the uncontrolling love of god by thomas jay oord - excerpt

8202019 The Uncontrolling Love of God By Thomas Jay Oord - EXCERPT

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T H O M A S

J AY O O R D

TheUncontrolling

Love of God

A N O P E N A N D R E L A T I O N A L

A C C O U N T O F P R O V I D E N C E





The UncontrollingLove of God



THOMAS JAY OORD

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions



InterVarsity Press

PO Box 983089983092983088983088 Downers Grove IL 983094983088983093983089983093-983089983092983090983094

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emailivpresscom

copy983090983088983089983093 by Tomas Jay Oord

All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from

InterVarsity Press

InterVarsity Pressreg is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian FellowshipUSAreg a movement of

students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities colleges and schools of nursing in the United

States of America and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students For

information about local and regional activities visit intervarsityorg

Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright

983089983097983096983097 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Used by permission All rights reserved

While any stories in this book are true some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect

the privacy of individuals

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Interior design Beth McGill

Images lightning over city copy jerbarberiStockphoto

blue skywhite clouds copy janniwetiStockphoto

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983092-983095 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983097983088983089-983090 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

As a member of the Green Press Initiative InterVarsity Press is committed to protecting the environment

and to the responsible use of natural resources o learn more visit greenpressinitiativeorg

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Oord Tomas Jay author

Te uncontrolling love of God an open and relational account of providence Tomas Jay Oord

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983092-983095 (print alk paper) -- ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983097983088983089-983090 (digital)

983089 Providence and government of God--Christianity I itleB983089983091983093O983093983095 983090983088983089983093

983090983091983089rsquo983093--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983091983091983097983090983092

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents

Acknowledgments 1048633

983089 ragedy Needs Explanation 9830891048629

983090 he Randomness and Regularities o Lie 9830901048631983091 Agency and Freedom in a World o Good and Evil 1048629983089

1048628 Models o Godrsquos Providence 1048632983089

1048629 he Open and Relational Alternative 9830899830881048631

1048630 Does Love Come First 983089983091983091

1048631 he Essential Kenosis Model o Providence 9830891048629983089

1048632 Miracles and Godrsquos Providence 98308910486321048631

Postscript 9830909830891048631

Index 983090983090983089




Acknowledgments

An eclectic set o ideas is present in this book Many o these ideas

emerged rom conversations with good and wise people some

o whom I list below Having written or edited more than twenty

books I know authors never succeed alone It takes a proverbial

village to make a book even when one person does the writing

In addition to the people I will mention two experiences un-

doubtedly influenced me as I wrote this book Te first involved re-

quent hiking excursions into the wilderness and open country o

Idaho Oregon Wyoming and Caliornia A ew weeklong treks some

weekend excursions and numerous daylong or afernoon walks

helped me decompress meditate ocus and pray Ofen I photo-

graphed the beauty o the natural world on these walks Irsquom grateul

to my wie daughters riends and others who not only allowed me

to take these walks but also encouraged me to take them

Te second exercise involved negotiating pain in my proessorial

lie I endured difficult days as I laid out the ideas in this book

Trough that trying time I elt strongly supported by university col-

leagues scholars around the world ormer students pastors and

leaders riends rom many arenas o lie and especially amily I am

sure this trying experience shaped and deepened my views o provi-

dence especially my view that God guides us on a lively adventure

and calls us to live lives o love

As a multidisciplinary scholar I work with a wide range o research




10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

I read widely and engage scholars rom various fields I also con-

tribute to these conversations through publications o scholarship in

theology philosophy and science Much o what I write portrays mycreative synthesis o scholarship in various disciplines Integrating

this material and offering it in understandable language is an art and

ministry I strive to practice As the book progresses to the middle and

final chapters more o my original ideas emerge In act I offer nu-

merous original ideas in the book because I think we need creative

originality to better understand Godrsquos providence

As I came to the end o my writing I realized that this book fitsnicely alongside two others I have written in the last five years In

Defining Love A Philosophical Scientific and Teological Investigation

I addressed love rom philosophical and scientific perspectives As

the title suggests I offer a definition o love in light o various disci-

plines and visions o reality Much o Defining Love explores loversquos

orms and expressions in the social biological and cosmological sci-

ences Only in the final chapter do I address theology and brieflyessential kenosis

In Te Nature of Love A Teology my ocus is mostly on theo-

logical issues pertaining to love although biblical and philosophical

themes emerge too Afer talking about the need to place love at the

center o ormal theology and afer defining love I explore the bibli-

cally inormed theology o Anders Nygren the philosophically in-

ormed theology o Augustine and the open theology o ClarkPinnock In the final chapter I make an argument or essential kenosis

starting with Christology I conclude by presenting essential kenosis

in relation to other doctrinal issues

Philosophy science Scripture and theology come together in the

present book in a more balanced way Tis allows me to address issues

o providencemdashespecially evil and randomnessmdashin a sustained

manner I also develop and explain essential kenosis more ully than

I have previously My overall goal is to make sense o randomness and

evil in light o my conviction that a loving and powerul God exists

and acts providentially





As I said earlier I am a firm believer that books emerge out o

relationships communities and networks Although I cannot mention

all who have influenced my writing I do want to acknowledge someTe book project was supported by a grant rom the Randomness

and Divine Providence project directed by Jim Bradley and unded by

the John empleton Foundation I especially thank Jim or believing in

the importance o exploring the kinds o questions I address

Several organizations groups and societies have shaped my

thinking and I mention them alphabetically in appreciation Bio-

Logos Foundation Christian Teological Research Fellowship theUniversity o Edinburgh (especially David Fergusson) the Faraday

Institute or Science and Religion the Ian Ramsey Centre or Science

and Religion (especially the Special Divine Action conerence) the

International Society or Science and Religion Nazarene Teological

CollegemdashManchester the Open and Relational Teologies group o

the American Academy o Religion the School o Teology and

Christian Ministries at Northwest Nazarene University the WesleyanPhilosophical Society the Wesleyan Teological Society WesleyNexus

and Word Made Fresh

I thank Burton Webb Mark Maddix and Paula Kellerer or granting

me a sabbatical at Northwest Nazarene University During that time

I wrote a large portion o this book Students in my graduate theo-

logical online-education classes at Northwest Nazarene University

offered their evaluations these students included Anita Albert-Watson David Allen Michelle Borbe Sarah Brubaker Amy Byerley

Barry Carney Nicholas Carpenter James Cendrowski Joe Crosby

Sarah Dupray Buord Edwards Rodney Ellis Tomas Evans

Cezarina Glendening Jennier Glover Anthony Kayser Angela

Lerena Aneel Mall Rosanne McMath Aaron Mednansky Philip Mi-

chaels Francis Mwansa Jason Newman Christopher Nikkel Leslie

Oden Michael OrsquoNeill Raquel Pereira Donald Smith opher aylor

Brad Tompson Jonathan Tompson Brian roxell Margaret yler

ara West and Cassandra Wynn

Many people read portions o the book and offered encouragement




10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

correction or critique Others influenced my thinking through con-

versation I especially thank Craig Adams Jay Akkerman Dik Allan

Paul Allen Denis Alexander Ben Arbour Ken Archer J J AssonVaughn Baker Wes Baldassare Jeremy Bangs Joseph Bankard Ian

Barbour John Bechtold Keith Besherse Craig A Boyd Gregory

Boyd David Brown Rachel Bryant Anna Case-Winters Charles

Christian Jeff Clarke Philip Clayton John Cobb Ron Cole-urner

Monica Coleman Robin Collins C S Cowles John Culp Scott

Daniels Celia Deane-Drummond Hans Deventer Brent Dirks Chris

Donato Craig Drurey Ben Duarte Ray Dunning Bo Eberle GeorgeEllis Bruce Epperly Michael Faber Darrel Falk David Fergusson

erry Fretheim Rob Fringer ripp Fuller Karl Giberson Jim Goetz

Joe Gorman Nathan Greeley David Griffin Erik Groeneveld Joe

Groessl Doug Hardy Mark Harris William Hasker Jack Haught

odd Holden John Daniel Holloway Curtis Holtzen Nancy Howell

Jeremy Hugus Jacob Hunt Bob Hunter Randy Isaac Werner

Jeanrond yler John Kurt Johnson David Larson Jacob Lett MichaelLodahl Kevin Lowery Bob Luhn Butch Karns Catherine Keller

Jeffery Keuss Megan Krebs Diane Leclerc Frank Macchia Mark

Maddix Randy Maddox Eric Manchester Dave Mann Mark Mann

Dan Martin Steve McCormick Jay McDaniel Alister McGrath Chad

Meister Marty Michelson Bev Mitchell Paul Montague Brint Mont-

gomery Maynard Moore C Moore Aaron Moschitto Rocky

Munoz Les Muray om Nees im OrsquoConnor Roger Olson BryanOverbaugh Alan Padgett Dong-Sik Park Larry Parsons Brent

Peterson om Phillips Andrew Pinsent John Polkinghorne Stephen

Post Rob Prince Jon Privett Cliff Purcell Eleanor Puttock David

Rainey Joshua Rasmussen Josh Reichard Caleb Reynolds Alan

Rhoda Richard Rice Stephen Riley John Sanders Jeff Schloss

Andrew Schwartz Lea Schweitz ony Scialdone Graeme Sharrock

LeRon Shults Ignacio Silva Chad Simmons Russ Slater Bethany

Sollereder Rob Staples Eric Stark Jim Stump Libby edder-Hugus

Sam enizo Richard Tompson Don Torsen Kevin impe

Ekaputra upamahu Eric Vail Keith Ward Dale Wayman Burton





Webb Jordan Wessling Kurt Willems Mark Wilson Karen Winslow

Mark Winslow Celia Wolff Nick Wolterstorff Joseph Wood David

Woodruff and Amos YongMy wie Cheryl and my daughters Sydnee Alexa and Andee and

son-in-law Logan have in their own ways influenced me positively I

thank each o them especially my wie

I dedicate this book to Alexa my daughter and a Harvard phi-

losophy student As my assistant during the summer o 104862610486241048625983092 she read

chapters as a preliminary editor ran down reerences and quotes did

substantive research made helpul suggestions and played a signi-icant role in making this book as good as it could be She is a budding

scholar with a bright uture

Tanks Lexi







983089

Tragedy Needs Explanation

W e all want to make sense o lie

Most o the time we ask immediate questions to make sense

o whatrsquos happening in our world Why did she look at me that way

Why is it cold Why canrsquot my team win a championship Why do I

eel hungry Why canrsquot I relax Why do I see so many advertisements

Most o us ask big questions o lie too Tese questions and their

answers are at the heart o the worldrsquos religions the impetus or sci-

entific endeavors and the domain o philosophy Teology science

and philosophy explore both the minutiae and the big picture to

make sense o reality Big questions and our attempts to answer them

are a big deal

Tose who believe in Godmdashand I am a believermdashtypically think

ully adequate answers to big questions include God Science phi-

losophy humanities arts or other disciplines contribute to our quest

to answer liersquos questions Everyday experiences matter too Compre-

hensive answers draw rom all these domains

Reflection on Godmdashtheologymdashshould not be the trump card in

efforts to understand reality Phrases like ldquoGod only knowsrdquo or ldquoit

must be Godrsquos willrdquo sometimes end conversations rather than shed

light on how things might work or how things are Teology doesnrsquot

have all o the answers

But i Godrsquos presence and influence have the ar-reaching effects

most believers think theology cannot be set aside during discussions






ragedy Needs Explanation 1048625983095

offering a novel proposal or overcoming obstacles that have tradi-

tionally prevented believers rom finding satisactory solutions to the

big problems o lie My solutions may even prompt unbelievers toreconsider their belie that God does not exist

For millennia many people have asked ldquoI a loving and pow-

erul God exists why doesnrsquot this God prevent genuinely evil

eventsrdquo Tanks especially to recent developments in philosophy

and science a related question has also gained prominence ldquoHow

can a loving and powerul God be providential i random and

chance events occurrdquoIn this book I propose answers to both questions At the heart o

these answers is a particular understanding o Godrsquos power and love

Teology science philosophy and Scripture inorm this under-

standing When appealing to these sources I aim to account or the

cruel and unpredictable realities o lie in their wide-ranging di-

versity But I also account or purpose reedom and love I draw upon

research in various disciplines to proffer a model o divine providencethat I find both credible and livable

o get at the heart o my proposals it seems appropriate to begin

with accounts o real lie situations involving randomness and evil

I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149

On April 1048625983093 1048626104862410486251048627 Mark Wole finished the Boston Marathon Not

long thereafer Wole witnessed the massive destruction o terrorist-devised bomb blasts near the finish line ldquoItrsquos utter pandemoniumrdquo he

said describing the chaos ldquoEverybodyrsquos just in disbelie and sadnessrdquo983089

While Wole and others observed the devastation firsthand people

around the nation and world turned to the media or details o the

tragedy Te explosions caused more than chaos and damage to

nearby structures At least 10486269830931048624 bystanders and runners were injured

Fourteen required amputations Tree died

1M Alex Johnson ldquolsquoPandemoniumrsquo Witness Accounts of the Boston Marathon Bombingrdquo NBC

Nightly News April 1048625983093 9830909830881048625983091 httpusnewsnbcnewscom_news983090983088104862598309198308898309210486259830931048625983095983095983094983093983091983088983096-pande

monium-witness-accounts-of-the-boston-marathon-bombinglite




1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

Te stories o the injured maimed and deceased captured hearts

around the world Reports o heroic helpers at the bombing scene

soon emerged Police officers firefighters nurses physicians and or-dinary citizens were good Samaritans in a time o dire need While

the public lauded the helpers grie and shock prevailed Making

sense o things proved difficult

A ew days later FBI agents identified Dzhokhar and amerlan

sarnaev as the disasterrsquos masterminds Te brothers placed nails ball

bearings and other metals in pressure cookers and detonated the

homemade explosives with remote devices Afer police had oundthe two a chase ensued and authorities killed one Authorities even-

tually captured the second and he admitted to their crime Religious

belies motivated them Mr sarnaev said Tis calamity seemed an-

other in a long list o evils perpetrated in the name o God Allah or

some other religious ultimate

Te Boston Marathon bombing is not unique o course error-

motivated bombings occur throughout the world although in theUnited States they occur less requently Some blasts are more deadly

and more damaging Any terrorist bombingmdashno matter where it

occursmdashis one too many

Believers in God explain events like the Boston Marathon bombing

in various ways Writing as a guest columnist in the Orlando Sentinel

Josh Castleman affirmed his belie in God despite the Boston horror

ldquoI realize that many people will see this tragic event as evidence againstGodrsquos existencerdquo wrote Castleman in the newspaper ldquoBut the reality

is that in order or thousands o people to eel relie and joy some had

to eel unspeakable pain and heartacherdquo

Castleman concluded his piece with a rhetorical question ldquoWhere

was God during the bombingrdquo He answers ldquoI think he was right in ront

o us and he was hoping we wouldnrsquot just ocus on the brie moment o

evil but instead recognize him in the hours and days that ollowedrdquo1048626

2Josh Castleman ldquoWhere Was God During the Boston Marathon Bombingsrdquo Orlando Sentinel

April 9830901048625 9830909830881048625983091 httparticlesorlandosentinelcom9830909830881048625983091-983088983092-9830901048625newsos-ed-god-boston

-bombings-98308898309298309010486251048625983091-98309098308810486259830919830889830921048625983097_1048625_god-tragedy-animal-instincts





Some believers make sense o lie by saying we need evil to appre-

ciate the goodness o God and that God consoles those who suffer

Castleman seems to think evil is necessary or this purpose when hesays that ldquoin order or people to eel relie and joy some had to eel

unspeakable pain and heartacherdquo Without evil we would not know

good says this argument o know firsthand the God o all conso-

lation we need reasons to be consoled

We must go through hell to appreciate heaven

Te belie that God is present with those who suffer is increasingly

common ldquoGod suffers with usrdquo many say God experienced pain anddeath in the crucifixion o Jesus Christ say Christians and as a Fellow

Sufferer God now suffers with those in the throes o pain In the

midst o our greatest difficulty God is present and empathetic Many

believers say they worship a suffering God But must we endure evil

to appreciate good And can we best account or evil by saying God

is present to and suffers with victims

Most believers think God can do anything God could control peopleor situations and stop any evil event they say I this is true God must

voluntarily allow evil just to suffer alongside victims God permits evil

in order to eel our agony God could stop such evil says this view but

God allows it so that we can eel supported in the midst o our pain

Does this view make God a masochist And do we want to emulate

masochists Do we always allow loved ones to suffer so we can suffer

with them Do we think it more loving to suffer with others than toprevent evil i we were able in the first place

I think we should doubt that evil is a prerequisite or good espe-

cially the vast amount o evil in our world Te amount o evil ar

outweighs whatever we might need to appreciate good Besides most

Christians believe in an aferlie o eternal bliss I we ollow the logic

o ldquogood requires evilrdquo heaven must include pain and evil so saints can

appreciate the heavenly hereafer Not only does this way o thinking

make evil necessary but it causes one to wonder i the saints could

experience perect bliss knowing that evil makes their bliss possible

Presumably the sarnaev brothers used their ree will to construct




10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

and detonate the Boston bombs Yet their victims were apparently

random runners and bystanders just happened to be where bombs

exploded Te brothers reely wreaked deadly havoc yet their victimsunknowingly came near the blast

Tis may prompt believers to ask different questions Was the

Boston Marathon bombing part o Godrsquos providence Although the

victims seemed random did God pick them to be injured or killed as

part o a divine master plan Are ree will and randomness ultimately

unreal because they actually maniest Godrsquos all-controlling hand

Should we say evil is required God-intended or even God-allowed

I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

It was a typical all day on a typical Canadian road with a typical

Calgary amily Te clan had vacationed in British Columbia and

they were driving south o Fairmont Hot Springs A news report de-

scribes what happened around noon ldquoTe amily was in a north-

bound Subaru Legacy and was approaching a southbound semi withan unloaded low-bed trailerrdquo reads the report ldquoA rock measuring 10486271048624

by 10486251048627 centimetres crashed through the ront windshield and hit the

mother o two in the head killing herrdquo

In an instant a stone penetrated a windshield It crushed a womanrsquos

skull and killed her without warning A lie ended tragically

Investigators o the accident stopped the semi driver whose trailer

pitched the rock Afer analyzing the truck its tires the victimrsquos carand the accident scene investigators determined the stone must have

been lodged between the trailerrsquos dual tires It shot out rom the tires

smashed through the carrsquos windshield and killed the victim

Tose investigating said the truck driver was not blameworthy

ldquolsquoTerersquos no intent on the driver to stick a rock between his tires and

launch it in the airrsquo said Cpl om Brannigan lsquoItrsquos an act o Godrsquordquo1048627 An

act o God

3Stephane Massinon ldquoPolice Call Highway Accident Tat Killed Calgary Woman lsquoan Act of Godrsquordquo

Calgary Herald October 983096 9830909830881048625983090 wwwcalgaryheraldcomPolice+call+highway+accident+that

+killed+Calgary+woman+with+video983095983091983094983091983091983095983094storyhtml





Tis accident is not the first time o course that an unintended

event caused death and destruction Itrsquos not the first time an unex-

plained accident has been called ldquoan act o Godrdquo Wersquore more likely tohear the phrase ldquoact o Godrdquo to describe hurricanes tornadoes or

floods But perhaps this womanrsquos death is also a natural disaster an

unplanned event with dreadul consequences

Many believers recoil in disgust when God gets blamed or acci-

dents tragedies and natural disasters Yet many also think that God

totally controls lie or at least that God controls the natural world and

its inanimate objects Tese people must think such eventsmdashin-cluding rocks kicked up by semitrailer wheelsmdashare part o Godrsquos

providence Afer all they say an omnipotent God could stop those

accidents Tereore God must permit them Yet or many others

Godrsquos causing or permitting evil conflicts with their belie that God

loves perectly

Can we believe that random events or events resulting rom chance

or luck do occur in the worldmdashespecially those with negative conse-quencesmdashand also believe in divine providence I God has a plan

how does randomness figure in Is this a divine blueprint in which

all details are predetermined or oreknown I God can control people

and nature why recoil in disapproval when some people say the ac-

cidents o lie are acts o God

I983156 W983137983155 J983157983155983156 M983141983137983150983156 983156983151 B983141Hank Lerner and his wie gave birth to their second daughter six

weeks early An emergency C-section brought Eliana ovamdasha name

meaning ldquoGod answered with goodrdquomdashinto the world Even beore

doctors delivered Eliana ova they knew shersquod need heart surgery

And at two days old the tiny inant underwent a major procedure to

address her lie-threatening condition Tis was not how her parents

imagined lie would begin or their child

A month later Eliana ovarsquos kidneys began to shut down Her

health deteriorated Hank and his wie were aced with a decision as

he puts it ldquoeither to put her on dialysis or the next two years or so in




10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

the hopes o getting her to the point where they can do a transplant

or just let her go quietlyrdquo Sometimes death is preerable to the grim

struggle or lieWhen Hank and his wie met their rabbi the cleric asked ldquoAre you

angry with Godrdquo Hank certainly was ldquoEvery time I heard someone

say something like lsquoitrsquos all part o His planrsquo or lsquoit was just meant to bersquordquo

he said ldquoI growled a little bit insiderdquo

Further tests revealed that little Eliana ova had a rare condition

diagnosed only 10486269830931048624 times in the last fify years By the time Hank

blogged about Eliana ovarsquos condition later that year she hadundergone five operations More surgeries would be required in ad-

dition to hospital visits or related health problems Her lie were she

to survive was destined or enormous adversity

ldquoIrsquom more than a little peeved that my childrsquos lie depends on

hooking her to machines 10486251048626 hours a day every day until she can grow

large enough or a transplantrdquo Hank said Tis doesnrsquot include inec-

tions and possible health complications Eliana ova will likely endureas she moves through lie Terersquos plenty to inuriate Hank

ldquoAt the end o the dayrdquo says Hank ldquoit doesnrsquot matter whether Irsquom

angry at God What matters is that wemdashMom Dad and Big Sistermdash

stop thinking about the past and worrying about the uture so we can

concentrate on kicking down doors and moving Eliana orward just

a little bit every dayrdquo1048628

Eliana ova o course is not the only inant born with debilitatingconditions disease deective body parts or severe deormities Mil-

lions o inants are so burdened annually Some survive but endure a

lietime o surgeries and suffering Others survive or a short time

beore succumbing to whatever ails them Still others are stillborn

not capable o living beyond the womb

Parents with severely debilitated children encounter the ldquorational-

izationsrdquo given Hank ldquoit was meant to berdquo or ldquoitrsquos Godrsquos planrdquo Other

4Hank Lerner ldquoGetting Angry with God over My Daughterrsquos Rare Diseaserdquo Kveller (blog) Octo-

ber 983090983096 9830909830881048625983091 wwwkvellercomblogparentinggetting-angry-with-god-over-my-daughters

-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

they put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger Her two children

cried at their atherrsquos murder so rebels shot them too Ten they at-

tacked Zamuda raping her and leaving her or deadAfer two operations Zamuda still has difficulty walking ldquoItrsquos hard

hard hardrdquo she says ldquoIrsquom alone in this world My body is partly

mended But I donrsquot know i my heart will ever heal I want this

violence to stoprdquo1048629

Genocide and rape both have extensive and harrowing histories on

planet earth In nearly every society a righteningly high percentage

o women are raped In some cultures raped women constitute themajority Sexual assault has a ghastly history

Some believers think God allows evil to test us and through testing

build our characters According to them God could prevent pain and

suffering but allows it so we might grow God most wants to strengthen

our souls says this explanation o evil1048630 And permitting suffering is

Godrsquos way o leading us toward moral maturity

What doesnrsquot kill you makes you strongerIs this true Are Zamuda and hundreds o millions o raped women

better off because o their ordeals Are they stronger Do they now

have better character Is the world overall a better place Does an

omnipotent God allow every evilmdashincluding rape and genocidemdashas

part o some elaborate plan to toughen us up

O course we sometimes must endure suffering or some greater

good We sometimes allow children to endure hardship to buildtheir characters or instance But does God cause or allow every

evil whether intended or random to make us better I so how

is that working or Zamudarsquos husband and children Is the

ldquolessonrdquo they learned in death worth the evil they suffered Can

dead people mature

5Michelle Faul ldquoCongo Women Fight Back Speak About Raperdquo Associated Press NBCNews

March 1048625983094 983090983088983088983097 wwwnbcnewscomid9830909830979830951048625983097983090983095983095nsworld_news-africa983075UvVm10486251048625CpUfU6Te most influential form of this argument in contemporary scholarship comes from John Hick

Evil and the God of Love 983090nd ed (San Francisco HarperSanFrancisco 1048625983097983095983095) One of the best

scholarly criticisms of this view comes from C Robert Mesle John Hickrsquos Teodicy A Process

Humanist Critique (London Palgrave Macmillan 10486259830979830971048625)





Some evils are character destroying rather than character building

Many people have lives that are made ar worse because o intense

pain Tey grow bitter vengeul and tyrannical making lie hellish orothers and themselves Te alleged divine strategy o improving per-

sonal character is ofen counterproductive

For some people witnessing evil ails to build their characters and

convinces them God does not exist When Elie Wiesel was orced to

watch a young boy hanged in a Nazi concentration camp Wiesel

stopped believing in God God dies in the belie systems o many who

cannot make sense o evil Te problem o evil is the primary reasonmost atheists say they cannot believe in God

Is God the grand disciplinarian

C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150

How can we make sense o these true stories What do they tell us

about lie and God Tere is much goodness purpose and beauty in

lie and we must acknowledge it But in doing so we must not takeevil lightly Pain suffering and evil are difficult matters or those who

believe in a loving and providential God

Each story points to the influence that ree will and randomness

have in lie Sometimes random events (eg rocks accidentally killing

people random genetic mutations causing deormities) cause su-

ering and death Sometimes humans use reedom wrongly and this

leads to tragedy (eg making bombs raping and murdering) Buthumans can also use ree will to deal positively with suffering and

misortune (eg choosing surgery or helping victims) Free will and

randomness seem capable o both abuse and constructive use

I we want a plausible explanation or how God acts providentially

amid randomness and reedom we should clearly define what we

mean by these terms Without clarity we wonrsquot make much progress

in understanding lie In the ollowing chapter I look careully at the

randomness and regularities o lie Tis examination should help in

seeking adequate answers to liersquos most difficult questions











THOMAS JAY OORD




InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press













ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983092-983095 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983097983088983089-983090 (digital)







pages cm




983090983091983089rsquo983093--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983091983091983097983090983092

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents









Postscript 9830909830891048631

Index 983090983090983089




Acknowledgments



























10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140


















































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press













ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983092-983095 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983097983088983089-983090 (digital)







pages cm




983090983091983089rsquo983093--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983091983091983097983090983092

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents









Postscript 9830909830891048631

Index 983090983090983089




Acknowledgments



























10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140


















































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























Contents









Postscript 9830909830891048631

Index 983090983090983089




Acknowledgments



























10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140


















































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























Acknowledgments



























10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140


















































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























10486251048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140


















































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150







































and Word Made Fresh


















10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























10486251048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140













































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150


































Tanks Lexi







983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150


























983089












are a big deal




































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150











































I983156rsquo983155 U983156983156983141983154 P983137983150983140983141983149983151983150983145983157983149















1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























1048625983096 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140




































































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150

























































10486261048624 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140










I983156rsquo983155 983137983150 A983139983156 983151983142 G983151983140

















act o God




















loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150




































loves perectly




















10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150























10486261048626 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140






























-rare-disease






1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150

























1048626983092 983144983141 U983150983139983151983150983156983154983151983148983148983145983150983143 L983151983158983141 983151983142 G983151983140

























dead people mature




















C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150


































C983151983150983139983148983157983155983145983151983150





















the uncontrolling love of god by thomas jay oord - excerpt

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