actual creation of the world. That God had always planned to create a world is clear, for 1 Peter 1:20 says that Jesus was destined before the foundation of the world to be the redeemer."
That's a very Romans 9 conclusion you boys came up with. I read Romans 11 and this morning and was all sorts of confused with the whole us being able to be cut off if we fall from God's kindness as the grafted in wild branches. The whole salvation of the remnant of Israel is no light topic either, mind you. Hmmm... any thoughts on that deep end of the pool?
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