Theodicy

As a Critical Care Registered Nurse I see a great deal of human suffering. Theodicy is the theological field of study that contemplates the existence of evil and suffering in a world created by a good God who is both omniscient and omnipotent. The Bibles answer to the problem of evil is the same throughout the entire Cannon of scripture; trust the Lord your God. 

The books of Job and Ecclesiastes deal with this question on a personal level, but neither gives the full answer as to why there is human suffering. These two books acknowledge that evil and human suffering both exist. These two books also acknowledge God’s sovereignty, omniscience, kindness, righteousness and justice.  

In the face of human suffering people have a tendency to doubt God. Human logic makes a God in our own image all the while forgetting that God is incomprehensible. The book of Job gives an answer for Job's suffering, but Job himself is not given an answer. We the readers get to look in on a scene in heaven that Job is not privy too. The preacher/teacher in Ecclesiastes says that all is vanity, that the good and the bad alike die. Neither Job nor Ecclesiastes gives the answer for human suffering, both point to the fact that human suffering does exist.

Therefore, when talking with someone who is suffering we should not deny that evil exists nor pretend that we have all the answers. What we do know is that God is sovereign and good, but let us never forget that God is incomprehensible. Therefore, let us not put him in a box. So when others are suffering acknowledge their suffering. Walk with them in their suffering, hold their hand and pray with them. Let them know that you do not have all the answers, but also let them know that God is good and God is Sovereign even in the face of their suffering and loss, therefore, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

What Does this Passage Mean: Isaiah 14:12-14

Isaiah 14:12-14

“How you have fallen from heaven,

O star of the morning, son of the dawn!

You have been cut down to the earth,

You who have weakened the nations!

“But you said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne above the stars of God,

And I will sit on the mount of assembly

In the recesses of the north.

‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

Prophetic passages like this one usually have more than one meaning. The passage itself is part of a song, a taunt against the king of Babylon. Biblical prophecy is a lot like skipping rocks on water. The prophet cast the stone and it touches the water (the first meaning of the prophecy); the rock then lifts up off the water and touches the surface of the water again (the second meaning of the prophecy); eventually the rock reaches its culmination and plunges into the deep (the final meaning of the prophetic word).

In Isaiah chapter 13 the prophet has already told us that Babylon will fall to the Medes. (cf. Isa 13:17-22) Through scripture being the interpreter of scripture we know that the first meaning of our passage is a taunt against the king of Babylon. (Isa 14:4) The taunt is a mocking one in the manner with which Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal. (cf. 1 Ki 18:27) When one exalts himself as the king of Babylon did, part of his punishment is to be stripped of all honor and glory. Therefore, the first meaning of Isaiah 14:12-14 is a mocking taunt against the king of Babylon.

Belshazzar was a historical king in Babylon who fell to the Medes, (cf. Dan 5) but he was also a type of the antichrist. The taunt says that he has fallen from heaven and calls him “O star of the morning, son of the dawn!” (Isa 14:12) We know from the New Testament that Jesus is the bright and morning star, (Rev 22:16) the Son of God who came from heaven. (Jn 1:14) We also know that Jesus said that He watched Satan fall from heaven. “And He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.’” (Luk 10:18) The Devil, the beast and the false prophet will all be tormented; “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Therefore, the second meaning of Isaiah 14:12-14 is a mocking taunt against Satan, the beast on which Babylon the great, the mother of all harlots and of the abominations of the earth sits. (cf. Rev 17)

In conclusion, prophetic scripture has more than one meaning. It is like skipping stones on water. In Isaiah 14:12-14 the first meaning is a taunt against the historical king of Babylon. The second meaning is a taunt against Satan at the eschaton.

Skunk on a Table

Today is my last day off before beginning the fall semester, on-line, at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tomorrow I will be working in the CVICU, then classes begin on Monday. I'm beginning my eighth class; Introduction to Hermeneutics, which will be the halfway point in obtaining a Master of Theological Studies. I thought I would take the time today to discuss a problem that I have with Facebook.

I have had a problem with Facebook for several years, because of this, I have been off of it several times. What do I enjoy about Facebook? Seeing pictures of my friends and family, also reading what they are up to. What I do not enjoy about Facebook is the tendency by some to purposely through skunks on the table. Skunks stink really bad!

I've noticed that some do this for the purpose of creating a discussion and others do it for martydom. Neither of these reasons are for love. 

"I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. (2 John 2:4-6)

The discusser does this, because he/she enjoys a fight. You can call it debate, but it is still fighting. The marytr does this that he may feel superior and acts like he is being attacked if anyone disagrees with the stinking post. 

Recently I had a friend who kept making blanket negative statements about evangelicals on Facebook. I commented on a couple of his post, giving a brief biblical and historical account of what an evangelical is, but because the media and others use the term evangelical broadly he would not listen to me and continued to make these blanket statements.

To clarify Evangelicalism:

1. Evangelicals are Trinitarian Christians
   
2. Evangelicals believe in the Inerrancy of scripture
   
3. Evangelicals believe in the centrality of the cross
   
4. Evangelicals believe in the importance of evangelism
5. Evangelicals believe in the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns
6. Evangelicals believe that while waiting for the consummation it is our duty to make the world a better place in the present

While I still consider this man a friend and brother in Christ I could not continue to see these post. When making a post to Facebook or any other social media sight that could be seen as controversial ask why you are making the post. Are you doing it to cause argument, or to play martyr when someone disagrees with you?

What do You Have?

Christian, what do you have? In a word Christ. Today I am studying the book of Hebrews so I picked up my favorite commentary. The Believer's Bible Commentary by William MacDonald. In it Dr. MacDonald says that the Epistle to the Hebrews is really an answer to the question, "What do you have?" (Macdonald, 2157)

Per Dr. McDonald in Christ we have:

• "One who is greater than the prophets."
• "One who is greater than the angels."
• "One who is greater than Moses."
• "One who is greater than Joshua."
• "One whose priesthood is greater than Aaron."
• "One who serves in a better sanctuary."
• "One who has introduced a better covenant."
• "One who is the antitype of the typical furniture and veil."
• "One whose once-for-all offering of Himself for sin is superior to the repeated sacrifices of bulls and goats."

Christian, what do you have? God’s Word in His Son.

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they." (Heb 1:1-4)

Bibliography:

MacDonald, William. Believer's Bible Commentary: A Complete Bible Commentary in one volume. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

The Lockman Foundation. The Holy Bible, Updated New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.

The•Nurse•Theologian

Since 1997 I have been a Critical•Care•Cardiovascular•Registered•Nurse. Since April 2003 I have been following the Lord Jesus Christ. I am currently in graduate school at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary working towards a Master of Theological Studies. Therefore, this blog is about practical theology; living out the great commandment and great commission through faith in Jesus Christ.

I have changed the name of my blog to The Nurse Theologian, because the name matches two of my great passions in life; taking care of the sick and studying scripture. Sin is a sickness and we all are dying because of it; therefore, we are all in need. This blog will be about practical theology.

"Practical theology is the application of theological truth to all of life, particularly the life and work of the church. While the other theological disciplines are oriented toward understanding God, his work in history, and his revelation in Christ, practical theology concerns our participation with God in the work of bringing that revelation to the church and the world."1

I am concerned that Christians are separating their theology from how they are living their lives. Christianity is more than a simple belief in Jesus. Jesus said repeatedly in the gospels, “Follow Me,” I found 21 passages where this is the theme. Jesus knew His sheep, because they followed Him.2

Jesus taught His disciples the great commandment3 and commissioned them to go make disciples and teach them what He commanded.4  Though I am working towards a Master of Theological Studies this blog will not be academic, it will be about observing all that the Lord has command His disciples.5 

1. "Writing for Practical Theology." Westminster Theological Seminary. Accessed August 14, 2017. https://students.wts.edu/resources/westminster_center_for_theolog/paper_formatshtml/practical_theology.html

2. John 10:27.

3. Matthew 22:36-39.

4. Matthew 28:16-20.

5. Ibid.

Ten Great Leaders

Manuscript for Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

     There are so many great leaders down through the ages of church history. I picked ten leaders that I would recommend reading. These leaderships had an impact on the life of the church during their day and the communities that they lived in to the extent that their positive impact is still felt today. Each of these ten great leaders modeled, though imperfectly, the nine qualities that define great leaders as depicted in Jeff Iorg’s book “The Character of Leadership.”1

     Irenaeus of Lyons was the consummate Pastor-Theologian of the early church. He was wholly dedicated as under-shepherd of the flock given to him and wholly dedicated to the theology of scripture refuting heresy.2

     Athanasius of Alexandria modeled the quality of security. He was both pastor and theologian who trusted the Lord when the Roman world was against him. Athanasius spoke against heresy between two ecumenical councils; Nicaea and Constantinople, all the while holding to the doctrine of the trinity and divinity of Christ. He had what Jared Wilson calls the pastors justification, because he had convicted trust and not vague belief.3

     Augustine of Hippo modeled the quality of purity. Sex was his besetting sin. He left it behind to follow Christ. He pastored the church in Northern Africa. He would become, through his writings, one of the greatest theologians in the history of the church.4

     Anselm of Canterbury modeled the quality of humility. Anselm was significant in the development of scholasticism; that one should apply reason to faith, but he did not put his reasoning above his faith.5 His book Cur Deus Homo was significant in linking the atonement to the incarnation.6

     Martin Luther modeled servanthood to his congregation in Wittenberg. He was Professor of Scripture at the university and at the same time he pastored the parish church, preaching three sermons a week.7 Luther’s fault in leadership was his tendency towards anger.

     John Calvin modeled the character quality of gaining wisdom. This can be seen in the changes that he made over his life in The Institutes of Christian Religion. The character flaw that lead to his early departure was his unwillingness to rest. His hard pace of reading, writing and praying took a toll which resulted in illness and death in 1564.8

     Jonathan Edwards was a leader who modeled discipline. Edwards made a list of seventy resolutions, “Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God.”9 The downside of Edwards was that in social situations he did not like small talk, but would rather talk on higher things, which made him appear to be unsociable.10

     William Carey was a leader who modeled courage. He has been dubbed the father of the modern evangelical missions movement. Can you imagine the courage that it would take to be the first to leave the comforts of home, family, church and country, to go to a foreign land among the heathen? 

     Charles H. Spurgeon modeled sustaining passion. During his life, he battled depression, gout, and other maladies, but continued faithfully running to the cross in every sermon. It was the infinite love of God that drove him. In one of my favorite books, All of Grace, he describes faith as being made up of three things: knowledge, belief and trust.11 It is his faith that sustained his passion.

     Carl F. H. Henry is a bit different than those previously mentioned, because he was not a pastor-theologian, he was a writer-theologian. He would launch the magazine Christianity Today. This magazine was designed to bridge the gap between academic theology and the theology of the evangelical Christian. Henry was aggressive in dealing with the issues of his day modeling the character of leadership.12

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[1] Jeff Iorg, The Character of Leadership: Nine Qualities that Define Great Leaders (Nashville, TN: B& H Pub. Group, 2007).

[2] Justo L. González, The Story of Christianity (New York: HarperOne, 2010), 84.

[3] Jared C. Wilson, The Pastors Justification: Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 149.

[4] Justo L. González, The Story of Christianity (New York: HarperOne, 2010), 241-252.

[5] Ibid, 369.

[6] Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan, The Pastor as Public Theologian: reclaiming a lost vision (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015), 77.

[7] John D. Woodbridge, Church history the rise and growth of the church in its cultural, intellectual, and political context (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), 109.

[8] Jason G. Duesing, Seven summits in church history (Nashville, TN: Rainer Publishing, 2016), 65-66.

[9] Ibid, 83.

[10] George M. Marsden, A short life of Jonathan Edwards (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008), 142.

[11] C. H. Spurgeon, All of grace (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 2003), 59.

[12] Jason G. Duesing, Seven summits in church history (Nashville, TN: Rainer Publishing, 2016), 111-114.