tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post3828763644958671650..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Why I'm still a ChristianRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-10264387403397883732020-03-01T14:13:48.806-05:002020-03-01T14:13:48.806-05:00Thanks, Steve. Your testimony is valuable for its...Thanks, Steve. Your testimony is valuable for its honesty and intellect. Blessings to you.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759432774174066023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-72053359212569093202020-02-29T05:15:45.827-05:002020-02-29T05:15:45.827-05:00I intended to put that as a reply to Jim's com...I intended to put that as a reply to Jim's comment.David Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13177521181432533108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-7692280972285970882020-02-29T05:15:28.810-05:002020-02-29T05:15:28.810-05:00In the issue of "if God is good, why is there...In the issue of "if God is good, why is there so much pain in the world?", one neglected question is the contrary. Supposing that God were a sadist at heart, why is there so much good in the world? As Christians grow, they appreciate more and more all the great gifts they're receiving from the hand of God day-by-day - the things that for so long they used to take for granted. Given the existence of God, this vast goodness is something that, the more we appreciate it, the less we'll be prone to supposing that God is indifferent or malevolent. This is particularly so if we reflect on the doctrine of sin. I personally find the doctrine of sin one of the greatest intellectual helps. When I am so perverse and slow and dull and selfish in so many ways, why has God allowed me to live? Why did he ever give me life at all? And if there's no God at all, then really there's no such thing, objectively, as evil - none of my inner life has any ultimate meaning at all. But to bring oneself to believe that is to embrace nihilism, and dissolve all questions about anything.David Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13177521181432533108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-70384743962636948592020-02-29T05:12:35.390-05:002020-02-29T05:12:35.390-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Simba Hostinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07948176027874547328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-87564837216149768272020-02-29T01:08:33.837-05:002020-02-29T01:08:33.837-05:00Over the years, I have lead church services. I nev...Over the years, I have lead church services. I never spoke to the pastor about what I was going to say. It amazed me that many times the theme I spoke about in opening was reiterated by the Pastor in his sermon.<br /><br />I grew up in an Arminian Church but over the years became convinced of Calvinism partly because so many times in my Christian walk my life has gone off the rails but something keeps bringing me back to Christian service.<br /><br />One last thing, I have a friend/work colleague who is a militant atheist. Over the years I have prayed for wisdom to have the answers. One day he challenged me why I believe? I couldn't believe it, he kept throwing things at me and I had an answer for every question.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01320569420417469805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-89282869475873999102020-02-28T22:51:33.287-05:002020-02-28T22:51:33.287-05:00I can relate to your occasional wrestling over God...I can relate to your occasional wrestling over God's benevolence. Then again, God didn't treat His own Son "well", at least by earthly standards. He was born poor, lived a mostly unremarkable life and was tortured to death. And He was innocent. What should the rest of us expect?<br /><br />One is tempted to believe that God is a sadist at heart and that pain is simply a way for Him to amuse Himself. There are days where it feels like that, but ultimately I don't believe that. In some moments of clarity, it's apparent that true goodness in this life, because we are evil, can only be attained through some degree of suffering and sacrifice. <br />Jim Bradshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03509619286591855809noreply@blogger.com