Thanks to old friend Gene Wilken, you have today not simply a written sermon but a video. If you appreciate it, thank Gene Wilken and take a look at the wonderful work he has done and made available on his YouTube channel, FlaneurRecord, and subscribe. He is truly a gift to the Church and was with us Sunday and offered to make the video. Thanks, Gene! For all your good work!!!
In my opinion, and some might think it is an unreasonable quirk, I disdain titles of sermons or messages which address the Lord in disrespectful terms. "Is God good?" or similar words, in my view, fall under the category of inappropriate titles. After all, He is God. He cannot be referenced in casual terms or with catchy sermon titles. I am no legalist, but I do not think it is right.
ReplyDeleteWasn't that the question Job was faced with? I don't see the disrespect in asking formally the question every Christian deals with privately.
ReplyDeleteYes and No. I have been in occasional despair, but I never felt it was my place to question the Lord. I am not perfect, but in this issue I cannot ever feel it is excusable to question God. Is He not sovereign? Is He not the potter, and we the clay?
ReplyDeleteGreat sermon, Pastor Peters!
ReplyDeleteAsking the question, "Is God good?" and then answering it with a resounding "YES!" is hardly disrespectful, John. It is akin to asking a catechumen, "Is God omnipotent? Is He omniscient? Is God love? Is He merciful? Is He a God of wrath? Does God love you?"
ReplyDeleteAs far as questioning God goes: The Psalms are chock full of such things!
Actually, the title is "Is God good or not?" I am not questioning the Pastor's message, which was excellent. I am not saying the book of Job or the Psalms, as well as the OT books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, the Lamentations, etc, do not have verses in which God is questioned, I understand how despair and suffering can move one to ask God, "Why?" Or "Why me?" I am simply saying that for me...personally..and in my life, I refuse to question God. His will is sovereign. It is simply a place I will not go, regardless of the circumstances. During intense combat in South Vietnam, I saw the carnage and repeatedly believed I would not live out the day. I prayed, and God gave me peace of mind which enabled me to practice my faith in real time. No doubt some endure suffering and question God, or simply see the evil of this world and even blame God for not preventing it. But I say this. For me, it is not my place to question God, not ever, and I don't do it.
ReplyDeleteWhen Job would not relent, didn't God get very angry and ask Job a barrage of questions, such as "Where were you when I created the heavens..." In some ways, that is a non-answer to Job's relentless "why me" questions. Job repented out of fear, but his questions for God still remained unanswered.
ReplyDeleteAre we allowed to ask "why me" and risk angering God, or are we not. At what point are we humans supposed to "back off" and accept that our circumstances in this life will never change. I am confused.
The point is not why me or why not me or even circumstances in life that do not change. The point is, do we believe God is good despite what eyes see, hearts feel, minds do not sense, and the circumstances in life that will not change? Look to the cross and what do you see? You see that God is good, slow to anger, merciful, abounding in steadfast love. Jesus commended the woman because they believed this even though she did not have the benefit of all the resources His own disciples and the children of Israel did and they struggled to believe it.
ReplyDeleteThe child of God must trust Him, and walk by faith. Christ tells us in scripture to expect hardship, suffering, and persecution should these things happen in our lives. Of course, we can express our grief, plead our cause, pray for relief, but in the end we must say, "Thy will be done."
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