Here are three links to some enlightening and encouraging reads to start off your week:
- AUGUSTINE: ON EVIL is a summary of Augustine’s ontological description/explanation of evil. For those who often have to deal with the question of why an all-good and all-powerful God would allow (not create) evil, it is my hope that this article will enlighten and encourage you. “The point is that evil and good are related, but that the relationship is not symmetrical. Evil (nothingness) is dependent upon good (existence), but good does not depend on evil. So it is correct, by Augustine’s reasoning, to say “There can be no evil without good” whereas it is mistaken to say “There can be no good without evil.””
- D. A. Carson’s FOR THE LOVE OF GOD devotional for 26th January explores the mysterious nature of God’s providence: “Providence is mysterious. It must never be used to justify wrong actions or to mitigate sin: Isaac and his family are more than a little sleazy, Judas is a deceitful wretch, Haman is vile, and the Roman court trying Paul is more than a little corrupt. Yet God sovereignly rules, behind the scenes, bringing glory out of gore and honor out of shame.”
- Finally, in 13 REASONS CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID, Jonathan Parnell, quoting John Piper, reminds us that fear is really just a distrust of God’s sovereignty, power and goodness.
May you find rest in God’s sovereignty. Have an enlightened and fearless day, friends.
Alien Citizen 