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A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil

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The author offers a major advance in the understanding of the problem of evil, its appearance and its impact on God's creation. Instead of continuing with the weaknesses of the traditional argument that evil is always employed to bring about some sort of "greater-good," Dr. Little advances a new paradigm which he bases on God's "Creation-Order." This "Creation-Order" (C-O) which is convincingly evidenced by the physical ordering of nature was also established in the moral ordering of the universe, and has provided a stable environment for God to interact with the moral agents of His creation. In this well-ordered environment moral agents are free to exercise the divinely given ability of moral choice and can therefore choose to love their Creator or conversely to rebel against their Creator. In this "Creation Order" not only is God faithful not to destroy the stable environment and moral abilities of the higher creatures (in spite of their rebellion) of this "best of possible worlds" but neither can the libertarian choices of these morally free creatures be vitiated even when they result in horrific gratuitous evil. This theodicy harmonizes with classical theism and most importantly explains how God's creatures are responsible for their own evil acts and how the God who only gives good gifts cannot be blamed.

This book requires the reader to think deeply. Not only does it require deep thought, but it also requires the reader's willingness to rethink long-held ideas about evil and the source of evil. What this book gives in return for the reader's effort and willingness is an answer to the problem of evil that is biblically sound. Dr. Little has done an amazing job of making a difficult topic comprehensible, much as C.S. Lewis did in many of his books. Read this book. Think. Search God's Word. You will find your effort and willingness greatly rewarded.

This book is very well written and concise. It makes its argument clear, and is difficult if not impossible to refute. This is finally a viable alternative to the fatalistic, deterministic theologies that have forced us to choose a God who is either partly cruel and sadistic, or else a dottering old fool who means well, but really can't do a whole lot. We can now logically justify our belief in a God who is loving, just, and all powerful, who created man with the ability to make moral choices and pay moral consequences. Other theologies simply don't allow for all of these things to be logically true in the same Being. As a slight disclaimer, I must say that Dr. Little was one of my favorite professors in seminary, so I might be a bit biased, but this is a great book.

G-D IS IN CONTROL; OMNIPOTENT!!
ALL that has happened, ALL that is happening, and ALL that will ever happen in the entire, infinite universe (some 93+ billion galaxies) is His perfect will. We should never forget that the 93+ billion galaxies are His, and He can do whatever He wants with them. HE HAS GOT THE POWER.
EVERYTHING that happens is His perfect will because He is omnipotent and because He is Omniscient. He can choose to stop ALL kinds of evil that takes place in His 93+ billion galaxies, in its track, COLD. Sometimes He stops evil that occurs in His 93+ billion galaxies, in its tracks, cold; sometimes He chooses not to.
We must accept our ignorance and accept His will. So let us adore Him with simple faith. Let us be humble.
We can not study the infinite. Besides, He does not really like to be studied, but He loves to be adored.
Let us adore Him.

Fear G-d and obey His commandments, for that is man's whole duty.
For G-d will judge every deed - even everything hidden-- whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Live To Love
Love To Live -- Amy Charmichel

And... This Is The Day That The Lord, EHYEH, Has Made. Let's Rejoice And Be Glad In It!!