"The point which I should first wish to understand is whether the pious or holy is beloved by the gods because it is holy, or holy because it is beloved of the gods." - Socrates
This is a quote from one of the dialogues of Plato. The only things we know about that great philosopher Socrates come his student's (Plato) writings about him. In essence, what Socrates is trying to ask here is this: Is something right because God wills it, or does God will it because it is right? The exception being he was referring to polytheism where I am referring to monotheism. This is a very mind boggling statement which I think I have the answer for. In my GNED 101 (Contemporary Issues) class we briefly hit on this dilemma.
Is something right because God wills it? This is the first of two questions Socrates presents. Well if that is true then God decided what is right and what is wrong. Let's take the issue of rape. We would all probably say that is definitely a sin and is a wrong action to commit. What if God decided it was right though? What then? This approach makes it sound as if God arbitrarily decided what was right and wrong. I t sounds as if God just reached into a hat and pulled out the answers and left it to chance. I believe this is not the nature of God. I believe God is a God of order and preciseness. Ecclesiastes 3:14 it says Gods plan are thought out and permanent and we cannot mess with them.
The second question posed was "Does God will it because it is right?" This question almost readily implies that God is subservient to another cosmic force. God is all powerful and does not answer to anyone else as to what is right or wrong. Psalm 97:9 says "For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods."
If, as you have figured out, I believe neither of these questions are the right answer, then what is?
Here is my answer. I believe what is right ultimately originates in the unchanging character of God. God himself is right and cannot sin or do wrong and it has always been that way. The most profound definition of righteousness is God himself. Look at Mal 3:6 where it says "For I am the Lord, I change not..." and in Psalm 145:17, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works." Hebrews 13:8 captures this unchangeable aspect of God. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
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Are crises like rape ever part of God's plan? Is any kind of sin ever part of God's perfect plan... He knows we re sinners and that sin will inevitably happen, so can he actually plan for us not to sin? But if sin is part of his plan how can it be called a PERFECT plan?... Does he plan for us to be affected by someone alses sin, but not necessarily for us to sin? But then what about that other person who hurt us by their sin? If it's planned that we go through a crises caused by sin then didn't that sin have to be planned? just wonderin :)
ReplyDeleteWell God in his love gave humanity the power to choose. Adam and Eve chose to sin which brought it into the world. It was never God's plan to have sin in the world or he would have created it fron day one. He called His creation "good" when it was still in its perfect state. I think the key verse here is Romans 8:28. Even though God never intended to have sin in the world he gave us a choice to love Him and when we mess up he can take that and turn it to good. He sovereignly orchestrates events in our life despite our sin to accomplish his plan. If a child was born from rape and does something great from God does that mean God did not plan that? No. God's perfect plan was to have that child through a God-honoring marriage, but he still used the situation to glorify himself. His perfect will was chosen against, but his submissive will took it's place and he allowed for that to happen. wow...brain overload.
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