Theodicy

THEODICY - The branch of thoelogy that defends how a good and all-powerful God could create a world with suffering and evil in it.

This one is a monster issue, and it's going to take careful reading and explanation to address it. As you know, I don't believe in 'sound bite arguments' where someone throws down a huge issue and expects a one-sentence answer as they smugly walk out of the room. This isn't a sitcom; this is real life, so let's all be mature and deal with this in a truly studious manner.

Why does God allow suffering in the world? Why did He allow Haiti to undergo such a widespread tragedy? And what about the Holocaust for that matter? Genocide? Pandemics?

Let's take it bit by bit, piece by piece.

I quote N.T. Wright, the Bishop of Durham for the Church of England and author of Evil and the Justice of God. Wright was in a "blog debate" with an agnostic professor on beliefnet.com. You can find a good article about this on

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080424/theologians-why-does-god-allow-suffering/index.html

His answers included addressing the fact that the agnostic went into great detail about each tragedy.

“You spend a good deal of time in the book, and even in your brief posting, detailing some of these horrors, as though to remind readers of what (surely?) all intelligent people know already,” Wright responded.

“You’re not implying, are you, that people (like me, for instance) who still hold to Christian faith are somehow failing to notice these horrors, or to reflect soberly and deeply on them?”

Wright goes into the purpose of call of Abraham as given in the Scriptures. Wright explains that the call was when “God launches the long-range plan to rescue the world from its misery,” not just an individual invitation for Abraham to have a special connection to God.

“In other words, I read the story of Israel as a whole (not merely in its individual parts, which by themselves, taken out of that context, might be reduced to ‘Israel sinned; God punished them,’ etc.,) as the story of theodicy-in-practice: ‘this is the narrative through whose outworking the creator God will eventually put all things to rights,’” , also

pointing out that during Jesus’ walk on Earth it seems as if God was not in control then, either. The Jews had their own idea of how God would work with the Messiah: victory for Israel against her enemies and world power.

Allowing his son Jesus to be crucified did not fit what the Jews wanted.

“Near the heart of Jesus’ proclamation lies a striking redefinition of power itself, which looks as though it’s pointing in the direction of God’s ‘running of the world’ (if that’s the right phrase) in what you might call a deliberately, almost studiedly, self-abnegating way, running the world through an obedient, and ultimately suffering, human being, with that obedience, and especially that suffering, somehow instrumental in the whole process,” Wright contends.

“What ‘we would want God to do’ – to have God measure up to our standards of ‘how a proper, good and powerful God would be running the world!’ – seems to be the very thing that Jesus was calling into question.”

Manna - enough for one day

Exodus 16 relates the story of God' provision to the Israelites - they had left Egypt with no food or water, according to the Scriptures - of flat, wafer-like substance called manna (literally "what is it?") that lay on the ground every morning, a heaven-sent breakfast from God.

I find it most interesting, especially in today's economic climate, that the people were given just enough to make it through the day. No hoarding was allowed, except in preparation for the Sabbath. The day's sustenance was just enough to take you to the next morning.

Many of us who have been facing financial challenges can take heart in this. Full reliance on God is needed every day. Never shirking our duties, but at the same time putting our faith in His power and not our own, is the way that pleases Him and sustains us.

My writing assignments come in like manna. I know that they could end at any time and yet they flow in and give us just enough to continue on. It bolsters our faith and draws us closer to Him. Just as we saw the answer to prayer in John H. getting a long sought-after job after almost a year of no employment, we can see God guiding as we rely on Him.

Day by day. Just enough.

Friday thoughts

As we near the end of January, I'm hard at work on the calendar in planning for the upcoming season. I'll be hosting Christian Writer Workshops at churches and bookstores around the country. Yesterday I was able to finalize the meetings I'll have in Maryland and here in Tennessee. Plus, I'm arranging for speaking engagements at churches as I present Koine Greek messages and Apologetics as well. The Lord is guiding, it's so obvious to us.

Peter's final paperwork goes into Bryan College to see his qualification for scholarships. Nicholas will be home next week, settling in with the Air Force Reserves and also looking for a new career. Jill is preparing a dinner for some friends to come over tonight (what a nice break after all the workloads we've had to labor through in the past weeks!) and Julianne is preparing a tea party for the family later on today with her little tea set. She was making some last night and spilled the water ont he kitchen floor, taking a pretty nasty tumble. Ever the trooper, she picked herself up, wiped away her tears and continued the preparation.

I am seeing the Lord taking us through numerous new avenues of ministry and am watching to see how He puts various people in our path. Yesterday I spoke at the Christian Academy of Knoxville and had some great counseling opportunities afterwards. More writers are contacting me about contributing to the Zockoll Chronicles website, and that's keeping me busy. Plus, I've just been hired by a textbook company to write some biographies. Things are starting to pick up after the lean weeks of little or no work during the holidays. The Lord is in control and I'm truly leaning on Him.

This dependence thing is always hard but always good for me.

The Great Story of Joseph

I'm reading through Genesis chapter 45 and am enjoying, really enjoying the story of Joseph and his brothers. Well, the first part's not great, what with the selling into slavery and prison time and all - but the last part is fantastic. Joseph is blessed by God and in turn blesses others. The family reunion unifies the clan and the story concludes with joy and restoration that is even enjoyed by outsiders who observe it.

Love it.

The finish line is the main focus of the race, isn't it? The labor and struggle during the contest are soon forgotten once the finish line is crossed. Peter's struggles with schoolwork and grading are now showing results as I took him to Bryan College and they showed him the scholarships he now can receive from his high ACT scores. It's victories like these that bring constant encouragement.

And also remind us of Who is in charge.

Mighty

"Mighty to save." Isaiah 63:1

Hebrew: rab yasha

Righteousness is might. The work of God is powerful and even stunning. It can change my life, and that's what I constantly want Him to do... and He can. He will. This is my hope, and yours too.

Here are the words of the late Bible scholar Charles H. Spurgeon that give me encouragement:

"...the divine power is equally seen in the after-work. The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by "the Mighty God." The bush burns, but is not consumed. He is mighty to keep His people holy after He has made them so, and to preserve them in his fear and love until he consummates their spiritual existence in heaven. Christ's might doth not lie in making a believer and then leaving him to shift for himself; but He who begins the good work carries it on; He who imparts the first germ of life in the dead soul, prolongs the divine existence, and strengthens it until it bursts asunder every bond of sin, and the soul leaps from earth, perfected in glory. Believer, here is encouragement."

new website is launched

The new site has been launched as of this morning! Here is the family reading site, with plenty of new stories that get refreshed every day with new chapters. Please visit it at http://www.zockollchronicles.com

'Allown Bakuwth

"But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth." - Genesis 35:8

'Allown Bakuwth is literally "The Oak of Weeping," a place dedicated to the sorrow in losing someone close to the family of Jacob. We read nothing else of Deborah but we see that she was a much-loved part of Jacob's clan, and that it was good to make a place to remember the sorrow acquainted with the loss, and to meditate upon the meaning of that sorrow.

I think that Christians may have their own 'Allown Bakuwth where they stop and ponder - and weep - over incidents in their lives that have affected them deeply. These memories - though highly emotional - serve as an important part of the Believer.

I stop and reflect upon the intense memories of my life and set up my 'Allown Bakuwth:

- In getting on my knees in my bedroom at the age of seventeen and calling upon Jesus Christ to save me, forgive me of my sins, and bring me into His Kingdom when I die.

- In standing next to a blackboard, cleaning a university classroom during my midnight job while at college, with my knee wrapped up from an injury, and weeping at the loss of my two Russian great-grandparents, both Believers.

- In identifying the body of Alan, one of my youth group members, at the hospital after a vehicle accident.

- In being devastated as a scandal among deacons at a San Jose church that undercut the vote to call me there as a senior pastor - and then finding out that not becoming their pastor was the best thing that could have happened (the scandal grew so deep that the church of 600 dissolved within a year.

- As a child, feeling the horrendous trauma of a messy divorce of my parents.

- Standing at the gravesite of one of the dear members of our congregation in Hollister and weeping at the loss of Virgil, a beloved elder.

- Of crying out to the Lord as I was alone in a chapel in Mt. Hermon, begging to be able to bring people to His saving knowledge; fully sobbing and seeing my tears fall on the wooden floor. Within the week I was able to see my first convert (Sharon) come to the Kingdom.

These and many other memories are posted in the 'Allown Bakuwth of my life, and it is an important part of my Christian life to be able to go back to the Oak Tree and weep.

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The Zockoll family asks for your to pray for Melanie Watson, who is suffering greatly from the effects of a devastating and growing cancer.

The Zockoll family asks for your prayers as Brad continues to work as a free lance writer. Pray that the assignments will come in during these difficult economic times.

Well-pleasing

A nice blanket of snow has hit us here in Eastern Tennessee and as usual the schools have all closed down for the day. I know, I know, you friends from the northern climes are going to laugh at our 1 and 2 inches of snowfall. I realize that your schools don't close until at least a foot or two collapses the whole highway system but cut us some slack - we don't see much of this anymore. Remember, I was born in Pennsylvania and I can remember some whompin' good snows in my day. The picture here was taken on the way in to Gatlinburg on the Smoky Mountain Parkway by a weather-watcher. It gives a nice idea of what we have outdoors right now.

I'm setting up my speaking engagements for the year. I'm lining up dates for going to churches and sharing God's message. It's always exciting to do this, because I get to meet so many great Christians.

Boy, I do love the blessings that Jesus gives. I enjoy every day the care that God shows over me, my family and friends, and I want to return that love in my own small ways. "...we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing (euarestos) to Him." (2Cor 5:9)."Well pleasing" - euarestos (eu = well + arésko = please) means something that highly approved, above the average satisfaction. Are we making extra effort in our service to Christ to show our love to Him ... or are we just 'getting by? I just don't want to "exist" on this planet, taking in Jesus' joys and not giving back. I like to look for ways to show His love to others and bring honor to His name.

Truth

"Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world."

- Francis Schaeffer

Prophecy in Genesis 29:8?

I'm reading through the life of Jacob and Esau and came upon this memorable clip in the middle of the story line. Jacob has suggested that the shepherds take their flocks, water them, and head back out to the field.

"We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."

I've searched the commentaries but have found nothing to expound on this intriguing part of Scripture found in the Old Testament. But I can't keep on reading without seeing this small portion at what I believe to be its full strength...

As we know that sheep are used as a symbol of unsaved man, and water is a symbol of the eternal life given by Jesus Christ, this passage came up like a speed bump in my reading.

The shepherds are encouraged to take the sheep back out into the field (world?) "We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered..." The shepherds (witnesses, missionaries, pastors) realized the unsaved people could not go into the world and be safe without the water (Word of salvation);

"...and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well..." The parallel between this stone rolled away and the tomb's stone being rolled away so that Life may begin is so striking that I cannot ignore it. Roll this stone away and you have access to life-giving water. Roll the garden's tomb stone away and you have access to the Water of Life. He's not in the manger anymore, nor is He just a shepherd and teacher. You must roll the stone away and see Jesus for Who He is, and accept Him as such, for you to have Life.

"Then we will water the sheep." The true witness for Christ knows that the Risen Christ is the Jesus that will save.

Happy 2010

The whole family was out in force at the Zockoll homestead last night, seeing in the New Year. Robert and Marlene Livesay. Jill's folks, were over and leading us in a rousing game of Apples to Apples, which lasted for a good couple of hours of debate and influence (try the game if you're not familiar with what I'm saying). Jill was showing off our new dishwasher (what can I say? We get hyper over the small things in life) while Peter was breaking in a new video game in the Man Room. The most excitement was our fireworks display in the back yard. The family piled onto the deck while Nicholas, Peter and I lit off the best of Bimbo's Fireworks inventory - we really went all out this year, and ignited fireworks with enjoyable titles like Triumph America, Happiness, and Chinese Explosive Connection.

Our first volley freaked out our Sheltie, the newcomer to the Zockoll household. At the explosion of Victory Attack, Misty bolted and almost jumped off the second story of the deck. We didn't see her the rest of the night and I sincerely thought we'd lost our puppy, when at 1 a.m. Nicholas and Alexis came in carrying a shivering muddy little dog.

A Florida college student, Pete, is staying with us and is enjoying himself with hiking in the Smoky Mountain National Park and perusing the stores in Gatlinburg for the finest in fudge, samurai swords and Tennessee flags.

What's in store for 2010? As I am no prophet nor the son of a prophet, I cannot even begin to tell you, but I can let you know that we are seeing a gentle and forward nudging of our family into God's protective and personal care. Day by day we see Him in ways I have not experienced in years. It's going to be a good year, and all the glory goes to God the Father.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.
(Psalm 92:1,2)