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Baptists/Did God create evil?
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Question
Isaiah 45:7 says,"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Does it mean God is the creator and source of evil?
Hi Eddie,
This is an important question.
From a standard Baptist (and general Christian) perspective, God is the sole Creator, hence "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
Therefore everything that exists, directly or indirectly, stems from God (HaShem: The One Whose Name is Holy).
For we humans time is very important. We (hopefully) seek to understand the past but can only theorize about the future. God however is not limited in any way. He sees the past, present and future the same.
This means that when HaShem created Lucifer He knew that he would rebel and become Satan, but He created him anyway.
Why?
Because it was in the Mind of God that humans should have free will rather than worship Him as zombies, so to speak. God ALLOWS Lucifer, his demons, and our own human weaknesses like greed and envy, to test our faith and facilitate our free will decisions to accept or reject Him and the Good. Our time on earth is the field in which this all important question is resolved.
To understand this process and its importance I recommend the Book of Job. In that wonderful biblical book Lucifer questions Job's faith and obedience to HaShem. 'He only worships you because you pay him off!' Lucifer challenges Job (note that Lucifer does NOT challenge God, he challenges Job). But Lucifer is a liar and the father of all liars! Job aptly demonstrates that we humans have the free will and the potential integrity to say, 'Yea though He slays me, still I will submit to HaShem's Will!'
Some people seem to believe that God and Satan are dualistic opposites engaged in an eternal struggle, but this is not what the Bible teaches.
HaShem has no opposite!
HaShem has no equal!
God is One. God is Sovereign over ALL. However it is in the Will of this utterly One God that we have freedom. For this reason, in the world there is dualistic good and evil... and a fair amount of gray!... and it is our lot in life to decide where we stand.
"... as for me and my house, we will serve HaShem" -- Joshua 24:15
The choice is ours.
Hope this clarifies the issue for you.
May God's best be yours,
~Pastor John
~John of AllFaith
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Answers by Expert:
John of AllFaith
Expertise
Baptists hold certain unique understandings as well as the "fundamentals of the faith" held by most other denominations. Harmonious with the essential Baptist doctrine known as the Priesthood of all Believers, some Baptists are very conservative (such as Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps) while others are quite liberal (such as Jesse Jackson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr). For help understanding Baptist and other biblical issues, drop me a line. I can also shed light on questions that are often considered "sensitive." Ask me anything and I'll do my best to share what I know.
Experience
I have a lot of experience in this area. I've studied the Holy Scriptures for over 40 years. I hold a Missionary Baptist ordination as well as one from Calvary Chapel. I was a missionary in Central America for a while, an avid street minister and have preached in many churches, on the radio and so on. I also have an MA Religious Studies from JFK University as well as other pieces of paper. The only ordination that really matters comes from God of course.
While I am no longer a Baptist I can answer any question anyone is likely to have from a Baptist perspective.
My personal beliefs are now more accurately described as Messianic or Noahide Nazarene. If you are interested in this perspective just ask.
Organizations
My current beliefs are best described as Noahide Nazarene. These beliefs can be considered at my web site: http://allfaith.com/Religions/Noahide
Education/Credentials
Education/Credentials
Three Christian ordinations (Baptist, Calvary Chapel and from an independent Christian Church), an MA in Religious Studies, an ordination in Ministry and Spiritual Counseling from the Interfaith Seminaries, 41 plus years of sincere seeking and 13 years answering questions and posting studies online.
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