Comments on: VA Tech Tragedy: Our Response

By: Travis Hilton

Travis Hilton — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:50:50 +0000

What this youth pastor has said, unfortunately, is consistent with what his pastor has said in a “made for radio” commercial that I heard while traveling through Blacksburg a while back. The pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church was speaking to the subject of the 911 attack and had an almost identical explanation. Sad.

TBH

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:28:46 +0000

Jay Z,

Seems you have posed an excellent question. What is the difference between create and decree. Probably the best thing to get a handle on the difference here is to understand that sin is not a created thing. It is defined. Maybe you could best understand it this way, “Do you define what is wrong or is wrong created?” Sin is defined by God. Note that in the latest post Nathan has cited several passages including Genesis 50 concerning Joseph and his brothers. God brought those things to pass, but it was through the actions of Joseph’s brothers. Was God guilty of sin? Absolutely not. Were Joseph’s brothers guilty of sin. Yes. And though it was the same action, the brother’s motives (meant) are seen as evil and in the same action, God’s motives (meant) is seen as good.

God’s decree is simply His declaration of all things. He declares what will come to pass (and yes in detail). Nothing comes to pass apart from His decree. This is where the modern definition of author (especially in regards to sin) would come into play, IMHO. God must have decreed that sin be in the world or else He could never decree a Savior for the world.

By: Shepherd the Flock » Blog Archive » Does God Decree Sin?

Shepherd the Flock » Blog Archive » Does God Decree Sin? — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:02:32 +0000

[...] the last post, concerning the VA Tech tragedy, a friend of mine posed a question that deserves a full treatment [...]

By: Nathan White

Nathan White — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:01:38 +0000

Barry said: “Looking back at this string I find it interesting that no one has mentioned mental illness. I�ve read about thrones, sins, divine decrees, will, evil and God.”

Barry, we are trying to look at this from a biblical standpoint, not a humanistic standpoint. Ultimately, even if he was mentally ill, it was the Lord who caused it, and thus we are brought back to the topic of this post.

By: Jay Z

Jay Z — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:28:42 +0000

How do the words “create” and “ordain” relate? That seems to be a good question to take a look at.

By: davide

davide — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:53:12 +0000

I see sin on the same lines as unbelief. Just as God does not “create” unbelief in sinners, so He does not create sin. In other words, God does not actively coerce people to sin; neither does He actively coerce people to not believe in the gospel.

Nathan is absolutely right, nonetheless, that all sin is ordained of God through His sovereign eternal decree.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:37:23 +0000

Looking back at this string I find it interesting that no one has mentioned mental illness. I’ve read about thrones, sins, divine decrees, will, evil and God.

By: Gordan

Gordan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:44:57 +0000

Jay Z,

I think Augustine would tell you that sin is not something that is created in the proper (“ex nihilo”) sense, as the rest of Creation was. I think he would tell you that sin is a negation, or a perversion, of that which is already created. Blaming God for sin is like blaming me for leaving my room in darkness instead of turning on the light. I didn’t create the darkness, but by choosing not to turn on the light, I’ve allowed it.

Personally, I don’t think that’s a perfect answer, but it does point in the right direction.

By: Jay Z

Jay Z — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:59:45 +0000

On Monday night at the bible study I attend, we had a discussion about this very topic. The question that caught me a bit off guard was concerning the creator of sin. If God ordains mans sin as an agent to His own glory, how can he not be the creator of sin? I need a little help with this one.

By: Nathan White

Nathan White — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:19:34 +0000

Davide,
Yes, I do agree that bad things happen because of our sin -obviously. But, let us not forget that it is God who ordains all things after the counsel of His will, and even man’s sin is subject to the divine decree of God. So God, instead of being just a passive agent in observing what man does on his own, actually so ordains man’s sin as an agent to His own glory. God is not the author of evil, no doubt, but He does use man’s heart (as a potter uses clay) to sovereignly work out His perfect, eternal, all-glorifying purposes.

Well said in that we would all be this man and much worse, but for the grace and mercy of God.