God is Omniscient (has total knowledge of this world and all events throughout all of time down to the smallest subatomic level)
God is Omnipotent (has unbounded ability to make things happen as He deems proper)
He is the first and final source of all authority, so there is no question of that.
These are self-evident as well as confirmed by scripture.
However, consider the world we see all around us is:
On the level of individuals:
There is enmity between neighbors, Back-biting, and selfishness.
Even among brothers in Christ, there is enmity.
On the level of Mankind:
There is war and the striving of each group against all others.
Our institutions are becoming less and less concerned with individuals and how to assuage their needs, and more to increasing the scope and power of the institution, placing their own survival and increase 1st priority.
On the natural level:
There is death and sickness, hunger and misery.
There are Storms, Earthquakes, and various climatic instabilities.
On a spiritual level:
There is the enemy, and all he does. He usurps power over us by manipulating the problems above.
We recognize that these failings and catastrophes and trials and spiritual adversaries are the results of sin, and we all should realize that I am purposely not discussing all the good I see in Gods creation, and His people. There are mitigating attributes at all levels and the final mitigation of Christ's blood whixh enables our entrance into His eternal kingdom.
The Lord could have made creation any way He chose. He created this universe and not some other.
So my question here is:
Is this world we have the best of all possible worlds the Lord could have created?
I am not asking whether _we_ could be better. I am not even asking about the existence of the enemy. These are only of issue here if it sheds light on the greater issue of whether this world is the best that could be from the standpoint of the omniscient and omnipotent creator exercising his full authority in and over creation.
I was going to make this a poll, there is a plausible justification for answering either way. in many ways this is a thought question rather than a question of being correct. This has been discussed among Gods people since the beginning.. What I am interested in is why you view this the way you do.
Why or why not does this world represent the best world possible?
What is your criteria for 'best'.
God is Omnipotent (has unbounded ability to make things happen as He deems proper)
He is the first and final source of all authority, so there is no question of that.
These are self-evident as well as confirmed by scripture.
However, consider the world we see all around us is:
On the level of individuals:
There is enmity between neighbors, Back-biting, and selfishness.
Even among brothers in Christ, there is enmity.
On the level of Mankind:
There is war and the striving of each group against all others.
Our institutions are becoming less and less concerned with individuals and how to assuage their needs, and more to increasing the scope and power of the institution, placing their own survival and increase 1st priority.
On the natural level:
There is death and sickness, hunger and misery.
There are Storms, Earthquakes, and various climatic instabilities.
On a spiritual level:
There is the enemy, and all he does. He usurps power over us by manipulating the problems above.
We recognize that these failings and catastrophes and trials and spiritual adversaries are the results of sin, and we all should realize that I am purposely not discussing all the good I see in Gods creation, and His people. There are mitigating attributes at all levels and the final mitigation of Christ's blood whixh enables our entrance into His eternal kingdom.
The Lord could have made creation any way He chose. He created this universe and not some other.
So my question here is:
Is this world we have the best of all possible worlds the Lord could have created?
I am not asking whether _we_ could be better. I am not even asking about the existence of the enemy. These are only of issue here if it sheds light on the greater issue of whether this world is the best that could be from the standpoint of the omniscient and omnipotent creator exercising his full authority in and over creation.
I was going to make this a poll, there is a plausible justification for answering either way. in many ways this is a thought question rather than a question of being correct. This has been discussed among Gods people since the beginning.. What I am interested in is why you view this the way you do.
Why or why not does this world represent the best world possible?
What is your criteria for 'best'.