Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Atrocities in our world
California Wildfires
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Persecution of Christians across the world
Death of righteous (though fallen) men and women like Nabeel Quireshi
Shootings like Las Vegas
First Baptist New Braunfels Bus Accident
Ruthless killings of children and others at First Baptist Sutherland Springs
When things like these happen, questions like this one get asked: God, being the loving and powerful God You are, how could you allow this to happen?
Do you care that these things are happening?
Tonight, I want to provide a philosophical and biblical approach to these questions.
First, we will see that God is all loving and powerful while suffering and evil still exists.
Second, we will see a really raw moment in His Word where we see His prophet ask these questions and find answers.
Body
Philosophical
Definition of Evil - Absence of Good
Existence of Evil proves God’s existence
Existence of Evil proves God’s existence
The Christian worldview is the best explanation of the simultaneous existence of all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God and evil and suffering.
God created us perfect but free to choose good or evil
Result of God’s love
We chose evil bringing sin and death into the world
The evil we experience is the result of our global sin
Because He is all-knowing and all-powerful, He works in spite of evil and suffering and even turns its affects into good for His Kingdom purposes.
Text
Habakkuk’s First Prayer
2 How long, LORD, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
3 Why do you force me to look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
4 This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.
God’s Response
I am sending the Babylonians to hurt Israel and set it right.
Habakkuk’s Second Prayer
2 The LORD answered me:
Write down this vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.
4 Look, his ego is inflated;
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.,f
5 Moreover, wine betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.
He gathers all the nations to himself;
he collects all the peoples for himself.
12 Are you not from eternity, LORD my God?
My Holy One, you will not die.
LORD, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock, you destined them to punish us.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?
Why are you silent
while one who is wicked swallows up
one who is more righteous than himself?
14 You have made mankind
like the fish of the sea,
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
15 The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,
and gather them in their fishing net;
that is why they are glad and rejoice.
16 That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet
and burn incense to their fishing net,
for by these things their portion is rich
and their food plentiful.
17 Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?
God’s Second Response
2 The LORD answered me:
Write down this vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.
4 Look, his ego is inflated;
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.,f
5 Moreover, wine betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.
He gathers all the nations to himself;
he collects all the peoples for himself.
Five Woe Oracles
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