02.18.09
Should Jesus have crafted a Peace Initiative at Heaven’s UN with Lucifer?
In our current audio studies, the issue of war and peace has been the elephant in the room. The discussion is however focused around the character of God. From my perspective, God has been in the dock as we consider His character. The presenter has asked us to set aside evil, and its sources and focused on two traits of God – violent and loving. We are supposed to ‘forgive’ the old man’s darker side and focus on His loving ways.
We are also told to give no weight to Bible passages that do not square with our sensibilities as these are passages where mischievous human editorial license occurred.
This sounds to me like being Greek and overlooking the petulance of the greek gods. The choice we are ask to consider is a false choice to add credibility to a cafeteria style approach to theology.
Let me echo my reaction again – Barbara Streisand!
We are certainly war weary, and have a keen abhorrence to violence. However, how do we square three instances indicating war in heaven, specifically Revelation 12, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28. This seem to indicate something more vigorous than a loud argument.
I contend that we see through a glass darkly, and God’s ways are certainly higher than our ways, and our morality is certainly not higher than His. Faith calls us to believe in the constant, covenant love of God even when we only have the prism of our humanity to observe. Eyes of faith have loftier vision than flesh and blood experience. Our theological frame work gives us tools to manage our faith journey. Could it be that the keen insights we have as Adventists regarding the Great Controversy may offer some relief for our dilemma?
