I would very much benefit by being capable of differentiating between the Goodness of God (Agathos in Greek, thank you Jesse) and what is not considered as His goodness, i.e. His Love, and what is not His love. Occasionally, I read the comment God is "full of Love," yet I perceive from others that in this "fullness" a combining of what does not appear to be love. It's very confusing in my ability, or inability to reason.
Apparently, God is the Cause of catastrophic events that take away the lives, and/or injure and cause pain and suffering of many, including children. Perhaps it is only some events, not all; yet how can I tell which come from God and which from the "devil". Is all sickness from God because He allowed it OR caused it, and is its purpose to teach OR to punish? Is punishment correction. Is this a part of the Agathos of God. I can comprehend our God given free will by His allowing us to choose what is harmful to us; it seems we do this quite well ourselves without needing any additional cause.
Can fear be an ally with love, when we are aware Scripture says that perfect Love casts out fear? Is wrath synonymous with love or with hate, or both? How can one be certain Who and What our Heavenly Father Is? If God is the Author of fear AND Love, then what purpose does Satan have or even need?
I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here, though I've seen that happening quite often, recently. I am sincerely attempting to understand. Please, for your own sake, not mine, don't condemn others with labeling them as unsaved, or anti-Christ, or heretical, etc., when an individual is earnestly seeking simple truth.
Paul stated that we should not do evil that good may result, and in doing so their condemnation is deserved (personally, I don't adhere to condemnation). Yet I constantly see that true principle completely overlooked AND forgotten in Christian thinking, thus projected onto God that He is capable of doing evil that .......
I would very much benefit by being capable of differentiating between the Goodness of God (Agathos in Greek, thank you Jesse) and what is not considered as His goodness, i.e. His Love, and what is not His love. Occasionally, I read the comment God is "full of Love," yet I perceive from others that in this "fullness" a combining of what does not appear to be love. It's very confusing in my ability, or inability to reason.
Apparently, God is the Cause of catastrophic events that take away the lives, and/or injure and cause pain and suffering of many, including children. Perhaps it is only some events, not all; yet how can I tell which come from God and which from the "devil". Is all sickness from God because He allowed it OR caused it, and is its purpose to teach OR to punish? Is punishment correction. Is this a part of the Agathos of God. I can comprehend our God given free will by His allowing us to choose what is harmful to us; it seems we do this quite well ourselves without needing any additional cause.
Can fear be an ally with love, when we are aware Scripture says that perfect Love casts out fear? Is wrath synonymous with love or with hate, or both? How can one be certain Who and What our Heavenly Father Is? If God is the Author of fear AND Love, then what purpose does Satan have or even need?
I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here, though I've seen that happening quite often, recently. I am sincerely attempting to understand. Please, for your own sake, not mine, don't condemn others with labeling them as unsaved, or anti-Christ, or heretical, etc., when an individual is earnestly seeking simple truth.
Paul stated that we should not do evil that good may result, and in doing so their condemnation is deserved (personally, I don't adhere to condemnation). Yet I constantly see that true principle completely overlooked AND forgotten in Christian thinking, thus projected onto God that He is capable of doing evil that .......
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