A Mystery to Ponder: God's Sovereignty and Suffering (2 of 8)
Series: Job
Robert Dawson
Job 1: 6-2:10
It is not uncommon for people to shout at or shake their fists at God amid suffering but back in October of 2007 a Nebraska State Senator, Ernie Chambers, did more than shake his fist or raise his voice, he took his complaints to court. Senator Chambers sued God for ''causing untold death and horror'' in the form of ''fearsome floods...horrendous hurricanes and terrifying tornadoes.'' Additionally, he said God has wrought ''widespread death, destruction'' and terrorized ''millions upon millions of the earth's inhabitants.''
Chambers, who has a history of antagonism against Christians, on this occasion was not trying to make a statement about God but the American court system. He did not have a vested interest in his lawsuit against God but was outraged by the growing number of frivolous lawsuits that were bogging down the legal system. He wanted to prove that ''anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody.''
While his lawsuit against God may have been tongue-in-cheek, it does raise some important issues about how God relates to and works in a broken world. It brings together some of the great questions we have and highlights the tensions that we encounter when addressing the issue of God's sovereignty, evil and suffering, questions that confront us head-on in Job.
As we said last week, Job brings us to the edge. It challenges our thoughts, beliefs and long held, easy and comfortable explanations of suffering. Job will add questions to your lists of questions and cause you to read, pray, study and think.
If any message(s) in the series manage to do that, it will be this one and perhaps the one next week. I understand some of you may struggle with what I say, I have been for the better part of my ministry. Others may not accept what I say, at least the way I say it. I understand but I would encourage you to not dismiss it out of hand, especially if ...
Series: Job
Robert Dawson
Job 1: 6-2:10
It is not uncommon for people to shout at or shake their fists at God amid suffering but back in October of 2007 a Nebraska State Senator, Ernie Chambers, did more than shake his fist or raise his voice, he took his complaints to court. Senator Chambers sued God for ''causing untold death and horror'' in the form of ''fearsome floods...horrendous hurricanes and terrifying tornadoes.'' Additionally, he said God has wrought ''widespread death, destruction'' and terrorized ''millions upon millions of the earth's inhabitants.''
Chambers, who has a history of antagonism against Christians, on this occasion was not trying to make a statement about God but the American court system. He did not have a vested interest in his lawsuit against God but was outraged by the growing number of frivolous lawsuits that were bogging down the legal system. He wanted to prove that ''anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody.''
While his lawsuit against God may have been tongue-in-cheek, it does raise some important issues about how God relates to and works in a broken world. It brings together some of the great questions we have and highlights the tensions that we encounter when addressing the issue of God's sovereignty, evil and suffering, questions that confront us head-on in Job.
As we said last week, Job brings us to the edge. It challenges our thoughts, beliefs and long held, easy and comfortable explanations of suffering. Job will add questions to your lists of questions and cause you to read, pray, study and think.
If any message(s) in the series manage to do that, it will be this one and perhaps the one next week. I understand some of you may struggle with what I say, I have been for the better part of my ministry. Others may not accept what I say, at least the way I say it. I understand but I would encourage you to not dismiss it out of hand, especially if ...
There are 25084 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
