Why “Theodicy” Exists Based on Moral and Ethical Decisions

It is both an ancient and present truth, that when a man exercises his autonomy, making a choice that ends beneficially, then from his vantage point, it was because of what he did; and concludes that God was not necessary... However, when that man exercises the same autonomy, making a choice that ends poorly, and then he concludes God is at fault; because God didn’t protect him from the consequences of the choice he made.

We encourage God to be absent when we make choices that bring us pleasure; but we blame God when He isn't present to protect us from choices that cause us pain.

We don't want to be INFORMED by God about HOW to choose, we only want to be PROTECTED by God, regardless of WHAT we choose.

... But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us

We are afflicted in every way,

But not crushed;

Perplexed,

But not driven to despair;

Persecuted,

But not forsaken;

Struck down,

But not destroyed;

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,

So that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies...

...So death is at work in us,

But life in you

For this light momentary affliction is preparing us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

II Corinthians 4:7-10;11b-12; 17

Lets be honest, in the case of the Apostle Paul's affliction he saw Jewish authorities, Roman Centurions and exhausting physical hardships associated with his Missionary Journeys. We, on the other hand, see our afflictions stemming from an adversarial Post-Christian Culture, Bondage to our Finances and an Emotional Semi-Paralysis attempting to engage our Purpose and Meaning for our Life.

The question is: "Do the above passages still apply in the same way for us today?" Or: "Is God still there for us in the same manner, despite the radical change of 'affliction' in our culture?" Can the same splendor and glory burnished in the Roman Colosseum, for the afflicted faithful, comport with we contemporary sycophants, subtly afflicted (no less in bondage) metaphorically by Fitzgerald's infamous West Egg?

If we look to much to the kind of "affliction" that once was as a measure of faith and response, can we misapprehend a different kind of current affliction, that while different, is no less severe and destructive? The brick and mortar of today's Colosseum's are made up of a composite of materials we know as: Individualism, Hedonism, Materialism and Debtism.

Wisdom in the Crucible

So Many Of The Great Challenges Within Our Life,

Are All About Navigating The "Kinds" Of Choices
That We Need To Make,

When The Assumptions That We Bring To Life,

Never Come To Pass..."

(rsg 7/23/2010)

Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you;
Love her and she will watch over you.
Proverbs 4:6

Thoughts To Ponder On - From "UnSpeakable" by Os Guinness

If there is not God to blame for evil,

the we humans are fully responsible.

But if evil in the modern world has grown worse rather than better,

are we really capable or worthy of such responsibility?

Os Guinness


A Basic Fact of Life

Is That Any Of Us May Suffer

And All Of Us Will Die

Os Guinness



There Is No Time, No Part of The Globe

Free From Evil

'The Crust Of The Earth Is Soaked With The Tears of The Suffering

Eleonore Stump


A Single Death Is A Tragedy,

A Million Deaths Is A Statistic

Joseph Stalin


It Is Easier To Denature Plutonium

Than To Denature The Evil Spirit Of Man

Albert Einstein


Historian Will Durant

... There Have Been Only Twenty-Nine Years

In Which There Was No War Under Way Somewhere,

But Does This Say Something Overwhelming About Us As Humans

Or Is It Only A Tasty Morsel For Dinner Party Conversation


Raph Waldo Emerson

He Has Seen But Half The Universe

Who Has Never Been Shown The House of Pain.

As The Salt Sea Covers More Than Two-Thirds Of The Surface Of The Globe

So Sorrow Encroaches In Man On Felicity