tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19465889.post115834610558613808..comments2023-03-21T08:18:49.648-07:00Comments on Trinitarian Don: Foundational Law Quotes XIXProfessor McConnellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555772215539761119noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19465889.post-1159381745479555672006-09-27T11:29:00.000-07:002006-09-27T11:29:00.000-07:00When God "gives" bad laws in judgment he is sovere...When God "gives" bad laws in judgment he is sovereignly allowing the sins of a people to bear the bitter self destructive fruit of pain and death. But that does not make those bad human laws normative. The bad laws referenced were still sinful acts of violence. God did not want the Israelites to have bad laws. But in judgement He allowed them to have bad laws. God did not want the occasional good kings of Israel to "cooperate" with his judgement by enacting bad laws. <BR/><BR/>A distinction exists between what God describes as normative and what He sovereignly allows. God wishes that all would be saved, but He does not elect everyone. He allows some people to freely reject Him. God wants people to obey the Ten Commandments, but He allows a world in which they do not do so.<BR/><BR/>When we plan human action we must act based on what God has identified as normative and good in the scriptures. If you allow that evil deeds should be done because you think evil deeds are a judgment from God you will have more evil deeds. God says in scripture "It is inevitable that offenses should come, but woe to him by whom they come." In a fallen world, evil will happen, and we may be the source of it, but we should never advocate evil, allow evil, or teach others to do evil. The Bible is full of injunctions to help others and deliver others. If we take the fatalistic view that people are enslaved or sick or suffering or oppressed because God wills it as a judgement, and then do nothing about it, we are violating the commands of God.<BR/><BR/>In the gospels the pharisees were at odds with Jesus because they thought sickness was a punishment from God, and Jesus not only healed people, He healed them on the Sabbath.<BR/><BR/>It is never God's will for his people to do evil or allow evil so that grace may abound. We should never tire of doing good. If God truly wants to bring judgement on a nation, that judgment will fall no matter how we try to help people. And God will still be pleased that we fought the good fight even though people did not respond. But who knows? If we preach the gospel and act as salt and light in society God may bring revival instead of judgment just as he did through the preaching of Jonah.Professor McConnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555772215539761119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19465889.post-1159302354534145852006-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:002006-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00Mr McConnell,Ezekiel 20: 24-25 states the followin...Mr McConnell,<BR/><BR/>Ezekiel 20: 24-25 states the following: "Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. <BR/>Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;"<BR/><BR/>Please explain!Ben Bush Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802976942724293941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19465889.post-1159229032092751772006-09-25T17:03:00.000-07:002006-09-25T17:03:00.000-07:00No. Divine law flows from God's own nature. He d...No. Divine law flows from God's own nature. He does not command people to do things that are inconsistent with His own nature and will. If a nation has laws contrary to Divine law, those human rules are acts of sin and violence rather than true laws.Professor McConnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555772215539761119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19465889.post-1159214538436443242006-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:002006-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:00Mr McConnell,Is it possible for God to give a nati...Mr McConnell,<BR/>Is it possible for God to give a nation laws which violate divine law. If so, under what circumstances?Ben Bush Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802976942724293941noreply@blogger.com