Wednesday, July 31, 2013

A Touch of Zoroastrianism

Sometimes in looking at troubles I think it helps to have just a touch of Zoroastrianism. Now Zoroastrianism is the idea there are two gods, a good god and an evil god, and they are fighting it out. This does not work as an ultimate understanding of the world. If you have two equal gods, what basis do you have for concluding one is good and the other evil? But while I am a Calvinist and believe God is absolutely sovereign over everything (Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 43:13; Romans 8:28), I think it is helpful to realize that at the human level we are in the midst of a real battle between good and evil (Ephesians 6:10-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:8). (Please note that other human beings are not the enemy, but are victims of the enemy - 2 Timothy 2:24-25; Hebrews 2:14,15; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4.) When we try to do the right thing and everything seems to go wrong, we need to remember that we do have an enemy who opposes us, and to trust God to bring us through (Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 127:1,2; 37:3-6).
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  1. kc bobJuly 31, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Not sure where you are coming from with Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 43:13; Romans 8:28. Are you thinking that sovereignty means that the flesh and evil may reign for a season but God reigns in the end by using them? Or are you saying that God reigns by actively not stopping the flesh and evil to be able to work something for good afterwards? Or maybe something else?

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    1. Mike Erich the Mad TheologianJuly 31, 2013 at 7:51 PM

      I would say that God is in control behind the scenes to cause all events even those done with evil intent to ultimately work to accomplish His purposes, though remaining evil still. (I do not claim to know how He accomplishes this.) The best example is the cross where an evil deed, done with evil intent, ultimately accomplished the purpose of God.

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