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{t:"INNOCENCE",p:1,x:59,y:484,w:540,h:130},
{t:"the",p:1,x:67,y:410,w:103,h:119},
{t:"of GOD",p:1,x:323,y:577,w:271,h:119},
{t:"The horrors of the 20",p:1,x:-533,y:155,w:155,h:15},
{t:"th",p:1,x:-521,y:155,w:8,h:8},
{t:" century demonstrate the failure of secular and ",p:1,x:-172,y:155,w:348,h:15},
{t:"religious ideologies to answer the important questions of life. Is this God’",p:1,x:-149,y:179,w:533,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:1,x:-138,y:179,w:12,h:15},
{t:"doing or is he absent, indif",p:1,x:-489,y:202,w:194,h:15},
{t:"ferent, or nonexistent? Does our experience of ",p:1,x:-142,y:202,w:347,h:15},
{t:"history and the furious battering of people by nature leave us in an ",p:1,x:-191,y:225,w:492,h:15},
{t:"intellectually and morally vacant universe? What, in the face of human ",p:1,x:-163,y:249,w:520,h:15},
{t:"tragedy",p:1,x:-632,y:272,w:55,h:15},
{t:", are sensible answers about life, death, and the existence and ",p:1,x:-164,y:272,w:465,h:15},
{t:"character of God? Like the knight in ",p:1,x:-416,y:295,w:267,h:15},
{t:"The Seventh Seal",p:1,x:-283,y:295,w:132,h:15},
{t:", surrounded by Black ",p:1,x:-118,y:295,w:165,h:15},
{t:"Plague, do we play chess against the Grim Reaper only to gain time? ",p:1,x:-169,y:319,w:515,h:15},
{t:"The manner in which religious and biblical texts are applied often leaves us ",p:1,x:-126,y:354,w:557,h:15},
{t:"with an unjust and irrational God, leading to ideas of alienation and ",p:1,x:-187,y:377,w:496,h:15},
{t:"estrangement. ",p:1,x:-573,y:400,w:111,h:15},
{t:"The world is manifestly unjust, the human condition essentially ",p:1,x:-108,y:400,w:464,h:15},
{t:"tragic. Many believe they can endure this only by abandoning reason and ",p:1,x:-139,y:424,w:544,h:15},
{t:"religion, a choice between arrogance and resignation.",p:1,x:-288,y:447,w:395,h:15},
{t:"Y",p:1,x:-675,y:482,w:11,h:15},
{t:"et the deepest concerns of humanity persist. ",p:1,x:-338,y:482,w:331,h:15},
{t:"Instead of blaming God, or his absence, ",p:1,x:-385,y:517,w:299,h:15},
{t:"The Innocence of God ",p:1,x:-215,y:517,w:169,h:15},
{t:"presents a ",p:1,x:-133,y:517,w:82,h:15},
{t:"startling catalyst for thoughtful dialogue. ",p:1,x:-386,y:540,w:298,h:15},
{t:"The God of Judaism and Christianity ",p:1,x:-112,y:540,w:274,h:15},
{t:"is not accused of immoral sovereignty or of divine weakness. He works, and ",p:1,x:-120,y:564,w:564,h:15},
{t:"invites us to work, against the flow of history with moral clarity and passion to ",p:1,x:-112,y:587,w:571,h:15},
{t:"repair in time a damaged world, a world he deeply loves.",p:1,x:-267,y:610,w:416,h:15},
{t:"UDO MIDDELMANN, who holds degrees in law and theology",p:1,x:-282,y:679,w:405,h:13},
{t:", is the president of the ",p:1,x:-124,y:679,w:155,h:13},
{t:"Francis ",p:1,x:-630,y:701,w:53,h:13},
{t:"A. Schaef",p:1,x:-566,y:701,w:65,h:13},
{t:"fer Foundation. He has lectured widely on ethics and society in many ",p:1,x:-105,y:701,w:461,h:13},
{t:"countries on all continents and regularly publishes ",p:1,x:-348,y:722,w:335,h:13},
{t:"Footnotes",p:1,x:-284,y:722,w:66,h:13},
{t:". He has written two earlier ",p:1,x:-99,y:722,w:181,h:13},
{t:"books, ",p:1,x:-635,y:744,w:48,h:13},
{t:"Pro-Existence ",p:1,x:-538,y:744,w:97,h:13},
{t:"and",p:1,x:-517,y:744,w:25,h:13},
{t:" The Market-Driven Church",p:1,x:-336,y:744,w:180,h:13},
{t:", and authored numerous articles ",p:1,x:-108,y:744,w:223,h:13},
{t:"and chapters. Middelmann, who divides his time between the US and Switzerland, is ",p:1,x:-119,y:766,w:564,h:13},
{t:"married to Deborah and they have five children and seven grandchildren.",p:1,x:-199,y:787,w:484,h:13},
{t:"www",p:1,x:-664,y:972,w:21,h:9},
{t:".authenticbooks.com/paternoster",p:1,x:-508,y:972,w:145,h:9},
{t:"Apologetics",p:1,x:-113,y:857,w:51,h:9},
{t:"UDO MIDDELMANN",p:1,x:-36,y:610,w:0,h:21},
{t:"t",p:1,x:-675,y:67,w:12,h:55},
{t:"he IN NOCENC",p:1,x:-619,y:64,w:244,h:60},
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{t:"G",p:1,x:-288,y:67,w:28,h:55},
{t:"OD",p:1,x:-223,y:67,w:57,h:55},
{t:"",p:1,x:-257,y:960,w:9,h:13},
{t:"",p:1,x:-240,y:960,w:51,h:13},
{t:"",p:1,x:-182,y:960,w:51,h:13},
{t:"ISBN 978-1-934068-04-5",p:1,x:-134,y:885,w:119,h:9},
{t:"C",p:1,x:-756,y:426,w:3,h:4},
{t:"M",p:1,x:-756,y:451,w:3,h:4},
{t:"Y",p:1,x:-756,y:476,w:3,h:4},
{t:"CM",p:1,x:-754,y:501,w:7,h:4},
{t:"MY",p:1,x:-754,y:526,w:7,h:4},
{t:"CY",p:1,x:-754,y:551,w:7,h:4},
{t:"CMY",p:1,x:-753,y:576,w:10,h:4},
{t:"K",p:1,x:-756,y:601,w:3,h:4},
{t:"theInnocenceofGod_press.pdf   13/9/07   16:32:02",p:1,x:-376,y:-36,w:288,h:7},
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{t:"INNOCENCE",p:2,x:105,y:418,w:422,h:63},
{t:"of GOD",p:2,x:320,y:492,w:229,h:63},
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{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:20 PM",p:2,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"the ",p:3,x:104,y:135,w:102,h:63},
{t:"INNOCENCE",p:3,x:105,y:208,w:422,h:63},
{t:"of GOD",p:3,x:320,y:282,w:229,h:63},
{t:"UDO MIDDELMANN",p:3,x:366,y:450,w:174,h:20},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   iii",p:3,x:16,y:1051,w:112,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:3,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Paternoster Publishing",p:4,x:105,y:166,w:120,h:12},
{t:"We welcome your questions and comments.",p:4,x:105,y:190,w:234,h:12},
{t:"USA ",p:4,x:105,y:214,w:29,h:12},
{t:"1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921  ",p:4,x:143,y:214,w:288,h:12},
{t:"www.authenticbooks.com",p:4,x:143,y:231,w:138,h:12},
{t:"UK ",p:4,x:105,y:255,w:22,h:12},
{t:"9 Holdom Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK1 1QR ",p:4,x:143,y:255,w:346,h:11},
{t:"www.authenticmedia.co.uk",p:4,x:143,y:271,w:145,h:12},
{t:"India ",p:4,x:105,y:296,w:30,h:12},
{t:"Logos Bhavan, Medchal Road, Jeedimetla Village, Secunderabad ",p:4,x:143,y:296,w:352,h:12},
{t:"500 055, A.P.",p:4,x:143,y:312,w:71,h:12},
{t:"The Innocence of God",p:4,x:105,y:361,w:119,h:12},
{t:"ISBN-13: 978-1-934068-04-5",p:4,x:105,y:385,w:159,h:12},
{t:"ISBN-10: 1-934068-04-7",p:4,x:105,y:409,w:135,h:12},
{t:"Copyright © 2007 by Udo Middelmann",p:4,x:105,y:457,w:211,h:12},
{t:"10 09 08 07 / 6 5 4 3 2 1",p:4,x:105,y:481,w:130,h:12},
{t:"Published in 2007 by Paternoster, an imprint of Authentic Publishing",p:4,x:105,y:530,w:367,h:12},
{t:"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without ",p:4,x:105,y:554,w:431,h:12},
{t:"permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations ",p:4,x:105,y:571,w:421,h:12},
{t:"embodied in critical articles or reviews. ",p:4,x:105,y:587,w:214,h:12},
{t:"All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, ",p:4,x:105,y:611,w:446,h:12},
{t:"New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International ",p:4,x:105,y:628,w:451,h:12},
{t:"Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.",p:4,x:105,y:645,w:367,h:12},
{t:"Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living ",p:4,x:105,y:669,w:407,h:12},
{t:"Translation, copyright © 1966. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, ",p:4,x:105,y:686,w:437,h:12},
{t:"Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.",p:4,x:105,y:702,w:264,h:12},
{t:"Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN ",p:4,x:105,y:726,w:390,h:12},
{t:"STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, ",p:4,x:105,y:743,w:437,h:12},
{t:"1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.",p:4,x:105,y:760,w:367,h:12},
{t:"Cover design: Paul Lewis",p:4,x:105,y:808,w:137,h:12},
{t:"Interior design: Angela Lewis",p:4,x:105,y:832,w:158,h:12},
{t:"Editorial team: Mike Morrell, KJ Larson, Betsy Weinrich",p:4,x:105,y:856,w:305,h:12},
{t:"Printed in the United States of America",p:4,x:105,y:905,w:209,h:12},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   iv",p:4,x:17,y:1051,w:113,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:4,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Contents",p:5,x:282,y:104,w:94,h:24},
{t:"Introduction 1",p:5,x:127,y:179,w:430,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER ONE",p:5,x:97,y:219,w:82,h:12},
{t:"The God Who Re veals G od ’s Self ",p:5,x:127,y:240,w:257,h:15},
{t:"13",p:5,x:544,y:240,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER TWO",p:5,x:97,y:280,w:83,h:12},
{t:"A Just God in an U njust World ",p:5,x:127,y:302,w:239,h:15},
{t:"35",p:5,x:544,y:302,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER THREE",p:5,x:97,y:342,w:95,h:12},
{t:"Relief in t",p:5,x:127,y:364,w:67,h:15},
{t:"he Law of a J ust G od ",p:5,x:202,y:364,w:163,h:15},
{t:"49",p:5,x:544,y:364,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER FOUR",p:5,x:97,y:404,w:88,h:12},
{t:"God Present in Hist ory, But Wher",p:5,x:127,y:425,w:254,h:15},
{t:"e? ",p:5,x:390,y:425,w:18,h:15},
{t:"61",p:5,x:544,y:425,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER FIVE",p:5,x:97,y:465,w:81,h:12},
{t:"Predestina tion and D",p:5,x:127,y:487,w:155,h:15},
{t:"eterminism ",p:5,x:291,y:487,w:87,h:15},
{t:"75",p:5,x:544,y:487,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER SIX",p:5,x:97,y:527,w:75,h:12},
{t:"Real L ife Versus S pir itual E scape ",p:5,x:127,y:549,w:256,h:15},
{t:"83",p:5,x:544,y:549,w:16,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER SEVEN",p:5,x:97,y:589,w:95,h:12},
{t:"Infinite-Personal G od and F inite-Personal H uman ",p:5,x:127,y:610,w:386,h:15},
{t:"105",p:5,x:535,y:610,w:25,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER EIGHT",p:5,x:97,y:650,w:91,h:12},
{t:"The Inf inite-Personal G od of S cripture  ",p:5,x:127,y:672,w:307,h:15},
{t:"123",p:5,x:535,y:672,w:25,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER NINE",p:5,x:97,y:712,w:84,h:12},
{t:"Not Abandone d  ",p:5,x:127,y:734,w:130,h:15},
{t:"151",p:5,x:535,y:734,w:25,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER TEN",p:5,x:97,y:774,w:80,h:12},
{t:"No Seamless Garmen t  ",p:5,x:127,y:795,w:178,h:15},
{t:"169",p:5,x:535,y:795,w:25,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER ELEVEN",p:5,x:97,y:835,w:102,h:12},
{t:"Evil: Agenc",p:5,x:127,y:857,w:79,h:15},
{t:"y and Instr",p:5,x:214,y:857,w:74,h:15},
{t:"umen tality  ",p:5,x:298,y:857,w:86,h:15},
{t:"185",p:5,x:535,y:857,w:25,h:15},
{t:"CHAPTER TWEL VE",p:5,x:97,y:897,w:110,h:12},
{t:"More than Ar rogance and Re",p:5,x:127,y:919,w:217,h:15},
{t:"signation ",p:5,x:351,y:919,w:71,h:15},
{t:"195",p:5,x:535,y:919,w:25,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   v",p:5,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:5,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"To Deborah, still and alw",p:6,x:234,y:398,w:178,h:15},
{t:"ays,",p:6,x:428,y:398,w:28,h:15},
{t:"now w ith f ive “liv",p:6,x:191,y:445,w:128,h:15},
{t:"ing b ooks” b etween us",p:6,x:327,y:445,w:168,h:15},
{t:"our childr",p:6,x:298,y:491,w:69,h:15},
{t:"en",p:6,x:375,y:491,w:16,h:15},
{t:"Natasha , Saman tha, Naomi, Hannah, Isaac",p:6,x:182,y:538,w:312,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   vi",p:6,x:17,y:1051,w:113,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:6,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:7,x:548,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"INTRODUCTION",p:7,x:207,y:284,w:244,h:25},
{t:"The barber up the road has lived long enough to reject any be-",p:7,x:134,y:377,w:409,h:15},
{t:"lief or even interest in God. For him, the reality of a painful world ",p:7,x:104,y:401,w:442,h:15},
{t:"is enough evidence to conclude that there is no god worth seeking. ",p:7,x:104,y:425,w:443,h:15},
{t:"The twentieth century’s global inhumanities have rubbed salt into ",p:7,x:104,y:450,w:447,h:15},
{t:"wounds that should have long since been healed. Nothing has real-",p:7,x:104,y:474,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ly improved in a world where human evil and natural catastrophes",p:7,x:104,y:498,w:439,h:15},
{t:"have teamed up to produce enormous suf fering, seeming more the ",p:7,x:104,y:523,w:454,h:15},
{t:"norm than the exception. All religion has ever done is pretend to ",p:7,x:104,y:547,w:448,h:15},
{t:"have an answer. But these “answers” have often kept people from",p:7,x:104,y:571,w:442,h:15},
{t:"doing anything proactive in response, since in some way God or",p:7,x:104,y:596,w:439,h:15},
{t:"gods are responsible for it all.",p:7,x:104,y:620,w:198,h:15},
{t:"Too bad that Christians have often joined this chorus! ",p:7,x:134,y:644,w:354,h:15},
{t:"The bar-",p:7,x:497,y:644,w:56,h:15},
{t:"ber never heard anything else but that a God is in char",p:7,x:104,y:669,w:376,h:15},
{t:"ge whose ",p:7,x:489,y:669,w:70,h:15},
{t:"weakness is somehow his strength; a deity who demands a spiri-",p:7,x:104,y:693,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tual maturity from us to accept stoically all that happens. Funeral",p:7,x:104,y:717,w:439,h:15},
{t:"notices announce that “it is God’ s will to take home to himself” the",p:7,x:104,y:742,w:444,h:15},
{t:"deceased. Common Christian parlance makes God the power that",p:7,x:104,y:766,w:440,h:15},
{t:"defi nes and demands faith, exploiting people’ s need to worship ",p:7,x:104,y:790,w:454,h:15},
{t:"something. Even insurance companies still use the phrase “act of",p:7,x:104,y:815,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God” to describe liability when no one else can be char",p:7,x:104,y:839,w:368,h:15},
{t:"ged.",p:7,x:482,y:839,w:28,h:15},
{t:"With all we know today about history , humanity, and global ",p:7,x:134,y:863,w:425,h:15},
{t:"culture, it is easier to conclude that God does not exist and that ",p:7,x:104,y:888,w:455,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   1",p:7,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:7,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:8,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:8,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:8,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:8,x:105,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"people of faith are fools. Reality is such a mess. If there is a God ",p:8,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in charge of this, God should be held accountable for a monstrous",p:8,x:105,y:128,w:440,h:15},
{t:"experience. More often, such belief in a God “out there” is passé, a",p:8,x:105,y:153,w:438,h:15},
{t:"relic from eras when people needed explanations to hold together",p:8,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the horror of the many contradictory experiences in their lives. ",p:8,x:105,y:201,w:446,h:15},
{t:"Someone in heaven must be behind all this, in the same way that",p:8,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"there was always some evil ruler behind everything bad on earth. ",p:8,x:105,y:250,w:444,h:15},
{t:"In the past people believed from fear , just as political fear silenced ",p:8,x:105,y:274,w:448,h:15},
{t:"most opposition to dictators. Fast-forward to today: ",p:8,x:105,y:299,w:346,h:15},
{t:"We fear being ",p:8,x:460,y:299,w:97,h:15},
{t:"taken for a ride by religion. The only thing that seems credible to ",p:8,x:105,y:323,w:448,h:15},
{t:"believe in, in twenty- first-century life, is ourselves. ",p:8,x:105,y:347,w:348,h:15},
{t:"“I have never believed in God. Not in your God anyway, the ",p:8,x:135,y:372,w:424,h:15},
{t:"one who looks down onto his chessboard and moves the pieces ac-",p:8,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cording to his pleasure, occasionally glancing up at the face of his",p:8,x:105,y:420,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Adversary with the smile of one who already knows the outcome. ",p:8,x:105,y:445,w:444,h:15},
{t:"At least the Devil plays fair! We know where he stands. But even ",p:8,x:105,y:469,w:454,h:15},
{t:"he, the Lord of Deceit, works for the Almighty in secret.” ",p:8,x:105,y:493,w:396,h:15},
{t:"My grandmother had come to this conclusion about God after ",p:8,x:135,y:518,w:424,h:15},
{t:"having lived through much of the tragedy of the twentieth century ",p:8,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"before she died at the age of ninety-nine. Her father was a lower",p:8,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Russian nobleman from the famous Orlof f family. He was a theo-",p:8,x:105,y:591,w:447,h:15},
{t:"logian and scholar; he married a German girl whom he met when ",p:8,x:105,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"he had gone to “take the waters” in the spa of ",p:8,x:105,y:639,w:318,h:15},
{t:"Aachen for health ",p:8,x:431,y:639,w:126,h:15},
{t:"reasons. He was attached to the Czarist Embassy in London, where",p:8,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"they raised their family. Later he taught Slavic literature at King’",p:8,x:105,y:688,w:437,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:8,x:549,y:688,w:10,h:15},
{t:"College of London University . Their fi ve children—including my ",p:8,x:105,y:712,w:450,h:15},
{t:"grandmother—were torn apart by the First World War ’s stupid-",p:8,x:105,y:737,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ity, by Europe’s nationalism, and the little war games played by ",p:8,x:105,y:761,w:447,h:15},
{t:"the ruling families of England, Germany , and Russia. Immediate ",p:8,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:15},
{t:"relatives were caught up in these deadly dramas, ",p:8,x:105,y:810,w:342,h:15},
{t:"fi ghting on all ",p:8,x:456,y:810,w:105,h:15},
{t:"sides and against each other . One sister disappeared in Russia’ s ",p:8,x:105,y:834,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Marxist rivalries; one brother arrived just in time to the funeral of",p:8,x:105,y:858,w:438,h:15},
{t:"another, though they had fought on opposing lines in the civil war",p:8,x:105,y:883,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:8,x:551,y:883,w:8,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   2",p:8,x:17,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:8,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Introduc",p:9,x:422,y:57,w:67,h:14},
{t:"tion",p:9,x:513,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"",p:9,x:548,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"My German grandfather lived with his Russian/German/English ",p:9,x:104,y:104,w:446,h:15},
{t:"wife and their family in Belgium, where he had a business. During ",p:9,x:104,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the fi rst war he fought on the side of Germany opposing both ",p:9,x:104,y:153,w:456,h:15},
{t:"England and Russia. Twice they lost all their belongings when, ",p:9,x:104,y:177,w:449,h:15},
{t:"being German nationals, they were evicted from Belgium. ",p:9,x:104,y:201,w:406,h:15},
{t:"They ",p:9,x:520,y:201,w:40,h:15},
{t:"were devastated a third time when their family house in Germany ",p:9,x:104,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"was bombed at the end of the Second World War.",p:9,x:104,y:250,w:335,h:15},
{t:"My own interest in Christianity was confronted by my ",p:9,x:134,y:274,w:421,h:15},
{t:"grandmother",p:9,x:104,y:299,w:85,h:15},
{t:"’s questions—charmingly presented, but revealing a",p:9,x:192,y:299,w:354,h:15},
{t:"wounded life spent in frequent tragedy and unresolved puzzles. ",p:9,x:104,y:323,w:446,h:15},
{t:"How can there be a good God, or any God at all, when staggering ",p:9,x:104,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"absurdities are played out a million times daily in the lives of our",p:9,x:104,y:372,w:438,h:15},
{t:"generation?",p:9,x:104,y:396,w:77,h:15},
{t:"Seeming meaninglessness can be seen across life’",p:9,x:134,y:420,w:334,h:15},
{t:"s spectrum, ",p:9,x:476,y:420,w:80,h:15},
{t:"from the global to the pedestrian. A woman paid for her purchase ",p:9,x:104,y:445,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and stepped out into the road in Brooklyn, where a stray bullet",p:9,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"killed her in an instant. What a difference it would have made if ",p:9,x:104,y:493,w:455,h:15},
{t:"she had not had exact change for her purchase or if she had talked ",p:9,x:104,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"a little longer!",p:9,x:104,y:542,w:94,h:15},
{t:"The English philosopher Bertrand Russell suggested in his",p:9,x:134,y:566,w:410,h:15},
{t:"widely read work Why I Am Not a Christian (1967) that when ",p:9,x:104,y:591,w:454,h:15},
{t:"we face real life we must conclude that there is no God, or that ",p:9,x:104,y:615,w:455,h:15},
{t:"God is evil, or that God is too weak to do anything about cruelty",p:9,x:104,y:639,w:436,h:15},
{t:", ",p:9,x:550,y:639,w:8,h:15},
{t:"death, and pain. There is simply no way to bring “almighty” and ",p:9,x:104,y:664,w:453,h:15},
{t:"“good” together in a descriptive sentence about God. If the de-",p:9,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity were good, he could and would do something to set the world ",p:9,x:104,y:712,w:449,h:15},
{t:"aright. But he has not. If God is evil and mighty",p:9,x:104,y:737,w:326,h:15},
{t:", reality could be ",p:9,x:437,y:737,w:121,h:15},
{t:"explained, but this being should be called the Devil and actively ",p:9,x:104,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"resisted. In the third alternative, God as good but weak, good is",p:9,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"without much import; reality could be explained, but there would ",p:9,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be no reason to worship this being. By defi nition he would not be ",p:9,x:104,y:834,w:454,h:15},
{t:"“God,” but a weak, wishful and ",p:9,x:104,y:858,w:214,h:15},
{t:"fi nally, failed creator.",p:9,x:324,y:858,w:145,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   3",p:9,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:9,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:10,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:10,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:10,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:10,x:105,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"It is little wonder that many serious persons in the past cen-",p:10,x:135,y:104,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tury have concluded that reality itself demands a stand against",p:10,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"evil, but not on the basis of religion or revelation. ",p:10,x:105,y:153,w:340,h:15},
{t:"Where there is ",p:10,x:455,y:153,w:105,h:15},
{t:"a vacuum of gods or human goodness to ef fect real change, rea-",p:10,x:105,y:177,w:446,h:15},
{t:"son demands an effort to fi ght—even by means of revolution—as",p:10,x:105,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"a way to authenticate our humanity against the silent, cruel and ",p:10,x:105,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"deadly world.",p:10,x:105,y:250,w:91,h:15},
{t:"In my experience the church has not for the most part ad-",p:10,x:135,y:274,w:410,h:15},
{t:"dressed these issues with any amount of seriousness. In the name",p:10,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of Christianity, people have advocated a mysterious weakness of",p:10,x:105,y:323,w:442,h:15},
{t:"God, his victory through an existential embrace of death. ",p:10,x:105,y:347,w:382,h:15},
{t:"We have ",p:10,x:497,y:347,w:62,h:15},
{t:"heard of the theology of hope, which says that in spite of all real-",p:10,x:105,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ity, only hope in a better future gives us a goal toward which to ",p:10,x:105,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"believe and dream. We have heard of progress somewhere moved ",p:10,x:105,y:420,w:448,h:15},
{t:"by invisible forces from the depth of the earth or from a deeper",p:10,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"understanding of God, a stance which in essence invites further",p:10,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"irrationality. Since Kierkegaard in the nineteenth century, such ir-",p:10,x:105,y:493,w:450,h:15},
{t:"rationality has been admitted as a source for faith and hope. ",p:10,x:105,y:518,w:400,h:15},
{t:"There ",p:10,x:516,y:518,w:43,h:15},
{t:"is perhaps no fi ner way to absolve the Church from an obligation",p:10,x:105,y:542,w:442,h:15},
{t:"to speak the truth. An advocacy of the irrational just does not cut it",p:10,x:105,y:566,w:441,h:15},
{t:"when we need an explanation of good and evil.",p:10,x:105,y:591,w:314,h:15},
{t:"We have heard of faith in faith, the merit of believing some-",p:10,x:135,y:615,w:415,h:15},
{t:"thing as a confession together with others, even though we can’",p:10,x:105,y:639,w:435,h:15},
{t:"t ",p:10,x:551,y:639,w:9,h:15},
{t:"explain it or relate it to evidences in slices of reality",p:10,x:105,y:664,w:379,h:15},
{t:". Francis ",p:10,x:493,y:664,w:69,h:15},
{t:"Schaeffer ’s repeated use of the picture of an upper",p:10,x:105,y:688,w:349,h:15},
{t:"-story experi-",p:10,x:461,y:688,w:91,h:15},
{t:"ence for this sort of view is helpful and ",p:10,x:105,y:712,w:280,h:15},
{t:"fi tting. With it he illus-",p:10,x:392,y:712,w:160,h:15},
{t:"trates that modern man has abandoned a uni",p:10,x:105,y:737,w:306,h:15},
{t:"fi ed fi eld of knowl-",p:10,x:418,y:737,w:134,h:15},
{t:"edge, in which both factual information (what relates to earth, ",p:10,x:105,y:761,w:446,h:15},
{t:"things, time, and nature) and moral/cultural values (which relate",p:10,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to heaven, morals, eternity, and grace) were seen in a coherent ",p:10,x:105,y:810,w:456,h:15},
{t:"manner. The break-up resulted in two separate areas, or stories in a",p:10,x:105,y:834,w:440,h:15},
{t:"mental building, without a connecting staircase. Man knows factu-",p:10,x:105,y:858,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ally what mathematics tell him. But morally he has no answer to ",p:10,x:105,y:883,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   4",p:10,x:17,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:10,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Introduc",p:11,x:422,y:57,w:67,h:14},
{t:"tion",p:11,x:513,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"",p:11,x:548,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"the question of meaning in any way related to the real world. Man ",p:11,x:104,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"as a person, morals, and meaning are de",p:11,x:104,y:128,w:271,h:15},
{t:"fi ned according to whim, ",p:11,x:382,y:128,w:173,h:15},
{t:"religion, and wishful thinking. Worse, answers in this realm are ",p:11,x:104,y:153,w:456,h:15},
{t:"found as much through speculation as through a drug trip or any ",p:11,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"similar existential experience",p:11,x:104,y:201,w:195,h:15},
{t:"On the lower story of evidences, facts, and mathematics we ",p:11,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:15},
{t:"conclude that life is real but without meaning or direction and over",p:11,x:104,y:250,w:438,h:15},
{t:"all quite absurd. No moral evaluation can be made. ",p:11,x:104,y:274,w:363,h:15},
{t:"We are left ",p:11,x:476,y:274,w:84,h:15},
{t:"to measure, count, and weigh, to do research in order to ",p:11,x:104,y:299,w:387,h:15},
{t:"fi nd the ",p:11,x:502,y:299,w:57,h:15},
{t:"quantities of whatever but without any framework for qualitative",p:11,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"considerations, for meaning, or ethics in any other way than per-",p:11,x:104,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"sonal preferences.",p:11,x:104,y:372,w:120,h:15},
{t:"“A little bit of religion would be good for you” were Mother ’s ",p:11,x:134,y:396,w:423,h:15},
{t:"words whenever I fought with my younger brother",p:11,x:104,y:420,w:350,h:15},
{t:". But she did ",p:11,x:462,y:420,w:96,h:15},
{t:"not want me to take religion too seriously . Religion should tame ",p:11,x:104,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"teenage anger and frustration but was not expected to give answers",p:11,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"from a framework of historically-disclosed truth about the place",p:11,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of humanity in the world. Faith was not meant to inform more",p:11,x:104,y:518,w:440,h:15},
{t:"than relative cultural morals; it certainly was not meant to of",p:11,x:104,y:542,w:420,h:15},
{t:"fer ",p:11,x:535,y:542,w:24,h:15},
{t:"anything approaching transcendent meaning. Religion could make",p:11,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"social machinery run more smoothly , but it should never provide ",p:11,x:104,y:591,w:455,h:15},
{t:"the kind of equipment people and communities need to understand ",p:11,x:104,y:615,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the “What? Whence? Wither?” and to fi nd coherent answers to ",p:11,x:104,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"these questions. ",p:11,x:104,y:664,w:109,h:15},
{t:"There is an alternative given by much of the Church today to ",p:11,x:134,y:688,w:414,h:15},
{t:"this rather bleak outlook with the suggestion of a subjective bene",p:11,x:104,y:712,w:424,h:15},
{t:"fi t ",p:11,x:540,y:712,w:18,h:15},
{t:"to “the true believers” (a term coined by Eric Hof",p:11,x:104,y:737,w:332,h:15},
{t:"fer). It proposes ",p:11,x:445,y:737,w:113,h:15},
{t:"that God is good and mighty , in control of all things on earth. This ",p:11,x:104,y:761,w:453,h:15},
{t:"deity’s sovereignty is unquestioned and celebrated. ",p:11,x:104,y:785,w:352,h:15},
{t:"Any problem ",p:11,x:463,y:785,w:96,h:15},
{t:"from actual life experience brought up against this view is cov-",p:11,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ered by an “umbrella-designation” of humanity’",p:11,x:104,y:834,w:332,h:15},
{t:"s collective and ",p:11,x:443,y:834,w:114,h:15},
{t:"personal sinfulness. First, this attempted explanation goes, we are",p:11,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"so terribly sinful that we deserve all we experience. ",p:11,x:104,y:883,w:358,h:15},
{t:"This creates ",p:11,x:471,y:883,w:88,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   5",p:11,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:11,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:12,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:12,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:12,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:12,x:105,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"intellectual and cultural dissonance when we see ",p:12,x:105,y:104,w:323,h:15},
{t:"the righteous suf-",p:12,x:437,y:104,w:115,h:15},
{t:"fer and perpetuators of evil get away with too much in our lived ",p:12,x:105,y:128,w:454,h:15},
{t:"experience. It is far more obvious that there is really very little",p:12,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"justice in the form of deserved punishment for obvious crimes, in ",p:12,x:105,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the words of Solomon, “under the sun.”",p:12,x:105,y:201,w:264,h:15},
{t:"Secondly, we are told to believe so strongly in God’ s sover-",p:12,x:135,y:226,w:419,h:15},
{t:"eignty that all questions or doubts are answered with the “mystery ",p:12,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"pass” of God’s holy and inscrutable counsel. After all, we are told, ",p:12,x:105,y:274,w:450,h:15},
{t:"God in his sovereign holy counsel does all things well, though we",p:12,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cannot understand how this works out in real life. ",p:12,x:105,y:323,w:328,h:15},
{t:"With this notion, ",p:12,x:442,y:323,w:114,h:15},
{t:"God passes out of normal inquiry and becomes inaccessible. Both ",p:12,x:105,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God’s holiness and God’s reasons are now matters of blind faith, ",p:12,x:105,y:372,w:448,h:15},
{t:"which our faith posits from fear that God might be otherwise. ",p:12,x:105,y:396,w:418,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:12,x:533,y:396,w:26,h:15},
{t:"only assume that God is holy and reasonable because we are sim-",p:12,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ply too afraid to conclude that he may be evil and irrational. ",p:12,x:105,y:445,w:404,h:15},
{t:"This “faith” makes quick use of the term “mystery” whenever",p:12,x:135,y:469,w:410,h:15},
{t:"something does not make intellectual or moral sense. It is a pass, ",p:12,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"because such a God is beyond the need to show himself innocent",p:12,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of the evil in the real world: He does not respond to this question. ",p:12,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"But the believer also passes when she has not dared to seek an an-",p:12,x:105,y:566,w:449,h:15},
{t:"swer. She can do that with all kinds of excuses for her intellectual",p:12,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"laziness or, more passively, when she resolves that it is impossible",p:12,x:105,y:615,w:443,h:15},
{t:"for humanity to discover comprehensible answers.",p:12,x:105,y:639,w:336,h:15},
{t:"Yet this kind of “faith” gets a lot of mileage in Christian cir",p:12,x:135,y:664,w:404,h:15},
{t:"-",p:12,x:550,y:664,w:5,h:15},
{t:"cles today. It is more faith in faith than acknowledging what makes ",p:12,x:105,y:688,w:453,h:15},
{t:"sense in light of the real world of human beings. ",p:12,x:105,y:712,w:326,h:15},
{t:"This is not, how-",p:12,x:440,y:712,w:112,h:15},
{t:"ever, what faith as depicted in Scripture demands or honors. In ",p:12,x:105,y:737,w:446,h:15},
{t:"the end it sells biblically-characterized faith short ",p:12,x:105,y:761,w:339,h:15},
{t:"by insisting on ",p:12,x:453,y:761,w:104,h:15},
{t:"certainty about one’s own uncertainty! It is the contradictory view",p:12,x:105,y:785,w:442,h:15},
{t:"that we decide to know for sure what we can not know",p:12,x:105,y:810,w:364,h:15},
{t:".",p:12,x:477,y:810,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Usually (but not exclusively) this view is connected to John ",p:12,x:135,y:834,w:424,h:15},
{t:"Calvin, though we shall propose it re",p:12,x:105,y:858,w:256,h:15},
{t:"fl ects his philosophical de-",p:12,x:368,y:858,w:183,h:15},
{t:"scendents more than Geneva’s reformer and preacher himself. It is ",p:12,x:105,y:883,w:453,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   6",p:12,x:17,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:21 PM",p:12,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Introduc",p:13,x:422,y:57,w:67,h:14},
{t:"tion",p:13,x:513,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"",p:13,x:548,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"in no way limited to Reformed theology but is the af",p:13,x:104,y:104,w:343,h:15},
{t:"firming, heart-",p:13,x:456,y:104,w:95,h:15},
{t:"warming, and con fi dence-building message in many churches. It",p:13,x:104,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"has become almost a matter of good manners in theology to af",p:13,x:104,y:153,w:411,h:15},
{t:"fi rm ",p:13,x:526,y:153,w:32,h:15},
{t:"that in all life’s reality God is in control. Without always knowing ",p:13,x:104,y:177,w:450,h:15},
{t:"the Calvin Connection, this sketch of Calvinism has become the",p:13,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Emily Post of much Christian theology in this question of a broken ",p:13,x:104,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"and unfair world. ",p:13,x:104,y:250,w:119,h:15},
{t:"We shall see how this can only be believed when passages in ",p:13,x:134,y:274,w:415,h:15},
{t:"the Bible are read out of context to substantiate a system of theol-",p:13,x:104,y:299,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ogy in spite of the Bible’ s teaching. I will attempt to demonstrate",p:13,x:104,y:323,w:443,h:15},
{t:"how the Bible is the one text that insists on human personal re-",p:13,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sponsibility, on freedom to create new and even evil situations that",p:13,x:104,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"are not “willed” by anyone but the creature himself. In contrast",p:13,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to the contemporary discussion, creation itself is an open reality",p:13,x:104,y:420,w:435,h:15},
{t:", ",p:13,x:550,y:420,w:9,h:15},
{t:"a stage with many actors. God is not changeable in his character",p:13,x:104,y:445,w:435,h:15},
{t:", ",p:13,x:550,y:445,w:9,h:15},
{t:"somehow combining both good and evil. But there ",p:13,x:104,y:469,w:336,h:15},
{t:"is an unfi nished ",p:13,x:449,y:469,w:109,h:15},
{t:"reality now in the same sense that creation was not ",p:13,x:104,y:493,w:345,h:15},
{t:"finished at the ",p:13,x:458,y:493,w:100,h:15},
{t:"end of six days. I will show how this real openness in all of history ",p:13,x:104,y:518,w:452,h:15},
{t:"is not a result of some fi niteness, openness, or indeterminacy on ",p:13,x:104,y:542,w:449,h:15},
{t:"the part of God. ",p:13,x:104,y:566,w:109,h:15},
{t:"Of course, Scripture teaches that God is both good and mighty",p:13,x:134,y:591,w:406,h:15},
{t:". ",p:13,x:550,y:591,w:7,h:15},
{t:"But plucking this isolated truth from the rich tapestry of the Bible",p:13,x:104,y:615,w:438,h:15},
{t:"as a lone thread could make God the author of any and all events. It",p:13,x:104,y:639,w:438,h:15},
{t:"would make our understanding of what is good and evil irrelevant. ",p:13,x:104,y:664,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Islam holds such a view. It would answer all the questions relating ",p:13,x:104,y:688,w:446,h:15},
{t:"to meaning, purpose, and power in the human experience in terms",p:13,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of God’s will and a necessary blind obedience by human subjects. ",p:13,x:104,y:737,w:452,h:15},
{t:"Nothing would be out of place, no moment unattended by God, no ",p:13,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"experience out of line, never a real problem. ",p:13,x:104,y:785,w:304,h:15},
{t:"There would be one ",p:13,x:416,y:785,w:142,h:15},
{t:"player in reality, and we would be many pawns within the divine",p:13,x:104,y:810,w:442,h:15},
{t:"purposes.",p:13,x:104,y:834,w:63,h:15},
{t:"This perspective would link God inextricably to our reality",p:13,x:134,y:858,w:407,h:15},
{t:", ",p:13,x:550,y:858,w:10,h:15},
{t:"which we experience as good and evil. God reigns over existence",p:13,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   7",p:13,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:13,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:14,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:14,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:14,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:14,x:105,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"in sovereignty. Revelation of God’s will and character would not ",p:14,x:105,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"only be found in the prophetic word of the Bible but in all events ",p:14,x:105,y:128,w:454,h:15},
{t:"of history. Both God and creation would describe what is. Nothing ",p:14,x:105,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"would prescribe what should be, for everything already follows a",p:14,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sovereign order. That view goes to the core of questions human ",p:14,x:105,y:201,w:448,h:15},
{t:"beings have forever posed. Without a more differentiated answer , ",p:14,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the moral person must conclude that God orchestrates in some in-",p:14,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"timate and powerful way all that happens, and the assassination ",p:14,x:105,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of JFK in Dallas is just one small part of the concert of events in ",p:14,x:105,y:299,w:454,h:15},
{t:"history.",p:14,x:105,y:323,w:50,h:15},
{t:"If anything remains wrong in history at all, any court of law",p:14,x:135,y:347,w:410,h:15},
{t:"would be obliged to declare that the evidence establishes the guilt",p:14,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of God.",p:14,x:105,y:396,w:50,h:15},
{t:"With this view of sovereignty , questions of morality, human ",p:14,x:135,y:420,w:424,h:15},
{t:"purpose, government, meaning and worship are also disregarded ",p:14,x:105,y:445,w:445,h:15},
{t:"and given no answer. We are but players under the baton of God ",p:14,x:105,y:469,w:448,h:15},
{t:"in his orchestra. We must practice to be rewarded in our lives; we",p:14,x:105,y:493,w:442,h:15},
{t:"have the professional sensitivity to despise the score but are not",p:14,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"allowed to change it. ",p:14,x:105,y:542,w:143,h:15},
{t:"I fi nd it curious that when more and more among our con-",p:14,x:135,y:566,w:411,h:15},
{t:"temporaries seek to fi nd an anterior cause in the past, someone or",p:14,x:105,y:591,w:442,h:15},
{t:"something to blame (or to praise) for their life, personality",p:14,x:105,y:615,w:388,h:15},
{t:", sexual ",p:14,x:503,y:615,w:56,h:15},
{t:"orientation, and criminal behavior , the Church so often does not ",p:14,x:105,y:639,w:455,h:15},
{t:"give the truly liberating answer of de",p:14,x:105,y:664,w:246,h:15},
{t:"finite individuality, of choice ",p:14,x:358,y:664,w:201,h:15},
{t:"and effort rewarded and of responsibility pronounced. Instead the",p:14,x:105,y:688,w:440,h:15},
{t:"Church joins the choir of other determinists: God did it all. “It’",p:14,x:105,y:712,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:14,x:549,y:712,w:11,h:15},
{t:"the Lord’s doing.” Genetics, psychological scars, and inherited ",p:14,x:105,y:737,w:448,h:15},
{t:"traits are all part of our nature, and “God willed it all,” if you be-",p:14,x:105,y:761,w:438,h:15},
{t:"lieve what you hear in many sermons or personal conversations. ",p:14,x:105,y:785,w:445,h:15},
{t:"The drunken driver is not really responsible for the death of the ",p:14,x:105,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"child: “God in his wisdom ordained it for some higher purpose” is",p:14,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"often the best people and pastors will say to comfort the grieving ",p:14,x:105,y:858,w:443,h:15},
{t:"family. ",p:14,x:105,y:883,w:51,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   8",p:14,x:17,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:14,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Introduc",p:15,x:422,y:57,w:67,h:14},
{t:"tion",p:15,x:513,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"",p:15,x:548,y:950,w:6,h:12},
{t:"This should be quite bewildering and troubling; this view does",p:15,x:134,y:104,w:409,h:15},
{t:"not easily square with other indications in the Bible where we see",p:15,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God struggling with a fallen world. God seems to be often out-",p:15,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"raged, disappointed even, and then intervening from moral disap-",p:15,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"proval in the course of events. There are the tears of Christ over an",p:15,x:104,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"unbelieving Jerusalem or when faced with a dead friend Lazarus;",p:15,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Jesus did not accept the ar guments of the Pharisees as ",p:15,x:104,y:250,w:381,h:15},
{t:"fi nal. His ",p:15,x:490,y:250,w:68,h:15},
{t:"responses to the needy crowds of the sick, the lame, the confused, ",p:15,x:104,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and exploited, or to disciples who are “of little faith” contain no ",p:15,x:104,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"reference to some ulterior purpose to their plight. His complaints",p:15,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"about “this adulterous generation” asking for signs (Matthew",p:15,x:104,y:347,w:440,h:15},
{t:"12:39, 16:4) or being ashamed of him and his words (Mark 8:38)",p:15,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are not softened with declarations of some divine purpose or refer",p:15,x:104,y:396,w:433,h:15},
{t:"-",p:15,x:549,y:396,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ences to God’s permissive will. Adulterers can hardly expect signs",p:15,x:104,y:420,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of affection from their discarded spouse and should experience",p:15,x:104,y:445,w:440,h:15},
{t:"guilt when they dismiss the words of their lover",p:15,x:104,y:469,w:320,h:15},
{t:". They, like Adam ",p:15,x:432,y:469,w:126,h:15},
{t:"and Eve and all their children before, have walked away from the ",p:15,x:104,y:493,w:454,h:15},
{t:"knowledge of and the relationship with their creator",p:15,x:104,y:518,w:345,h:15},
{t:". ",p:15,x:458,y:518,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Jesus does not, even in a hidden way , approve of the situation ",p:15,x:134,y:542,w:419,h:15},
{t:"or the attitude of the generation to whom he spoke. Such a re-",p:15,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sponse serves no educational purpose and has no spiritual bene",p:15,x:104,y:591,w:421,h:15},
{t:"fi t. ",p:15,x:536,y:591,w:23,h:15},
{t:"They need to change their thinking and their lives lest they lose",p:15,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"their souls. People are at a crossroad before a choice and not on a",p:15,x:104,y:639,w:438,h:15},
{t:"broad boulevard designed to smoothly lead everyone along. ",p:15,x:104,y:664,w:402,h:15},
{t:"In these pages we will see that when God is in char",p:15,x:134,y:688,w:353,h:15},
{t:"ge of all ",p:15,x:496,y:688,w:63,h:15},
{t:"that happens, he is no longer the God of the Bible. Scripture is",p:15,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"more nuanced than what we are left with after some systematic",p:15,x:104,y:737,w:440,h:15},
{t:"theologies have attempted to reduce it systematically. The bibli-",p:15,x:104,y:761,w:449,h:15},
{t:"cal account presents us with several players after creation. ",p:15,x:104,y:785,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:15,x:528,y:785,w:32,h:15},
{t:"persons of the Trinity loved and acted among themselves forev-",p:15,x:104,y:810,w:442,h:15},
{t:"er. Humanity is created in God’ s image. Angels live in their own ",p:15,x:104,y:834,w:451,h:15},
{t:"sphere. Creation is outside of God, for he looked at it and called ",p:15,x:104,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"it good. In the Bible alone, personality has been around forever",p:15,x:104,y:883,w:435,h:15},
{t:", ",p:15,x:550,y:883,w:9,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   9",p:15,x:16,y:1051,w:111,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:15,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:16,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:16,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:16,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:16,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"while matter or energy is created impersonal, without ideas, cre-",p:16,x:105,y:104,w:442,h:15},
{t:"ativity, language, love, or abstract imagination. ",p:16,x:105,y:128,w:318,h:15},
{t:"The eternality of impersonal ener gy is taught in material-",p:16,x:135,y:153,w:416,h:15},
{t:"ism. But even an eternal God can be practically impersonal, when ",p:16,x:105,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God—as, for instance, in monism—has no one to love, talk to, or",p:16,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"enjoy, for he is eternally alone. If Marxism or naturalism teaches",p:16,x:105,y:226,w:440,h:15},
{t:"impersonal materialism, Islam as monism illustrates impersonal ",p:16,x:105,y:250,w:456,h:15},
{t:"theism.",p:16,x:105,y:274,w:48,h:15},
{t:"When God identi fi es with all of history, there will be no real ",p:16,x:135,y:299,w:425,h:15},
{t:"moral distance between the acts of God and the acts of humanity",p:16,x:105,y:323,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:16,x:551,y:323,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Yet the Bible speaks of a history that is torn open by the fall of",p:16,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve, as well as by Satan’s rebellion. There is now a gap ",p:16,x:105,y:372,w:453,h:15},
{t:"between who God is and how humanity behaves. “Be ye holy, even ",p:16,x:105,y:396,w:452,h:15},
{t:"as I am holy” is a command to reduce the gap (see Leviticus 19:2;",p:16,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"1 Peter 1:16). It summarizes a whole series of passages that show",p:16,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"how much God does not identify with either individual or social",p:16,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"history. With the revelation of the death and resurrection of the",p:16,x:105,y:493,w:441,h:15},
{t:"Messiah, the power of God is historic and gives rise to hope. But",p:16,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that only makes sense when the revelation of the fall of humanity ",p:16,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and its consequences in a broken world clari",p:16,x:105,y:566,w:299,h:15},
{t:"fi es God’s innocence ",p:16,x:412,y:566,w:147,h:15},
{t:"and defends his moral character",p:16,x:105,y:591,w:211,h:15},
{t:".",p:16,x:321,y:591,w:4,h:15},
{t:"I am not a professional theologian and do not enjoy “theologiz-",p:16,x:135,y:615,w:409,h:15},
{t:"ing.” My background is in law and theology , a humble participant ",p:16,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:15},
{t:"of that line of believers who struggle with the light of Scripture in ",p:16,x:105,y:664,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the context of life rather than as a separate discipline. Both Calvin ",p:16,x:105,y:688,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and Luther belong to this lar ge group of lawyer/theologians among ",p:16,x:105,y:712,w:447,h:15},
{t:"God’s children who saw in Scripture a way to understand God’",p:16,x:105,y:737,w:435,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:16,x:549,y:737,w:12,h:15},
{t:"instruction about life in a fallen world. Scripture sets out what is",p:16,x:105,y:761,w:438,h:15},
{t:"good and right to encourage humanity",p:16,x:105,y:785,w:254,h:15},
{t:". The Bible declares what is ",p:16,x:365,y:785,w:194,h:15},
{t:"sinful and foolish to redirect our ener gies toward righteousness, ",p:16,x:105,y:810,w:451,h:15},
{t:"opening good, just, and true possibilities to us in belief and work, ",p:16,x:105,y:834,w:443,h:15},
{t:"love, and sex—in other words, in the full circle of life. ",p:16,x:105,y:858,w:367,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   10",p:16,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:16,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Introduc",p:17,x:422,y:57,w:67,h:14},
{t:"tion",p:17,x:513,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"",p:17,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Let others pursue their theological pastime like many play ",p:17,x:134,y:104,w:417,h:15},
{t:"golf or the stock market. I’m not active in ",p:17,x:104,y:128,w:276,h:15},
{t:"any of these three arenas ",p:17,x:388,y:128,w:169,h:15},
{t:"either! But it does seem to me that in seeking ever more detailed ",p:17,x:104,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"justifications for carefully-honed positions, many theologians may ",p:17,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"already have lost the audience that experiences a broken, seem-",p:17,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ingly absurd reality. Theologians whose calling is to present the",p:17,x:104,y:226,w:443,h:15},
{t:"word (logos) of God (theos) have many times made it easier to ",p:17,x:104,y:250,w:446,h:15},
{t:"have intellectual and moral reasons to reject ",p:17,x:104,y:274,w:295,h:15},
{t:"God. His passion, ho-",p:17,x:407,y:274,w:144,h:15},
{t:"liness, and love are but hollow concepts unless God’",p:17,x:104,y:299,w:345,h:15},
{t:"s innocence in ",p:17,x:458,y:299,w:97,h:15},
{t:"the mess of reality is clearly established.",p:17,x:104,y:323,w:269,h:15},
{t:"That innocence of God is revealed in Scripture. Other religions",p:17,x:134,y:347,w:409,h:15},
{t:"attempt to cool your emotions, normalize your troubles, and relate",p:17,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"you into a much bigger cycle of normalcy , merging you into an ",p:17,x:104,y:396,w:453,h:15},
{t:"“eternal” perspective where injustice loses its meaning. Judaism",p:17,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and Christianity, by contrast, call you apart: to think, learn, dis-",p:17,x:104,y:445,w:441,h:15},
{t:"cover, and enjoy what God, the eternal Word, has spoken about ",p:17,x:104,y:469,w:456,h:15},
{t:"the origin of the real mess we are in and how to clean it up. God ",p:17,x:104,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"is at work against the real-life troubles we experience in our daily ",p:17,x:104,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"lives. Why then do we still simply accept them and call on God to ",p:17,x:104,y:542,w:454,h:15},
{t:"justify them? ",p:17,x:104,y:566,w:93,h:15},
{t:"Before she died, my grandmother had come to see the love, ",p:17,x:134,y:591,w:416,h:15},
{t:"credibility, and promises of the God of the Bible. It is my endeavor",p:17,x:104,y:615,w:440,h:15},
{t:"to paint this same portrait for you here, in true and vivid colors. ",p:17,x:104,y:639,w:427,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   11",p:17,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:17,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:18,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER ONE",p:18,x:274,y:239,w:102,h:15},
{t:"THE G OD W HO R EVEALS ",p:18,x:145,y:284,w:375,h:25},
{t:"GOD",p:18,x:244,y:321,w:66,h:25},
{t:"’",p:18,x:314,y:321,w:5,h:25},
{t:"S SE LF",p:18,x:322,y:321,w:92,h:25},
{t:"Natur",p:18,x:104,y:437,w:45,h:19},
{t:"e’s “Glass Darkly”",p:18,x:155,y:437,w:148,h:19},
{t:"For many New Yorkers, a visit to Phillips Manor is perhaps the",p:18,x:134,y:481,w:412,h:15},
{t:"first introduction to what life on a farm with domesticated animals",p:18,x:104,y:505,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is like. The Bronx Zoo is a paradox: wildlife surrounded by a sub-",p:18,x:104,y:529,w:440,h:15},
{t:"way line, commuter trains, and tall buildings. Further west ",p:18,x:104,y:554,w:403,h:15},
{t:"fl ows ",p:18,x:518,y:554,w:41,h:15},
{t:"the Hudson, across which the lure of wilderness has for centuries",p:18,x:104,y:578,w:439,h:15},
{t:"drawn people away from human habitat, civilization, and the city",p:18,x:104,y:602,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:18,x:550,y:602,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Nature lay beyond the river , over the mountains of Pennsylvania",p:18,x:104,y:627,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and Virginia. The Mississippi was the continent’ s divide before ",p:18,x:104,y:651,w:456,h:15},
{t:"the walls of the Rocky Mountains. The self-made man, hunting, ",p:18,x:104,y:675,w:451,h:15},
{t:"settling, and then moving on again, was closely associated with ",p:18,x:104,y:700,w:445,h:15},
{t:"being in nature in years past, in an era where one could prove one’s ",p:18,x:104,y:724,w:453,h:15},
{t:"qualities and avoid the pitfalls of having neighbors.",p:18,x:104,y:748,w:342,h:15},
{t:"Fast-forward to decades later . Anyone who did not pioneer ",p:18,x:134,y:773,w:426,h:15},
{t:"for whatever reason can quite easily buy his own house and tend ",p:18,x:104,y:797,w:444,h:15},
{t:"his lawn on his plot, pretending he is taming and experiencing ",p:18,x:104,y:821,w:446,h:15},
{t:"nature. Nature is being close to the ground, master in one’",p:18,x:104,y:846,w:399,h:15},
{t:"s own ",p:18,x:513,y:846,w:46,h:15},
{t:"homestead, one’s ear and heart attuned to wilderness, far away ",p:18,x:104,y:870,w:449,h:15},
{t:"from the shouts and cries of the city",p:18,x:104,y:894,w:243,h:15},
{t:". There is a harmony not eas-",p:18,x:353,y:894,w:197,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   13",p:18,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:18,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:19,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:19,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:19,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:19,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"ily found among people. Nature—in all her majesty",p:19,x:105,y:104,w:351,h:15},
{t:", silence, and ",p:19,x:464,y:104,w:94,h:15},
{t:"novelty—is romantically perceived as a divine temple. ",p:19,x:105,y:128,w:368,h:15},
{t:"In no way was this typical of the new world of the ",p:19,x:135,y:153,w:343,h:15},
{t:"Americas. ",p:19,x:486,y:153,w:72,h:15},
{t:"Germans love their forests, glens, and brooks. ",p:19,x:105,y:177,w:320,h:15},
{t:"The Sunday walk ",p:19,x:433,y:177,w:125,h:15},
{t:"has largely replaced attendance at church. Scandinavians love",p:19,x:105,y:201,w:441,h:15},
{t:"their birch forests, ponds, and moors. French have replaced church ",p:19,x:105,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"with rabbit hunts or local tastes at the nearest café. ",p:19,x:105,y:250,w:356,h:15},
{t:"The English ",p:19,x:471,y:250,w:88,h:15},
{t:"hike over the Downs. ",p:19,x:105,y:274,w:146,h:15},
{t:"Perhaps humanity is so often in search of nature because it is",p:19,x:135,y:299,w:409,h:15},
{t:"our closest neighbor, yet one that does not talk back, with its hid-",p:19,x:105,y:323,w:442,h:15},
{t:"den ways and energies. From it we draw our food and drink and to ",p:19,x:105,y:347,w:446,h:15},
{t:"it we return at death to dust. There is movement without too much ",p:19,x:105,y:372,w:448,h:15},
{t:"chaos, change with great regularity of seasons and tides; there are",p:19,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cycles of birth and death, and the sun seemingly goes round and ",p:19,x:105,y:420,w:454,h:15},
{t:"round. ",p:19,x:105,y:445,w:47,h:15},
{t:"Isaiah Berlin draws an interesting line to connect such an em-",p:19,x:135,y:469,w:409,h:15},
{t:"brace of nature with the eighteenth-century Romantic Movement, ",p:19,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"where the individual expresses what is on his personal wish list. ",p:19,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Religious enthusiasts have similar ideas of freedom from reality",p:19,x:105,y:542,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:19,x:551,y:542,w:9,h:15},
{t:"As reaction to society and everything that is of human invention, ",p:19,x:105,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"they express a return to a more pagan view . Even the familiar ideol-",p:19,x:105,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"ogies of democracy—fascism, Marxism, and secular humanism—",p:19,x:105,y:615,w:440,h:15},
{t:"assume that a more advanced order for life now proceeds from ",p:19,x:105,y:639,w:456,h:15},
{t:"human nature; a way of life more holistic and relevant than their",p:19,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"parents’ sources in Christianity and Judaism. ",p:19,x:105,y:688,w:301,h:15},
{t:"The “natural” human ",p:19,x:412,y:688,w:143,h:15},
{t:"being is closer to his real self, where men and women discover",p:19,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"their own divinity through imagination and dreams. ",p:19,x:105,y:737,w:348,h:15},
{t:"In our generation we have perhaps advanced a further step, ",p:19,x:135,y:761,w:416,h:15},
{t:"suggesting that the adjective “human” caused a problem by dif-",p:19,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ferentiation from the rest of nature, a threat to all else, and should ",p:19,x:105,y:810,w:442,h:15},
{t:"therefore be made less central. Nature has become the model. ",p:19,x:105,y:834,w:447,h:15},
{t:"Animals are studied to direct our attention to how we should now",p:19,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"live. Submission to an ecosystem is now valued more than human ",p:19,x:105,y:883,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   14",p:19,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:19,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:20,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:20,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:20,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:20,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:20,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:20,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"distinctives, because the human is seen as the source of all Earth’",p:20,x:104,y:104,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:20,x:548,y:104,w:10,h:15},
{t:"problems. ",p:20,x:104,y:128,w:70,h:15},
{t:"The distinction between humanity and the rest of creation as",p:20,x:134,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"uniquely crafted in the image of God and not part of nature exclu-",p:20,x:104,y:177,w:449,h:15},
{t:"sively, is rooted in the biblical af",p:20,x:104,y:201,w:225,h:15},
{t:"fi rmation. The mandate to exer -",p:20,x:334,y:201,w:219,h:15},
{t:"cise dominion elevates us into places of responsibility",p:20,x:104,y:226,w:364,h:15},
{t:", creativity, ",p:20,x:477,y:226,w:82,h:15},
{t:"and change agency. Nonetheless, it violates the notion of a funda-",p:20,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"mental unity with our surroundings and therefore is seen only as a ",p:20,x:104,y:274,w:454,h:15},
{t:"problem, not also a part of all major solutions.",p:20,x:104,y:299,w:308,h:15},
{t:"For more than fi fty years David Attenborough has taken us ",p:20,x:134,y:323,w:426,h:15},
{t:"into the world of animals around the world by means of exciting ",p:20,x:104,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and detailed documentaries about their natural habitats. He ob-",p:20,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"serves them from close range, lies in their paths and then describes",p:20,x:104,y:396,w:438,h:15},
{t:"their lives, feeding, and mating habits in their ecosystems with ",p:20,x:104,y:420,w:446,h:15},
{t:"wonder and fascination. One would expect that with so much sen-",p:20,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sitive exposure to the animal world and nature he would advocate",p:20,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a reduced role for humankind in greater humility to a nature that",p:20,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"perhaps reveals the divine.",p:20,x:104,y:518,w:177,h:15},
{t:"During a recent interview on BBC television in appreciation ",p:20,x:134,y:542,w:415,h:15},
{t:"of his life and career, he was asked whether all his experience and ",p:20,x:104,y:566,w:446,h:15},
{t:"research has made him more aware of “someone like, you know, ",p:20,x:104,y:591,w:455,h:15},
{t:"a creator behind these marvels of animal life.” His response, after",p:20,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a very brief pause, was the re",p:20,x:104,y:639,w:194,h:15},
{t:"flection of a very observant scientist. ",p:20,x:303,y:639,w:248,h:15},
{t:"He said something like this: “When I expose people to such mar",p:20,x:104,y:664,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:20,x:549,y:664,w:5,h:15},
{t:"vels, such majesty and details of animal life, I also have in mind ",p:20,x:104,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"at the same time, the horror for that small boy in the Congo region ",p:20,x:104,y:712,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of Africa, whose eye is at that same moment slowly penetrated by ",p:20,x:104,y:737,w:444,h:15},
{t:"a river worm from behind, where his brain is, after it has wormed ",p:20,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"its way all through the body from his feet upwards. I have to keep ",p:20,x:104,y:785,w:443,h:15},
{t:"both glory and horror in mind. When I do that, I do not see a be-",p:20,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"nign creator in all this.”",p:20,x:104,y:834,w:157,h:15},
{t:"He continued to say that many people sentimentalize their",p:20,x:134,y:858,w:410,h:15},
{t:"observation of nature. But for him such an interpretation misses",p:20,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   15",p:20,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:20,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:21,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:21,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:21,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:21,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"the reality of what he loves to show . These observers see only ",p:21,x:105,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"what they wish to see, such as the glory in primitive natural life",p:21,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"always ordered by habit and instinct. Even talk about the food ",p:21,x:105,y:153,w:446,h:15},
{t:"chain reveals a delight in its orderliness but misses the reality of",p:21,x:105,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"its cruelty.",p:21,x:105,y:201,w:71,h:15},
{t:"Woody Allen acknowledges this cruelty in his own observant",p:21,x:135,y:226,w:411,h:15},
{t:"and realistic way when he speaks of nature as a “giant restaurant.” ",p:21,x:105,y:250,w:453,h:15},
{t:"If God wants the lamb and lion to lie down together in such a",p:21,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"world, the lamb better keep a very watchful eye on the lion.",p:21,x:105,y:299,w:397,h:15},
{t:"Sentimentality about nature’ s ways is one of the human re-",p:21,x:135,y:323,w:415,h:15},
{t:"sponses to the many questions reality raises. ",p:21,x:105,y:347,w:296,h:15},
{t:"We can admire some-",p:21,x:409,y:347,w:143,h:15},
{t:"thing’s orderliness, even when it has painful and destructive ele-",p:21,x:105,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ments. We call something cute or majestic, cuddly or wild, because",p:21,x:105,y:396,w:440,h:15},
{t:"we wish to see it as such. We would feel very dif ferently if we ei-",p:21,x:105,y:420,w:447,h:15},
{t:"ther looked more closely or had to live in the midst of the untamed ",p:21,x:105,y:445,w:442,h:15},
{t:"wild for all our life; if instead of domesticating animals, we ",p:21,x:105,y:469,w:406,h:15},
{t:"were ",p:21,x:522,y:469,w:37,h:15},
{t:"now told to live like what many call “the animal within us.”",p:21,x:105,y:493,w:399,h:15},
{t:"Attenborough’s camera does not go through intellectual ",p:21,x:135,y:518,w:394,h:15},
{t:"re-",p:21,x:536,y:518,w:18,h:15},
{t:"fl ection. It does not compare and contrast. It responds to the way ",p:21,x:105,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"it is held and takes pictures according the producer",p:21,x:105,y:566,w:352,h:15},
{t:"’s actions on ",p:21,x:467,y:566,w:92,h:15},
{t:"its mechanism. It feels no distance between what shows up in the",p:21,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lens and what ought to be there. Attenborough himself, however, ",p:21,x:105,y:615,w:455,h:15},
{t:"makes a moral judgment about the camera’ s observation and then ",p:21,x:105,y:639,w:451,h:15},
{t:"draws a philosophical conclusion from it. He notices the con",p:21,x:105,y:664,w:413,h:15},
{t:"fl ict ",p:21,x:529,y:664,w:30,h:15},
{t:"between beauty and horror: even though the worm only functions ",p:21,x:105,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"in accordance with its circumstances and instincts, ",p:21,x:105,y:712,w:347,h:15},
{t:"Attenborough ",p:21,x:461,y:712,w:97,h:15},
{t:"transcends the moment and sees in his mind what will happen to ",p:21,x:105,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the boy. He compares this with what he wishes the boy to experi-",p:21,x:105,y:761,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ence instead. And he can imagine what it would feel like if the",p:21,x:105,y:785,w:442,h:15},
{t:"worm were crawling into his own eye. ",p:21,x:105,y:810,w:260,h:15},
{t:"There is very little room for sentimentality in observing na-",p:21,x:135,y:834,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ture. One must admire the workings of nature and bring them",p:21,x:105,y:858,w:440,h:15},
{t:"closer to the casual observer and ignorant city dweller",p:21,x:105,y:883,w:369,h:15},
{t:". One may ",p:21,x:483,y:883,w:76,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   16",p:21,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:21,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:22,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:22,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:22,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:22,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:22,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:22,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"be tempted to grant room for nature to follow its way without de-",p:22,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"manding its compliance with our standards of moral selection. ",p:22,x:104,y:128,w:423,h:15},
{t:"At ",p:22,x:537,y:128,w:21,h:15},
{t:"the moment where such ways intersect and in",p:22,x:104,y:153,w:313,h:15},
{t:"fl uence our human ",p:22,x:425,y:153,w:132,h:15},
{t:"existence, however, or even threaten the survival of other animal",p:22,x:104,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"species we start viewing nature through our moral lenses. ",p:22,x:104,y:201,w:399,h:15},
{t:"While ",p:22,x:513,y:201,w:46,h:15},
{t:"nature functions on instinct and in accordance with nature’",p:22,x:104,y:226,w:394,h:15},
{t:"s laws, ",p:22,x:508,y:226,w:50,h:15},
{t:"we also notice that it prevents no threat to survival and respects",p:22,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no rights or dignities. Humanity requires a moral law above the ",p:22,x:104,y:274,w:455,h:15},
{t:"natural law, for we value human life and assert a sense of what the",p:22,x:104,y:299,w:440,h:15},
{t:"Bible gives as the mandate to human beings: to subdue the earth ",p:22,x:104,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and to have dominion, to multiply and to work with our hands and ",p:22,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"minds against thorns and thistles so that another generation can ",p:22,x:104,y:372,w:445,h:15},
{t:"continue when our own bodies return to the dust from which they ",p:22,x:104,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"were taken.",p:22,x:104,y:420,w:76,h:15},
{t:"Sentimentality is one unacceptable response to nature’s ways. ",p:22,x:134,y:445,w:423,h:15},
{t:"Careful observation, re fl ection, and moral responses are required ",p:22,x:104,y:469,w:448,h:15},
{t:"in a world of precise de finitions. When we recognize that we do not",p:22,x:104,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"live in a harmonious ecosystem but instead in one where big eats",p:22,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"little and little can destroy big, we require tools of discernment, ",p:22,x:104,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"skills for survival, and moral direction in order for life to have ",p:22,x:104,y:566,w:456,h:15},
{t:"continuity and death in its many manifestations to be restrained.",p:22,x:104,y:591,w:426,h:15},
{t:"Another unacceptable response is to create a category called ",p:22,x:134,y:615,w:415,h:15},
{t:"“mystery.” We place all the things we do not (now or presum-",p:22,x:104,y:639,w:442,h:15},
{t:"ably ever) understand into the “mystery” box. ",p:22,x:104,y:664,w:308,h:15},
{t:"There are mysteries ",p:22,x:420,y:664,w:138,h:15},
{t:"of course, occurring when we experience events or observe slices",p:22,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of reality which we assume belong together but cannot connect",p:22,x:104,y:712,w:440,h:15},
{t:"at present. For instance, how does the body know the exact time",p:22,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"when labor starts the birth of a child. ",p:22,x:104,y:761,w:248,h:15},
{t:"What directs migrating birds",p:22,x:359,y:761,w:190,h:15},
{t:"to fi nd their way to their destination and back? How about salm-",p:22,x:104,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"on returning to their sweet water spawning grounds after having ",p:22,x:104,y:810,w:445,h:15},
{t:"grown to adulthood in the salty ocean? Why did Lisa ever choose ",p:22,x:104,y:834,w:454,h:15},
{t:"to marry Tom (Any resemblance to persons living or dead pur ely ",p:22,x:104,y:858,w:455,h:15},
{t:"coincidental) in light of what even we know about each of them?",p:22,x:104,y:883,w:435,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   17",p:22,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:22,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:23,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:23,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:23,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:23,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Among human beings it always puzzles me why we make the",p:23,x:135,y:104,w:411,h:15},
{t:"choices we make. Even if I know my own reasoning, I certain-",p:23,x:105,y:128,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ly don’t understand some of the choices others make. My wife, ",p:23,x:105,y:153,w:447,h:15},
{t:"Deborah, and each of my five children still are a mystery to me in ",p:23,x:105,y:177,w:447,h:15},
{t:"many ways. They are outside me, well-known strangers. They love ",p:23,x:105,y:201,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and are reliable, trustworthy , and always there, but who are they ",p:23,x:105,y:226,w:449,h:15},
{t:". . . really? I do not know with any ",p:23,x:105,y:250,w:233,h:15},
{t:"finality for I am finite, in many ",p:23,x:345,y:250,w:212,h:15},
{t:"ways a mystery to myself. ",p:23,x:105,y:274,w:178,h:15},
{t:"Yet we must be careful to separate these mysteries, in which ",p:23,x:135,y:299,w:415,h:15},
{t:"we gain insight gradually through experience and science, from",p:23,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"what is quite casually called “mystery” in the frequently suggested ",p:23,x:105,y:347,w:452,h:15},
{t:"relationship between God and nature, or God and history",p:23,x:105,y:372,w:384,h:15},
{t:". All too ",p:23,x:498,y:372,w:60,h:15},
{t:"readily people wish to see God in nature, so the question was put to ",p:23,x:105,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"David Attenborough. I held my breath while listening and was so ",p:23,x:105,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"relieved to hear that with all his observations about animal life he",p:23,x:105,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"could not see a benevolent God in nature in spite of all the majesty ",p:23,x:105,y:469,w:452,h:15},
{t:"he observed there over the years. For",p:23,x:105,y:493,w:250,h:15},
{t:", nature’s majesty also bears ",p:23,x:361,y:493,w:199,h:15},
{t:"the face of cruelty; all the strength of life also gives of",p:23,x:105,y:518,w:367,h:15},
{t:"f whiffs of ",p:23,x:482,y:518,w:77,h:15},
{t:"death. All the orderliness loses its shine in instinctual-but-violent",p:23,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"attacks and the loss of life in the giant food chain and lust for",p:23,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"blood.",p:23,x:105,y:591,w:42,h:15},
{t:"Perhaps we should tread carefully before sending postcards",p:23,x:135,y:615,w:410,h:15},
{t:"and hanging posters presenting Bible verses on a background of",p:23,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"autumn foliage, mountain scenes, and immaculate beaches. A clos-",p:23,x:105,y:664,w:449,h:15},
{t:"er look at these picturesque scenes would give a far more mixed ",p:23,x:105,y:688,w:444,h:15},
{t:"insight. We would quickly realize the presence of death as well. ",p:23,x:105,y:712,w:446,h:15},
{t:"If God’s character is revealed more in nature than in the world ",p:23,x:105,y:737,w:447,h:15},
{t:"of human beings made in his image, we have either God’",p:23,x:105,y:761,w:390,h:15},
{t:"s moral ",p:23,x:504,y:761,w:56,h:15},
{t:"character hidden in mystery , or sentimentalized cruelty .",p:23,x:105,y:785,w:378,h:15},
{t:"The God Who is Near",p:23,x:105,y:834,w:177,h:19},
{t:"Among human beings—in their art and ef forts, their unpre-",p:23,x:135,y:877,w:417,h:15},
{t:"dictable choices to love, speak, and create; in their concerns about",p:23,x:105,y:902,w:438,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   18",p:23,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:23,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:24,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:24,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:24,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:24,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:24,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:24,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"pain or about peace in the midst of society’ s imperfections—we ",p:24,x:104,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"more readily fi nd something of the Bible’ s addresses to people. ",p:24,x:104,y:128,w:452,h:15},
{t:"And in people we see what the Bible reveals of God’",p:24,x:104,y:153,w:361,h:15},
{t:"s being. We ",p:24,x:473,y:153,w:86,h:15},
{t:"are his children, not the children of nature. We are not fully at ",p:24,x:104,y:177,w:456,h:15},
{t:"home in nature; we more readily abide in what God said about",p:24,x:104,y:201,w:440,h:15},
{t:"taking dominion and building family , relationships, and homes ",p:24,x:104,y:226,w:457,h:15},
{t:"against the surrounding wilderness. ",p:24,x:104,y:250,w:240,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is not obscured in mystery",p:24,x:134,y:274,w:329,h:15},
{t:", nor are his ",p:24,x:471,y:274,w:88,h:15},
{t:"intentions mysterious. He has said things and shown things. His",p:24,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"acts are revealed and described so that we would understand them",p:24,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(Deuteronomy 29:29). His speaking addresses our minds and ",p:24,x:104,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"needs to be understood, otherwise it is only a cacophony of syl-",p:24,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lables. Understanding the text, the sentences, the paragraphs, and ",p:24,x:104,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the flow of Scripture’s argument requires considerable effort. This ",p:24,x:104,y:420,w:454,h:15},
{t:"should not surprise us. Any piece of literature, contract, or love let-",p:24,x:104,y:445,w:442,h:15},
{t:"ter also requires such ef fort. What do the words mean? Where else ",p:24,x:104,y:469,w:453,h:15},
{t:"is this subject treated? What could it not possibly mean? How can ",p:24,x:104,y:493,w:447,h:15},
{t:"I discover whether it is meant honestly? Where is there evidence ",p:24,x:104,y:518,w:455,h:15},
{t:"to support the assertions? What can I do to complain if the words",p:24,x:104,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"are not honored?",p:24,x:104,y:566,w:112,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is not totaliter aliter or wholly other. His ",p:24,x:134,y:591,w:423,h:15},
{t:"word is not indirect, full of hidden meanings and reversed values. ",p:24,x:104,y:615,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Of course there are depths to God’ s being that we do not fathom. ",p:24,x:104,y:639,w:449,h:15},
{t:"We were not present at creation. We have now been evicted from ",p:24,x:104,y:664,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the garden and depend on letters from God to inform us until a",p:24,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"time when he will again dwell among us and we with him. He has ",p:24,x:104,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"sent his Spirit so that the spiritual death and alienation we expe-",p:24,x:104,y:737,w:438,h:15},
{t:"rience as orphans, ignorant and with little comfort here now",p:24,x:104,y:761,w:418,h:15},
{t:", is ",p:24,x:532,y:761,w:28,h:15},
{t:"removed and spiritual life becomes a reality",p:24,x:104,y:785,w:292,h:15},
{t:".",p:24,x:403,y:785,w:4,h:15},
{t:"The concept of a totally other God comes from philosophy , ",p:24,x:134,y:810,w:425,h:15},
{t:"not from the Bible or history , though many theologians have em-",p:24,x:104,y:834,w:444,h:15},
{t:"braced it to justify their acceptance of the irrational as a source of",p:24,x:104,y:858,w:438,h:15},
{t:"knowledge. This delight in the irrational extends to many impos-",p:24,x:104,y:883,w:441,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   19",p:24,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:24,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:25,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:25,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:25,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:25,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"sible explanations of Christ’ s death and resurrection, which has ",p:25,x:105,y:104,w:456,h:15},
{t:"plagued modern theology since the nineteenth century",p:25,x:105,y:128,w:368,h:15},
{t:". It is built ",p:25,x:481,y:128,w:79,h:15},
{t:"on the assumption that for God to be God he would have to be to-",p:25,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tally different from us. Since we think in terms of time (",p:25,x:105,y:177,w:367,h:15},
{t:"fi niteness), ",p:25,x:481,y:177,w:77,h:15},
{t:"reason (words and syntax), and causation (science, analysis, and ",p:25,x:105,y:201,w:455,h:15},
{t:"deductions), God must be timeless (infi nite), irrational (feeling, ",p:25,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:15},
{t:"spiritual) and full of unexpected surprises compared to our stan-",p:25,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"dards and ways of thinking and doing. ",p:25,x:105,y:274,w:259,h:15},
{t:"The problem is that this conclusion for gets that the God of ",p:25,x:135,y:299,w:426,h:15},
{t:"the Bible made us in his image and able to understand God’",p:25,x:105,y:323,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:25,x:549,y:323,w:13,h:15},
{t:"communications, though not exhaustively",p:25,x:105,y:347,w:284,h:15},
{t:". This God has created ",p:25,x:395,y:347,w:163,h:15},
{t:"a real universe where he is not a stranger . He talked with Adam ",p:25,x:105,y:372,w:455,h:15},
{t:"and Eve, came for lunch with Abraham, and in other multiple oc-",p:25,x:105,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"casions talked, explained, and demonstrated his sovereignty over",p:25,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Pharisees. Further, he pronounced his judgment of bad blood be-",p:25,x:105,y:445,w:449,h:15},
{t:"tween people, expressed his revulsion over sickness, and openly ",p:25,x:105,y:469,w:445,h:15},
{t:"asserted his authority over evil spirits and ",p:25,x:105,y:493,w:281,h:15},
{t:"finally death itself.",p:25,x:395,y:493,w:124,h:15},
{t:"In fact Jesus says, to the surprised and opposing Pharisees in ",p:25,x:135,y:518,w:414,h:15},
{t:"John 10:33–38, that the judges over Israel (who are called ",p:25,x:105,y:542,w:378,h:15},
{t:"elohim, a ",p:25,x:494,y:542,w:64,h:15},
{t:"name normally reserved for God, in the Psalm Jesus quotes, 82:6!)",p:25,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"could understand God’s word to instruct them in how to make just",p:25,x:105,y:591,w:443,h:15},
{t:"choices in their obligations to serve the people. ",p:25,x:105,y:615,w:323,h:15},
{t:"The Bible speaks ",p:25,x:437,y:615,w:123,h:15},
{t:"of an infi nite God, who is not timeless in some sort of “eternal",p:25,x:105,y:639,w:441,h:15},
{t:"now,” but eternal in sequences of “before” and “after” relation-",p:25,x:105,y:664,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ships. Time unfolds like a sequence in the relationship between ",p:25,x:105,y:688,w:447,h:15},
{t:"the persons of the Trinity before creation. From God’ s perspective, ",p:25,x:105,y:712,w:451,h:15},
{t:"we are now living in a time after the fall. In the same way God’",p:25,x:105,y:737,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:25,x:549,y:737,w:11,h:15},
{t:"relation to people is dif ferent before the birth of Christ “in the full-",p:25,x:105,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"ness of time” and after his glorifi cation. Different aspects of God ",p:25,x:105,y:785,w:451,h:15},
{t:"himself are disclosed at various times. These are not merely what ",p:25,x:105,y:810,w:454,h:15},
{t:"seem to be sequences from our finite human perspective. ",p:25,x:105,y:834,w:386,h:15},
{t:"God is an infinite person with clear and consistent characteris-",p:25,x:135,y:858,w:411,h:15},
{t:"tics, whose depth we cannot ever reach or absorb, but whose per",p:25,x:105,y:883,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:25,x:550,y:883,w:5,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   20",p:25,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:22 PM",p:25,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:26,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:26,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:26,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:26,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:26,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:26,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"sonality is evident, accessible, and trustworthy",p:26,x:104,y:104,w:317,h:15},
{t:". With God things ",p:26,x:429,y:104,w:130,h:15},
{t:"and events are the way they appear to us to be, when his actions",p:26,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and the verbal explanations of his actions are carefully observed ",p:26,x:104,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and understood. God exhaustively knows all things and events. ",p:26,x:104,y:177,w:446,h:15},
{t:"From God we receive a reliable witness to things and events with ",p:26,x:104,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"enough of a veri fiable context to allow us to know them truthfully",p:26,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:". ",p:26,x:550,y:226,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Reality, including the reality of God’s being and character, is never ",p:26,x:104,y:250,w:453,h:15},
{t:"just an illusion or something “totally other",p:26,x:104,y:274,w:278,h:15},
{t:",” either in creation or in ",p:26,x:389,y:274,w:164,h:15},
{t:"the finished work of Christ. ",p:26,x:104,y:299,w:187,h:15},
{t:"Of course, there is always “something more” we can discover",p:26,x:134,y:323,w:410,h:15},
{t:"about God. This is not surprising, since “something more” can al-",p:26,x:104,y:347,w:441,h:15},
{t:"ways be said and discovered about all reality as well. No object, ",p:26,x:104,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"person, or situation is ever completely known by us in our ",p:26,x:104,y:396,w:399,h:15},
{t:"fi nite-",p:26,x:514,y:396,w:39,h:15},
{t:"ness. Inexhaustible knowledge is the continuing challenge and ",p:26,x:104,y:420,w:447,h:15},
{t:"privilege for any fi nite being. But the “inexhaustible,” by de",p:26,x:104,y:445,w:414,h:15},
{t:"fi ni-",p:26,x:526,y:445,w:27,h:15},
{t:"tion, touches on the quantity of knowledge, not its quality",p:26,x:104,y:469,w:386,h:15},
{t:". It does ",p:26,x:499,y:469,w:59,h:15},
{t:"not mean that limited knowledge is necessarily erroneous. ",p:26,x:104,y:493,w:409,h:15},
{t:"True ",p:26,x:523,y:493,w:37,h:15},
{t:"knowledge about God—though fi nite—does not imply that what ",p:26,x:104,y:518,w:455,h:15},
{t:"we know of God is in the end contrary to what God has said and ",p:26,x:104,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"done. ",p:26,x:104,y:566,w:40,h:15},
{t:"Francis Schaeffer speaks of the in fi nite-personal and person-",p:26,x:134,y:591,w:416,h:15},
{t:"al-infi nite God in his lectures and books. Our visit to a German ",p:26,x:104,y:615,w:446,h:15},
{t:"university showed us the importance of this quali",p:26,x:104,y:639,w:332,h:15},
{t:"fi ed infi nity and ",p:26,x:445,y:639,w:113,h:15},
{t:"eternal character of God. The materialists in the audience needed ",p:26,x:104,y:664,w:448,h:15},
{t:"to hear about the person of God, and the pietists in the audience",p:26,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"needed the clari fication of God’s infinite character. ",p:26,x:104,y:712,w:349,h:15},
{t:"Mystery Accor",p:26,x:104,y:761,w:120,h:19},
{t:"ding to Scriptur",p:26,x:237,y:761,w:130,h:19},
{t:"e",p:26,x:383,y:761,w:10,h:19},
{t:"There are essentially three areas in which the Bible speaks of ",p:26,x:134,y:804,w:424,h:15},
{t:"mystery. Daniel was able to know the king’s dream and explain ",p:26,x:104,y:829,w:454,h:15},
{t:"its meaning. God revealed it to him to show that he, Daniel, knew",p:26,x:104,y:853,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things from God, unlike the king’ s diviners who played guess-",p:26,x:104,y:877,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   21",p:26,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:26,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:27,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:27,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:27,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:27,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"ing games. This mystery relates to how God can make something ",p:27,x:105,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"known about future events. ",p:27,x:105,y:128,w:185,h:15},
{t:"Paul speaks of the mystery of our resurrection, a sure event",p:27,x:135,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"that will become evident. This mystery surprises by its powerful ",p:27,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"abolition of death at the hand of the creator for whom the death of",p:27,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"persons is not the end. ",p:27,x:105,y:226,w:152,h:15},
{t:"The central mystery referred to in Scripture relates to the way ",p:27,x:135,y:250,w:413,h:15},
{t:"of salvation: Can humanity’ s fall or my own failures ever be undone",p:27,x:105,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"when time has moved on from the events? How is it possible? Is",p:27,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"there any hope to recover fellowship with God, moral restitution, ",p:27,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and peace of mind? Who would accomplish it, and when would ",p:27,x:105,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"we be certain of it? This mystery deals with what God is able to ",p:27,x:105,y:372,w:448,h:15},
{t:"interpose to remove guilt without becoming guilty himself. ",p:27,x:105,y:396,w:397,h:15},
{t:"The promise in Genesis, in the immediate context of ",p:27,x:135,y:420,w:359,h:15},
{t:"Adam’s ",p:27,x:503,y:420,w:57,h:15},
{t:"fall and a creation spoiled by the ef fects of sin, speaks of God do-",p:27,x:105,y:445,w:445,h:15},
{t:"ing what amounts to an additional work. A moral or legal dilemma ",p:27,x:105,y:469,w:453,h:15},
{t:"now existed through our fi rst parents’ choice to turn their back ",p:27,x:105,y:493,w:452,h:15},
{t:"on God and believe a lie. A second dilemma arose when physical",p:27,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"death eventually followed the moral death from sin. ",p:27,x:105,y:542,w:349,h:15},
{t:"God’s additional work consisted ",p:27,x:135,y:566,w:226,h:15},
{t:"fi rst of running after Adam ",p:27,x:366,y:566,w:194,h:15},
{t:"and Eve to promise restoration. This would redress the legal di-",p:27,x:105,y:591,w:444,h:15},
{t:"lemma of personal guilt by a work of God, who—in the second ",p:27,x:105,y:615,w:446,h:15},
{t:"person of the eternal Trinity, God the Son—would receive a body ",p:27,x:105,y:639,w:449,h:15},
{t:"from a woman and crush Satan’ s head for good (Genesis 3:15). ",p:27,x:105,y:664,w:451,h:15},
{t:"The Lord and judge of the universe would take the result of our",p:27,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sin, true moral guilt, on himself. He as judge, rather than we as the",p:27,x:105,y:712,w:438,h:15},
{t:"guilty party, would suffer and bear the consequences to pay for",p:27,x:105,y:737,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the wrong. He would absorb divine alienation so that we would ",p:27,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"become God’s children again. ",p:27,x:105,y:785,w:205,h:15},
{t:"The repeated sacri fi ces of lambs without blemish in the Old ",p:27,x:135,y:810,w:419,h:15},
{t:"Testament liturgy dramatized this entire transaction: sin, guilt, ",p:27,x:105,y:834,w:449,h:15},
{t:"and their lethal consequences are unavoidable until God, through ",p:27,x:105,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the infinite moral value of his son’ s death, accomplished the legal",p:27,x:105,y:883,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   22",p:27,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:27,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:28,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:28,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:28,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:28,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:28,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:28,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"and factual reality of forgiveness once for all. This is real history. ",p:28,x:104,y:104,w:454,h:15},
{t:"There is a time and space component to it. From the “My God, ",p:28,x:104,y:128,w:446,h:15},
{t:"my God, why have you forsaken me,” to the “It is ",p:28,x:104,y:153,w:334,h:15},
{t:"finished” on the ",p:28,x:447,y:153,w:111,h:15},
{t:"cross, the judgment was enacted. ",p:28,x:104,y:177,w:223,h:15},
{t:"God also instructs Adam and Eve at the time of the Fall, and ",p:28,x:134,y:201,w:418,h:15},
{t:"repeats it through the prophetic teaching and the law in increas-",p:28,x:104,y:226,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ing detail to later generations: humanity must work together in a",p:28,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sweaty effort against death and fragmentation to live in the expec-",p:28,x:104,y:274,w:440,h:15},
{t:"tation of their Savior . The legal problem would be healed when ",p:28,x:104,y:299,w:449,h:15},
{t:"the eternal judge of the moral universe would take our punishment",p:28,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"on himself. He would deal with the factual problems that resulted ",p:28,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"from sin by the power of his resurrection, a ",p:28,x:104,y:372,w:303,h:15},
{t:"fi rst-fruit of a larger ",p:28,x:415,y:372,w:144,h:15},
{t:"and richer harvest. In addition he would deal with the problem of",p:28,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ignorance, confusion, and social tension by means of the Law",p:28,x:104,y:420,w:415,h:15},
{t:". Its ",p:28,x:528,y:420,w:30,h:15},
{t:"application would diminish the legal, moral, and personal chaos of",p:28,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"people surrounded by a reality of hideous contradictions in natural",p:28,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and unanswered questions about truth, reality , right, and wrong.",p:28,x:104,y:493,w:432,h:15},
{t:"The central mystery Scripture speaks of concerns the ",p:28,x:134,y:518,w:354,h:15},
{t:"how and ",p:28,x:498,y:518,w:59,h:15},
{t:"when of the fulfillment of this promise, which is clearly stated and ",p:28,x:104,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"repeatedly con firmed through the whole Bible. The rest of the mys-",p:28,x:104,y:566,w:446,h:15},
{t:"tery of the promise is explained in enough detail to leave no room",p:28,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"for confusion. The question of whether God had caused suf",p:28,x:104,y:615,w:402,h:15},
{t:"fering ",p:28,x:514,y:615,w:44,h:15},
{t:"and injustice would be clearly addressed, demonstrating that sin ",p:28,x:104,y:639,w:445,h:15},
{t:"and the resulting evil were creations of the creature, not of God. ",p:28,x:104,y:664,w:444,h:15},
{t:"God had no hand in them. Adam and Eve created a new situation ",p:28,x:104,y:688,w:448,h:15},
{t:"by their choice to question God’ s truth. They stupidly believed in ",p:28,x:104,y:712,w:450,h:15},
{t:"the serpent’s impossible promise that they , created beings, would ",p:28,x:104,y:737,w:451,h:15},
{t:"be like the eternal God. ",p:28,x:104,y:761,w:160,h:15},
{t:"In Greek religions, “mysteries” described secret rites into ",p:28,x:134,y:785,w:418,h:15},
{t:"which people were solemnly initiated. The word implies a select ",p:28,x:104,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"insight purposefully hidden from others to express exclusivity",p:28,x:104,y:834,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:28,x:550,y:834,w:11,h:15},
{t:"The Gnostic philosophers spoke frequently of mysteries, private",p:28,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"insights about the divine way to escape the prison of the material",p:28,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   23",p:28,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:28,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:29,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:29,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:29,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:29,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"world, including the human body . The Church went to great ef fort ",p:29,x:105,y:104,w:454,h:15},
{t:"to distance the insight of the Bible from such a focus on personal",p:29,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"directives, mysterious knowledge, and “other” goals. Jesus does",p:29,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not exist in the heart of people, in their inner conviction, or in their",p:29,x:105,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"emotions. He existed for us ",p:29,x:105,y:201,w:195,h:15},
{t:"fi rst on earth (“For in Christ all the ",p:29,x:305,y:201,w:255,h:15},
{t:"fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” Colossians 2:9) and then ",p:29,x:105,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"after the resurrection and ascension on the right hand of the Father",p:29,x:105,y:250,w:438,h:15},
{t:"in heaven (“Jesus Christ . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms",p:29,x:105,y:274,w:438,h:15},
{t:"with every spiritual blessing in Christ” Ephesians 1:3).",p:29,x:105,y:299,w:364,h:15},
{t:"In stark contrast to mystery religion, the Bible does not know",p:29,x:135,y:323,w:409,h:15},
{t:"secret rites. All things are out in the open. All ritual is explained ",p:29,x:105,y:347,w:451,h:15},
{t:"and given a broader historic and intellectual context. ",p:29,x:105,y:372,w:356,h:15},
{t:"The word of ",p:29,x:471,y:372,w:89,h:15},
{t:"God is given to declare truth and reality to the whole world. ",p:29,x:105,y:396,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:29,x:529,y:396,w:31,h:15},
{t:"mind is addressed and sharpened by it to make any confusion with ",p:29,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"imagined gods and lifestyles obviously foolish. ",p:29,x:105,y:445,w:318,h:15},
{t:"In the Bible “mystery” refers to details not yet known, things",p:29,x:135,y:469,w:409,h:15},
{t:"which will be revealed later in order to complete what is now",p:29,x:105,y:493,w:440,h:15},
{t:"known in part. Salvation contains no mystery about ",p:29,x:105,y:518,w:344,h:15},
{t:"what God will ",p:29,x:459,y:518,w:100,h:15},
{t:"do, but about how and when. Mystery does not relate to God’ s at-",p:29,x:105,y:542,w:449,h:15},
{t:"titude towards people or his actions on their behalf. ",p:29,x:105,y:566,w:354,h:15},
{t:"The mystery ",p:29,x:469,y:566,w:89,h:15},
{t:"component concerns the question of how it will all work out even-",p:29,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tually before human eyes. ",p:29,x:105,y:615,w:176,h:15},
{t:"The book of Job in the Old Testament sheds much light on the",p:29,x:135,y:639,w:414,h:15},
{t:"fundamental questions about God’ s absence, his justice, the kind ",p:29,x:105,y:664,w:450,h:15},
{t:"of world we live in, and what can be done about it. In Job we ",p:29,x:105,y:688,w:413,h:15},
{t:"fi nd ",p:29,x:529,y:688,w:30,h:15},
{t:"encouragement to ask dif fi cult questions. They are in many ways ",p:29,x:105,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the core of why our contemporaries reject Christianity in favor of",p:29,x:105,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"religions, with all the damage they cause in soul, spirit, and cul-",p:29,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ture. Job and his story shall form the touchstone for much of our",p:29,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"conversation on the character of God in these pages. ",p:29,x:105,y:810,w:352,h:15},
{t:"Job is rewarded for his refusal to accept his friends’",p:29,x:135,y:834,w:357,h:15},
{t:" advice. ",p:29,x:501,y:834,w:58,h:15},
{t:"They are wrong to believe that our lives are fair now",p:29,x:105,y:858,w:346,h:15},
{t:". Job’s experi-",p:29,x:460,y:858,w:94,h:15},
{t:"ences are tragic. He suf fers the consequences of a heavenly battle",p:29,x:105,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   24",p:29,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:29,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:30,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:30,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:30,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:30,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:30,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:30,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"through no fault of his own. He has done no wrong to deserve what ",p:30,x:104,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"he experiences. He demands that God show himself and explain the ",p:30,x:104,y:128,w:452,h:15},
{t:"unfairness of all his suf fering and loss of family . And God does. It ",p:30,x:104,y:153,w:454,h:15},
{t:"is important to realize that God is no contemporary Christian in his",p:30,x:104,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"response! Job is told neither to accept a mystery",p:30,x:104,y:201,w:322,h:15},
{t:", nor that because ",p:30,x:434,y:201,w:124,h:15},
{t:"he is a sinner he deserves death and should be glad that he at least",p:30,x:104,y:226,w:438,h:15},
{t:"is still alive when his children are already dead. ",p:30,x:104,y:250,w:321,h:15},
{t:"Instead, Job is honored in several ways. God does eventually ",p:30,x:134,y:274,w:414,h:15},
{t:"show up; he judges Job’s friends in their foolishly simplistic as-",p:30,x:104,y:299,w:442,h:15},
{t:"sumptions about reality being fair . Is it not true that “under the ",p:30,x:104,y:323,w:456,h:15},
{t:"sun” (as Solomon describes the span of our ",p:30,x:104,y:347,w:314,h:15},
{t:"birth and death in ",p:30,x:426,y:347,w:132,h:15},
{t:"Ecclesiastes) “all is vanity?” There is no resolution now , no justice ",p:30,x:104,y:372,w:453,h:15},
{t:"unless it includes what follows after death: the balancing of the",p:30,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"books and the resurrection.",p:30,x:104,y:420,w:180,h:15},
{t:"God also points out to Job that reality is more complex than ",p:30,x:134,y:445,w:415,h:15},
{t:"meets the eye. As “omniscient readers” of Job we know why: we",p:30,x:104,y:469,w:442,h:15},
{t:"have the book’s prelude, in which the accusation and challenge",p:30,x:104,y:493,w:442,h:15},
{t:"from Satan against Job and any believer is disclosed. ",p:30,x:104,y:518,w:361,h:15},
{t:"A curtain is ",p:30,x:474,y:518,w:84,h:15},
{t:"opened on a second “stage” above that of visible history disclos-",p:30,x:104,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing a war for a while between God and the rebellious and accusing ",p:30,x:104,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"angel who wanted to be like God. This fallen angel is the accuser",p:30,x:104,y:591,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of the brethren who seeks to devour some. But there is no mystery ",p:30,x:104,y:615,w:452,h:15},
{t:"about what God will do. Job was right to have that con",p:30,x:104,y:639,w:387,h:15},
{t:"fi dence. ",p:30,x:501,y:639,w:56,h:15},
{t:"His knowledge was only limited to the when and how",p:30,x:104,y:664,w:359,h:15},
{t:", which God ",p:30,x:471,y:664,w:86,h:15},
{t:"points out by reminding Job that this heavenly battle is very seri-",p:30,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ous and of long duration. Reality has become extremely complex ",p:30,x:104,y:712,w:444,h:15},
{t:"ever since the fall of both angels and humanity af",p:30,x:104,y:737,w:344,h:15},
{t:"fected all cre-",p:30,x:457,y:737,w:95,h:15},
{t:"ation, but that does not make it at all confusing to God.",p:30,x:104,y:761,w:367,h:15},
{t:"First Corinthians 15:51 talks about the “mystery” that we shall",p:30,x:134,y:785,w:409,h:15},
{t:"not all sleep, but we shall all be changed at the coming of Christ. ",p:30,x:104,y:810,w:443,h:15},
{t:"In 1 Corinthians 2:1 Paul says that he did not come to Corinth ",p:30,x:104,y:834,w:455,h:15},
{t:"with eloquent speech or what the Greeks understood to be wisdom ",p:30,x:104,y:858,w:453,h:15},
{t:"when he proclaimed the mystery of God. Here Paul distinguishes",p:30,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   25",p:30,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:30,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:31,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:31,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:31,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:31,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God’s available knowledge from that of Greek mystery religions. ",p:31,x:105,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"The latter was open to a select few who passed the muster of phi-",p:31,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"losophers whose authority rested on their ",p:31,x:105,y:153,w:279,h:15},
{t:"fine speech, high ideals, ",p:31,x:391,y:153,w:164,h:15},
{t:"and contemplation of beauty . The former is revealed to everyone, ",p:31,x:105,y:177,w:449,h:15},
{t:"for God’s Spirit knows the mind of God and has revealed it to us",p:31,x:105,y:201,w:440,h:15},
{t:"(1 Corinthians 2:6f f). ",p:31,x:105,y:226,w:149,h:15},
{t:"The “mystery of faith” mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:9 refers to ",p:31,x:135,y:250,w:422,h:15},
{t:"precisely the details of what we believe for good reasons, af",p:31,x:105,y:274,w:398,h:15},
{t:"fi rma-",p:31,x:514,y:274,w:40,h:15},
{t:"tions which should be held con",p:31,x:105,y:299,w:217,h:15},
{t:"fi dently by elders of the church. ",p:31,x:328,y:299,w:233,h:15},
{t:"They should not hide this mystery but be apt to teach it because",p:31,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"they are convinced of it after critical discernment. Otherwise, why ",p:31,x:105,y:347,w:442,h:15},
{t:"would honest people teach it in good conscience?",p:31,x:105,y:372,w:330,h:15},
{t:"Ephesians addresses the desire to declare the mystery of the",p:31,x:135,y:396,w:410,h:15},
{t:"gospel with boldness (6:19). Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ",p:31,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"having been revealed (3:3–4), so that he and the recipients of his",p:31,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"letter could understand it. In the ",p:31,x:105,y:469,w:218,h:15},
{t:"first chapter he speaks of the fact",p:31,x:329,y:469,w:220,h:15},
{t:"that the mystery of God’s will has been made known in Christ’ s ",p:31,x:105,y:493,w:455,h:15},
{t:"coming, work, and purpose (v . 9). In Christ, he says, we have ev-",p:31,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"ery spiritual blessing already in heavenly places (v",p:31,x:105,y:542,w:346,h:15},
{t:". 3). In Christ ",p:31,x:460,y:542,w:101,h:15},
{t:"we are chosen (v. 4) and adopted (v. 5). In and through him God ",p:31,x:105,y:566,w:450,h:15},
{t:"has lavished his grace on us (v . 6). In Christ we have redemption ",p:31,x:105,y:591,w:449,h:15},
{t:"and forgiveness (v. 7). This is the “mystery” now made known to ",p:31,x:105,y:615,w:448,h:15},
{t:"Jew and Gentile in the fullness of time, when God summed up all",p:31,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things in Christ (v. 10).",p:31,x:105,y:664,w:157,h:15},
{t:"Colossians, a letter to a church that was very much exposed ",p:31,x:135,y:688,w:423,h:15},
{t:"to Gnostic mystery ideas, has Paul again explain that the mystery ",p:31,x:105,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"is related to the person of Christ. He asks God “to ",p:31,x:105,y:737,w:336,h:15},
{t:"fill [the people] ",p:31,x:450,y:737,w:109,h:15},
{t:"with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and ",p:31,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"understanding” so that they may please God in every way, bear-",p:31,x:105,y:785,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ing fruit in every good work. The fi rst two chapters are dedicated ",p:31,x:105,y:810,w:449,h:15},
{t:"to the reality that whatever mystery there is has now been made",p:31,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"manifest in public, “disclosed to the saints” (1:26).",p:31,x:105,y:858,w:338,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   26",p:31,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:31,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:32,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:32,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:32,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:32,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:32,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:32,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"This is the tenor of Scripture’ s treatment of “mystery .” Peter ",p:32,x:134,y:104,w:425,h:15},
{t:"speaks of it in terms of the prophets before Christ seeking and ",p:32,x:104,y:128,w:446,h:15},
{t:"searching the promised salvation diligently , when they prophesied ",p:32,x:104,y:153,w:450,h:15},
{t:"of the grace that would come to Peter",p:32,x:104,y:177,w:258,h:15},
{t:"’s audience and those who ",p:32,x:370,y:177,w:186,h:15},
{t:"would read his letter in generations to come: “Concerning this sal-",p:32,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"vation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to ",p:32,x:104,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to ",p:32,x:104,y:250,w:387,h:15},
{t:"find out ",p:32,x:502,y:250,w:56,h:15},
{t:"the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them",p:32,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the ",p:32,x:104,y:299,w:455,h:15},
{t:"glories that would follow .” (1 Peter 1:10–11).",p:32,x:104,y:323,w:310,h:15},
{t:"Mystery, then, is not what some people think in secret, even ",p:32,x:134,y:347,w:416,h:15},
{t:"though they cannot know, think, or understand it. Neither does it",p:32,x:104,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"relate to something about a far -off place, cut off from material ",p:32,x:104,y:396,w:456,h:15},
{t:"reality, the mind, or moral and intellectual categories. ",p:32,x:104,y:420,w:370,h:15},
{t:"According ",p:32,x:483,y:420,w:75,h:15},
{t:"to the Bible, mystery is something quite speci",p:32,x:104,y:445,w:315,h:15},
{t:"fi c of which fuller ",p:32,x:427,y:445,w:132,h:15},
{t:"understanding is a matter of time, not relegated to feeling or make-",p:32,x:104,y:469,w:438,h:15},
{t:"believe. We shall see in Scripture that the reason why a person ",p:32,x:104,y:493,w:447,h:15},
{t:"believes in God or his Christ is not a mystery",p:32,x:104,y:518,w:299,h:15},
{t:". There is no mystery ",p:32,x:411,y:518,w:144,h:15},
{t:"either, nor mere subjectivity in the soul of a person, about God’",p:32,x:104,y:542,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:32,x:548,y:542,w:11,h:15},
{t:"word and work. Knowing God has something to do with a deci-",p:32,x:104,y:566,w:440,h:15},
{t:"sion to recognize and acknowledge the Lordship of the Creator",p:32,x:104,y:591,w:412,h:15},
{t:", the ",p:32,x:526,y:591,w:31,h:15},
{t:"redeemer and restorer God.",p:32,x:104,y:615,w:182,h:15},
{t:"Many today seem to like their mysteries, much in the same",p:32,x:134,y:639,w:410,h:15},
{t:"way people in the past liked to see God behind all events. Like",p:32,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"constantly changing fad diets and guidelines for eating, mysteries",p:32,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sound very much like neighbors of common gossip and conspiracy ",p:32,x:104,y:712,w:451,h:15},
{t:"theories. Many instances of personal guidance, private readings of",p:32,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Scripture, and spiritual gift inventories reveal a pleasure in person-",p:32,x:104,y:761,w:438,h:15},
{t:"al mysteries and meanings. The reference to “God” in relation to ",p:32,x:104,y:785,w:449,h:15},
{t:"mystery seems useful and pious, but it does not compass a genuine ",p:32,x:104,y:810,w:453,h:15},
{t:"desire to know and realize. Instead it fosters a persistent ignorance",p:32,x:104,y:834,w:438,h:15},
{t:"of what is factual, coherent, and true in light of how God’",p:32,x:104,y:858,w:394,h:15},
{t:"s word ",p:32,x:508,y:858,w:50,h:15},
{t:"relates to the evidence of life. ",p:32,x:104,y:883,w:201,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   27",p:32,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:32,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:33,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:33,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:33,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:33,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Natur e Remains Silent ",p:33,x:105,y:104,w:194,h:19},
{t:"An appeal to “mystery” also opens the door for suggesting ",p:33,x:135,y:147,w:424,h:15},
{t:"that the natural world is always tied to some hidden moral purpose",p:33,x:105,y:172,w:439,h:15},
{t:"through God’s immediate intervention. In this paradigm, natural",p:33,x:105,y:196,w:441,h:15},
{t:"disasters, illness, and unjust governments are all  attributed to the",p:33,x:105,y:220,w:438,h:15},
{t:"hand of God. Some take Scripture’ s affi rmation that God sustains ",p:33,x:105,y:245,w:454,h:15},
{t:"all things by the word of his power (see Hebrews 1:3) to mean that",p:33,x:105,y:269,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no apple falls off the tree until God withholds his word to keep it",p:33,x:105,y:293,w:441,h:15},
{t:"there. They seek a reasonable and powerful explanation behind all",p:33,x:105,y:318,w:440,h:15},
{t:"events and thus credit God as the mover behind all events. Greeks",p:33,x:105,y:342,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and other pagan societies see such an “animus” or mind behind ",p:33,x:105,y:366,w:446,h:15},
{t:"all natural events. This animistic belief at times refers to a moral",p:33,x:105,y:391,w:442,h:15},
{t:"will and other times the mere power behind events. ",p:33,x:105,y:415,w:353,h:15},
{t:"Through this ",p:33,x:467,y:415,w:93,h:15},
{t:"perception events like personal injuries or fortunes could be ex-",p:33,x:105,y:439,w:439,h:15},
{t:"plained, as well as natural phenomena, such as an earthquake or a",p:33,x:105,y:464,w:439,h:15},
{t:"river coming from a source in the side of a hill. ",p:33,x:105,y:488,w:326,h:15},
{t:"Thunder was but ",p:33,x:439,y:488,w:120,h:15},
{t:"the gods bowling, illness the working of an evil spell or a moody ",p:33,x:105,y:512,w:444,h:15},
{t:"deity. “Let the water run, it wants to live in Mombassa,” says the",p:33,x:105,y:537,w:439,h:15},
{t:"African foreman in the film version of Out of Africa when the dam ",p:33,x:105,y:561,w:453,h:15},
{t:"is too low to retain the flood. Such an articulation is widely held in ",p:33,x:105,y:585,w:446,h:15},
{t:"many cultures; to me, this is understandable. Nonetheless, I think ",p:33,x:105,y:610,w:443,h:15},
{t:"there are two flaws in this way of thinking and speaking. ",p:33,x:105,y:634,w:383,h:15},
{t:"First, it fails to see that the “powerful word” referred to in the",p:33,x:135,y:658,w:409,h:15},
{t:"Bible is the “God spoke and it was” of creation, by which apple",p:33,x:105,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"trees were made to produce only apples each year",p:33,x:105,y:707,w:329,h:15},
{t:", not monkeys or ",p:33,x:442,y:707,w:117,h:15},
{t:"marshmallows. God designed and de",p:33,x:105,y:731,w:245,h:15},
{t:"fined it this way. This is what ",p:33,x:356,y:731,w:203,h:15},
{t:"Christians mean when they say that God ordains everything that",p:33,x:105,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"comes to pass. His is a coherent and rational universe where cause",p:33,x:105,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and effect function and are not subject to odd turns and freak or",p:33,x:105,y:804,w:440,h:15},
{t:"random events. We shall see that this even relates to the grace of",p:33,x:105,y:829,w:441,h:15},
{t:"God, which is not a matter of seemingly arbitrary choices. ",p:33,x:105,y:853,w:391,h:15},
{t:"Second, to see God behind all events seems to do justice to ",p:33,x:135,y:877,w:416,h:15},
{t:"God’s power, but it violates God’s moral character each time. ",p:33,x:105,y:902,w:453,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   28",p:33,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:33,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:34,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:34,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:34,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:34,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:34,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:34,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"When God is behind all things he is not only the ",p:34,x:104,y:104,w:324,h:15},
{t:"deus ex machina , ",p:34,x:437,y:104,w:121,h:15},
{t:"but also the reason and source of both good and evil, making him",p:34,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"either wicked or incomprehensible. In such a world, the values of",p:34,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"“good” and “evil” have lost their real distinctiveness. Reality is",p:34,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"then, as in Hinduism, an illusion. Events only seem to be good or",p:34,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"evil. In reality they are blank.",p:34,x:104,y:226,w:196,h:15},
{t:"The deus ex machina of the past was gradually replaced by ",p:34,x:134,y:250,w:419,h:15},
{t:"greater insight and scienti fi c discoveries, fueling mandates to di-",p:34,x:104,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"minish pain, evil, and suf fering. These were not expressions of ",p:34,x:104,y:299,w:456,h:15},
{t:"unbelief but of af firmation that we live in an ordered (or “lawful”)",p:34,x:104,y:323,w:442,h:15},
{t:"universe. Such encouragement to discover applicable insights for",p:34,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"human life is found only in the Jewish and Christian cultural tradi-",p:34,x:104,y:372,w:438,h:15},
{t:"tions. It laid the intellectual foundation for that kind of consistent",p:34,x:104,y:396,w:438,h:15},
{t:"and steady inquiry. The Bible encouraged people to believe that",p:34,x:104,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God had made a real universe “upheld by the word of his power.” ",p:34,x:104,y:445,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Jews and Christians became culturally innovative, unlike fatalistic",p:34,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Muslims, or Buddhists in perpetual search of detachment. ",p:34,x:104,y:493,w:399,h:15},
{t:"Those ",p:34,x:513,y:493,w:46,h:15},
{t:"standing in the Judeo-Christian lineage are not materialists with ",p:34,x:104,y:518,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the concurrent denial of real signifi cance. Neither are they like ",p:34,x:104,y:542,w:456,h:15},
{t:"African animists, always afraid to unbalance the occult workings",p:34,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of hidden spirits in all parts of nature.",p:34,x:104,y:591,w:250,h:15},
{t:"With all our involvement with nature and the discoveries of ",p:34,x:134,y:615,w:425,h:15},
{t:"how it worked, Jews and Christians did not believe that God was",p:34,x:104,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"acting in all events of a tragic, painful, and problematic world and ",p:34,x:104,y:664,w:442,h:15},
{t:"its history. They did not function from a perspective of inevitable",p:34,x:104,y:688,w:441,h:15},
{t:"fate or an all-pervasive fairness, or of a puppeteer God. When they ",p:34,x:104,y:712,w:453,h:15},
{t:"acted or interfered with what normally happens in the real world, ",p:34,x:104,y:737,w:444,h:15},
{t:"they were not rebelling against God’ s plan for the world. They ",p:34,x:104,y:761,w:456,h:15},
{t:"acted in reality, as God himself also does, to ",p:34,x:104,y:785,w:312,h:15},
{t:"fl esh out the words ",p:34,x:421,y:785,w:138,h:15},
{t:"of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy will be done on earth (where it is not",p:34,x:104,y:810,w:441,h:15},
{t:"fully accomplished yet), as it is already being done in heaven.”",p:34,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"They understood the moral mandate as well and sought to create",p:34,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a better order than what nature, including human nature, provided ",p:34,x:104,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   29",p:34,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:34,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:35,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:35,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:35,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:35,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"after the Fall. Adam was told to work against thorns and thistles, to ",p:35,x:105,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"have babies, to love his wife and to improve on what had become",p:35,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a fallen world. Believers saw themselves in that line of thought, ",p:35,x:105,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"judging the world of reality from the standards of the Word about ",p:35,x:105,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"reality, that Word which was before the beginning and then took on ",p:35,x:105,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"flesh to dwell amongst us. ",p:35,x:105,y:226,w:177,h:15},
{t:"The moral silence of nature was overcome with the language",p:35,x:135,y:250,w:410,h:15},
{t:"of purpose, life, and a hope well explained in Scripture. Nature, ",p:35,x:105,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"including human nature, was to be transformed into a holy cul-",p:35,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ture. It is anchored in the realization that the eternal ",p:35,x:105,y:323,w:349,h:15},
{t:"Word, who is ",p:35,x:464,y:323,w:95,h:15},
{t:"God and was with God, came into the world and dwelled among ",p:35,x:105,y:347,w:445,h:15},
{t:"us (John 1:1). Our culture is built on this ",p:35,x:105,y:372,w:296,h:15},
{t:"Word, while religion ",p:35,x:409,y:372,w:149,h:15},
{t:"finally maintains a moral indif ference. Buddhism and her children ",p:35,x:105,y:396,w:448,h:15},
{t:"teach that silence is a more ",p:35,x:105,y:420,w:183,h:15},
{t:"fitting description of reality . Islam and ",p:35,x:294,y:420,w:263,h:15},
{t:"Marxism use many words and speak, like propaganda, of divine or",p:35,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"scientifi c rules for the world. Yet both produce in ef fect a silence ",p:35,x:105,y:469,w:455,h:15},
{t:"through words merely repeated collectively and by rote without",p:35,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"comprehension and real meaning, without heart and soul.",p:35,x:105,y:518,w:381,h:15},
{t:"Our generation fails in our task to carry on the banner of our",p:35,x:135,y:542,w:409,h:15},
{t:"biblical heritage whenever we appeal to “mystery” where things",p:35,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are in fact explained. We also fail when we succumb to the no-",p:35,x:105,y:591,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tion that God’s sovereignty is a form of control that leaves people",p:35,x:105,y:615,w:441,h:15},
{t:"hanging at the end of the wires of a master puppeteer",p:35,x:105,y:639,w:374,h:15},
{t:". There is ",p:35,x:487,y:639,w:74,h:15},
{t:"something blind and immoral when responsibility is given to and ",p:35,x:105,y:664,w:444,h:15},
{t:"required from a puppet whose life a sovereign puppeteer controls. ",p:35,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"This is not a case of “mystery ,” but of immorality . ",p:35,x:105,y:712,w:345,h:15},
{t:"Our interest in this whole question is not a matter of friend-",p:35,x:135,y:737,w:409,h:15},
{t:"ly discussions among the retired idle. Holding onto the ",p:35,x:105,y:761,w:388,h:15},
{t:"deus ex ",p:35,x:503,y:761,w:58,h:15},
{t:"machina suggestion, that whatever has no other explanation must",p:35,x:105,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"be from God, exposed a nakedness concerning facts of many nine-",p:35,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"teenth century Christians. Their faith served them very poorly . ",p:35,x:105,y:834,w:457,h:15},
{t:"Science in the form of a more careful study and observation—not",p:35,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"faith—improved our hygiene, productivity , and life expectancy. ",p:35,x:105,y:883,w:456,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   30",p:35,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:35,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:36,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:36,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:36,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:36,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:36,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:36,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Similarly, “you will achieve what you believe” is a modern mo-",p:36,x:104,y:104,w:441,h:15},
{t:"tivational marketing slogan. By itself it does not accomplish any-",p:36,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"thing, and if you act upon it you may well neglect the good and ",p:36,x:104,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"create evil. Faith does not create a new reality any more than belief",p:36,x:104,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"in a fl at earth makes it fl at. Situations in the real world require",p:36,x:104,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"effort, creativity, a choice of priorities and skill in the context of",p:36,x:104,y:226,w:441,h:15},
{t:"moral evaluation. Scripture does not inform any faith that does not",p:36,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"interact with the real world. ",p:36,x:104,y:274,w:188,h:15},
{t:"Christianity has exposed an intellectual nakedness by believ-",p:36,x:134,y:299,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ing something the Bible does not teach: all reality is a manifesta-",p:36,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tion of God’s character, and the hand of God can be seen in all",p:36,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"events. As we will see by contrast, the Bible informs us of a break ",p:36,x:104,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"between the mind of God and the ongoing reality of our experi-",p:36,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ences. Faith in an ex machina God does not overcome real evil, ",p:36,x:104,y:420,w:450,h:15},
{t:"but denies its existence in what is believed to be “God’",p:36,x:104,y:445,w:378,h:15},
{t:"s world.” ",p:36,x:491,y:445,w:68,h:15},
{t:"Many Christians believe in their faith but do not really believe the",p:36,x:104,y:469,w:438,h:15},
{t:"God who speaks in the Bible about the fragility of life in a broken ",p:36,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"creation.",p:36,x:104,y:518,w:57,h:15},
{t:"After the tumultuous events of the twentieth century and the",p:36,x:134,y:542,w:410,h:15},
{t:"beginning of the twenty- fi rst, Christians are again foolish when ",p:36,x:104,y:566,w:450,h:15},
{t:"they conclude that God was not only present during its inhuman-",p:36,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ities, but in charge of them. A God who ordains the cruelty of what",p:36,x:104,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"one neighbor does to another in the name of progressively-intended ",p:36,x:104,y:639,w:442,h:15},
{t:"ideologies must be fought or buried. God cannot be an accomplice",p:36,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to the ends-justify-the-means creeds and manifestos of men. ",p:36,x:104,y:688,w:400,h:15},
{t:"When ",p:36,x:514,y:688,w:43,h:15},
{t:"God’s sovereignty is indentured to justify all reality",p:36,x:104,y:712,w:360,h:15},
{t:", we cannot ",p:36,x:472,y:712,w:88,h:15},
{t:"possibly place history into the seat of the accused. In this kind of",p:36,x:104,y:737,w:438,h:15},
{t:"world, Nietzsche and his of fspring are the only moral folks left. ",p:36,x:104,y:761,w:449,h:15},
{t:"They will go down as well but with their ",p:36,x:104,y:785,w:275,h:15},
{t:"fl ag fl ying.",p:36,x:386,y:785,w:72,h:15},
{t:"The God Who is Good",p:36,x:104,y:834,w:182,h:19},
{t:"Much of Christianity’s contemporary rejection is grounded on ",p:36,x:134,y:877,w:417,h:15},
{t:"these two unbiblical and therefore rather foolish and unnecessary ",p:36,x:104,y:902,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   31",p:36,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:36,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:37,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:37,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:37,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:37,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"stands: the fi rst is a make-believe faith that is never put on the",p:37,x:105,y:104,w:441,h:15},
{t:"examining table where creation and history are dissected with the",p:37,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tools provided by Scripture. The second is a failure to acknowl-",p:37,x:105,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"edge God’s declared war against evil through his acts into and ",p:37,x:105,y:177,w:448,h:15},
{t:"against human history .",p:37,x:105,y:201,w:153,h:15},
{t:"Bertrand Russell’s objections to Christian faith never dealt",p:37,x:135,y:226,w:413,h:15},
{t:"with all the jewels of the Bible’ s teaching. He picked and chose ",p:37,x:105,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"what he wanted to deal with, perhaps all his church ever gave him",p:37,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to think about. His understanding of Christianity was truncated ",p:37,x:105,y:299,w:446,h:15},
{t:"but is what Christians often say and seem ",p:37,x:105,y:323,w:281,h:15},
{t:"to be satisfied with. His ",p:37,x:394,y:323,w:165,h:15},
{t:"response to that kind of Christianity is more honest than that of",p:37,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"many Christians. ",p:37,x:105,y:372,w:117,h:15},
{t:"But there are more jewels in the crown of the biblical God and ",p:37,x:135,y:396,w:423,h:15},
{t:"King. If the first jewel is the existence of a good and almighty God, ",p:37,x:105,y:420,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the second is the information of a historic break with goodness",p:37,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"through the fall of Adam and Eve. ",p:37,x:105,y:469,w:234,h:15},
{t:"The record of this tragic break is of central importance and ",p:37,x:135,y:493,w:425,h:15},
{t:"a distinguishing mark of the Bible, found nowhere else in phi-",p:37,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"losophy or religion. There is a distance between what was at cre-",p:37,x:105,y:542,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ation and for some time afterwards, and what is reality as we’ve ",p:37,x:105,y:566,w:455,h:15},
{t:"known it ever since humanity’ s fall. God is good and almighty ",p:37,x:105,y:591,w:451,h:15},
{t:"and not the author of evil. His sovereignty is not a control or ap-",p:37,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"proval of all events. Only with these two jewels does the third, the",p:37,x:105,y:639,w:438,h:15},
{t:"work of Christ, become the glorious one in a long row of others. ",p:37,x:105,y:664,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Without the fi rst two we know nothing about a moral and good ",p:37,x:105,y:688,w:448,h:15},
{t:"God. Without the historic fall there is no good God; without God ",p:37,x:105,y:712,w:445,h:15},
{t:"being good, there is no moral compass whatsoever",p:37,x:105,y:737,w:336,h:15},
{t:". ",p:37,x:449,y:737,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Many Christians readily speak of their personal relationship ",p:37,x:135,y:761,w:415,h:15},
{t:"with the Savior, Jesus Christ. They read the New Testament with ",p:37,x:105,y:785,w:453,h:15},
{t:"reverence and the Old with eyes searching for prophesies of sal-",p:37,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"vation to heaven and social programs for earth. But this type of",p:37,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"reading does not honestly deal with the text, for the text starts with ",p:37,x:105,y:858,w:453,h:15},
{t:"God, then a good creation, then a real fall by choice, before it ever",p:37,x:105,y:883,w:438,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   32",p:37,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:37,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The G",p:38,x:236,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od W",p:38,x:292,y:57,w:37,h:14},
{t:"ho Re",p:38,x:340,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"ve al s G",p:38,x:395,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"od 's Self",p:38,x:470,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"",p:38,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"gets to the rest. And in those opening chapters the stage is set for",p:38,x:104,y:104,w:441,h:15},
{t:"all that follows with its tragic choices and gracious battles for the",p:38,x:104,y:128,w:438,h:15},
{t:"crown of God’s creation: humankind, male and female in the im-",p:38,x:104,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"age of God.",p:38,x:104,y:177,w:78,h:15},
{t:"But if God planned it all and sovereignly executed what took ",p:38,x:134,y:201,w:414,h:15},
{t:"place at the Fall, God would need a savior or we would only be",p:38,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"victims of his moves. What does it matter whether I have a per",p:38,x:104,y:250,w:438,h:15},
{t:"-",p:38,x:549,y:250,w:5,h:15},
{t:"sonal relationship with Jesus if it remains unsettled whether God is",p:38,x:104,y:274,w:438,h:15},
{t:"at fault? Who would want to spend an eternity with a God whose ",p:38,x:104,y:299,w:454,h:15},
{t:"sovereign plan was to orchestrate a monstrous history?",p:38,x:104,y:323,w:365,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   33",p:38,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:38,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:39,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER TWO",p:39,x:273,y:239,w:104,h:15},
{t:"A J UST G OD I N A N ",p:39,x:191,y:284,w:282,h:25},
{t:"UNJUS T WO RLD",p:39,x:210,y:321,w:231,h:25},
{t:"The Surprise of a Just God",p:39,x:104,y:437,w:223,h:19},
{t:"One of the pleasures of visiting Europe is the exposure to his-",p:39,x:134,y:481,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tory. People have lived here and left their marks all over the place. ",p:39,x:104,y:505,w:443,h:15},
{t:"They believed that reality needs order , forests need light, and life",p:39,x:104,y:529,w:445,h:15},
{t:"needs greater protection against death. When they did die, they ",p:39,x:104,y:554,w:452,h:15},
{t:"left their graves marked, their poetry in the hands of another gen-",p:39,x:104,y:578,w:439,h:15},
{t:"eration, and their paintings on the walls of caves and then muse-",p:39,x:104,y:602,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ums. They passed knowledge to others in texts, buildings, laws, ",p:39,x:104,y:627,w:446,h:15},
{t:"and landscapes, for they understood themselves to be more than ",p:39,x:104,y:651,w:455,h:15},
{t:"a wave of humanity or part of the natural ebb and ",p:39,x:104,y:675,w:341,h:15},
{t:"fl ow of things. ",p:39,x:454,y:675,w:103,h:15},
{t:"They built roads and cities, harbors and places of re",p:39,x:104,y:700,w:359,h:15},
{t:"fl ection and ",p:39,x:473,y:700,w:85,h:15},
{t:"religion.",p:39,x:104,y:724,w:56,h:15},
{t:"They did not see themselves as insigni",p:39,x:134,y:748,w:259,h:15},
{t:"fi cant, ready to be for -",p:39,x:400,y:748,w:154,h:15},
{t:"gotten or to merge with the environment. They settled rather than ",p:39,x:104,y:773,w:454,h:15},
{t:"be pushed by circumstances. They built with stone against wind ",p:39,x:104,y:797,w:450,h:15},
{t:"and weather, rather than allowing their traces to be blown away ",p:39,x:104,y:821,w:447,h:15},
{t:"as in a nomadic culture. They left their imprint on the face of the",p:39,x:104,y:846,w:443,h:15},
{t:"earth. After human and natural catastrophes they started again with ",p:39,x:104,y:870,w:443,h:15},
{t:"what they had learned from mistakes. ",p:39,x:104,y:894,w:254,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   35",p:39,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:39,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:40,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:40,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:40,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:40,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"I like to take our students to Geneva to show them some of that",p:40,x:135,y:104,w:409,h:15},
{t:"history. Fabius Maximus in 112 B.C. conquered the Allobroges ",p:40,x:105,y:128,w:456,h:15},
{t:"where later Julius Caesar would do the same with the Helvetians",p:40,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in the narrow Rhone valley that slices through the Jura range of",p:40,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"mountains. Today it is better known as the place where John Calvin ",p:40,x:105,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"preached the Reformation in the sixteenth century",p:40,x:105,y:226,w:344,h:15},
{t:", after another ",p:40,x:456,y:226,w:104,h:15},
{t:"French jurist, William Farel, had told him that it was God’ s will ",p:40,x:105,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"for Calvin to take over. Henri Dunant founded the Red Cross there",p:40,x:105,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in the nineteenth century. In that tradition the League of Nations",p:40,x:105,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"there debated weakly about a safer world. Now various UN or",p:40,x:105,y:323,w:418,h:15},
{t:"ga-",p:40,x:534,y:323,w:21,h:15},
{t:"nizations continue to enjoy Geneva.",p:40,x:105,y:347,w:239,h:15},
{t:"Among other places of interest, we go to the Cathedral of St. ",p:40,x:135,y:372,w:414,h:15},
{t:"Pierre, where Calvin, the sixteenth-century theologian and minis-",p:40,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ter, preached three times each Sunday and once every other day ",p:40,x:105,y:420,w:446,h:15},
{t:"for the people of the town to hear the good news of God’",p:40,x:105,y:445,w:392,h:15},
{t:"s grace ",p:40,x:506,y:445,w:54,h:15},
{t:"in Christ Jesus. John Knox, father of Scottish and later ",p:40,x:105,y:469,w:374,h:15},
{t:"American ",p:40,x:488,y:469,w:70,h:15},
{t:"Presbyterianism, studied and preached there for a couple of years. ",p:40,x:105,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Dutch, Hungarians, Germans, and others came to learn what even-",p:40,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tually produced an amazing culture of faith, reason, and action. ",p:40,x:105,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"Calvin’s teaching and writing, together with that of a multitude of",p:40,x:105,y:566,w:440,h:15},
{t:"other reformers, brought back to people something much more bib-",p:40,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lical, humane, and accessible than they had had for generations.",p:40,x:105,y:615,w:424,h:15},
{t:"It is worth noting that from our present perspective we would ",p:40,x:135,y:639,w:425,h:15},
{t:"not see as “humane” the way people were constrained by law under ",p:40,x:105,y:664,w:454,h:15},
{t:"threat of punishment to hear this word. The pursuit of a public order ",p:40,x:105,y:688,w:453,h:15},
{t:"often went too far. (Even today Australians are punishable by fines if ",p:40,x:105,y:712,w:453,h:15},
{t:"they do not vote in elections.) But then the times were often chaotic, ",p:40,x:105,y:737,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and citizens of Geneva enjoyed other freedoms. Humane favor could",p:40,x:105,y:761,w:449,h:15},
{t:"be seen in teaching from the Bible about God caring for, loving, and ",p:40,x:105,y:785,w:453,h:15},
{t:"seeking the human being to instruct him about the fuller circumfer-",p:40,x:105,y:810,w:450,h:15},
{t:"ence of life and the certainty of salvation offered in Christ. ",p:40,x:105,y:834,w:394,h:15},
{t:"People in the pew heard of the love of God, of a purposeful",p:40,x:135,y:858,w:410,h:15},
{t:"human existence on earth, and of a free and gracious salvation ",p:40,x:105,y:883,w:446,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   36",p:40,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:23 PM",p:40,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:41,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:41,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:41,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:41,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:41,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"that God has worked for us in Jesus Christ. Farel used the Bible",p:41,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"as a textbook in schools around Aigle and later in Neuchâtel in ",p:41,x:104,y:128,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Switzerland. It would become, in its translations into the vernacu-",p:41,x:104,y:153,w:438,h:15},
{t:"lar, a textbook for all of life. In the Bible, people found a set of ",p:41,x:104,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"glasses that allowed them to see reality in its accurate form, its",p:41,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"real dimensions, to help them stumble about less than with the",p:41,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"glasses of paganism. With biblical glasses they were also able to ",p:41,x:104,y:250,w:448,h:15},
{t:"distinguish the tragic components that needed ",p:41,x:104,y:274,w:323,h:15},
{t:"to be diminished ",p:41,x:436,y:274,w:122,h:15},
{t:"through skill, dedication, responsibility, and effort across all hu-",p:41,x:104,y:299,w:449,h:15},
{t:"man disciplines.",p:41,x:104,y:323,w:108,h:15},
{t:"Freedom fr om Fatalism",p:41,x:104,y:371,w:203,h:19},
{t:"The teaching and narrative from the Bible relieved people",p:41,x:134,y:415,w:410,h:15},
{t:"from the pervasive fatalism that is assumed anywhere the God of",p:41,x:104,y:439,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the Bible is not known. Religions pass on what amounts to a way ",p:41,x:104,y:464,w:444,h:15},
{t:"to get lost, to enter the water without causing a ripple, thereby ",p:41,x:104,y:488,w:445,h:15},
{t:"diminishing the experience of pain. We should just fit into the fl ow ",p:41,x:104,y:512,w:454,h:15},
{t:"of the way things are! By contrast, the Bible tells us to stand up, ",p:41,x:104,y:537,w:444,h:15},
{t:"think and discover what our responsibilities are in the continuing ",p:41,x:104,y:561,w:444,h:15},
{t:"war against resignation and indif ference.",p:41,x:104,y:585,w:276,h:15},
{t:"Fatalism is not only the belief in fates behind the appearances",p:41,x:134,y:610,w:409,h:15},
{t:"of things. In a more general sense I use “fatalism” to describe the",p:41,x:104,y:634,w:439,h:15},
{t:"belief that our lives are controlled by something prior and out-",p:41,x:104,y:658,w:439,h:15},
{t:"side. Our actions are determined and are in fact reactions. ",p:41,x:104,y:683,w:392,h:15},
{t:"We are ",p:41,x:507,y:683,w:52,h:15},
{t:"not ever creators of a new reality . Reactions do not need to be ",p:41,x:104,y:707,w:456,h:15},
{t:"determined by someone speci fi c. The impersonal universe can ",p:41,x:104,y:731,w:453,h:15},
{t:"also be seen as a mighty mechanism where ener",p:41,x:104,y:756,w:323,h:15},
{t:"gy shoves energy ",p:41,x:435,y:756,w:123,h:15},
{t:"and nothing original or new ever happens. All religions I am fa-",p:41,x:104,y:780,w:446,h:15},
{t:"miliar with—whether transcendent or materialistic—teach such a",p:41,x:104,y:804,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fatalistic approach. We are to merge with something bigger than ",p:41,x:104,y:829,w:451,h:15},
{t:"ourselves, more powerful and eternal, mostly hidden, yet seen to ",p:41,x:104,y:853,w:444,h:15},
{t:"dictate whatever comes to pass. Freedom, responsibility",p:41,x:104,y:877,w:376,h:15},
{t:", and cre-",p:41,x:489,y:877,w:63,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   37",p:41,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:41,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:42,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:42,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:42,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:42,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"ativity are illusory. Each of us has a destiny that will inevitably ",p:42,x:105,y:104,w:448,h:15},
{t:"happen to us. ",p:42,x:105,y:128,w:92,h:15},
{t:"The repeated phrase in Didérot’ s Jacques Le Fatalist is “C’est ",p:42,x:135,y:153,w:423,h:15},
{t:"écrit en haut.” In Soviet Russia’ s materialism, the ener gy of the ",p:42,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"stars and the forces of history determined the reality of an indi-",p:42,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"vidual’s marriage, health, and death. Your fate or destiny is deter -",p:42,x:105,y:226,w:450,h:15},
{t:"mined, the outcome already fi xed. In reincarnation your present ",p:42,x:105,y:250,w:456,h:15},
{t:"life determines the next in the same way in which your present is",p:42,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"also the outworking of all previous lives. In East ",p:42,x:105,y:299,w:337,h:15},
{t:"Asian religions ",p:42,x:450,y:299,w:110,h:15},
{t:"the individual merges with the One, with the state of pure Being. ",p:42,x:105,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"The human being is but a leaf on the river of time. ",p:42,x:105,y:347,w:356,h:15},
{t:"A Zen Koan ",p:42,x:469,y:347,w:90,h:15},
{t:"says, “Man enters the water and causes no ripple.” In traditional",p:42,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"African religions, you accept and participate in the delicately bal-",p:42,x:105,y:396,w:438,h:15},
{t:"anced occult wheel of life and death. In modern Western culture, ",p:42,x:105,y:420,w:453,h:15},
{t:"your genes determine your personality",p:42,x:105,y:445,w:256,h:15},
{t:".",p:42,x:367,y:445,w:4,h:15},
{t:"This pervasive perspective has its advantages. Nothing is ever",p:42,x:135,y:469,w:409,h:15},
{t:"out of place; all events fi t into a seamless cloth, be it “history",p:42,x:105,y:493,w:432,h:15},
{t:",” ",p:42,x:544,y:493,w:17,h:15},
{t:"“the will of God,” or “scienti",p:42,x:105,y:518,w:193,h:15},
{t:"fic inevitability.” Whether this fate is ",p:42,x:303,y:518,w:256,h:15},
{t:"personal (as in Islam) or impersonal (as in materialism), formed ",p:42,x:105,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"by geography or by weather makes no dif ference. The total control ",p:42,x:105,y:566,w:453,h:15},
{t:"of a closed system is common to all these views. ",p:42,x:105,y:591,w:345,h:15},
{t:"Also common ",p:42,x:458,y:591,w:101,h:15},
{t:"is the dreadful consequence that you have died as a real person. ",p:42,x:105,y:615,w:445,h:15},
{t:"There is no “self,” no “I” or “me” of personhood. I understand ",p:42,x:105,y:639,w:446,h:15},
{t:"that Japanese children are raised to learn a language that avoids",p:42,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"personal pronouns.",p:42,x:105,y:688,w:126,h:15},
{t:"Buddhism is often held up as a peaceful religion, especially ",p:42,x:135,y:712,w:415,h:15},
{t:"where people in the more Christian cultures have grown tired of",p:42,x:105,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"moral obligations to interfere against evil and for good. ",p:42,x:105,y:761,w:366,h:15},
{t:"The choice ",p:42,x:481,y:761,w:77,h:15},
{t:"then is either to labor over what is good and just or to abandon ",p:42,x:105,y:785,w:445,h:15},
{t:"that responsibility outright. Buddhism is a religion leading to in-",p:42,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"difference, not peace. It teaches individual spiritual detachment",p:42,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and discoveries on the path towards enlightenment that care little",p:42,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"about a broken, suffering world. It avoids discovery of con",p:42,x:105,y:883,w:410,h:15},
{t:"fl icts ",p:42,x:522,y:883,w:37,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   38",p:42,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:42,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:43,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:43,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:43,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:43,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:43,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"and teaches detachment from moral categories as a way of de-",p:43,x:104,y:104,w:440,h:15},
{t:"nial. It is a very sel fi sh pursuit, as can already be seen in Prince",p:43,x:104,y:128,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Siddharta’s own escape from the obligation towards his wife, his",p:43,x:104,y:153,w:441,h:15},
{t:"baby and the old man dying under the tree. ",p:43,x:104,y:177,w:286,h:15},
{t:"There Buddha finds his ",p:43,x:397,y:177,w:160,h:15},
{t:"enlightenment and consequently does . . . nothing at all. ",p:43,x:104,y:201,w:375,h:15},
{t:"As a result of the Bible’ s teaching, we sign our paintings and ",p:43,x:134,y:226,w:418,h:15},
{t:"poems, we give our name to inventions like ",p:43,x:104,y:250,w:307,h:15},
{t:"Diesel or Mercedes ",p:43,x:419,y:250,w:139,h:15},
{t:"Benz and pasteurization . We not only inherit history , we also cre-",p:43,x:104,y:274,w:447,h:15},
{t:"ate it. It started with Adam and Eve creating their particular rela-",p:43,x:104,y:299,w:442,h:15},
{t:"tionship and having their children because God told them to do ",p:43,x:104,y:323,w:445,h:15},
{t:"that. God did not create it for them. He gave them the form and ",p:43,x:104,y:347,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the mandate. But the reality of love, trust, sex, language, and cre-",p:43,x:104,y:372,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ation was theirs. They, not God, gave names to the animals. They ",p:43,x:104,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"were to take dominion over creation, to subdue it, and to work in ",p:43,x:104,y:420,w:444,h:15},
{t:"it. History would never be the same as each person, each genera-",p:43,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tion, would build or destroy , be alert or asleep in their signi",p:43,x:104,y:469,w:406,h:15},
{t:"fi cant ",p:43,x:517,y:469,w:42,h:15},
{t:"choices. This is far more than, but in character with, our decision ",p:43,x:104,y:493,w:445,h:15},
{t:"to vote or not vote: either way we make history",p:43,x:104,y:518,w:315,h:15},
{t:".",p:43,x:426,y:518,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Cultural change through an individual’ s intellectual and mor -",p:43,x:134,y:542,w:420,h:15},
{t:"al change is not an exaggerated description of what the return to ",p:43,x:104,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"God’s authority produced. The Protestant Reformation was not a",p:43,x:104,y:591,w:444,h:15},
{t:"turning to private views or new mysteries; it was a shift from fatal-",p:43,x:104,y:615,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ism to significance, from the authority of men to that of God, from",p:43,x:104,y:639,w:441,h:15},
{t:"superstition and fear to con",p:43,x:104,y:664,w:183,h:15},
{t:"fi dence and purpose, from a meaning-",p:43,x:293,y:664,w:255,h:15},
{t:"less puzzle to a fuller picture.",p:43,x:104,y:688,w:196,h:15},
{t:"A Fair God",p:43,x:104,y:736,w:87,h:19},
{t:"In our modern times John Calvin is most often associated with ",p:43,x:134,y:780,w:413,h:15},
{t:"Calvinism, a particular view of God’ s relationship with humanity . ",p:43,x:104,y:804,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Calvin shared with other Protestant reformers before and after him",p:43,x:104,y:829,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the need to inform people again of God’ s grace and efforts to talk, ",p:43,x:104,y:853,w:452,h:15},
{t:"redeem, clarify, and encourage. Calvin addressed God’ s pursuit of ",p:43,x:104,y:877,w:454,h:15},
{t:"humanity from his running after Adam to sending the Holy Spirit. ",p:43,x:104,y:902,w:449,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   39",p:43,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:43,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:44,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:44,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:44,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:44,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"This grace has a specifi c content; it is not just a good feeling we ",p:44,x:105,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"believe God has about us. Grace is the favor that God has shown ",p:44,x:105,y:128,w:444,h:15},
{t:"us in sending his Son, the second person of the ",p:44,x:105,y:153,w:315,h:15},
{t:"Trinity, to take our ",p:44,x:428,y:153,w:131,h:15},
{t:"place in the judgment we deserve because of our own moral guilt. ",p:44,x:105,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Just like Adam and Eve, we have each knowingly done what",p:44,x:135,y:201,w:412,h:15},
{t:"we understand to be wrong. We are guilty by our wrong choices ",p:44,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:15},
{t:"in a world where our past choices created consequences that we",p:44,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are unable to undo or correct due to the inevitable march of linear",p:44,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"history. What has been done remains forever",p:44,x:105,y:299,w:303,h:15},
{t:". A broken vase can-",p:44,x:413,y:299,w:139,h:15},
{t:"not be made new. Adultery cannot be undone. A sharp word stands ",p:44,x:105,y:323,w:453,h:15},
{t:"forever, though others can water down its ef",p:44,x:105,y:347,w:295,h:15},
{t:"fect. An apology adds ",p:44,x:406,y:347,w:153,h:15},
{t:"regret to a situation and creates something new but does not re-",p:44,x:105,y:372,w:449,h:15},
{t:"move the consequences of the former injurious choice. ",p:44,x:105,y:396,w:368,h:15},
{t:"Interestingly, and to show God’s total fairness in justice, each ",p:44,x:135,y:420,w:418,h:15},
{t:"person is guilty on the basis of breaking standards he was familiar",p:44,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with and by which he bound the conscience of others (See Romans",p:44,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"2:1–5). For the Jew and Christian that is the standard of the Bible. ",p:44,x:105,y:493,w:453,h:15},
{t:"For the Greek or Roman of Paul’ s time as much as for everyone in ",p:44,x:105,y:518,w:448,h:15},
{t:"our own generation, guilt is established when a person contradicts",p:44,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in action his own standards of value, however relativistic they may ",p:44,x:105,y:566,w:442,h:15},
{t:"be. Paul addresses this when he establishes guilt for everyone be-",p:44,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fore God in Romans 2. A relativist can only remain true to his ",p:44,x:105,y:615,w:456,h:15},
{t:"view and values as long as he never complains about anyone else’",p:44,x:105,y:639,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:44,x:549,y:639,w:10,h:15},
{t:"behavior. Any complaint supposes a known and common rule, not",p:44,x:105,y:664,w:441,h:15},
{t:"a relativistic one. I have never met such a person. ",p:44,x:105,y:688,w:333,h:15},
{t:"In addition, we have been born into a cracked or broken world ",p:44,x:135,y:712,w:422,h:15},
{t:"that is covered with the dust of death in all places from ",p:44,x:105,y:737,w:371,h:15},
{t:"Adam and ",p:44,x:485,y:737,w:73,h:15},
{t:"Eve on. “Death came to all men,” Paul says in Romans 5:12. ",p:44,x:105,y:761,w:409,h:15},
{t:"That ",p:44,x:524,y:761,w:35,h:15},
{t:"is our normal state. Clearly death occurred because of the sin of",p:44,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve and affected all that surrounded and followed them. ",p:44,x:105,y:810,w:446,h:15},
{t:"Everything—humans, nature and the animals, the whole cosmos—",p:44,x:105,y:834,w:440,h:15},
{t:"is marked by death now, broken and less than the good world God ",p:44,x:105,y:858,w:453,h:15},
{t:"created in the beginning. ",p:44,x:105,y:883,w:168,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   40",p:44,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:44,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:45,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:45,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:45,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:45,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:45,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"But this does not imply that all these parties are guilty",p:45,x:134,y:104,w:360,h:15},
{t:". In any ",p:45,x:503,y:104,w:54,h:15},
{t:"court of law, guilt is a matter of choice, not inheritance. Human be-",p:45,x:104,y:128,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ings are not morally guilty in some form or other from conception ",p:45,x:104,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"on. The Bible clearly states that we are not guilty for existing, nor",p:45,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is guilt attributed or imputed to us from our parents. ",p:45,x:104,y:201,w:350,h:15},
{t:"We suffer the ",p:45,x:463,y:201,w:95,h:15},
{t:"consequences of their choices but are not blamed for them. ",p:45,x:104,y:226,w:396,h:15},
{t:"We are innocent in regard to moral guilt, but not innocent in ",p:45,x:134,y:250,w:415,h:15},
{t:"the sense of being pure, simple, or perfect. ",p:45,x:104,y:274,w:289,h:15},
{t:"As children in Adam’s ",p:45,x:401,y:274,w:158,h:15},
{t:"race we are no longer free from real brokenness and imperfection. ",p:45,x:104,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"But then, neither are animals or nature free from ",p:45,x:104,y:323,w:323,h:15},
{t:"flaws in the wake ",p:45,x:436,y:323,w:121,h:15},
{t:"of humanity’s fall. The whole thing needs a repair job. Humankind ",p:45,x:104,y:347,w:446,h:15},
{t:"needs a repair job for its inherited ",p:45,x:104,y:372,w:223,h:15},
{t:"flaws as well as for its individual",p:45,x:334,y:372,w:214,h:15},
{t:"moral guilt. We need new bodies without death. Nature needs its",p:45,x:104,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"cracks and tensions removed to become harmonious without the ",p:45,x:104,y:420,w:456,h:15},
{t:"reality of fright, which is at present part of nature and observable",p:45,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in its food chain.",p:45,x:104,y:469,w:110,h:15},
{t:"The repair job is what the good news of Christ’s finished work ",p:45,x:134,y:493,w:421,h:15},
{t:"in real history provides. Whether we are initially merely inheritors",p:45,x:104,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"of imperfections due to the sin of our parents or have ourselves ",p:45,x:104,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"become guilty by continuing their messy ways, God must provide",p:45,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that payment of death, which all imperfection requires. “For the ",p:45,x:104,y:591,w:455,h:15},
{t:"wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) and this death was passed ",p:45,x:104,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"to all of us. It is too late for us to repair ourselves. We are already ",p:45,x:104,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"damaged. If you keep the whole law and yet of",p:45,x:104,y:664,w:323,h:15},
{t:"fend in one point ",p:45,x:435,y:664,w:124,h:15},
{t:"you are guilty of it all (James 2:10), for the simple reason that",p:45,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"nothing with even a small crack is in any way whole. ",p:45,x:104,y:712,w:358,h:15},
{t:"Death has passed to all creation, so that the lamb and the lion ",p:45,x:134,y:737,w:414,h:15},
{t:"cannot at this time lie down together. That will have to wait for ",p:45,x:104,y:761,w:455,h:15},
{t:"another day after the change that God will powerfully ef",p:45,x:104,y:785,w:374,h:15},
{t:"fect when ",p:45,x:488,y:785,w:69,h:15},
{t:"Christ returns and the last enemy , death, is fully abolished.",p:45,x:104,y:810,w:396,h:15},
{t:"There are of course other propositions as to how the broken-",p:45,x:134,y:834,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ness of humanity and nature are to be understood. But I have never",p:45,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"been able to follow the so-called Federalist ar",p:45,x:104,y:883,w:302,h:15},
{t:"gument. It holds that ",p:45,x:414,y:883,w:144,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   41",p:45,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:45,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:46,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:46,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:46,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:46,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Adam represented me in such a way that his guilt stands in a repre-",p:46,x:105,y:104,w:449,h:15},
{t:"sentative way for what would have been my guilt. For",p:46,x:105,y:128,w:359,h:15},
{t:", Federalists ",p:46,x:473,y:128,w:86,h:15},
{t:"say, had I been in Adam’s situation I would have done the same",p:46,x:105,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"thing. Well, I can’t know that, for I cannot judge backwards into ",p:46,x:105,y:177,w:447,h:15},
{t:"a hypothetical situation from the vantage point of my own pres-",p:46,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ent brokenness. Maybe I would have—probably so—but I cannot",p:46,x:105,y:226,w:440,h:15},
{t:"know that. ",p:46,x:105,y:250,w:74,h:15},
{t:"Neither is it possible to follow the ar gument that all reality ",p:46,x:135,y:274,w:422,h:15},
{t:"unrolls under the effects of causation. Things always have an ef-",p:46,x:105,y:299,w:446,h:15},
{t:"fi cient or adequate cause. But human choices often happen for no ",p:46,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"other prior reason, or weight of in",p:46,x:105,y:347,w:231,h:15},
{t:"fl uence than that humankind is ",p:46,x:342,y:347,w:218,h:15},
{t:"creative, made in the image of the Creator God. He or she will in ",p:46,x:105,y:372,w:454,h:15},
{t:"part act spontaneously, both within the boundaries of the existing ",p:46,x:105,y:396,w:447,h:15},
{t:"possibilities and also in the frontiers of imagination. ",p:46,x:105,y:420,w:349,h:15},
{t:"The principle ",p:46,x:464,y:420,w:95,h:15},
{t:"of causality does not apply to all reality. It is limited by the ability ",p:46,x:105,y:445,w:453,h:15},
{t:"of persons as moral agents to come up with or to invent ideas, to ",p:46,x:105,y:469,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be self-determining and to originate causes.",p:46,x:105,y:493,w:298,h:15},
{t:"This does not transfer Heisenber",p:46,x:135,y:518,w:223,h:15},
{t:"g’s Indeterminacy Principle ",p:46,x:363,y:518,w:197,h:15},
{t:"to all reality. But it does suggest that people are a surprise and ",p:46,x:105,y:542,w:447,h:15},
{t:"often create situations that have no prior cause. “Why did you do ",p:46,x:105,y:566,w:454,h:15},
{t:"this?” receives as answer , “Because I wanted to do it.” There is a ",p:46,x:105,y:591,w:454,h:15},
{t:"kind of dependent sovereignty or self-determination in each per",p:46,x:105,y:615,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:46,x:550,y:615,w:5,h:15},
{t:"son within a given limiting context such as time and space, gender",p:46,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and personality. That is what God did when he told Adam to have ",p:46,x:105,y:664,w:454,h:15},
{t:"dominion and to love.",p:46,x:105,y:688,w:146,h:15},
{t:"Neither is the suggestion that the human being is only the in-",p:46,x:135,y:712,w:409,h:15},
{t:"strumental cause, but not the ef",p:46,x:105,y:737,w:205,h:15},
{t:"ficient cause, of events agreeable to ",p:46,x:316,y:737,w:237,h:15},
{t:"Scripture’s view of human signi ficance. Consider this illustration. ",p:46,x:105,y:761,w:448,h:15},
{t:"A system of pipes is instrumental for the delivery of water to a",p:46,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fountain. Pipes merely serve someone else’ s design as means to an ",p:46,x:105,y:810,w:450,h:15},
{t:"end and have no say in the matter . Man is not a mechanism, like a",p:46,x:105,y:834,w:444,h:15},
{t:"system of pipes, for divine accomplishments. When evil can only ",p:46,x:105,y:858,w:454,h:15},
{t:"be explained as ef fi ciently caused by God, he becomes the author",p:46,x:105,y:883,w:442,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   42",p:46,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:46,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:47,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:47,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:47,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:47,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:47,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"of both good and evil. A good way of saying this is that there is ",p:47,x:104,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"no instrumental cause between God’ s sovereign will and human ",p:47,x:104,y:128,w:453,h:15},
{t:"free will.",p:47,x:104,y:153,w:60,h:15},
{t:"In any case these views are completely theoretical and have ",p:47,x:134,y:177,w:425,h:15},
{t:"nothing to do with the real history of events. ",p:47,x:104,y:201,w:294,h:15},
{t:"They fly in the face of ",p:47,x:406,y:201,w:151,h:15},
{t:"the biblical emphasis that I am guilty only for what I have actually ",p:47,x:104,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"freely done. It contradicts the clear hope of Scripture that there",p:47,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"will come a time, not yet here, when a person will bear the respon-",p:47,x:104,y:274,w:438,h:15},
{t:"sibilities for his own sin and not also bear the weight of the sin of",p:47,x:104,y:299,w:438,h:15},
{t:"others (Ezekiel 18). That is not yet our situation. But this scripture",p:47,x:104,y:323,w:441,h:15},
{t:"does say that we are not all equally guilty, certainly not from con-",p:47,x:104,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ception on, though we are imperfect in a broken nature, being born ",p:47,x:104,y:372,w:453,h:15},
{t:"from an imperfect set of ancestors into a broken world. In God’",p:47,x:104,y:396,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:47,x:548,y:396,w:11,h:15},
{t:"eyes perfect justice reigns only when guilt and consequences are",p:47,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"meted out to the guilty party alone. Being caught in the net of sin ",p:47,x:104,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"spun by others establishes my handicap but not my guilt. I will suf-",p:47,x:104,y:469,w:438,h:15},
{t:"fer painful and tragic consequences of other people’",p:47,x:104,y:493,w:341,h:15},
{t:"s choices, but I ",p:47,x:454,y:493,w:103,h:15},
{t:"do not share in their responsibility for them.",p:47,x:104,y:518,w:293,h:15},
{t:"Cause and Consequence",p:47,x:104,y:566,w:207,h:19},
{t:"In a world of really signifi cant actions we bear the effects of ",p:47,x:134,y:610,w:424,h:15},
{t:"the guilt of other people without being guilty for its cause our-",p:47,x:104,y:634,w:449,h:15},
{t:"selves. As a German I have to tread gently and carefully with some",p:47,x:104,y:658,w:440,h:15},
{t:"grief and regret when I travel in Holland. ",p:47,x:104,y:683,w:277,h:15},
{t:"Though I was too young ",p:47,x:388,y:683,w:166,h:15},
{t:"to be a Nazi and though my parents resisted Nazism with consider",p:47,x:104,y:707,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:47,x:549,y:707,w:5,h:15},
{t:"able cleverness and courage, as a German I bear the consequences",p:47,x:104,y:731,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of Nazi cruelties and occupation in Holland and a number of other",p:47,x:104,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"countries. ",p:47,x:104,y:780,w:69,h:15},
{t:"So we are in a mess. Individually we are guilty in the measure",p:47,x:134,y:804,w:409,h:15},
{t:"in which we have personally sinned. God keeps a record of that",p:47,x:104,y:829,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and knows when that happens. That is how real judgment can be",p:47,x:104,y:853,w:444,h:15},
{t:"administered in the future and real justice can then be established. ",p:47,x:104,y:877,w:443,h:15},
{t:"I believe that human beings are able to establish the guilt of an-",p:47,x:104,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   43",p:47,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:47,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:48,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:48,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:48,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:48,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"other person both too soon and too late, or not at all. But it is not",p:48,x:105,y:104,w:438,h:15},
{t:"our business to conclusively judge beyond external evidence and ",p:48,x:105,y:128,w:444,h:15},
{t:"stated intentions, for we do not know the heart of human beings. ",p:48,x:105,y:153,w:433,h:15},
{t:"In a broken and dangerous world some damaging actions may ",p:48,x:135,y:177,w:414,h:15},
{t:"be provoked by others or by our own frustrations, even by the need ",p:48,x:105,y:201,w:442,h:15},
{t:"to act in order to learn how reality functions. ",p:48,x:105,y:226,w:311,h:15},
{t:"There may well be ",p:48,x:425,y:226,w:135,h:15},
{t:"harmful results. A small child who drops a bowl of food on the",p:48,x:105,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"floor is not necessarily doing something morally evil. He may just",p:48,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"want to discover what happens when he releases his or her ",p:48,x:105,y:299,w:389,h:15},
{t:"fi ngers: ",p:48,x:504,y:299,w:55,h:15},
{t:"The bowl falls down and the food is on the carpet. ",p:48,x:105,y:323,w:359,h:15},
{t:"As Mummy ",p:48,x:472,y:323,w:88,h:15},
{t:"comes running she now makes a dif ferent face, is rather agitated, ",p:48,x:105,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"and the child may feel some pain on the hand or the bottom in the",p:48,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"next moment. The experience may not be a choice to do something ",p:48,x:105,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"wrong, but it is part of a valuable and often necessary exploration ",p:48,x:105,y:420,w:452,h:15},
{t:"that ended with a slap. Now the child knows what happens in those",p:48,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"circumstances.",p:48,x:105,y:469,w:98,h:15},
{t:"I don’t know when accountability sets in. God is the judge, ",p:48,x:135,y:493,w:417,h:15},
{t:"and at some point in time we each become guilty",p:48,x:105,y:518,w:331,h:15},
{t:". I am not guilty ",p:48,x:443,y:518,w:113,h:15},
{t:"for being a human being. The newly born child is not a moral adult",p:48,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in an underdeveloped body. Having a fallen nature is not the result",p:48,x:105,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"of my personal guilt. I had no choice in the matter",p:48,x:105,y:591,w:352,h:15},
{t:". Choice sets ",p:48,x:465,y:591,w:96,h:15},
{t:"in at a later stage, when creativity gets misused and when a lie is",p:48,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"embraced as reality.",p:48,x:105,y:639,w:135,h:15},
{t:"But in either case—whether through guilty personal choices",p:48,x:135,y:664,w:410,h:15},
{t:"or through experiencing life in the fallen world—the fabric of our",p:48,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lives needs puri fi cation, correction, and for giveness. Christ, the ",p:48,x:105,y:712,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Lord of the universe, came to give his life that our guilt would be",p:48,x:105,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"paid for and that the whole creation would again be restored. ",p:48,x:105,y:761,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:48,x:529,y:761,w:30,h:15},
{t:"lamb and the lion need the work of Christ as much as a human ",p:48,x:105,y:785,w:446,h:15},
{t:"being, though for different reasons. We need the work of Christ ",p:48,x:105,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"because we have deliberately sinned. We both need it for the re-",p:48,x:105,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"moval of the effects of sin in creation. There will be a resurrection ",p:48,x:105,y:858,w:449,h:15},
{t:"for people and a change of behavior for animals and nature. ",p:48,x:105,y:883,w:401,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   44",p:48,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:48,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:49,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:49,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:49,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:49,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:49,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God, the Interventionist ",p:49,x:104,y:104,w:199,h:19},
{t:"Sin in the Bible has several related meanings. First it de-",p:49,x:134,y:147,w:410,h:15},
{t:"scribes moral guilt, when we sin against the holy God by believ-",p:49,x:104,y:172,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing, and then often practicing, what is false, empty",p:49,x:104,y:196,w:353,h:15},
{t:", wrong, and ",p:49,x:465,y:196,w:93,h:15},
{t:"foolish. There is a real and created world. Any false belief about it, ",p:49,x:104,y:220,w:449,h:15},
{t:"about God or human beings is foolish, inaccurate, unfounded, and ",p:49,x:104,y:245,w:443,h:15},
{t:"wrong, breaking the law of the universe by pretending that some-",p:49,x:104,y:269,w:439,h:15},
{t:"thing imagined is more real than reality. That is sin in the narrow ",p:49,x:104,y:293,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and specific way. We have all sinned in this way .",p:49,x:104,y:318,w:332,h:15},
{t:"But sin also has a second meaning. In a more general sense it",p:49,x:134,y:342,w:410,h:15},
{t:"stands for any imperfection anywhere that does not reach the mark ",p:49,x:104,y:366,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of what God had in mind when he created reality",p:49,x:104,y:391,w:326,h:15},
{t:". Animals are not ",p:49,x:438,y:391,w:120,h:15},
{t:"guilty, but they are under sin. Nature is not accountable; it follows",p:49,x:104,y:415,w:439,h:15},
{t:"its own regular laws, but it is less now than what God made it to ",p:49,x:104,y:439,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be. It is imperfect throughout. ",p:49,x:104,y:464,w:203,h:15},
{t:"The Messianic promises all along talk about God’",p:49,x:134,y:488,w:340,h:15},
{t:"s work for ",p:49,x:482,y:488,w:77,h:15},
{t:"soul and body and for creation. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that",p:49,x:104,y:512,w:439,h:15},
{t:"if Christ is only dead on the cross and not raised again we are still ",p:49,x:104,y:537,w:454,h:15},
{t:"in our sins. That would be only half the work of the Messiah, and ",p:49,x:104,y:561,w:446,h:15},
{t:"there would be no hope for its ef",p:49,x:104,y:585,w:221,h:15},
{t:"fi cacy, unless there is also a res-",p:49,x:332,y:585,w:218,h:15},
{t:"urrection for humanity and a restoration of ",p:49,x:104,y:610,w:293,h:15},
{t:"all creation. The New ",p:49,x:405,y:610,w:154,h:15},
{t:"Heaven and New Earth will know no con",p:49,x:104,y:634,w:270,h:15},
{t:"flict, death, or frustration. ",p:49,x:381,y:634,w:172,h:15},
{t:"The New Jerusalem will come down to earth (Revelation 21:1–2)",p:49,x:104,y:658,w:440,h:15},
{t:"where the evil elements will have been removed through purifying ",p:49,x:104,y:683,w:443,h:15},
{t:"fi re and wholeness will be found. It will not all have gone up in ",p:49,x:104,y:707,w:445,h:15},
{t:"smoke (2 Peter 3:10).",p:49,x:104,y:731,w:143,h:15},
{t:"That is the work of God, expressed as his grace to us, which ",p:49,x:134,y:756,w:415,h:15},
{t:"shows that God freely favors what he has made and is willing to ",p:49,x:104,y:780,w:444,h:15},
{t:"pay for its restoration. In fact, the grace of God starts when God ",p:49,x:104,y:804,w:444,h:15},
{t:"runs after Adam and Eve in the garden immediately after both ",p:49,x:104,y:829,w:417,h:15},
{t:"had ",p:49,x:530,y:829,w:28,h:15},
{t:"sinned to ask: “Adam, where are you?” Full of shame they hid in ",p:49,x:104,y:853,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the bushes, but God comes after them to urge them to not give up. ",p:49,x:104,y:877,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Their new broken situation will be full of problems, but is not ",p:49,x:104,y:902,w:404,h:15},
{t:"fi nal. ",p:49,x:520,y:902,w:38,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   45",p:49,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:49,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:50,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:50,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:50,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:50,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God himself will start to work with them to heal the damage and ",p:50,x:105,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"to provide a real savior for both the moral dilemma of guilt (“God ",p:50,x:105,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who ",p:50,x:105,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"push the truth away from themselves.” Romans 1:18 ",p:50,x:105,y:177,w:358,h:15},
{t:"NLT) and the ",p:50,x:472,y:177,w:87,h:15},
{t:"external dilemma of death. ",p:50,x:105,y:201,w:182,h:15},
{t:"For the first element of that promise, they were to wait for that",p:50,x:135,y:226,w:411,h:15},
{t:"woman among their future descendents who would give birth to ",p:50,x:105,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"the Messiah. For the second element of that promise, they were to ",p:50,x:105,y:274,w:453,h:15},
{t:"put their hand to the plough and work, even though it would now",p:50,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"be fraught with dif ficulties, sweat, and tears. Even in their relation-",p:50,x:105,y:323,w:441,h:15},
{t:"ship they would face problems which they must iron out. ",p:50,x:105,y:347,w:381,h:15},
{t:"The man ",p:50,x:496,y:347,w:62,h:15},
{t:"will unhappily, often, rule over the woman. It is important to note",p:50,x:105,y:372,w:441,h:15},
{t:"that this is a lament, not a command; it is a result of the fall, not a",p:50,x:105,y:396,w:438,h:15},
{t:"command for marital submission! And the woman will experience",p:50,x:105,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"more pain in childbirth and rearing. Just look at the real world ",p:50,x:105,y:445,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of human societies to see how broken we are. And notice how ",p:50,x:105,y:469,w:456,h:15},
{t:"cracked and unstable nature is in itself. ",p:50,x:105,y:493,w:258,h:15},
{t:"Third, we notice how much ",p:50,x:371,y:493,w:184,h:15},
{t:"damage humanity and nature do to each other . Harmony has been ",p:50,x:105,y:518,w:451,h:15},
{t:"weakened everywhere. ",p:50,x:105,y:542,w:156,h:15},
{t:"In this context the promise of God takes on great importance. ",p:50,x:135,y:566,w:414,h:15},
{t:"Things will not always remain the way they have become after sin ",p:50,x:105,y:591,w:443,h:15},
{t:"entered God’s good creation. A repair job needs to be undertaken ",p:50,x:105,y:615,w:449,h:15},
{t:"over time. Both God and Man will work for redemption. God’",p:50,x:105,y:639,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:50,x:549,y:639,w:12,h:15},
{t:"work is both juridical in seeing justice done and material in the ",p:50,x:105,y:664,w:455,h:15},
{t:"renewal of a fallen creation. Adam and Eve at the beginning of ",p:50,x:105,y:688,w:456,h:15},
{t:"the human race are reminded to have children, for though to dust ",p:50,x:105,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"their bodies will return in death, only in the struggle for life that",p:50,x:105,y:737,w:438,h:15},
{t:"transcends death through children yet to be born will the Messiah ",p:50,x:105,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"come: “And Adam named his wife Eve, for she would become the ",p:50,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:15},
{t:"mother of all the living” (Genesis 3:20).",p:50,x:105,y:810,w:267,h:15},
{t:"The situation of our history in the real world from the fall on ",p:50,x:135,y:834,w:414,h:15},
{t:"is of God running after man, of his not accepting the new normal-",p:50,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity that set in after the fall. It will not remain and ",p:50,x:105,y:883,w:355,h:15},
{t:"thus charac-",p:50,x:470,y:883,w:83,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   46",p:50,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:50,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"A J",p:51,x:251,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"ust G od in an Un",p:51,x:278,y:57,w:139,h:14},
{t:"jus",p:51,x:447,y:57,w:20,h:14},
{t:"t W orld",p:51,x:477,y:57,w:68,h:14},
{t:"",p:51,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"terize all of subsequent history . “God, who in his very being is ",p:51,x:104,y:104,w:456,h:15},
{t:"gracious. . . .” is part of the Anglican and Episcopal Litur gy that ",p:51,x:104,y:128,w:455,h:15},
{t:"expresses our hope so well. The God of the Bible is an intervening ",p:51,x:104,y:153,w:447,h:15},
{t:"God, active, creative, pleading, and striving to accomplish his pur",p:51,x:104,y:177,w:433,h:15},
{t:"-",p:51,x:549,y:177,w:5,h:15},
{t:"poses. Life with God is not all smooth sailing. ",p:51,x:104,y:201,w:310,h:15},
{t:"There is opposition ",p:51,x:423,y:201,w:132,h:15},
{t:"from powers, the flesh, and the devil. There are conditional proph-",p:51,x:104,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"ecies and promises. There are additional years of wandering in the",p:51,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"desert before Israel enters the Promised Land. Christ expressed ",p:51,x:104,y:274,w:446,h:15},
{t:"sorrow when Jerusalem would not respond with belief and joy to ",p:51,x:104,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"his presence and calling. ",p:51,x:104,y:323,w:168,h:15},
{t:"Climb, then, with me the twin spires of St. Pierre in Geneva. ",p:51,x:134,y:347,w:414,h:15},
{t:"In the nave below, Calvin preached to the citizens in town and to ",p:51,x:104,y:372,w:446,h:15},
{t:"all those who traveled to this free and independent republic that no ",p:51,x:104,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"longer belonged to Savoy nor yet to Switzerland. From up here, ",p:51,x:104,y:420,w:454,h:15},
{t:"next to the mighty bells, you look out over the lake and country-",p:51,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"side. To the north and west lay Bur gundy, and then further west lay ",p:51,x:104,y:469,w:449,h:15},
{t:"France, to the south the kingdom of Savoy and to the east the poor",p:51,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"peasant regions of the Helvetians, the modern Swiss. ",p:51,x:104,y:518,w:372,h:15},
{t:"What will ",p:51,x:485,y:518,w:75,h:15},
{t:"you say to the people below whose exposure to life was intimate, ",p:51,x:104,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"whose experiences were very mixed, and whose social and legal",p:51,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"situations were fragile at best. Death by many means was always",p:51,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"present. What is different up here from everything that anyone has",p:51,x:104,y:615,w:442,h:15},
{t:"said before?",p:51,x:104,y:639,w:80,h:15},
{t:"Most people were all too familiar with all the unfairness of",p:51,x:134,y:664,w:410,h:15},
{t:"life and the frequent cruelty of man to his neighbor. Most of the ",p:51,x:104,y:688,w:455,h:15},
{t:"time they were told to see the hand of God in all of it. It served the",p:51,x:104,y:712,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Church well to make use of common calamities. ",p:51,x:104,y:737,w:328,h:15},
{t:"They served as a ",p:51,x:440,y:737,w:119,h:15},
{t:"reminder that bad choices often lead to destructive consequences. ",p:51,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"They reveal that something was wrong. But this way of seeing had ",p:51,x:104,y:785,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tragic shortcomings—often it did not give the tools to evaluate",p:51,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"life’s experiences further. Not all evil is the result of immediate",p:51,x:104,y:834,w:443,h:15},
{t:"bad choices. Yet the Church readily joined the fellowship of Job’",p:51,x:104,y:858,w:436,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:51,x:548,y:858,w:10,h:15},
{t:"friends in the Old Testament. The ubiquitous mud and early death ",p:51,x:104,y:883,w:448,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   47",p:51,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:51,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:52,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:52,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:52,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:52,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"for hundreds of years were easily assumed as deserved and justi-",p:52,x:105,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fied. Hope and righteousness concerned themselves with life after",p:52,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"death to be earned through suf fering, submission, and resignation ",p:52,x:105,y:153,w:448,h:15},
{t:"here on earth. ",p:52,x:105,y:177,w:95,h:15},
{t:"When life is understood to be the manifestation of God’s will, ",p:52,x:135,y:201,w:423,h:15},
{t:"God becomes part of an overriding unfairness in the lives of indi-",p:52,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"viduals. God then becomes an accomplice of death, human wick-",p:52,x:105,y:250,w:440,h:15},
{t:"edness, and incoherent suffering. The innocence of God gets easily ",p:52,x:105,y:274,w:452,h:15},
{t:"muddled when Job’s friends surround you on all sides, and you ",p:52,x:105,y:299,w:448,h:15},
{t:"know nothing else. But in God’ s dealing with Job, his friends did ",p:52,x:105,y:323,w:448,h:15},
{t:"not have the last word. Neither did the Roman church at the time of",p:52,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the Reformers. They found in Scripture the innocence of God and ",p:52,x:105,y:372,w:446,h:15},
{t:"proclaimed it then openly, passionately and with people in mind. ",p:52,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   48",p:52,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:52,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:53,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER THREE",p:53,x:265,y:239,w:119,h:15},
{t:"RELIEF IN THE LAW ",p:53,x:182,y:284,w:299,h:25},
{t:"OF A J",p:53,x:215,y:321,w:75,h:25},
{t:"UST G OD",p:53,x:308,y:321,w:135,h:25},
{t:"No Longer V",p:53,x:104,y:437,w:104,h:19},
{t:"ictims ",p:53,x:220,y:437,w:55,h:19},
{t:"You will understand Calvin’ s heart and mind better when you ",p:53,x:134,y:481,w:419,h:15},
{t:"place yourself into the situation of the sixteenth century than ",p:53,x:104,y:505,w:429,h:15},
{t:"if ",p:53,x:544,y:505,w:16,h:15},
{t:"you approach it as a theological technician. Even the few members",p:53,x:104,y:529,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of noble families who owned enough not to starve or freeze like",p:53,x:104,y:554,w:439,h:15},
{t:"most of the peasants working the ",p:53,x:104,y:578,w:223,h:15},
{t:"fields and fishing the lake would ",p:53,x:333,y:578,w:221,h:15},
{t:"frequently be exposed to unsafe roads, diseases, rough treatment, ",p:53,x:104,y:602,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and a harsh life where life expectancy was often little more than ",p:53,x:104,y:627,w:454,h:15},
{t:"twenty-five to thirty years. There were few courts of law and many ",p:53,x:104,y:651,w:453,h:15},
{t:"accidental deaths. All their lives they heard about God, about judg-",p:53,x:104,y:675,w:442,h:15},
{t:"ment, and about life after death. They understood God’s punish-",p:53,x:104,y:700,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ment to be immediate and saw it in sickness, natural disasters, ",p:53,x:104,y:724,w:446,h:15},
{t:"and human cruelty. They grounded their fears in the instructions",p:53,x:104,y:748,w:442,h:15},
{t:"received from church and accepted as fair whatever happened to ",p:53,x:104,y:773,w:445,h:15},
{t:"them. But they found few places for their little ",p:53,x:104,y:797,w:313,h:15},
{t:"flames of hope and ",p:53,x:425,y:797,w:130,h:15},
{t:"their hunger for life and justice. ",p:53,x:104,y:821,w:215,h:15},
{t:"With a very short life on earth, life after death became very ",p:53,x:134,y:846,w:425,h:15},
{t:"desirous. It drew people to a hope for something longer",p:53,x:104,y:870,w:384,h:15},
{t:", eternal ",p:53,x:498,y:870,w:62,h:15},
{t:"even. But there was the future judgment of God to be feared. On ",p:53,x:104,y:894,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   49",p:53,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:53,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:54,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:54,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:54,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:54,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"one hand it would bring about what was lacking on earth, where",p:54,x:105,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"there was little rule of law and frequent exceptions for the noble ",p:54,x:105,y:128,w:455,h:15},
{t:"classes. But it would also bring to the light of day their rather",p:54,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"uncivilized behavior. Perceiving divine judgment in events of this",p:54,x:105,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"life and fearing it again in the next haunted people without resolu-",p:54,x:105,y:201,w:440,h:15},
{t:"tion. Only later in heaven would there be no sickness and death, ",p:54,x:105,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"no demonic power, and no unrewarded sweat and toil as there were",p:54,x:105,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"now on earth. So the question was: how to get there?",p:54,x:105,y:274,w:352,h:15},
{t:"The Roman church at times used words of wrath and prom-",p:54,x:135,y:299,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ise from Scripture, traditions, and folk tales. It often exploited the",p:54,x:105,y:323,w:438,h:15},
{t:"poor when it worked in cahoots with the rich in an old con",p:54,x:105,y:347,w:413,h:15},
{t:"fl ict ",p:54,x:529,y:347,w:30,h:15},
{t:"spanning centuries over political and economic power",p:54,x:105,y:372,w:382,h:15},
{t:", market ",p:54,x:496,y:372,w:67,h:15},
{t:"rights, and spiritual as well as educational growth. It embraced and ",p:54,x:105,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"nurtured many popular superstitions and spoke of Christ’",p:54,x:105,y:420,w:394,h:15},
{t:"s work ",p:54,x:508,y:420,w:52,h:15},
{t:"as though it was only for the deserving. But who is deserving?",p:54,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"If it cost you something, can merit be earned by paying for it in ",p:54,x:105,y:469,w:455,h:15},
{t:"food for the clergy, paintings for the churches, and donations for",p:54,x:105,y:493,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the construction of St. Peter",p:54,x:105,y:518,w:188,h:15},
{t:"’s Cathedral in Rome? Can you book ",p:54,x:299,y:518,w:255,h:15},
{t:"heaven in advance through purchase of redemption tickets in the",p:54,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"form of indulgences? How high is the mar gin to reach salvation? ",p:54,x:105,y:566,w:454,h:15},
{t:"When can deliverance be counted on?",p:54,x:105,y:591,w:253,h:15},
{t:"We know the debate over works versus grace. But in reality ",p:54,x:135,y:615,w:416,h:15},
{t:"the question arose out of an increasingly humanistic theology that",p:54,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"developed since the Lateran Councils in the twelfth century",p:54,x:105,y:664,w:401,h:15},
{t:". That ",p:54,x:515,y:664,w:44,h:15},
{t:"change in theology would in the ensuing decades open a grow-",p:54,x:105,y:688,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ing chasm between the spiritual people and the common man, the",p:54,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"clergy and the manual laborer . Rood screens in the Western church ",p:54,x:105,y:737,w:451,h:15},
{t:"and growing walls of icons in the Eastern and Russian Orthodox ",p:54,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"churches drew a physical barrier between the “holy deserving” and ",p:54,x:105,y:785,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the common needy parishioners. At that time the priest turned from",p:54,x:105,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the people, to whom he had ministered, to the altar to now minister",p:54,x:105,y:834,w:438,h:15},
{t:"to God. People no longer received the wine of communion for fear",p:54,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that they might spill it. Only the wafer was placed on their tongue. ",p:54,x:105,y:883,w:442,h:15},
{t:"One had to become good enough to merit the merit of Christ with-",p:54,x:105,y:907,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   50",p:54,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:54,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Relief in the L",p:55,x:244,y:57,w:102,h:14},
{t:"aw of a J",p:55,x:391,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"ust G",p:55,x:479,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od",p:55,x:533,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:55,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"out ever really knowing how much was required, where the cut-of",p:55,x:104,y:104,w:434,h:15},
{t:"f ",p:55,x:549,y:104,w:9,h:15},
{t:"line was. One could say that in that Roman theology",p:55,x:104,y:128,w:343,h:15},
{t:", sanctifi cation ",p:55,x:455,y:128,w:102,h:15},
{t:"had to precede justi fi cation. ",p:55,x:104,y:153,w:192,h:15},
{t:"And, of course, if there were such a level of sancti",p:55,x:134,y:177,w:330,h:15},
{t:"fication that ",p:55,x:474,y:177,w:84,h:15},
{t:"needed to be reached it would be important to know quite a few",p:55,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things. One would need to know how high it is, also whether it is",p:55,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"stable or constantly changing and whether credits towards it would ",p:55,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"be kept in storage until the sum is reached. Could more credits",p:55,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"be accumulated than needed by one person, which could then be",p:55,x:104,y:299,w:440,h:15},
{t:"traded like modern pollution merits under the Kyoto proposals?",p:55,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"But no answer was found in the church, for it could not be found in ",p:55,x:104,y:347,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the Bible. It is a hopeless ef fort to work with the trick of movable",p:55,x:104,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"goals. What use is it to know that saying a prayer with full devo-",p:55,x:104,y:396,w:440,h:15},
{t:"tion and sincerity before a cruci",p:55,x:104,y:420,w:208,h:15},
{t:"fix in church would give you seven ",p:55,x:318,y:420,w:234,h:15},
{t:"years, three months, five days, and nine hours of release from pur",p:55,x:104,y:445,w:437,h:15},
{t:"-",p:55,x:549,y:445,w:5,h:15},
{t:"gatory when you never know what your total is from which you ",p:55,x:104,y:469,w:445,h:15},
{t:"could deduct this service done? I saw such amounts written in the",p:55,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Old Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri, in the U.S. and on mission ",p:55,x:104,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"crosses in fields around Southern Germany .",p:55,x:104,y:542,w:296,h:15},
{t:"The whole idea of counting up merits must have been some",p:55,x:134,y:566,w:410,h:15},
{t:"trick, for when the Reformers came with their Bible and taught",p:55,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the fi nished work of Christ, salvation as a free gift from God to ",p:55,x:104,y:615,w:446,h:15},
{t:"humanity, the people called for the famous Lausanne Disputation ",p:55,x:104,y:639,w:445,h:15},
{t:"between Reformers and cler gy in 1526. The town’s people listened ",p:55,x:104,y:664,w:450,h:15},
{t:"to both sides presenting their case to see whose views were more",p:55,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"grounded in the Bible. Then they voted overwhelmingly with the",p:55,x:104,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Reformers, for little of the Church’ s teaching was based on any-",p:55,x:104,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"thing the Bible had to say . Several other cantons in Switzerland in-",p:55,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"troduced the Reformation in some such form by an open consider",p:55,x:104,y:785,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:55,x:549,y:785,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ation of the reasons for faith until the bishops in other cantons saw",p:55,x:104,y:810,w:438,h:15},
{t:"that they were losing their in",p:55,x:104,y:834,w:191,h:15},
{t:"fluence and stopped further debates.",p:55,x:300,y:834,w:240,h:15},
{t:"Calvin in Geneva spoke to an audience concerned with such ",p:55,x:134,y:858,w:415,h:15},
{t:"uncertainties about life, God, and salvation. Until then nothing ",p:55,x:104,y:883,w:446,h:15},
{t:"was clear about God’s favor or fury, man’s place in unstable cir-",p:55,x:104,y:907,w:449,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   51",p:55,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:55,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:56,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:56,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:56,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:56,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"cumstances, salvation or hell ",p:56,x:105,y:104,w:198,h:15},
{t:"fi re, knowing God and normal daily ",p:56,x:309,y:104,w:245,h:15},
{t:"life on top of it. Everything was in constant turmoil and under",p:56,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"changing directions. ",p:56,x:105,y:153,w:139,h:15},
{t:"Roman Catholic teaching had replaced the many gods and ",p:56,x:135,y:177,w:418,h:15},
{t:"supporting spirits of pagan faith and fear by belief in one God, the",p:56,x:105,y:201,w:438,h:15},
{t:"mediation of the “mother of God,” and many supporting saints. ",p:56,x:105,y:226,w:446,h:15},
{t:"But the fear from uncertainty largely remained. Pagan gods were ",p:56,x:105,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"not seen as kindly or in man’ s favor. The multitudes of saints on ",p:56,x:105,y:274,w:450,h:15},
{t:"bridges, in chapels, and on hilltops were more a reminder of a ba-",p:56,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sic uncertainty than tellers of what you could safely count on. ",p:56,x:105,y:323,w:414,h:15},
{t:"The God of the church’s teaching was close to those few peo-",p:56,x:135,y:347,w:413,h:15},
{t:"ple on the other side of the rood screen in their colorful heavenly ",p:56,x:105,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"vestments. What were the possibilities for the common man with ",p:56,x:105,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"fi lthy hands, a sickly body , and constant fear for life and soul at a",p:56,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"time of little access to law , reason, and truth?",p:56,x:105,y:445,w:305,h:15},
{t:"Try to place yourself in a world without courts of law",p:56,x:135,y:469,w:366,h:15},
{t:", with-",p:56,x:510,y:469,w:44,h:15},
{t:"out a public and critical press, without much education, without",p:56,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"security for home and hearth. Imagine a life where you’re facing ",p:56,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"death from sword or illness all the time, interpreting this as a judg-",p:56,x:105,y:542,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ment from God, without certainty about God being good or evil. ",p:56,x:105,y:566,w:445,h:15},
{t:"It is in this arena that you can feel how thunderously wonderful",p:56,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the Reformers’ teaching from the Bible must have been. Man, for",p:56,x:105,y:615,w:436,h:15},
{t:"-",p:56,x:550,y:615,w:5,h:15},
{t:"merly the victim of divine or natural circumstances, was now ad-",p:56,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"dressed by name, with a mind to be informed and to be used. ",p:56,x:105,y:664,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:56,x:529,y:664,w:30,h:15},
{t:"Bible’s coherent history gave the lar ger picture of the “where from, ",p:56,x:105,y:688,w:448,h:15},
{t:"what for, and where to” of all of life. And God was shown to be ",p:56,x:105,y:712,w:455,h:15},
{t:"in our favor, for the Creator does not abandon his creation. Grace",p:56,x:105,y:737,w:441,h:15},
{t:"in the form of judgment for sin already satis",p:56,x:105,y:761,w:296,h:15},
{t:"fi ed in Christ was the ",p:56,x:409,y:761,w:150,h:15},
{t:"new focus, which replaced the old fear that judgment could only ",p:56,x:105,y:785,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be avoided by unending toil and sacri",p:56,x:105,y:810,w:249,h:15},
{t:"fi ce. ",p:56,x:361,y:810,w:32,h:15},
{t:"In spite of the evidence from your daily lives about the absur",p:56,x:135,y:834,w:404,h:15},
{t:"-",p:56,x:550,y:834,w:5,h:15},
{t:"dity of much that happens and the fragility of your physical life, ",p:56,x:105,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"there is one source of truth and wonder",p:56,x:105,y:883,w:271,h:15},
{t:". This Source “runs after ",p:56,x:382,y:883,w:178,h:15},
{t:"you” with a free gift, as God did after Adam. God explains in the ",p:56,x:105,y:907,w:454,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   52",p:56,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:24 PM",p:56,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Relief in the L",p:57,x:244,y:57,w:102,h:14},
{t:"aw of a J",p:57,x:391,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"ust G",p:57,x:479,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od",p:57,x:533,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:57,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Bible that not all events are deserved. We live in a fallen world ",p:57,x:104,y:104,w:452,h:15},
{t:"now in which things go wrong and where not all pain and death are",p:57,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"divine judgements. God has chosen to of fer salvation to a world of",p:57,x:104,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"people in their mess, confusion, guilt, and suf",p:57,x:104,y:177,w:297,h:15},
{t:"fering. That salvation ",p:57,x:410,y:177,w:145,h:15},
{t:"is available to the most terrible sinner , the most depraved soul, the",p:57,x:104,y:201,w:445,h:15},
{t:"most damaged body. ",p:57,x:104,y:226,w:144,h:15},
{t:"Law and Love",p:57,x:104,y:274,w:115,h:19},
{t:"Calvin gave us a host of insights into the Bible and, going ",p:57,x:134,y:318,w:416,h:15},
{t:"beyond simply theological discussions, preached to people from",p:57,x:104,y:342,w:439,h:15},
{t:"scriptural insight the need for peace in the city of Geneva. ",p:57,x:104,y:366,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:57,x:528,y:366,w:32,h:15},
{t:"Greek word for city is polis, from which we derive our words for",p:57,x:104,y:391,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the interrelated realities of “politeness;” where that is lacking we",p:57,x:104,y:415,w:438,h:15},
{t:"depend on “police;” and where they need direction also “politics.” ",p:57,x:104,y:439,w:453,h:15},
{t:"The Bible speaks of good and bad government, true and false",p:57,x:104,y:464,w:440,h:15},
{t:"prophets, faithful and deceitful priests. It opens our eyes to the",p:57,x:104,y:488,w:439,h:15},
{t:"need to be more critical and to take a stand for good and moral",p:57,x:104,y:512,w:439,h:15},
{t:"politics that replace the politics of power",p:57,x:104,y:537,w:272,h:15},
{t:".",p:57,x:383,y:537,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Calvin, like Farel and Luther and many Reformers, was not",p:57,x:134,y:561,w:410,h:15},
{t:"only a theologian, but also a lawyer. In fact, part of theology stud-",p:57,x:104,y:585,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ies at the universities in their day was the study of church and com-",p:57,x:104,y:610,w:438,h:15},
{t:"mon law. For that reason we still have the double LL, for Litur",p:57,x:104,y:634,w:407,h:15},
{t:"gical ",p:57,x:521,y:634,w:36,h:15},
{t:"Law, for the basic law degree in our modern setting. ",p:57,x:104,y:658,w:374,h:15},
{t:"The early ",p:57,x:487,y:658,w:72,h:15},
{t:"interest of the Church in education and the founding of numerous",p:57,x:104,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"universities focused on law, medicine, and classics. In Law you ",p:57,x:104,y:707,w:456,h:15},
{t:"studied canonical law and its common relevance. ",p:57,x:104,y:731,w:333,h:15},
{t:"All such studies ",p:57,x:445,y:731,w:114,h:15},
{t:"nurtured a hunger to understand God and creation in order to bring ",p:57,x:104,y:756,w:442,h:15},
{t:"explanation, logic, and peace to a bleeding people.",p:57,x:104,y:780,w:336,h:15},
{t:"Law is always a summary of the shape of reality",p:57,x:134,y:804,w:338,h:15},
{t:", both as a ",p:57,x:480,y:804,w:80,h:15},
{t:"reminder of what is and of what should be done to express what",p:57,x:104,y:829,w:439,h:15},
{t:"we understand to be real, true, and good. ",p:57,x:104,y:853,w:279,h:15},
{t:"That is also the case for ",p:57,x:390,y:853,w:168,h:15},
{t:"the Bible. “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind ",p:57,x:104,y:877,w:447,h:15},
{t:"and soul and your neighbor as yourself,” is the one great com-",p:57,x:104,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   53",p:57,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:57,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:58,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:58,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:58,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:58,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"mandment. It is fleshed out in the Ten Commandments at the time",p:58,x:105,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of Moses when slavery in Egypt had diluted the understanding and ",p:58,x:105,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"practice of the “great” command. The prophets applied that law to ",p:58,x:105,y:153,w:449,h:15},
{t:"historical, social, and cultural perversions in Israel’s history and ",p:58,x:105,y:177,w:453,h:15},
{t:"pronounced impending judgment by God over their failure to love ",p:58,x:105,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the Lord with all their heart and their neighbors as themselves. ",p:58,x:105,y:226,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:58,x:529,y:226,w:29,h:15},
{t:"law was given, Paul says, because of added transgression in the",p:58,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fl ow of time (Galatians 3:26) in order to diminish the acceptance",p:58,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and practice of wrong.",p:58,x:105,y:299,w:149,h:15},
{t:"But a lawyer",p:58,x:135,y:323,w:88,h:15},
{t:"’s outlook can easily make things too tight, ",p:58,x:226,y:323,w:302,h:15},
{t:"fi t-",p:58,x:535,y:323,w:19,h:15},
{t:"ting into a mathematical and quantitative mode that neglects the",p:58,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"“soft” realities of love, generosity , and compassion. It is not that ",p:58,x:105,y:372,w:455,h:15},
{t:"these oppose law or logic, but they complete what justice is also ",p:58,x:105,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"concerned about in the complexities of life. Justice is more than ",p:58,x:105,y:420,w:444,h:15},
{t:"legal precision. Law is a teacher to inform, not a tool to induce",p:58,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"compliance. A concern for justice includes also the reality that we",p:58,x:105,y:469,w:441,h:15},
{t:"are persons to be served, not objects to be shoved about; that we",p:58,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"relate in thought and by choices rather than that we just exist and ",p:58,x:105,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"have a title. The Bible reveals such a complex justice as ",p:58,x:105,y:542,w:390,h:15},
{t:"fl owing ",p:58,x:503,y:542,w:55,h:15},
{t:"from God and admonishes us to practice it. ",p:58,x:105,y:566,w:291,h:15},
{t:"Some lawyers at the time of Jesus could not understand that",p:58,x:135,y:591,w:410,h:15},
{t:"justice is more than an eye for an eye or that the guilt of murder",p:58,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"or adultery can be present on the basis of intent alone. ",p:58,x:105,y:639,w:361,h:15},
{t:"We call this ",p:58,x:476,y:639,w:83,h:15},
{t:"the subjective side of guilt and merit. It deals with a person’",p:58,x:105,y:664,w:402,h:15},
{t:"s mo-",p:58,x:517,y:664,w:37,h:15},
{t:"tivation before any action takes place. The Sermon on the Mount ",p:58,x:105,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"addresses the dif ficulty of judging invisible intent from the outside",p:58,x:105,y:712,w:441,h:15},
{t:"with a call for greater personal righteousness, which is nothing less",p:58,x:105,y:737,w:438,h:15},
{t:"than each of us figuring out before the living God what is “right,” ",p:58,x:105,y:761,w:454,h:15},
{t:"factual, real, and true in any situation. The Pharisees had rules ",p:58,x:105,y:785,w:456,h:15},
{t:"and regulations, but our righteousness should result from thought, ",p:58,x:105,y:810,w:453,h:15},
{t:"wisdom, and prayer, from love and creative ef fort. ",p:58,x:105,y:834,w:346,h:15},
{t:"Now a person’s need for a shirt should be met with generos-",p:58,x:135,y:858,w:412,h:15},
{t:"ity, because he is a human being who does not come equipped at",p:58,x:105,y:883,w:440,h:15},
{t:"birth with a coat of fur as a part of his development. Jonah should ",p:58,x:105,y:907,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   54",p:58,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:58,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Relief in the L",p:59,x:244,y:57,w:102,h:14},
{t:"aw of a J",p:59,x:391,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"ust G",p:59,x:479,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od",p:59,x:533,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:59,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"have had compassion on the terrible sinners of Nineveh and been ",p:59,x:104,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"glad for their repentance. David was right to eat of the untouch-",p:59,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"able bread when he was hungry after doing the Lord’",p:59,x:104,y:153,w:353,h:15},
{t:"s business. Is ",p:59,x:465,y:153,w:93,h:15},
{t:"it evil to do good work on the Sabbath? Is law made for man or",p:59,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"man for the law?",p:59,x:104,y:201,w:112,h:15},
{t:"Calvin’",p:59,x:104,y:250,w:53,h:19},
{t:"s Rediscovery",p:59,x:164,y:250,w:117,h:19},
{t:"Calvin is perhaps best known to a wider public within and ",p:59,x:134,y:293,w:417,h:15},
{t:"without the Church for the way he restated God’",p:59,x:104,y:318,w:331,h:15},
{t:"s relationship to ",p:59,x:443,y:318,w:113,h:15},
{t:"believers through grace in predestination. For some he is the great",p:59,x:104,y:342,w:439,h:15},
{t:"saint who rightly reaf fi rmed the central theme of the whole Bible",p:59,x:104,y:366,w:443,h:15},
{t:"found in the grace of God and his covenant. It is the unconditional",p:59,x:104,y:391,w:439,h:15},
{t:"gift of God, in which he shows himself to be in our favor from ",p:59,x:104,y:415,w:418,h:15},
{t:"the ",p:59,x:534,y:415,w:24,h:15},
{t:"beginning. Here he reveals in history his true character",p:59,x:104,y:439,w:361,h:15},
{t:". In his very ",p:59,x:474,y:439,w:81,h:15},
{t:"being our God is gracious. Grace is not an afterthought or a deci-",p:59,x:104,y:464,w:449,h:15},
{t:"sion on Tuesday at noon. God of fers forgiveness as a consequence",p:59,x:104,y:488,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of the work of the Messiah, “from before the foundation of the",p:59,x:104,y:512,w:439,h:15},
{t:"world.” ",p:59,x:104,y:537,w:55,h:15},
{t:"For others, Calvin is at times the villain of the Reformation, an ",p:59,x:134,y:561,w:412,h:15},
{t:"autocrat in Geneva’s government with a low view of people whom",p:59,x:104,y:585,w:443,h:15},
{t:"he saw as depraved in sin and hopelessly lost except for the certain ",p:59,x:104,y:610,w:442,h:15},
{t:"number who were chosen or predestined by God to redemption. In ",p:59,x:104,y:634,w:443,h:15},
{t:"many people’s minds the word “predestination” is almost automat-",p:59,x:104,y:658,w:441,h:15},
{t:"ically related to Calvin in Geneva. Francis Schaef",p:59,x:104,y:683,w:330,h:15},
{t:"fer always ques-",p:59,x:443,y:683,w:108,h:15},
{t:"tioned the wisdom of Calvin to create a new civic society rather",p:59,x:104,y:707,w:439,h:15},
{t:"than to focus on the power of biblical teaching to change human ",p:59,x:104,y:731,w:444,h:15},
{t:"behavior. For that reason he called his study center ",p:59,x:104,y:756,w:356,h:15},
{t:"Farel House ",p:59,x:468,y:756,w:90,h:15},
{t:"after the preacher of the countryside. Today most Protestants avoid ",p:59,x:104,y:780,w:449,h:15},
{t:"such reflections and accept predestination as God’ s determined ac-",p:59,x:104,y:804,w:447,h:15},
{t:"tion in the lives of people. ",p:59,x:104,y:829,w:178,h:15},
{t:"The advantage of such a view is a profound certainty about",p:59,x:134,y:853,w:410,h:15},
{t:"events in history and an af fi rmation of one’s convictions. It eas-",p:59,x:104,y:877,w:446,h:15},
{t:"ily allows people to see themselves as special and distinct from",p:59,x:104,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   55",p:59,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:59,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:60,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:60,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:60,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:60,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"others in their calling from God. It also suggests the possibility ",p:60,x:105,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of judgment on the basis of life’ s experiences and, by extension, ",p:60,x:105,y:128,w:450,h:15},
{t:"on their success in life. “Chosen by God” will become visible and ",p:60,x:105,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"work itself out in self-con fidence, certitude, and success which are",p:60,x:105,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"at times distinguished, only with great ef",p:60,x:105,y:201,w:273,h:15},
{t:"fort and sensitivity, from ",p:60,x:386,y:201,w:174,h:15},
{t:"selfi shness, pride, and a roughness towards other human beings",p:60,x:105,y:226,w:440,h:15},
{t:"who are not elect in God’ s predestination. ",p:60,x:105,y:250,w:286,h:15},
{t:"The disadvantage of such a view of being among the chosen ",p:60,x:135,y:274,w:415,h:15},
{t:"is that there is little room for admitting and dealing with ",p:60,x:105,y:299,w:376,h:15},
{t:"complex-",p:60,x:491,y:299,w:62,h:15},
{t:"ity, with failure, and with something less than perfection while",p:60,x:105,y:323,w:440,h:15},
{t:"maintaining the “call of God.” Failure or feeling of failure in life",p:60,x:105,y:347,w:438,h:15},
{t:"will easily lead to an unexamined sense of guilt, rejection, and loss ",p:60,x:105,y:372,w:453,h:15},
{t:"of a sense of worth. The reasoning at times goes something like",p:60,x:105,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"this: God would not want his chosen ones to have a miserable life. ",p:60,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Ergo, if your life is miserable, you must be guilty and deserve it. ",p:60,x:105,y:445,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Your experiences con firm that you are totally depraved and unwor",p:60,x:105,y:469,w:437,h:15},
{t:"-",p:60,x:550,y:469,w:5,h:15},
{t:"thy of God’s love, therefore you may not be one of the elect. ",p:60,x:105,y:493,w:408,h:15},
{t:"Psychologists deal with causes of depression and a sense of",p:60,x:135,y:518,w:410,h:15},
{t:"hopelessness; not surprisingly , too many cases involve people with ",p:60,x:105,y:542,w:447,h:15},
{t:"a background of Calvinistic teaching about depravity and election. ",p:60,x:105,y:566,w:442,h:15},
{t:"They easily have a sense of failure when life gets tough. In our so-",p:60,x:105,y:591,w:438,h:15},
{t:"cial and cultural context, this sense expresses itself in an inability ",p:60,x:105,y:615,w:443,h:15},
{t:"to admit failure, to seek advice and help. When the feeling reaches ",p:60,x:105,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"an extreme isolation it often leads to suicide. What is the use of ",p:60,x:105,y:664,w:455,h:15},
{t:"even trying if the perfect standard, identi",p:60,x:105,y:688,w:281,h:15},
{t:"fi ed with the calling of ",p:60,x:394,y:688,w:167,h:15},
{t:"God, cannot be reached? ",p:60,x:105,y:712,w:172,h:15},
{t:"The only other way to respond to such feelings is to get rid of",p:60,x:135,y:737,w:409,h:15},
{t:"God or oneself. Many people have chosen the former when they ",p:60,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"become atheists; fewer people choose the latter",p:60,x:105,y:785,w:321,h:15},
{t:", yet Switzerland, ",p:60,x:434,y:785,w:124,h:15},
{t:"the original home of the reformers, has one of the highest suicide ",p:60,x:105,y:810,w:454,h:15},
{t:"rates in the western world. Suicide is the highest cause of death ",p:60,x:105,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"among teenagers.",p:60,x:105,y:858,w:116,h:15},
{t:"It is interesting that Japan has the same problems occur",p:60,x:135,y:883,w:405,h:15},
{t:"-",p:60,x:550,y:883,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ring when people are unable to satisfy the divine standard set by ",p:60,x:105,y:907,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   56",p:60,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:60,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Relief in the L",p:61,x:244,y:57,w:102,h:14},
{t:"aw of a J",p:61,x:391,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"ust G",p:61,x:479,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od",p:61,x:533,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:61,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"“Shinto.” Failure to keep up with the expectations of the group, ",p:61,x:104,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the nation, and the company , (all of which manifest a divine order ",p:61,x:104,y:128,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and purpose in this understanding) often leads to black depression ",p:61,x:104,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and a loss of place, which then results in the loss of a life seen as ",p:61,x:104,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"unworthy. ",p:61,x:104,y:201,w:72,h:15},
{t:"Calvin did not invent the term “predestination,” and it should ",p:61,x:134,y:226,w:423,h:15},
{t:"not be the fi rst concept or word that comes to mind when the",p:61,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Geneva Reformer is mentioned or discussed. It is a term used a",p:61,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"number of times in the Bible. It indicates that God has made a",p:61,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choice in our favor and will see it through. He will pay for salva-",p:61,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tion and give it freely to those who believe that it is true instead of",p:61,x:104,y:347,w:438,h:15},
{t:"calling God a liar . The Bible’s understanding of faith is “being sure",p:61,x:104,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of what we hope for and certain of what we do not [yet] see. . . . ",p:61,x:104,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Anyone who comes to [God] must believe that he exists and that",p:61,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 1",p:61,x:104,y:445,w:361,h:15},
{t:"1:1; 6).",p:61,x:474,y:445,w:48,h:15},
{t:"Predestination is the Bible’ s response to the uncertainties of ",p:61,x:134,y:469,w:425,h:15},
{t:"life and the frivolities found among people, including people who ",p:61,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"teach and direct churches. Rather than living under unknown fates ",p:61,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"or irrational circumstances, Calvin rightly taught that there is a ",p:61,x:104,y:542,w:456,h:15},
{t:"God who has made a choice. Predestination, we shall see, describes",p:61,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that choice by God in our favor . It is exhibited numerous times in ",p:61,x:104,y:591,w:448,h:15},
{t:"God’s dealing with Israel, with Christians, and with people seek-",p:61,x:104,y:615,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ing to know if there is a good God in such a crazy and unfair world ",p:61,x:104,y:639,w:442,h:15},
{t:"as ours. This crazy and sinful world, taken alone, would justify ",p:61,x:104,y:664,w:447,h:15},
{t:"anyone not believing that this could be the work of a good God. ",p:61,x:104,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Too much evil has neither rhyme nor reason; “All is vanity",p:61,x:104,y:712,w:392,h:15},
{t:".”",p:61,x:505,y:712,w:11,h:15},
{t:"In Calvin’s historical and social context, Scripture’",p:61,x:134,y:737,w:351,h:15},
{t:"s predes-",p:61,x:492,y:737,w:61,h:15},
{t:"tination refers to a choice God made to of",p:61,x:104,y:761,w:282,h:15},
{t:"fer us salvation, so that ",p:61,x:394,y:761,w:165,h:15},
{t:"whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life (John 3:16). ",p:61,x:104,y:785,w:409,h:15},
{t:"This ",p:61,x:524,y:785,w:34,h:15},
{t:"is a genuine “whosoever,” unless things are not what they appear",p:61,x:104,y:810,w:443,h:15},
{t:"to be or words do not mean what they seem to say. Surely they ",p:61,x:104,y:834,w:455,h:15},
{t:"need to be placed in connection with whole sentences, which are",p:61,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"part of complete texts. The Bible was not written as a collection ",p:61,x:104,y:883,w:453,h:15},
{t:"of unconnected sayings. It is not a quarry for the quote of your",p:61,x:104,y:907,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   57",p:61,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:61,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:62,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:62,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:62,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:62,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"preference. These are letters from God, in which a case is made for ",p:62,x:105,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"God, for humanity, for reason and facts and, above all, for ",p:62,x:105,y:128,w:388,h:15},
{t:"discern-",p:62,x:500,y:128,w:53,h:15},
{t:"ment between truth and falsehood, between imaginings and real-",p:62,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity. Arguments are elaborated and clari",p:62,x:105,y:177,w:257,h:15},
{t:"fied. In addition, each letter",p:62,x:368,y:177,w:182,h:15},
{t:"adds to the previous ones so that a whole structure of understand-",p:62,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing is set up. The God of the Bible wants us to know his favorable",p:62,x:105,y:226,w:441,h:15},
{t:"intervention for us. ",p:62,x:105,y:250,w:131,h:15},
{t:"Texts need to be studied, not simply quoted. You need to fi nd ",p:62,x:135,y:274,w:424,h:15},
{t:"out, as in any text, what could be meant, what could not possibly ",p:62,x:105,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be meant, what is not being said, and what is said and argued for. ",p:62,x:105,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Inspiration from God, assumed and taught in the Bible, and full",p:62,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"reliability of the Bible, discovered in studies across many disci-",p:62,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"plines, does not preclude hard work to understand the text. ",p:62,x:105,y:396,w:414,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:62,x:529,y:396,w:32,h:15},
{t:"Bible constantly disarms simplistic assumptions by providing in-",p:62,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sight that eventually becomes obvious. It sheds light on reality and ",p:62,x:105,y:445,w:442,h:15},
{t:"shows that there is no gap between what is and what seems to be. ",p:62,x:105,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Words have precise and consistent meaning in their context. God ",p:62,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"challenges us to examine his truth in relation to reality",p:62,x:105,y:518,w:355,h:15},
{t:", history, and ",p:62,x:469,y:518,w:89,h:15},
{t:"time. Only then should we believe it. Paul defends himself against ",p:62,x:105,y:542,w:453,h:15},
{t:"false accusations of having preached for personal gain and fame",p:62,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with deceptive words (See 1 Thessalonians and 2 Corinthians). ",p:62,x:105,y:591,w:451,h:15},
{t:"Jesus demands that people check what he says against what they ",p:62,x:105,y:615,w:445,h:15},
{t:"see and know from past prophecies (Matthew 1",p:62,x:105,y:639,w:316,h:15},
{t:"1). ",p:62,x:428,y:639,w:22,h:15},
{t:"In daily sermons, Calvin was reaching out to anxious and con-",p:62,x:135,y:664,w:409,h:15},
{t:"fused people to tell them good news: rather than humans having to ",p:62,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"reach an undetermined standard of merit, God for",p:62,x:105,y:712,w:338,h:15},
{t:"gives when we ",p:62,x:452,y:712,w:108,h:15},
{t:"acknowledge that he is right about everything—himself, us, and ",p:62,x:105,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the problems we have caused. God has maintained the standard of",p:62,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"his perfection and accomplished justice through the perfect work ",p:62,x:105,y:785,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of Christ. When the Messiah, the Anointed One, became sin for us",p:62,x:105,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"in his death, he was separate from the Father for us. He took the",p:62,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"consequences of our sin and suf fered them for us. He maintained ",p:62,x:105,y:858,w:449,h:15},
{t:"the standard and paid the price for guilt in full. The passion of ",p:62,x:105,y:883,w:456,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   58",p:62,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:62,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Relief in the L",p:63,x:244,y:57,w:102,h:14},
{t:"aw of a J",p:63,x:391,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"ust G",p:63,x:479,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"od",p:63,x:533,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:63,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Christ is not so much his suf fering from fellow humans, but from",p:63,x:104,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"being rejected by God the Father for the time he bore our trans-",p:63,x:104,y:128,w:449,h:15},
{t:"gressions on the tree.",p:63,x:104,y:153,w:140,h:15},
{t:"Isaiah 59 promises this concern of God and his commitment",p:63,x:134,y:177,w:410,h:15},
{t:"to undertake steps for our salvation in the Old ",p:63,x:104,y:201,w:311,h:15},
{t:"Testament. “Surely ",p:63,x:424,y:201,w:132,h:15},
{t:"the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to ",p:63,x:104,y:226,w:443,h:15},
{t:"hear,” he says. “But your iniquities have separated you from your",p:63,x:104,y:250,w:440,h:15},
{t:"God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not",p:63,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"hear” (verses 1–2). After the list of sins a summary concludes in ",p:63,x:104,y:299,w:447,h:15},
{t:"verses 14 and 15 with, “So justice is driven back, and righteous-",p:63,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty ",p:63,x:104,y:347,w:442,h:15},
{t:"cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil",p:63,x:104,y:372,w:441,h:15},
{t:"becomes a prey.” But it is not hopeless, for “the Lord looked and ",p:63,x:104,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was",p:63,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his",p:63,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sus-",p:63,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tained him” (15–16). After judgment of sins, “‘the Redeemer will",p:63,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,’",p:63,x:104,y:518,w:381,h:15},
{t:" declares ",p:63,x:494,y:518,w:64,h:15},
{t:"the Lord” (20).",p:63,x:104,y:542,w:100,h:15},
{t:"The judge of the universe who points out our guilt decides",p:63,x:134,y:566,w:410,h:15},
{t:"to pay for it himself so that we could be freed from guilt. Faith ",p:63,x:104,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"is the response of the creature to the truth in history",p:63,x:104,y:615,w:371,h:15},
{t:", law, and ",p:63,x:483,y:615,w:77,h:15},
{t:"anthropology.",p:63,x:104,y:639,w:93,h:15},
{t:"Therefore even the greatest sinner can receive pardon. It is",p:63,x:134,y:664,w:410,h:15},
{t:"available unconditionally and not dependent on one’",p:63,x:104,y:688,w:361,h:15},
{t:"s goodness. ",p:63,x:474,y:688,w:85,h:15},
{t:"God set out a single and suf",p:63,x:104,y:712,w:190,h:15},
{t:"fi cient way for each of us, so that no ",p:63,x:299,y:712,w:254,h:15},
{t:"one needs to be lost, for God does not desire alienation for anyone",p:63,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(1 Timothy 2:4). What God had set out to do, each member of the",p:63,x:104,y:761,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Trinity actively pursues. God’ s investment for us in the payment",p:63,x:104,y:785,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of his Son’s death for our sin will bear eternal fruit, as God perse-",p:63,x:104,y:810,w:440,h:15},
{t:"veres and will complete what he has started.",p:63,x:104,y:834,w:294,h:15},
{t:"This is the grace of God in Christ, according to the Bible. It ",p:63,x:134,y:858,w:425,h:15},
{t:"remains for us to respond when we learn of what God has done. ",p:63,x:104,y:883,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   59",p:63,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:63,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:64,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:64,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:64,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:64,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"We seek answers to the questions of existence. Who are we? What ",p:64,x:105,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"are we here for? Who says what is right anyway? How do we know",p:64,x:105,y:128,w:442,h:15},
{t:"which religion is true? To these and all the other important ques-",p:64,x:105,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tions of the human race only the Bible gives answers in such a way ",p:64,x:105,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"that they make sense within themselves and in relation to the com-",p:64,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"mon world which we all share. There is an internal consistency ",p:64,x:105,y:226,w:451,h:15},
{t:"of mutually supportive af fi rmations. But there is also an external",p:64,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"consistency with all reality , including the human being. There is ",p:64,x:105,y:274,w:455,h:15},
{t:"no fi nal confl ict between what the Bible af",p:64,x:105,y:299,w:292,h:15},
{t:"fi rms and what reality ",p:64,x:403,y:299,w:154,h:15},
{t:"confi rms.",p:64,x:105,y:323,w:63,h:15},
{t:"Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica with praise, for they ",p:64,x:135,y:347,w:423,h:15},
{t:"“turned from [many confusing, competing, and invented] idols to ",p:64,x:105,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the true and living God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). This God is “true” ",p:64,x:105,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"because you can argue with him and challenge his statements, acts, ",p:64,x:105,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"and promises to see whether they stand the test of history",p:64,x:105,y:445,w:393,h:15},
{t:", logic, ",p:64,x:507,y:445,w:52,h:15},
{t:"and fact. He is “living” in that he speaks with words that can be",p:64,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"checked, that carry clear meaning and relate to the most common ",p:64,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"human experiences. He must be a God of passions and emotions, ",p:64,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"of laughter and tears, of sadness and disappointments and power",p:64,x:105,y:542,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:64,x:551,y:542,w:9,h:15},
{t:"Only the God of the Bible is such a God.",p:64,x:105,y:566,w:272,h:15},
{t:"Where human beings in Greece were always exposed to the",p:64,x:135,y:591,w:411,h:15},
{t:"tragic reality of what the fates and gods were doing, the God of",p:64,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the Bible is innocent of the human predicament. He created a good ",p:64,x:105,y:639,w:443,h:15},
{t:"world. After humanity’s fall and estrangement, God has continu-",p:64,x:105,y:664,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ously gone to great ef fort to not be identi fi ed with all events in ",p:64,x:105,y:688,w:452,h:15},
{t:"history. Some events are of human creation, others are a part of",p:64,x:105,y:712,w:440,h:15},
{t:"a broken world after the fall. There are also the overlapping re-",p:64,x:105,y:737,w:444,h:15},
{t:"sults from Satan roaming about “looking for someone to devour”",p:64,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(1 Peter 5:8). We have much cause to demand justice from God. ",p:64,x:105,y:785,w:448,h:15},
{t:"He is not in the seat of the accused, but in the judge’",p:64,x:105,y:810,w:349,h:15},
{t:"s chair.",p:64,x:463,y:810,w:48,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   60",p:64,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:64,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:65,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER FOUR",p:65,x:269,y:239,w:110,h:15},
{t:"GOD PRE SENT IN HIS TORY, ",p:65,x:126,y:284,w:412,h:25},
{t:"BUT WHERE?",p:65,x:233,y:321,w:192,h:25},
{t:"Yahweh, Unlike Gr",p:65,x:104,y:437,w:150,h:19},
{t:"eek Fates",p:65,x:270,y:437,w:81,h:19},
{t:"Calvin’s views were often taken out of their original historic",p:65,x:134,y:481,w:411,h:15},
{t:"and cultural context. Evolving systems of theology were estab-",p:65,x:104,y:505,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lished with lawyers’ minds and often without the compassion that",p:65,x:104,y:529,w:442,h:15},
{t:"was part of Calvin’s life and work in Geneva. New views were",p:65,x:104,y:554,w:443,h:15},
{t:"embraced and texts altered by Calvin’ s students to fi t these new ",p:65,x:104,y:578,w:455,h:15},
{t:"viewpoints. The sensibility and coherence of Christianity was fi t-",p:65,x:104,y:602,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ted into the rationalistic philosophical delights of the seventeenth ",p:65,x:104,y:627,w:443,h:15},
{t:"century. The study of Greek philosophers encouraged a desire to ",p:65,x:104,y:651,w:446,h:15},
{t:"have Christian theology be the answer to their quest. But instead of",p:65,x:104,y:675,w:438,h:15},
{t:"broadening the questions, the responses were narrowed. Christians",p:65,x:104,y:700,w:439,h:15},
{t:"should have recognized that Greek philosophers asked insuffi cient ",p:65,x:104,y:724,w:454,h:15},
{t:"questions in their search for the “ideal.” Instead, many theologians",p:65,x:104,y:748,w:438,h:15},
{t:"squeezed the personal-in finite God of the Bible into Greek expec-",p:65,x:104,y:773,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tations. They reduced the passionate and dynamic character of",p:65,x:104,y:797,w:441,h:15},
{t:"God into that of a deterministic sovereign.",p:65,x:104,y:821,w:281,h:15},
{t:"The field of mechanics revealed perhaps the ",p:65,x:134,y:846,w:293,h:15},
{t:"first social bene fi t ",p:65,x:434,y:846,w:124,h:15},
{t:"from the scienti fi c study of an ordered universe. Clocks, the cam-",p:65,x:104,y:870,w:441,h:15},
{t:"era obscura, absolutist monarchies, and economic mercantilism",p:65,x:104,y:894,w:440,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   61",p:65,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:65,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:66,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:66,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:66,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:66,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"reveal a common thread connecting them: the delight in having ",p:66,x:105,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"clear and fi xed answers. On the positive side, the uncertainties of",p:66,x:105,y:128,w:441,h:15},
{t:"superstition were reduced. But the goal of seeking the recently re-",p:66,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"discovered pleasures of rationality became paramount. Everything ",p:66,x:105,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"now had to be resolved at once to protect the God they believed in ",p:66,x:105,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and themselves.",p:66,x:105,y:226,w:106,h:15},
{t:"Theology as well became a vehicle in this drive to rationalize. ",p:66,x:135,y:250,w:413,h:15},
{t:"Calvin’s disciples handled his teaching in a way disciples often ",p:66,x:105,y:274,w:446,h:15},
{t:"do: they reduce complex realities to simple formulas. I remember",p:66,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"hearing the Dutch philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd saying “what",p:66,x:105,y:323,w:440,h:15},
{t:"the master thought, his disciples turned into absolute truth.” Many ",p:66,x:105,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Calvinists, like religious determinists elsewhere, sought to leave",p:66,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no stone unturned; they wished to put all reality into a closed sys-",p:66,x:105,y:396,w:438,h:15},
{t:"tem under God. They ended up with something else, leaving no ",p:66,x:105,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"turn of life “un-stoned.” They threw their judgment zealously at",p:66,x:105,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"any evidence of human struggle to understand how a good God ",p:66,x:105,y:469,w:446,h:15},
{t:"could be in willful and sovereign control of a broken world. Jesus",p:66,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"had similar problems with disciples who at some times were “ye",p:66,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of little faith” and at other times sought to keep children and others",p:66,x:105,y:542,w:438,h:15},
{t:"not with them from coming to Jesus—even when this latter group ",p:66,x:105,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"spoke favorably of Christ.",p:66,x:105,y:591,w:174,h:15},
{t:"Neither Calvin nor any other person is the ",p:66,x:135,y:615,w:293,h:15},
{t:"fi nal expositor of ",p:66,x:436,y:615,w:124,h:15},
{t:"Scripture. It is quite evident that he did not make “election” a cen-",p:66,x:105,y:639,w:449,h:15},
{t:"tral doctrine. He was not concerned with a resolute systematic the-",p:66,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ology of unambiguous and consistent ideas hermetically sealed in ",p:66,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"a mold of airtight logic. Because of this, he would not stress any ",p:66,x:105,y:712,w:444,h:15},
{t:"one doctrine as the basis of his theology",p:66,x:105,y:737,w:276,h:15},
{t:". There is perhaps much ",p:66,x:387,y:737,w:170,h:15},
{t:"more variety and subtlety to his thought than was admitted by his ",p:66,x:105,y:761,w:454,h:15},
{t:"disciples who became craftsmen of something less than biblical",p:66,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"wholeness. They reveal an anxious drive for consistency; he a sur",p:66,x:105,y:810,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:66,x:550,y:810,w:5,h:15},
{t:"prising resourcefulness that may well have been his response to ",p:66,x:105,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the needs of his parishioners.",p:66,x:105,y:858,w:193,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   62",p:66,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:66,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:67,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:67,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:67,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:67,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:67,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:67,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"It is easy to forget that doctrine must not become doctrinaire. ",p:67,x:134,y:104,w:417,h:15},
{t:"Yet this happened when “predestination” was pushed forward to ",p:67,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"where “destiny” previously had answered the control question in ",p:67,x:104,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"uncertain and questionable moral circumstances of life. But with ",p:67,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"that change no better answer was given, for the moral question ",p:67,x:104,y:201,w:455,h:15},
{t:"about who is in charge of a contradictory, wicked, and painful life ",p:67,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"remained unanswered in areas in which no direct moral and factual",p:67,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"connection exists between cause and ef fect. Pointing to the sinful-",p:67,x:104,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"ness of men and women to explain so much tragedy and pain is one",p:67,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"thing. But to see all of it as a matter of cause and ef",p:67,x:104,y:323,w:340,h:15},
{t:"fect, as normal ",p:67,x:454,y:323,w:104,h:15},
{t:"and in some way therefore as good and desired by the Sovereign ",p:67,x:104,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"either makes him evil or our perceptions perverse.",p:67,x:104,y:372,w:334,h:15},
{t:"Predestination also became a way to explain why some people",p:67,x:134,y:396,w:410,h:15},
{t:"believe and others do not. God had chosen to do something for",p:67,x:104,y:420,w:440,h:15},
{t:"some and not for others, without explaining why there is a mess",p:67,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to start with. Some had simply received faith or something from",p:67,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God and others had not. The Holy Spirit regenerated those select-",p:67,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ed, while not raising others from the common spiritual death for",p:67,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"which we were responsible before we were able to think and act. ",p:67,x:104,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"That appears to be a neat but deadly , system. It is like the millstone",p:67,x:104,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Jesus speaks about in Matthew 18:6 that will also drown teachers",p:67,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"who keep people from coming to believe. But now it is tied to ",p:67,x:104,y:615,w:446,h:15},
{t:"those who seek to know . They are told that their search is hopeless, ",p:67,x:104,y:639,w:446,h:15},
{t:"they are unable even to seek; it is all a matter of predestination ",p:67,x:104,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"from God alone. ",p:67,x:104,y:688,w:113,h:15},
{t:"Happily, this has nothing to do with what the Bible brings us",p:67,x:134,y:712,w:411,h:15},
{t:"concerning God’s word and work in history. For while this view ",p:67,x:104,y:737,w:455,h:15},
{t:"has all the appearance of a neat system and gives tight explana-",p:67,x:104,y:761,w:440,h:15},
{t:"tions of all kinds of things happening, it is precisely only that:",p:67,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"neat. But it is not clean, coherent, or scriptural. It is impersonal, ",p:67,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"seemingly arbitrary, but in any case not moral. It is in no way re-",p:67,x:104,y:834,w:442,h:15},
{t:"spectful of human beings, who did not choose to even be born in ",p:67,x:104,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the first place. ",p:67,x:104,y:883,w:98,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   63",p:67,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:67,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:68,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:68,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:68,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:68,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God’s respect for his unfaithful bride, Israel (seen in Hosea ",p:68,x:135,y:104,w:425,h:15},
{t:"and other prophetic writings), pleading with her to return, is a far",p:68,x:105,y:128,w:438,h:15},
{t:"more obvious and repeated expression of God’ s way of dealing ",p:68,x:105,y:153,w:455,h:15},
{t:"with his sinful creation.",p:68,x:105,y:177,w:157,h:15},
{t:"There is no room in the rigidly deterministic system associ-",p:68,x:135,y:201,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ated with Calvinism for real personality in either God or human-",p:68,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity. In fact, it parallels the fatalistic views of other religions. Man ",p:68,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"is always the victim of higher powers and more dominant forces ",p:68,x:105,y:274,w:455,h:15},
{t:"of longer duration. Whether you name this Allah or God, energy ",p:68,x:105,y:299,w:455,h:15},
{t:"or extraterrestrials, stars, ancestors, or history",p:68,x:105,y:323,w:314,h:15},
{t:", in each case this ",p:68,x:427,y:323,w:134,h:15},
{t:"view leaves you in an impersonal universe. ",p:68,x:105,y:347,w:295,h:15},
{t:"The passion of Christ ",p:68,x:407,y:347,w:152,h:15},
{t:"is then contrived, the labor of the Apostles mere play-acting, the ",p:68,x:105,y:372,w:455,h:15},
{t:"apologetics of the church merely a piece of theater with a prepared ",p:68,x:105,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"script. There is no Yahweh left, once God is seen as the puller of",p:68,x:105,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"levers who predestines this or that, whatever",p:68,x:105,y:445,w:296,h:15},
{t:".",p:68,x:409,y:445,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Calvin’s disciples were not the fi rst to envision such a God ",p:68,x:135,y:469,w:421,h:15},
{t:"and to advocate such a one-sided source of history",p:68,x:105,y:493,w:353,h:15},
{t:", where only ",p:68,x:466,y:493,w:93,h:15},
{t:"one actor pulls all the strings. As we shall see, the Bible does not",p:68,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"teach this—if it did, it would be out of reach of critical evaluation ",p:68,x:105,y:542,w:442,h:15},
{t:"and would have to be believed blindly and stupidly",p:68,x:105,y:566,w:353,h:15},
{t:", without the ",p:68,x:466,y:566,w:94,h:15},
{t:"possibility of examination. “Come now , let us reason together",p:68,x:105,y:591,w:434,h:15},
{t:",” ",p:68,x:544,y:591,w:18,h:15},
{t:"God’s words to Isaiah in Isaiah 1:18, would be a silly phrase if",p:68,x:105,y:615,w:440,h:15},
{t:"humankind were unable to recognize reality, did not have choices ",p:68,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:15},
{t:"with consequences, options between alternatives and insights for",p:68,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the evaluation of what is good, just, and beautiful.",p:68,x:105,y:688,w:333,h:15},
{t:"The early church already fell to the Greek and Gnostic tempta-",p:68,x:135,y:712,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tion, and Paul wrote against these repeatedly . I am confi dent that ",p:68,x:105,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the Apostolic writing is not the fruit of their knowledge of Greek ",p:68,x:105,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"thought. That idea was a proposition of nineteenth century schol-",p:68,x:105,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"arship long since disproved. The New Testament authors speak ",p:68,x:105,y:810,w:453,h:15},
{t:"for God and from revelation, not for idols or from Greek philo-",p:68,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sophic refl ection. They lived in a Roman and Greek environment, ",p:68,x:105,y:858,w:447,h:15},
{t:"but at a critical distance from it in a conceptual world informed ",p:68,x:105,y:883,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   64",p:68,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:68,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:69,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:69,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:69,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:69,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:69,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:69,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"by Hebrew Scripture, thought, and expectations. ",p:69,x:104,y:104,w:334,h:15},
{t:"There is an im-",p:69,x:446,y:104,w:105,h:15},
{t:"portant distinction here. In the New Testament, we are faced with ",p:69,x:104,y:128,w:454,h:15},
{t:"a completely different worldview about man and God, about time ",p:69,x:104,y:153,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and knowledge, about history and meaning. We saw in the last ",p:69,x:104,y:177,w:456,h:15},
{t:"chapter how Paul’s teaching in Thessalonica had overturned the ",p:69,x:104,y:201,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Greek philosophic horizon by turning his audience from idols to ",p:69,x:104,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the true and living God, by giving them a sense of purposeful his-",p:69,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tory, an expectation of life after death, and a realization that we",p:69,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"live in a moral universe under the judgment of God. ",p:69,x:104,y:299,w:350,h:15},
{t:"But in the next few generations in the Church, the Gnostic",p:69,x:134,y:323,w:410,h:15},
{t:"temptations became stronger . Perhaps the desire to meet halfway ",p:69,x:104,y:347,w:449,h:15},
{t:"softened the distinctions between Jerusalem and ",p:69,x:104,y:372,w:328,h:15},
{t:"Athens, between ",p:69,x:440,y:372,w:116,h:15},
{t:"Greek absolute forms and God’ s eternal existence in holiness. In ",p:69,x:104,y:396,w:449,h:15},
{t:"our own time, we fi nd many who suggest that Islam lacks only ",p:69,x:104,y:420,w:449,h:15},
{t:"faith in Jesus to become the same as Christianity",p:69,x:104,y:445,w:335,h:15},
{t:". Yet the differ-",p:69,x:447,y:445,w:107,h:15},
{t:"ence is not only in Jesus, but in the nature and character of ",p:69,x:104,y:469,w:403,h:15},
{t:"Allah ",p:69,x:517,y:469,w:41,h:15},
{t:"and Yahweh. From the determination of divine character ",p:69,x:104,y:493,w:375,h:15},
{t:"flow vari-",p:69,x:488,y:493,w:64,h:15},
{t:"ous views about truth, humanity , history, meaning, and life itself.",p:69,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Free Fr om the Fetters of Fate",p:69,x:104,y:566,w:252,h:19},
{t:"Let me now return to the blurring of biblical views by an ef",p:69,x:134,y:610,w:385,h:15},
{t:"fort ",p:69,x:530,y:610,w:27,h:15},
{t:"to conform to the expectations of the surrounding culture. Related ",p:69,x:104,y:634,w:451,h:15},
{t:"to the discussion about predestination, the Greeks had their Fates, ",p:69,x:104,y:658,w:443,h:15},
{t:"which controlled even what the gods did. Some apologists in the",p:69,x:104,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"second century tried to appeal to the all-knowing God of the Bible ",p:69,x:104,y:707,w:453,h:15},
{t:"as the equivalent of what the Greeks sought with their unknown ",p:69,x:104,y:731,w:445,h:15},
{t:"fates. God, they said, is perfect. Perfection requires total knowl-",p:69,x:104,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"edge, where nothing is ever added. Perfect knowledge requires that",p:69,x:104,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"nothing will happen that is not known and therefore ",p:69,x:104,y:804,w:362,h:15},
{t:"fi xed ahead ",p:69,x:475,y:804,w:83,h:15},
{t:"of time. If God knows everything, people cannot do anything new",p:69,x:104,y:829,w:439,h:15},
{t:"or original. Therefore God does it all according to his knowledge. ",p:69,x:104,y:853,w:445,h:15},
{t:"God controls what happens in history",p:69,x:104,y:877,w:249,h:15},
{t:". ",p:69,x:359,y:877,w:8,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   65",p:69,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:69,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:70,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:70,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:70,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:70,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"The knowledge of God requires, in this view , the occurrence ",p:70,x:135,y:104,w:424,h:15},
{t:"of events. But that idea is fatalism and not consistent with the God ",p:70,x:105,y:128,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of the Bible in either Old or New Testaments. Yahweh knows all ",p:70,x:105,y:153,w:455,h:15},
{t:"kinds of things that will not happen, because other personages will",p:70,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"make their own known choices to prevent things from happening. ",p:70,x:105,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"David’s reaction to the announcement from a knowing God that",p:70,x:105,y:226,w:441,h:15},
{t:"citizens of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:7) will hand him over to his enemy ",p:70,x:105,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Saul makes it impossible for the events to ever occur—because ",p:70,x:105,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"David, of course, runs away . Thanks to God he knew what would ",p:70,x:105,y:299,w:449,h:15},
{t:"happen if he sat still. Not being a fool, he runs away from ",p:70,x:105,y:323,w:407,h:15},
{t:"what ",p:70,x:522,y:323,w:38,h:15},
{t:"God told him would happen, and so, as God already knew",p:70,x:105,y:347,w:382,h:15},
{t:", it never ",p:70,x:496,y:347,w:63,h:15},
{t:"happens.",p:70,x:105,y:372,w:58,h:15},
{t:"We shall consider later fl aws in that argument about God’s ",p:70,x:135,y:396,w:426,h:15},
{t:"omniscience and how dif ferent the God of the Bible is from the",p:70,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"idea of divine perfection in Greek paganism. ",p:70,x:105,y:445,w:299,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible ",p:70,x:412,y:445,w:147,h:15},
{t:"is not “perfection” as an ideal. Only his character and what he",p:70,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"does and thinks are free from ",p:70,x:105,y:493,w:198,h:15},
{t:"flaws. In his knowledge there are no ",p:70,x:309,y:493,w:245,h:15},
{t:"voids. God created a real world with a real history",p:70,x:105,y:518,w:332,h:15},
{t:", containing real ",p:70,x:445,y:518,w:114,h:15},
{t:"personages that create new situations, all of which God knows. ",p:70,x:105,y:542,w:446,h:15},
{t:"Yet events and personalities do not happen under divine approval",p:70,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"when evil is created. ",p:70,x:105,y:591,w:141,h:15},
{t:"Think of it: God did not create everything at once. He took ",p:70,x:135,y:615,w:416,h:15},
{t:"some time, six days of whatever length, we are told. ",p:70,x:105,y:639,w:363,h:15},
{t:"After a day ",p:70,x:476,y:639,w:82,h:15},
{t:"of rest he creates more all along real history",p:70,x:105,y:664,w:290,h:15},
{t:", such as when he took ",p:70,x:402,y:664,w:153,h:15},
{t:"fi ve loaves and two fi sh and made lunch for fi ve thousand people ",p:70,x:105,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"as recounted in John 6. But more than that, God did not create ev-",p:70,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"erything that now exists. He gave the mandate to create more and ",p:70,x:105,y:737,w:443,h:15},
{t:"more variety to humanity. Man gave names to the animals; God ",p:70,x:105,y:761,w:449,h:15},
{t:"did not! Adam and Eve created their relationship; God did not! ",p:70,x:105,y:785,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Man and woman create babies; God does not. Humanity created ",p:70,x:105,y:810,w:446,h:15},
{t:"sin on earth; God did not!",p:70,x:105,y:834,w:171,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is not the god of the Greeks, nor is he",p:70,x:135,y:858,w:410,h:15},
{t:"Allah of Islam or the puppeteer in heaven or the underlying ener",p:70,x:105,y:883,w:422,h:15},
{t:"gy ",p:70,x:538,y:883,w:20,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   66",p:70,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:25 PM",p:70,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:71,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:71,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:71,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:71,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:71,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:71,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"of the universe. He is not like some giant personal magnet hid-",p:71,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"den under a pane of glass, on the surface of which metal splinters",p:71,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"follow all the movements, seemingly by themselves, but in fact",p:71,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"blindly following the pull of the magnet below",p:71,x:104,y:177,w:311,h:15},
{t:". ",p:71,x:422,y:177,w:8,h:15},
{t:"In fact, all pagan cultures have their forces, spirits, and ghosts, ",p:71,x:134,y:201,w:412,h:15},
{t:"their god or gods or simple ener gy relations behind all occurrenc-",p:71,x:104,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"es in history. Greeks, Romans, Germanic tribes, and African and ",p:71,x:104,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Siberian animism all have in common that someone or something ",p:71,x:104,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"is behind the events we see and participate in. Nothing is left to ",p:71,x:104,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the creative originality of the creature. ",p:71,x:104,y:323,w:254,h:15},
{t:"There is no freedom, for ev-",p:71,x:366,y:323,w:183,h:15},
{t:"erything is tied together in the unseen reality behind the seen. ",p:71,x:104,y:347,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:71,x:528,y:347,w:30,h:15},
{t:"human being is always the victim, which is why there is tragedy:",p:71,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no matter what you choose or do, the outcome is always controlled ",p:71,x:104,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"from somewhere else.",p:71,x:104,y:420,w:146,h:15},
{t:"God’ s Choice: It Ain’t What Y",p:71,x:104,y:469,w:239,h:19},
{t:"ou Think It Is",p:71,x:368,y:469,w:105,h:19},
{t:"(Or, No God Behind This Messy Life)",p:71,x:104,y:503,w:251,h:15},
{t:"The word “predestined” is used in several places in the Bible, ",p:71,x:134,y:544,w:413,h:15},
{t:"but with quite a different meaning from how it is popularly used ",p:71,x:104,y:568,w:454,h:15},
{t:"to suggest the totality of God’ s actions. We need to look at them in ",p:71,x:104,y:593,w:449,h:15},
{t:"their context to see this. ",p:71,x:104,y:617,w:162,h:15},
{t:"Paul uses “predestination” at the end of a teaching that runs",p:71,x:134,y:641,w:409,h:15},
{t:"through all preceding chapters and ends in Romans 8 in a summa-",p:71,x:104,y:666,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ry, a doxology to God’s faithfulness in contrast to the sin of man. ",p:71,x:104,y:690,w:447,h:15},
{t:"Paul’s letter describes the mess we are in and how we got there. ",p:71,x:104,y:714,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Yet God, in spite of all we do, has prepared a way to end both ",p:71,x:104,y:739,w:446,h:15},
{t:"our foolishness in rebellion and his wrath over our sin through ",p:71,x:104,y:763,w:446,h:15},
{t:"the one savior, Jesus Christ. With his Holy Spirit we are living as ",p:71,x:104,y:787,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God’s children in the hope of glory , anticipating and living out the",p:71,x:104,y:812,w:444,h:15},
{t:"gradual repair to wholeness. We’re not there yet, but we are not ",p:71,x:104,y:836,w:455,h:15},
{t:"alone, not without truth and strength while we groan in the midst",p:71,x:104,y:860,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of a damaged reality, enabled to resist sin and evil.",p:71,x:104,y:885,w:340,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   67",p:71,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:71,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:72,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:72,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:72,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:72,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Francis Schaeffer ’s studies on the first eight chapters of Romans",p:72,x:135,y:104,w:415,h:15},
{t:"explain the Father",p:72,x:105,y:128,w:125,h:15},
{t:"’s wrath and sorrow that we have become so ",p:72,x:234,y:128,w:321,h:15},
{t:"foolish in our sin (Romans 1:18–32), whether we’re Gentiles in ",p:72,x:105,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the inconsistencies to our own standards (2:1–5) or Jews in our",p:72,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"disobedience to God’s law in the available text (2:17–29). Both ",p:72,x:105,y:201,w:449,h:15},
{t:"are guilty in reference to their own absolutes. God does not hold ",p:72,x:105,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"them to the same requirements, but both are morally guilty",p:72,x:105,y:250,w:406,h:15},
{t:", and ",p:72,x:521,y:250,w:39,h:15},
{t:"they know it! After the accusation, we are told how God can be just",p:72,x:105,y:274,w:441,h:15},
{t:"to condemn us and at the same time also be the one who justi",p:72,x:105,y:299,w:412,h:15},
{t:"fi es, ",p:72,x:527,y:299,w:31,h:15},
{t:"for he has taken the judgment with its consequences on himself",p:72,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(3:21–31). That is the same salvation for Old and New ",p:72,x:105,y:347,w:369,h:15},
{t:"Testament. ",p:72,x:481,y:347,w:76,h:15},
{t:"God’s followers of old believed what was yet to happen; we be-",p:72,x:105,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"lieve what has happened in the past. Both believe the work of God ",p:72,x:105,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in the Messiah Jesus (Romans 4). ",p:72,x:105,y:420,w:227,h:15},
{t:"In Romans, Paul continues to talk about the present work of",p:72,x:135,y:445,w:410,h:15},
{t:"Christ, in whose death we are baptized so that we should reckon ",p:72,x:105,y:469,w:454,h:15},
{t:"ourselves dead to sin (chapters 5 and 6); and the power of the ",p:72,x:105,y:493,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Spirit helps us in the battle against sin in the midst of all kinds of",p:72,x:105,y:518,w:438,h:15},
{t:"situations, in which we groan in agony , but look forward to glory ",p:72,x:105,y:542,w:450,h:15},
{t:"to be revealed in history (chapters 7 and 8). ",p:72,x:105,y:566,w:291,h:15},
{t:"All the mess now, part ",p:72,x:403,y:566,w:155,h:15},
{t:"of creation’s frustration, pain, and very real decay and bondage",p:72,x:105,y:591,w:441,h:15},
{t:"(8:20–21), will not hinder what God has yet in mind for us. He",p:72,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"does not approve of all this, but neither is he resigned to it or in ",p:72,x:105,y:639,w:444,h:15},
{t:"any way incapacitated by it. Instead, since Christ came to work ",p:72,x:105,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"for us, who can be against us? God is working for those who love",p:72,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"him (both Gentile and Jew), who have been called according to his",p:72,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined (8:28–30).",p:72,x:105,y:737,w:429,h:15},
{t:"In the flow of the letter to the Romans this speaks about God’",p:72,x:135,y:761,w:405,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:72,x:549,y:761,w:10,h:15},
{t:"battle to redeem anyone. The purposes of God are to give redemp-",p:72,x:105,y:785,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tion through the work of Christ. He knows each person and has set",p:72,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"out that which is necessary to make this possible in spite of what-",p:72,x:105,y:834,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ever horrible circumstances are placed in the way by us and by ",p:72,x:105,y:858,w:446,h:15},
{t:"others. But notice that God speaks here, after Romans 5:1, to be-",p:72,x:105,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   68",p:72,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:72,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:73,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:73,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:73,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:73,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:73,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:73,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"lievers, not to the human race as a whole. ",p:73,x:104,y:104,w:283,h:15},
{t:"The decision to believe ",p:73,x:394,y:104,w:164,h:15},
{t:"or not to believe is made by the time you come to Romans 5:1. ",p:73,x:104,y:128,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Paul confi rms God’s determination to follow through with those",p:73,x:104,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"who trust in God. Paul does not say how they came to faith or that",p:73,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God selected some for salvation and rejected others. ",p:73,x:104,y:201,w:352,h:15},
{t:"The other, more common view of predestination, describes our",p:73,x:134,y:226,w:411,h:15},
{t:"shopping habits and political choices, but not the acts of God. We ",p:73,x:104,y:250,w:454,h:15},
{t:"select, for manifold and often hidden reasons, one model fridge",p:73,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"over another, to eat out or to tithe in church, to marry one person ",p:73,x:104,y:299,w:445,h:15},
{t:"rather than another, and to talk to a cat as a silent presence rather",p:73,x:104,y:323,w:441,h:15},
{t:"than to have children who interrupt. ",p:73,x:104,y:347,w:244,h:15},
{t:"That is “selection” and is ab-",p:73,x:355,y:347,w:194,h:15},
{t:"sent from the biblical idea of predestination. ",p:73,x:104,y:372,w:299,h:15},
{t:"Even Abraham was not selected in such a way , “shopped” ",p:73,x:134,y:396,w:427,h:15},
{t:"from among the entire human race to become the father of many ",p:73,x:104,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"nations and the carrier of the Lord’ s messianic blessing. He was ",p:73,x:104,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"not chosen for salvation in Genesis 12, for he must already have",p:73,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"believed in the God of heaven. In his social context everyone else",p:73,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"believed in pagan deities of land and water and seasons of the year. ",p:73,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Yet Abram believed that God spoke instructions rather than have",p:73,x:104,y:542,w:440,h:15},
{t:"him glean them from the community or hear them in the whispers",p:73,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of the wind. He did not follow the Ugaritic Epic, in which people",p:73,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"listen to the “speech of the tree and whisper of the ",p:73,x:104,y:615,w:342,h:15},
{t:"stone.” He be-",p:73,x:456,y:615,w:96,h:15},
{t:"lieved that the mind is involved in understanding God, not primar",p:73,x:104,y:639,w:433,h:15},
{t:"-",p:73,x:549,y:639,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ily experiences or feelings or a sense of community",p:73,x:104,y:664,w:343,h:15},
{t:". ",p:73,x:455,y:664,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Abraham chose to follow God’ s promises about Israel’s hope ",p:73,x:134,y:688,w:424,h:15},
{t:"about the coming exclusive savior for all people and nations. It",p:73,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"was repeated where the text, even before it was written down, was",p:73,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"believed more than the myths. Abel believed this knowledge in ",p:73,x:104,y:761,w:456,h:15},
{t:"contrast to his brother Cain; Noah believed it though his neighbors",p:73,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"did not. Psalm 19 beautifully reminds us that nature is magni",p:73,x:104,y:810,w:402,h:15},
{t:"fi cent ",p:73,x:517,y:810,w:42,h:15},
{t:"and speaks the language of order , power, and glory. But “there is ",p:73,x:104,y:834,w:455,h:15},
{t:"no utterance, there are no words, whose sound goes unheard.” It",p:73,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"does not speak. For speech we require more, the law of God, his",p:73,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   69",p:73,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:73,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:74,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:74,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:74,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:74,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"ordinances, precepts, the teaching of the Lord that renews life (v",p:74,x:105,y:104,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:74,x:551,y:104,w:8,h:15},
{t:"8ff.). Language, not experience, informs Abraham and us about ",p:74,x:105,y:128,w:456,h:15},
{t:"purpose, and words of promise lay the foundation for hope in real",p:74,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"history. ",p:74,x:105,y:177,w:54,h:15},
{t:"The doxology at the end of Romans 8 states God’",p:74,x:135,y:201,w:323,h:15},
{t:"s whole com-",p:74,x:465,y:201,w:88,h:15},
{t:"mitment to our salvation and glori",p:74,x:105,y:226,w:223,h:15},
{t:"fication (resurrection and whole-",p:74,x:334,y:226,w:215,h:15},
{t:"ness). Nothing will be able to foil this. ",p:74,x:105,y:250,w:265,h:15},
{t:"The comfort lies in God’s ",p:74,x:377,y:250,w:182,h:15},
{t:"commitment to himself, his victory over present and very real and ",p:74,x:105,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"despicable adversity. We do not live in a safe or good world, but",p:74,x:105,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God has committed himself to deliver salvation for our guilt and ",p:74,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"glory for a new creation in the resurrection.",p:74,x:105,y:347,w:289,h:15},
{t:"It would be unconscionably wrong to read into the single word ",p:74,x:135,y:372,w:413,h:15},
{t:"“predestined” a form of selection for some and a rejection of oth-",p:74,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ers. “Those whom he foreknew” in the same context must not be",p:74,x:105,y:420,w:440,h:15},
{t:"seen as fi tting into the Greek idea of God’ s perfection, but rather ",p:74,x:105,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"in the Jewish sense of a dynamic history . Of course God knows all ",p:74,x:105,y:469,w:453,h:15},
{t:"things and people and their choices. But the knowledge of God is",p:74,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not a mechanism in any form of controlled events. ",p:74,x:105,y:518,w:352,h:15},
{t:"That was the ",p:74,x:465,y:518,w:95,h:15},
{t:"case for paganism, for views about fate and destiny",p:74,x:105,y:542,w:347,h:15},
{t:". But it is for-",p:74,x:460,y:542,w:95,h:15},
{t:"eign to the biblical understanding.",p:74,x:105,y:566,w:227,h:15},
{t:"Already in the next chapter of Romans, many teachers ",p:74,x:135,y:591,w:384,h:15},
{t:"fi nd ",p:74,x:529,y:591,w:30,h:15},
{t:"more evidence for their view of God’ s choice of individuals in the",p:74,x:105,y:615,w:445,h:15},
{t:"affairs of faith and salvation. Romans 9 through 1",p:74,x:105,y:639,w:326,h:15},
{t:"1 form a separate ",p:74,x:439,y:639,w:119,h:15},
{t:"section in Paul’s letter. They treat remaining issues that need clari-",p:74,x:105,y:664,w:442,h:15},
{t:"fication. Until now Paul has dealt with the problem of rebellion for",p:74,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the whole human race, the one savior from God, the hope of glory ",p:74,x:105,y:712,w:453,h:15},
{t:"in spite of the present evidence of suf fering, death, and frustration ",p:74,x:105,y:737,w:449,h:15},
{t:"to the contrary. Just as Romans 1–8 ends with a doxology to the",p:74,x:105,y:761,w:442,h:15},
{t:"praise of God, so chapter 1 1 ends with exuberant doxology . ",p:74,x:105,y:785,w:409,h:15},
{t:"Again we have a whole treatment or discussion of questions, ",p:74,x:135,y:810,w:415,h:15},
{t:"not just verses to pick and choose to your liking. Paul did not state",p:74,x:105,y:834,w:438,h:15},
{t:"what he liked. This is not of personal interest only . He did not write ",p:74,x:105,y:858,w:453,h:15},
{t:"to Rome in the way a child may do a “show and tell” in class. Paul",p:74,x:105,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   70",p:74,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:74,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:75,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:75,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:75,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:75,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:75,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:75,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"addressed the common human dilemma and the single solution in ",p:75,x:104,y:104,w:452,h:15},
{t:"the fi rst eight chapters of his letter to the Christians in Rome. In ",p:75,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"what follows he dealt with a distinction that was thought to have",p:75,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"some significance. It still exists and is in no way diminished by the",p:75,x:104,y:177,w:440,h:15},
{t:"discussion relating to common guilt and the common savior",p:75,x:104,y:201,w:399,h:15},
{t:". ",p:75,x:512,y:201,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Why Jacob and Not Esau?",p:75,x:104,y:250,w:214,h:19},
{t:"In Romans chapter nine, Paul raises that distinction as a seri-",p:75,x:134,y:293,w:419,h:15},
{t:"ous question that remains after understanding the ",p:75,x:104,y:318,w:342,h:15},
{t:"fi rst section in ",p:75,x:455,y:318,w:103,h:15},
{t:"chapters 1–8. There he had clearly said that both Jew and Gentile",p:75,x:104,y:342,w:441,h:15},
{t:"are in the same mess. They are both under God’s wrath, because ",p:75,x:104,y:366,w:455,h:15},
{t:"both have sinned and are guilty . Their one hope of salvation is in ",p:75,x:104,y:391,w:449,h:15},
{t:"Christ’s fi nished work. “What then is so special about the Jews?”",p:75,x:104,y:415,w:441,h:15},
{t:"and “Why did God choose the Jews?” are the questions Paul now",p:75,x:104,y:439,w:439,h:15},
{t:"answers. They persist. They deal with history . ",p:75,x:104,y:464,w:316,h:15},
{t:"I have always received a certain amount of pleasure as a",p:75,x:134,y:488,w:410,h:15},
{t:"German to say that I believe what Abraham believed, with the one",p:75,x:104,y:512,w:445,h:15},
{t:"difference that he looked forward in time to what I look backward ",p:75,x:104,y:537,w:443,h:15},
{t:"to. I then add that Abraham seems to have been a lone believer",p:75,x:104,y:561,w:443,h:15},
{t:"among Noah’s descendents who did not fall into the trap of pagan ",p:75,x:104,y:585,w:445,h:15},
{t:"fatalism or animism. ",p:75,x:104,y:610,w:141,h:15},
{t:"Jews would ask this question themselves, since the core of their",p:75,x:134,y:634,w:409,h:15},
{t:"whole experience and faith is that God spoke primarily to them",p:75,x:104,y:658,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and not to others. Paul af firms this and lists all kind of things that",p:75,x:104,y:683,w:443,h:15},
{t:"were special to the Jews, of whom he was one (Romans 9:3–5). ",p:75,x:104,y:707,w:417,h:15},
{t:"Yet ",p:75,x:531,y:707,w:26,h:15},
{t:"“not all who are descended from Israel are Israel (9:6).” He con-",p:75,x:104,y:731,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tinues with this to point out that what mattered was trust in God’",p:75,x:104,y:756,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:75,x:548,y:756,w:10,h:15},
{t:"promise of a savior, just as Abraham believed both before Isaac’s ",p:75,x:104,y:780,w:454,h:15},
{t:"conception and when he was prepared to sacri",p:75,x:104,y:804,w:303,h:15},
{t:"fice him about twen-",p:75,x:415,y:804,w:136,h:15},
{t:"ty years later, knowing that this would not mean the end of Isaac. ",p:75,x:104,y:829,w:446,h:15},
{t:"Instead God would “provide himself a sacri",p:75,x:104,y:853,w:290,h:15},
{t:"fice,” and the ram was ",p:75,x:402,y:853,w:156,h:15},
{t:"caught in the thicket for Abraham’s knife (Genesis 22). ",p:75,x:104,y:877,w:376,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   71",p:75,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:75,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:76,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:76,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:76,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:76,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"It is in the following curious passage about Jacob and Esau ",p:76,x:135,y:104,w:416,h:15},
{t:"(Genesis 9:10–15) where many ",p:76,x:105,y:128,w:215,h:15},
{t:"fi nd an anchor for their view that",p:76,x:326,y:128,w:224,h:15},
{t:"God chooses some for salvation and others for condemnation for",p:76,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"reasons known only to his own immutable, wise, and inscrutable",p:76,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"counsel. Jacob receives the “yes,” Esau the “no.”",p:76,x:105,y:201,w:326,h:15},
{t:"Now that should raise some questions for both believers and ",p:76,x:135,y:226,w:415,h:15},
{t:"non-believers. For the former it raises the question about God’",p:76,x:105,y:250,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:76,x:549,y:250,w:12,h:15},
{t:"justice: what is this wise, immutable counsel to which we are not",p:76,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"privy except in its consequences? How reliable are the words of",p:76,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God in any area, if such a centrally important choice over eternal",p:76,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"salvation is not subject to review or normal standards of ratio-",p:76,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"nality or justice? The non-believer would rightfully ask why he",p:76,x:105,y:372,w:442,h:15},
{t:"would be held accountable in matters in which he does not have a",p:76,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choice in any case. He would wonder about that if he were kindly ",p:76,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"disposed towards God. More justi",p:76,x:105,y:445,w:228,h:15},
{t:"fi ed would be the response that ",p:76,x:339,y:445,w:220,h:15},
{t:"with such a God one does not want to have anything to do anyway",p:76,x:105,y:469,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:76,x:551,y:469,w:7,h:15},
{t:"As a student in our house once remarked: “If God is not also ",p:76,x:105,y:493,w:406,h:15},
{t:"Aunt ",p:76,x:521,y:493,w:37,h:15},
{t:"Sophie’s savior (who sought the truth all her life), then he is no ",p:76,x:105,y:518,w:446,h:15},
{t:"one’s savior!”",p:76,x:105,y:542,w:93,h:15},
{t:"As you follow along you will notice again that in Romans",p:76,x:135,y:566,w:410,h:15},
{t:"chapter nine Paul is not at all talking about individuals being ",p:76,x:105,y:591,w:447,h:15},
{t:"saved. He is talking about what is special about the Jews, when ",p:76,x:105,y:615,w:445,h:15},
{t:"all people, both Gentile and Jew, have sinned (in the past) and fall ",p:76,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:15},
{t:"short of God’s perfect standard (in the present). The text “Jacob ",p:76,x:105,y:664,w:454,h:15},
{t:"I loved, but Esau I hated” (v . 13) is a quote from Malachi 1:2–3 ",p:76,x:105,y:688,w:449,h:15},
{t:"which is the last book of the Old Testament, written around one ",p:76,x:105,y:712,w:455,h:15},
{t:"thousand years after the boys had their struggles. It addresses the ",p:76,x:105,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"people of Israel, not Jacob the person who stole the birthright from",p:76,x:105,y:761,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Esau for mixed reasons. Esau showed in many ways that he was",p:76,x:105,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"not at all interested in the things of God. He treated the birthright",p:76,x:105,y:810,w:438,h:15},
{t:"lightly to satisfy a momentary hunger and broke the family ",p:76,x:105,y:834,w:393,h:15},
{t:"pattern ",p:76,x:508,y:834,w:50,h:15},
{t:"when he married Hittite wives. ",p:76,x:105,y:858,w:210,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   72",p:76,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:76,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"God Pre",p:77,x:200,y:57,w:60,h:14},
{t:"sent in His",p:77,x:278,y:57,w:79,h:14},
{t:"tor y, Bu",p:77,x:387,y:57,w:69,h:14},
{t:"t W",p:77,x:469,y:57,w:27,h:14},
{t:"here?",p:77,x:504,y:57,w:38,h:14},
{t:"",p:77,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"I fi nd no way to get around this focus on the Jews as distinct",p:77,x:134,y:104,w:410,h:15},
{t:"from the Edomites in Romans 9, unless you pick and choose the",p:77,x:104,y:128,w:440,h:15},
{t:"verses you like for your prior theological program or denomina-",p:77,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tional affi liation, then read them without any regard for what is",p:77,x:104,y:177,w:441,h:15},
{t:"said in those verses as part of a ",p:77,x:104,y:201,w:216,h:15},
{t:"fl owing proposition. Paul did not",p:77,x:326,y:201,w:222,h:15},
{t:"write in isolated verses; he penned a coherent letter meant to be",p:77,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"taken in context. The Bible is not like a quarry where we pick vari-",p:77,x:104,y:250,w:441,h:15},
{t:"ous stones to construct what we wish to see. ",p:77,x:104,y:274,w:298,h:15},
{t:"God is saying something very speci",p:77,x:134,y:299,w:256,h:15},
{t:"fi c and quite different ",p:77,x:396,y:299,w:166,h:15},
{t:"from what many would like to ",p:77,x:104,y:323,w:204,h:15},
{t:"find here: Israel, in contrast to Esau ",p:77,x:314,y:323,w:238,h:15},
{t:"and the Edomites, was chosen to be the carrier of the promised ",p:77,x:104,y:347,w:445,h:15},
{t:"Messiah. The Messiah was born to the nation of Israel in the tribe",p:77,x:104,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"of Judah, son of Jacob, in the house of David, from the vir",p:77,x:104,y:396,w:378,h:15},
{t:"gin Mary ",p:77,x:492,y:396,w:64,h:15},
{t:"through no merit of her own in Bethlehem to be the Savior made",p:77,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"available to all nations. That is the Abrahamic Covenant again.",p:77,x:104,y:445,w:424,h:15},
{t:"The choice of Jacob over Esau proceeds from the promise of",p:77,x:134,y:469,w:410,h:15},
{t:"the solution from sin and the fall by God, who grieves over what",p:77,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"creatures have done with his creation. He remains innocent of their ",p:77,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"choices but engaged in their redemption. He chooses to commit",p:77,x:104,y:542,w:440,h:15},
{t:"himself to fully redeem a people who seek to know him. People",p:77,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"would be made up of many nations, but the Messiah would come",p:77,x:104,y:591,w:440,h:15},
{t:"from a Jewish woman. He would not be born from Germans or",p:77,x:104,y:615,w:440,h:15},
{t:"Tibetans. He would not be found in a Lotus flower, but his ancestor ",p:77,x:104,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"would be rescued in a basket among the reeds that line the Nile. ",p:77,x:104,y:664,w:444,h:15},
{t:"God, who invested so much of himself in his creation, is not ready ",p:77,x:104,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"to abandon it for any reason, ever",p:77,x:104,y:712,w:223,h:15},
{t:".",p:77,x:333,y:712,w:4,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   73",p:77,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:77,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:78,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER FIVE",p:78,x:274,y:239,w:101,h:15},
{t:"PREDESTINATION ",p:78,x:196,y:284,w:269,h:25},
{t:"AND DE TER MINIS M",p:78,x:183,y:321,w:293,h:25},
{t:"Pharaoh Must Blame Himself",p:78,x:104,y:437,w:240,h:19},
{t:"The statement, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated,” in Paul’",p:78,x:134,y:481,w:404,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:78,x:548,y:481,w:12,h:15},
{t:"discussion with the church in Rome is not the only one whose",p:78,x:104,y:505,w:440,h:15},
{t:"misinterpretation leads to a ",p:78,x:104,y:529,w:190,h:15},
{t:"fl awed understanding of God’ s work ",p:78,x:300,y:529,w:259,h:15},
{t:"on our behalf. Such distortions can happen in many places when ",p:78,x:104,y:554,w:445,h:15},
{t:"an ideology, such as a narrow view of divine sovereignty",p:78,x:104,y:578,w:382,h:15},
{t:", is taken ",p:78,x:493,y:578,w:64,h:15},
{t:"as a measure of the text rather than letting the text speak for itself. ",p:78,x:104,y:602,w:442,h:15},
{t:"There are two other references to the Old Testament in this same ",p:78,x:104,y:627,w:455,h:15},
{t:"ninth chapter of Romans that are squeezed to support a particular",p:78,x:104,y:651,w:439,h:15},
{t:"view of God’s sovereignty over people and history . Just as in the ",p:78,x:104,y:675,w:454,h:15},
{t:"first, the next two references to God’ s hand in our salvation do not",p:78,x:104,y:700,w:445,h:15},
{t:"point to a selection process or to the salvation of individuals. Both ",p:78,x:104,y:724,w:442,h:15},
{t:"quotations reveal the mercy of God to the people of Israel for the",p:78,x:104,y:748,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sake of our salvation by faith in the coming Christ. By this mercy ",p:78,x:104,y:773,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God delivered Israel out of Egyptian slavery . By the same mercy ",p:78,x:104,y:797,w:452,h:15},
{t:"God sent prophets to bring Israel repeatedly to repentance. ",p:78,x:104,y:821,w:394,h:15},
{t:"Again, let us look to see from where Paul quotes these illus-",p:78,x:134,y:846,w:410,h:15},
{t:"trations. After all, the Old Testament was his book of God’ s word. ",p:78,x:104,y:870,w:454,h:15},
{t:"In the first citation Paul refers to Israel’ s deliverance from slavery ",p:78,x:104,y:894,w:454,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   75",p:78,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:78,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:79,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:79,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:79,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:79,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"in Egypt, which is described in great detail in Exodus. Paul would ",p:79,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"expect his audience in Rome to be familiar with this central event",p:79,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in Israel’s history to which the prophets and the Psalmist refer fre-",p:79,x:105,y:153,w:440,h:15},
{t:"quently and which is commemorated in the yearly Passover Feast",p:79,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"anticipating the death of the Lamb of God. ",p:79,x:105,y:201,w:288,h:15},
{t:"Pharaoh had his heart hardened, just as God promised Moses",p:79,x:135,y:226,w:410,h:15},
{t:"in his fear and hesitation. But again, just as in God’",p:79,x:105,y:250,w:354,h:15},
{t:"s earlier dis-",p:79,x:468,y:250,w:84,h:15},
{t:"tinction of Israel, God’ s dealing with Pharaoh is not a freak event",p:79,x:105,y:274,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of divine mind control while Pharaoh had his mind on other things, ",p:79,x:105,y:299,w:442,h:15},
{t:"perhaps sitting among his date palms or visiting yet another palace",p:79,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"built by Israelite slave labor",p:79,x:105,y:347,w:182,h:15},
{t:". The record in Exodus shows how sev-",p:79,x:292,y:347,w:257,h:15},
{t:"eral plagues fell over Egypt before Pharaoh insisted with ",p:79,x:105,y:372,w:392,h:15},
{t:"fi nality ",p:79,x:507,y:372,w:51,h:15},
{t:"that he would not “let my people go.” Early on he had already lost",p:79,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the support amongst his diviners, who gradually realized that they ",p:79,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"could no longer counter the powerful and terrible miracles of God. ",p:79,x:105,y:445,w:442,h:15},
{t:"They urged Pharaoh to back of f, but he would not. Just as a post",p:79,x:105,y:469,w:444,h:15},
{t:"planted into cement can be moved for a while before the cement",p:79,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"hardens, so Pharaoh’s heart hardened more with each plague until",p:79,x:105,y:518,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the Lord said something like, “ That’s it, enough. Now there is no ",p:79,x:105,y:542,w:449,h:15},
{t:"more movement in the mud, no more backing out of the grave you ",p:79,x:105,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"have dug yourself.”",p:79,x:105,y:591,w:130,h:15},
{t:"God promised that he would harden Pharaoh’ s heart (Exodus ",p:79,x:135,y:615,w:424,h:15},
{t:"4:21; 7:3), just as he promised to give Moses courage (3:12), a",p:79,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"speaker in his brother Aaron (4:10–17), and miracles such as the",p:79,x:105,y:664,w:443,h:15},
{t:"snake turning into a staf f (4:1–9). ",p:79,x:105,y:688,w:231,h:15},
{t:"Yet the text does not recount God’ s hardening Pharaoh’s heart ",p:79,x:135,y:712,w:423,h:15},
{t:"until Exodus 9:12. Each of the plagues of blood, ",p:79,x:105,y:737,w:323,h:15},
{t:"flies, gnats, boils, ",p:79,x:437,y:737,w:119,h:15},
{t:"and hail left Pharaoh still with a choice. But his heart became hard;",p:79,x:105,y:761,w:438,h:15},
{t:"he would not even listen to Moses and Aaron in 7:13 and 22. In ",p:79,x:105,y:785,w:451,h:15},
{t:"8:15 it is clearly Pharaoh’ s choice to harden his heart, for he had ",p:79,x:105,y:810,w:448,h:15},
{t:"bargained with Moses for prayer. The next day when relief came, ",p:79,x:105,y:834,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Pharaoh broke his promise to let the people go (8:8–14). In 8:32 ",p:79,x:105,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   76",p:79,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:79,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Prede",p:80,x:232,y:57,w:40,h:14},
{t:"stina",p:80,x:288,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"tion and Deter",p:80,x:340,y:57,w:109,h:14},
{t:"minism",p:80,x:491,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:80,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"we are told that “this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and ",p:80,x:104,y:104,w:446,h:15},
{t:"would not let the people go.”",p:80,x:104,y:128,w:193,h:15},
{t:"Only in 9:12 after all the preceding plagues does the text say ",p:80,x:134,y:153,w:414,h:15},
{t:"that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’ s heart,” echoing this refrain af-",p:80,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"ter the two remaining plagues of locusts and of darkness. Pharaoh ",p:80,x:104,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"backed himself into a position where there was no way out. ",p:80,x:104,y:226,w:405,h:15},
{t:"After ",p:80,x:518,y:226,w:40,h:15},
{t:"that Pharaoh only pretends to repent, not even asking for deliv-",p:80,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"erance prayer anymore (9:27f f.). As soon as the plague of hail ",p:80,x:104,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"stopped Pharaoh “sinned again: He and his of",p:80,x:104,y:299,w:300,h:15},
{t:"ficials hardened their ",p:80,x:412,y:299,w:145,h:15},
{t:"hearts” (34).",p:80,x:104,y:323,w:83,h:15},
{t:"Hardening Pharaoh’s heart was no unconditional act of God. ",p:80,x:134,y:347,w:426,h:15},
{t:"This was no divine zapping with a curse, no undeserved judgment ",p:80,x:104,y:372,w:455,h:15},
{t:"out of the blue sky for some superior divine purpose, or an example ",p:80,x:104,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"of lightening striking some innocent person along a country road. ",p:80,x:104,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Instead you see a gradually stiffer determination in Pharaoh to re-",p:80,x:104,y:445,w:450,h:15},
{t:"sist, even hiding it behind religious acts by asking for prayer and fi -",p:80,x:104,y:469,w:450,h:15},
{t:"nally pretending to believe, yet contradicting everything previously ",p:80,x:104,y:493,w:454,h:15},
{t:"expressed. This is deliberate on the part of Pharaoh and reminds me ",p:80,x:104,y:518,w:454,h:15},
{t:"much more of what the sins against the Holy Spirit, spoken of in the ",p:80,x:104,y:542,w:453,h:15},
{t:"New Testament by Jesus, must involve. ",p:80,x:104,y:566,w:267,h:15},
{t:"The people of Egypt, in contrast to their ruler",p:80,x:134,y:591,w:301,h:15},
{t:", were favorably ",p:80,x:443,y:591,w:112,h:15},
{t:"disposed toward God’s people so that when the Israelites left they ",p:80,x:104,y:615,w:446,h:15},
{t:"did not go empty-handed (Exodus 3:21; 1 1:2).",p:80,x:104,y:639,w:314,h:15},
{t:"“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!” (Romans",p:80,x:134,y:664,w:410,h:15},
{t:"9:14) At no time was Pharaoh in a locked position until ",p:80,x:104,y:688,w:376,h:15},
{t:"his previ-",p:80,x:489,y:688,w:63,h:15},
{t:"ous and very significant choices made it impossible to get back to ",p:80,x:104,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the start. There never is a sign that even then he wished it to be",p:80,x:104,y:737,w:440,h:15},
{t:"different but could no longer repent because of something God ",p:80,x:104,y:761,w:447,h:15},
{t:"had done. He just chose repeatedly not to let the people go and ",p:80,x:104,y:785,w:445,h:15},
{t:"therefore had to go himself. What court would have listened to his",p:80,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"complaint?",p:80,x:104,y:834,w:74,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   77",p:80,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:80,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:81,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:81,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:81,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:81,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"People ar e Not Made of Clay",p:81,x:105,y:104,w:248,h:19},
{t:"In the second Old Testament illustration Paul refers to the re-",p:81,x:135,y:147,w:419,h:15},
{t:"peated sending of the prophets to Israel to encourage, reproach, ",p:81,x:105,y:172,w:445,h:15},
{t:"and admonish the people to apply God’ s law faithfully. Yet they fell ",p:81,x:105,y:196,w:453,h:15},
{t:"back into unfaithfulness, hypocrisy , and human cruelty without re-",p:81,x:105,y:220,w:445,h:15},
{t:"gard to the commandments. Here in Romans 9:21 and the passages",p:81,x:105,y:245,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that follow. Paul uses an illustration, found in both ",p:81,x:105,y:269,w:351,h:15},
{t:"Jeremiah and ",p:81,x:464,y:269,w:94,h:15},
{t:"Isaiah, from the relation between the potter and the pot to describe",p:81,x:105,y:293,w:438,h:15},
{t:"the struggle of God with Israel. If the pot is not rightly formed it",p:81,x:105,y:318,w:438,h:15},
{t:"will be condemned. For the potter has the right to see that it will",p:81,x:105,y:342,w:439,h:15},
{t:"turn out well.",p:81,x:105,y:366,w:89,h:15},
{t:"Isaiah 29:16 clearly establishes that the potter set the form for",p:81,x:135,y:391,w:409,h:15},
{t:"the clay, even though Israel in rebellion thought they could for",p:81,x:105,y:415,w:420,h:15},
{t:"get ",p:81,x:535,y:415,w:25,h:15},
{t:"God and form their own laws for society",p:81,x:105,y:439,w:267,h:15},
{t:". God’s people “worked in ",p:81,x:378,y:439,w:178,h:15},
{t:"the dark”; they said, “Who sees us? Who will know?” when Israel",p:81,x:105,y:464,w:445,h:15},
{t:"said that God has not made them (29:15–16). But in a little while",p:81,x:105,y:488,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the humble would obtain fresh joy in the Lord, the deaf would hear",p:81,x:105,y:512,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the words of a scroll or book, and out of their gloom and darkness",p:81,x:105,y:537,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the blind would see. The poor would exult in the Holy one of Israel",p:81,x:105,y:561,w:442,h:15},
{t:"(vv. 17–19). ",p:81,x:105,y:585,w:85,h:15},
{t:"In Jeremiah 18 the same picture of potter and pot is used to ex-",p:81,x:135,y:610,w:419,h:15},
{t:"plain why God has a right to judge Israel in its rebellion. ",p:81,x:105,y:634,w:375,h:15},
{t:"The work ",p:81,x:490,y:634,w:67,h:15},
{t:"of God did not turn out right. It is not perfect and can perfectly ",p:81,x:105,y:658,w:445,h:15},
{t:"well be destroyed by the will of the potter",p:81,x:105,y:683,w:278,h:15},
{t:".",p:81,x:390,y:683,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Yet it is remarkable that in both instances, as well as in Isaiah ",p:81,x:135,y:707,w:413,h:15},
{t:"64, the picture serves to illustrate the moral reasons for destruction ",p:81,x:105,y:731,w:442,h:15},
{t:"but does not justify the destruction itself. It clari",p:81,x:105,y:756,w:314,h:15},
{t:"fied the legal right, ",p:81,x:429,y:756,w:127,h:15},
{t:"not its execution. For both in Isaiah and in Jeremiah the threat of ",p:81,x:105,y:780,w:454,h:15},
{t:"destruction, punishment, and death is made to reach people for re-",p:81,x:105,y:804,w:439,h:15},
{t:"pentance. God treats people as people and not as a thing like a pot. ",p:81,x:105,y:829,w:442,h:15},
{t:"God is just to condemn what is marred through sin and therefore",p:81,x:105,y:853,w:439,h:15},
{t:"has not turned out as intended. But the ",p:81,x:105,y:877,w:255,h:15},
{t:"flaw in the pot did not come",p:81,x:368,y:877,w:183,h:15},
{t:"from the potter",p:81,x:105,y:902,w:99,h:15},
{t:"’s hands or his failures, but from an impurity in the",p:81,x:208,y:902,w:338,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   78",p:81,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:81,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Prede",p:82,x:232,y:57,w:40,h:14},
{t:"stina",p:82,x:288,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"tion and Deter",p:82,x:340,y:57,w:109,h:14},
{t:"minism",p:82,x:491,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:82,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"clay. Israel did not turn out right through a design fl aw or some ",p:82,x:104,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"eternal will of God. Both pot and people deserve judgment.",p:82,x:104,y:128,w:395,h:15},
{t:"But here the parallel ends. The illustration from pot and pot-",p:82,x:134,y:153,w:418,h:15},
{t:"ter establishes the right to destroy what has no life. ",p:82,x:104,y:177,w:341,h:15},
{t:"The parallel in ",p:82,x:455,y:177,w:101,h:15},
{t:"God’s relation to people stops, however , with the dissatisfaction to ",p:82,x:104,y:201,w:449,h:15},
{t:"continue into a plea for the peoples’ repentance. The illustration, ",p:82,x:104,y:226,w:453,h:15},
{t:"as always later in the parables of Jesus, must be seen for the point",p:82,x:104,y:250,w:438,h:15},
{t:"it tries to make. It has to be taken with a grain of salt and is not a",p:82,x:104,y:274,w:438,h:15},
{t:"plan for execution. In the illustration the point is the potter",p:82,x:104,y:299,w:390,h:15},
{t:"’s right ",p:82,x:506,y:299,w:52,h:15},
{t:"to demand perfection of his work. A pot is an impersonal object ",p:82,x:104,y:323,w:455,h:15},
{t:"made from clay under the molding hand of the potter. He selects ",p:82,x:104,y:347,w:455,h:15},
{t:"the clay, kneads it and gives it shape. It may not turn out, and the",p:82,x:104,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"potter has the right to start again.",p:82,x:104,y:396,w:219,h:15},
{t:"But in God’s relation to Israel, the people—who had been ",p:82,x:134,y:420,w:419,h:15},
{t:"made without fl aw—rebel and make themselves imperfect. The ",p:82,x:104,y:445,w:456,h:15},
{t:"good marriage between God as groom and Israel as bride was vi-",p:82,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"olated by the adultery of the bride. Israel’",p:82,x:104,y:493,w:291,h:15},
{t:"s choice produces the ",p:82,x:402,y:493,w:158,h:15},
{t:"problem; their repentance needs to restore the relationship. Again ",p:82,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and again that is what happened as God intended until the people",p:82,x:104,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sinned again.",p:82,x:104,y:566,w:87,h:15},
{t:"To extend the purpose of this picture and include in it some",p:82,x:134,y:591,w:410,h:15},
{t:"kind of divine determinism is not in the text. ",p:82,x:104,y:615,w:334,h:15},
{t:"The Isaiah and ",p:82,x:446,y:615,w:113,h:15},
{t:"Jeremiah passages both employ this image to drive home the ur",p:82,x:104,y:639,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:82,x:549,y:639,w:5,h:15},
{t:"gent need for people to act now, not to be acted upon without their",p:82,x:104,y:664,w:444,h:15},
{t:"participation. God sent prophets to the people when they did not",p:82,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"live up to God’s standards, so that they would repent. God treats",p:82,x:104,y:712,w:441,h:15},
{t:"people as capable people, choice-makers, signi",p:82,x:104,y:737,w:318,h:15},
{t:"fi cant and respon-",p:82,x:430,y:737,w:121,h:15},
{t:"sible. He never treats people as sticks or stones, or, to stay within ",p:82,x:104,y:761,w:453,h:15},
{t:"the analogy, as clay pots.",p:82,x:104,y:785,w:168,h:15},
{t:"Paul answers the questions about the Jews throughout Romans 9. ",p:82,x:134,y:810,w:422,h:15},
{t:"They were selected, preserved, and corrected throughout their histo-",p:82,x:104,y:834,w:450,h:15},
{t:"ry since Abraham in order to be the people from whom the Messiah ",p:82,x:104,y:858,w:454,h:15},
{t:"would be born. Romans 9 does not deal with individual salvation, a ",p:82,x:104,y:883,w:454,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   79",p:82,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:82,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:83,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:83,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:83,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:83,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"process of selecting some and rejecting others. It does not deal with ",p:83,x:105,y:104,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God’s right to destroy if he wants, or to act into history regardless ",p:83,x:105,y:128,w:455,h:15},
{t:"of people to get things done. Romans 9 shows how through Israel’s ",p:83,x:105,y:153,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God a cornerstone is laid in Zion “that causes men to stumble and a ",p:83,x:105,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never ",p:83,x:105,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"be put to shame” (33).",p:83,x:105,y:226,w:147,h:15},
{t:"Israel must believe (though not all did and were therefore not",p:83,x:135,y:250,w:409,h:15},
{t:"a part of spiritual Israel; see Romans 9:6) as must we, with zeal, ",p:83,x:105,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"but also according to the truth (10:2) which comes by hearing ",p:83,x:105,y:299,w:447,h:15},
{t:"(10:14–17). “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (1",p:83,x:105,y:323,w:403,h:15},
{t:"1:29). ",p:83,x:515,y:323,w:43,h:15},
{t:"The Roots of Corruption",p:83,x:105,y:371,w:200,h:19},
{t:"The Bible therefore presents us with quite a dif",p:83,x:135,y:415,w:338,h:15},
{t:"ferent, dy-",p:83,x:481,y:415,w:72,h:15},
{t:"namic understanding of history that needs to be shouted out over",p:83,x:105,y:439,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the roofs of Thessalonica and Geneva, into the minds of people",p:83,x:105,y:464,w:442,h:15},
{t:"who have always in the past been told that some fate, some god or",p:83,x:105,y:488,w:439,h:15},
{t:"spirits, some abstraction like ‘history’ or tradition, some physical ",p:83,x:105,y:512,w:454,h:15},
{t:"or psychological in fluence controlled their lives. Neither gods nor",p:83,x:105,y:537,w:442,h:15},
{t:"party programs, neither nature nor traditions make a prison for",p:83,x:105,y:561,w:439,h:15},
{t:"heart and mind and body so tight that humankind ceases to bear the",p:83,x:105,y:585,w:439,h:15},
{t:"image of God with a mandate to create, discover",p:83,x:105,y:610,w:328,h:15},
{t:", debate, and be-",p:83,x:441,y:610,w:111,h:15},
{t:"lieve for good and moral reasons. Anything ideology or theology ",p:83,x:105,y:634,w:450,h:15},
{t:"that denies this truth does not draw its life from the Bible, but is",p:83,x:105,y:658,w:438,h:15},
{t:"instead an open grave. “For everyone who calls on the name of the",p:83,x:105,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). One does not become such ",p:83,x:105,y:707,w:454,h:15},
{t:"an “everyone” by some exclusive selection process.",p:83,x:105,y:731,w:344,h:15},
{t:"Only the desire to fi nd pleasure in one’s preconceived the-",p:83,x:135,y:756,w:417,h:15},
{t:"ology can make one so particularly blind to what the Bible says",p:83,x:105,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"about God’s continuing—but not endless—battle for the salvation ",p:83,x:105,y:804,w:445,h:15},
{t:"of his creatures. Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2, “All day long I have held ",p:83,x:105,y:829,w:442,h:15},
{t:"out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:",p:83,x:105,y:853,w:439,h:15},
{t:"21) indicating that all is in order now nor that all things go ac-",p:83,x:105,y:877,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cording to God’s will and plan. It is not a verbal charade to pray ",p:83,x:105,y:902,w:446,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   80",p:83,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:83,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Prede",p:84,x:232,y:57,w:40,h:14},
{t:"stina",p:84,x:288,y:57,w:44,h:14},
{t:"tion and Deter",p:84,x:340,y:57,w:109,h:14},
{t:"minism",p:84,x:491,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:84,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"that the will of God be “done on earth,” where it is not yet being ",p:84,x:104,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"done, “as in heaven,” where it is already being done. ",p:84,x:104,y:128,w:356,h:15},
{t:"That is what ",p:84,x:470,y:128,w:88,h:15},
{t:"Jesus taught us to pray, and I assume he saw the reality in history",p:84,x:104,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"for what it is.",p:84,x:104,y:177,w:88,h:15},
{t:"If it were in the moral and factual power of God to get the job ",p:84,x:134,y:201,w:413,h:15},
{t:"done at any time, why is it not being done yet? Or if God’",p:84,x:104,y:226,w:394,h:15},
{t:"s work ",p:84,x:508,y:226,w:50,h:15},
{t:"for justice, wholeness— Shalom, if you will—is being done, why ",p:84,x:104,y:250,w:452,h:15},
{t:"are we asked to seek it, to pray , to be compassionate, and to resist",p:84,x:104,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"evil? Why all the commands throughout the Bible if God could ar",p:84,x:104,y:299,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:84,x:549,y:299,w:5,h:15},
{t:"range the world and destroy what does not work, the way the potter",p:84,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"would with clay, only to start again?",p:84,x:104,y:347,w:244,h:15},
{t:"Some attempts to answer those questions are ",p:84,x:134,y:372,w:314,h:15},
{t:"found in what ",p:84,x:456,y:372,w:104,h:15},
{t:"is called the “Openness of God” view . It seeks to be more allied ",p:84,x:104,y:396,w:453,h:15},
{t:"to our human experience, but makes similarly severe mistakes in ",p:84,x:104,y:420,w:444,h:15},
{t:"neglecting what the Bible tells us. While Greek thought and mod-",p:84,x:104,y:445,w:445,h:15},
{t:"ern mechanistic and deterministic hopes in",p:84,x:104,y:469,w:292,h:15},
{t:"fl uenced later follow-",p:84,x:404,y:469,w:146,h:15},
{t:"ers of Calvinism and their choice of verses to support their cause, ",p:84,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"“Openness of God” has focused on its own selection of passages",p:84,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and is largely influenced by postmodern desires for a God-at-hand, ",p:84,x:104,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"a personal relationship in which I can share my troubles with a ",p:84,x:104,y:566,w:456,h:15},
{t:"friend who can hold my hand, support me, “and together we will",p:84,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"manage it.” ",p:84,x:104,y:615,w:82,h:15},
{t:"We shall come back to this curious proposition further on. But",p:84,x:134,y:639,w:410,h:15},
{t:"fi rst we must look at another place where “predestination” refers",p:84,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to something quite different from what is today associated with ",p:84,x:104,y:688,w:449,h:15},
{t:"Calvin, election, and determinism. ",p:84,x:104,y:712,w:233,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is innocent of the kind of pushing about",p:84,x:134,y:737,w:410,h:15},
{t:"of Esau or Pharaoh for his ends, or of treating people like pots",p:84,x:104,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and pans in the messy kitchen of life. Such behavior",p:84,x:104,y:785,w:369,h:15},
{t:", when at-",p:84,x:482,y:785,w:70,h:15},
{t:"tributed to the God of the Bible, would make him the responsible",p:84,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"one behind Hitler and Stalin as well. Not only those mighty and ",p:84,x:104,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"evil people would be pawns in God’ s now-horrible work, but little",p:84,x:104,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"folk as well. The shooting of classmates and teachers in Colorado, ",p:84,x:104,y:883,w:452,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   81",p:84,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:26 PM",p:84,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:85,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:85,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:85,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:85,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"the nurse practicing euthanasia in Holland, the drunken driver that",p:85,x:105,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is used by God to get Uncle Geor ge to the funeral of the child ",p:85,x:105,y:128,w:451,h:15},
{t:"run over—where, upon hearing a sermon, Geor",p:85,x:105,y:153,w:325,h:15},
{t:"ge believes: they ",p:85,x:437,y:153,w:120,h:15},
{t:"all present a God who is guilty of history , when the Bible clearly ",p:85,x:105,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"states his innocence of evil. According to the Bible there are quite ",p:85,x:105,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"a number of additional participants in history",p:85,x:105,y:226,w:309,h:15},
{t:", so that it is not at ",p:85,x:421,y:226,w:139,h:15},
{t:"present going the right way . ",p:85,x:105,y:250,w:194,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   82",p:85,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:85,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:86,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER SIX",p:86,x:278,y:239,w:94,h:15},
{t:"REAL L",p:86,x:192,y:284,w:93,h:25},
{t:"IFE VERSUS ",p:86,x:298,y:284,w:174,h:25},
{t:"SPI RITUAL E SCAPE",p:86,x:188,y:321,w:279,h:25},
{t:"Human Struggle or God’",p:86,x:104,y:437,w:201,h:19},
{t:"s Ef for t?",p:86,x:327,y:437,w:76,h:19},
{t:"The fi rst chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is",p:86,x:134,y:481,w:414,h:15},
{t:"another place where the word “predestined” occurs. ",p:86,x:104,y:505,w:367,h:15},
{t:"The whole ",p:86,x:480,y:505,w:81,h:15},
{t:"chapter revolves around God’ s choice to offer us salvation and ",p:86,x:104,y:529,w:453,h:15},
{t:"much more. The letter was written in part against the Gnostic her",p:86,x:104,y:554,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:86,x:549,y:554,w:5,h:15},
{t:"esies that promoted, under the in",p:86,x:104,y:578,w:215,h:15},
{t:"fluence of Platonic ideas, a search ",p:86,x:325,y:578,w:227,h:15},
{t:"for spiritual accomplishments by freeing oneself from matter",p:86,x:104,y:602,w:406,h:15},
{t:", his-",p:86,x:520,y:602,w:33,h:15},
{t:"tory, and reality by means of secret knowledge. ",p:86,x:104,y:627,w:322,h:15},
{t:"The quest for this ",p:86,x:433,y:627,w:125,h:15},
{t:"arcane knowledge, it was said, would achieve spiritual results and ",p:86,x:104,y:651,w:443,h:15},
{t:"greater independence from a painful material existence.",p:86,x:104,y:675,w:370,h:15},
{t:"Paul’s response to these ideas is that we have in Christ the",p:86,x:134,y:700,w:411,h:15},
{t:"Godhead in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Our God did not dwell",p:86,x:104,y:724,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in some remote galaxy but had come in the ",p:86,x:104,y:748,w:290,h:15},
{t:"flesh. He is the creator ",p:86,x:401,y:748,w:156,h:15},
{t:"of the material world; he came for lunch and discussions in it. ",p:86,x:104,y:773,w:417,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:86,x:532,y:773,w:26,h:15},
{t:"should not pursue the kind of spirituality that abstracts us from real",p:86,x:104,y:797,w:438,h:15},
{t:"life, from our bodies, from thought and re",p:86,x:104,y:821,w:281,h:15},
{t:"fl ection, or from the ef-",p:86,x:393,y:821,w:161,h:15},
{t:"forts to resist the results of the fall in a broken world through work, ",p:86,x:104,y:846,w:441,h:15},
{t:"love, and creativity . The “Spiritual,” Paul taught, is what God has",p:86,x:104,y:870,w:442,h:15},
{t:"communicated by means of his Spirit in word and work to tell us",p:86,x:104,y:894,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   83",p:86,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:86,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:87,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:87,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:87,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:87,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"what he had had in mind when he made us in the ",p:87,x:105,y:104,w:332,h:15},
{t:"first place. It in-",p:87,x:445,y:104,w:107,h:15},
{t:"forms our spirit so that we can live more truly and fully as human ",p:87,x:105,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"beings in the completeness of our being, both body and soul. ",p:87,x:105,y:153,w:408,h:15},
{t:"From God’s Spirit, the author of the prophetic text, we know",p:87,x:135,y:177,w:411,h:15},
{t:"that we are not meant to be angels or wisps of ectoplasm. Neither",p:87,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are we to take life’s experiences uncritically , just lying low. The ",p:87,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:15},
{t:"word from God tells us from outside our visual reality how to look ",p:87,x:105,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"at all of life from the vantage point of God. ",p:87,x:105,y:274,w:302,h:15},
{t:"This perspective not ",p:87,x:415,y:274,w:145,h:15},
{t:"only tells us what is, but also what ought to be. ",p:87,x:105,y:299,w:332,h:15},
{t:"We learn where ",p:87,x:446,y:299,w:114,h:15},
{t:"it is no longer or not yet again and what we should do to bring it",p:87,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"about.",p:87,x:105,y:347,w:41,h:15},
{t:"In Ephesians Paul speaks of the spiritual accomplishments",p:87,x:135,y:372,w:410,h:15},
{t:"God has already gained for us. We have already received all spiri-",p:87,x:105,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"tual blessings in Christ in heavenly places (1:3). ",p:87,x:105,y:420,w:332,h:15},
{t:"We do not need ",p:87,x:446,y:420,w:112,h:15},
{t:"secret knowledge, the denial of matter , or the abrogation of real ",p:87,x:105,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"life. We are not looking for ways to free the soul from the body or",p:87,x:105,y:469,w:440,h:15},
{t:"other ways to become spiritual. In Christ we have all the spiritual",p:87,x:105,y:493,w:438,h:15},
{t:"blessings we will ever need. Why?",p:87,x:105,y:518,w:235,h:15},
{t:"In answer to this existential question Paul details the biblical",p:87,x:135,y:542,w:409,h:15},
{t:"view in one long sentence: in Christ we have been chosen to be",p:87,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"holy and blameless (v. 4); through him (Christ) we have been pre-",p:87,x:105,y:591,w:442,h:15},
{t:"destined for adoption (v. 5); in the beloved (Christ) we have been ",p:87,x:105,y:615,w:447,h:15},
{t:"blessed with glorious grace (v . 6); in him (Christ) we have redemp-",p:87,x:105,y:639,w:444,h:15},
{t:"tion and forgiveness (v. 7); God lavished the riches of his grace ",p:87,x:105,y:664,w:455,h:15},
{t:"on us, making known to us the mystery of his will and purpose, ",p:87,x:105,y:688,w:445,h:15},
{t:"which he set forth in Christ (v . 8, 9). Another sentence continues: ",p:87,x:105,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"we, the Jews, have received an inheritance in him (Christ) (v",p:87,x:105,y:737,w:405,h:15},
{t:". 11), ",p:87,x:520,y:737,w:39,h:15},
{t:"according to his predestined purpose, and you also, the Gentiles, ",p:87,x:105,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"when you believed, were sealed with the Holy Spirit (v",p:87,x:105,y:785,w:377,h:15},
{t:". 13) as a ",p:87,x:490,y:785,w:70,h:15},
{t:"guarantee of our inheritance until we receive the full possession ",p:87,x:105,y:810,w:454,h:15},
{t:"(v. 14).",p:87,x:105,y:834,w:47,h:15},
{t:"And then it is all summed up for the present reality in vers-",p:87,x:135,y:858,w:409,h:15},
{t:"es 15 though 23. Ephesians’ focal point is to restrain those who ",p:87,x:105,y:883,w:449,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   84",p:87,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:87,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:88,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:88,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:88,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:88,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:88,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:88,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:88,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"taught that humanity had to become in some way divine, ",p:88,x:104,y:104,w:382,h:15},
{t:"reaching ",p:88,x:496,y:104,w:61,h:15},
{t:"beyond the material world and history to achieve spiritual bene",p:88,x:104,y:128,w:418,h:15},
{t:"fi ts ",p:88,x:534,y:128,w:25,h:15},
{t:"and status. Jesus Christ trumps these aspirations. In Christ we have",p:88,x:104,y:153,w:438,h:15},
{t:"whatever humanity will ever seek, need, or desire, if we’re honest",p:88,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with ourselves. Christ is the unique redeemer",p:88,x:104,y:201,w:298,h:15},
{t:", the fountain of hope ",p:88,x:410,y:201,w:148,h:15},
{t:"for the resurrection, the advocate with the Father",p:88,x:104,y:226,w:323,h:15},
{t:". In him we know ",p:88,x:435,y:226,w:122,h:15},
{t:"that God loves us. If he for gave us our sins, who can possibly ac-",p:88,x:104,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"cuse us? And before whom, in what court of law on earth or in ",p:88,x:104,y:274,w:447,h:15},
{t:"heaven could such an accusation stand? For it is Christ who died, ",p:88,x:104,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"was raised and intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).",p:88,x:104,y:323,w:320,h:15},
{t:"The subject matter in Ephesians chapters one and two is the",p:88,x:134,y:347,w:410,h:15},
{t:"total suffi ciency of Christ. All the benefi ts we receive from God ",p:88,x:104,y:372,w:452,h:15},
{t:"now and forever are because of Christ. There is nothing about our ",p:88,x:104,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"personal and individual predestination in that text. Every sentence",p:88,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sheds light on what God has done for us in Christ, the beloved, the",p:88,x:104,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"revealed mystery, the redeemer, the signer of the adoption docu-",p:88,x:104,y:469,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ment with his own blood. We have not been chosen personally , but ",p:88,x:104,y:493,w:453,h:15},
{t:"in Christ we were chosen to become blameless and again accept-",p:88,x:104,y:518,w:448,h:15},
{t:"able to God. In Christ God manifests what he has in mind for his",p:88,x:104,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"creation and each of us. He is the express image of the father",p:88,x:104,y:566,w:405,h:15},
{t:".",p:88,x:520,y:566,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Only people seeking a special, “Gnostic,” private af",p:88,x:134,y:591,w:370,h:15},
{t:"fi rma-",p:88,x:513,y:591,w:40,h:15},
{t:"tion would read this text as indicating something God has done",p:88,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"for them and not for others. There is no exclusivity to God’s gift ",p:88,x:104,y:639,w:455,h:15},
{t:"in Christ to a particular person, though each person individually ",p:88,x:104,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"needs to accept this gift, one at a time. It is not exclusive in the",p:88,x:104,y:688,w:438,h:15},
{t:"sense that some are excluded from the possibility of having this",p:88,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"acceptable gift presented to them.",p:88,x:104,y:737,w:224,h:15},
{t:"Of course, that question of exclusivity touches on a central",p:88,x:134,y:761,w:410,h:15},
{t:"question in people’s minds. Is God’s knowledge the result of a ",p:88,x:104,y:785,w:456,h:15},
{t:"selective process on the part of God, or does everyone stand be-",p:88,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fore the need to seek after, fi nd, and believe God? One will have ",p:88,x:104,y:834,w:455,h:15},
{t:"to start with evidence of God’ s will, expressed in Scripture and ",p:88,x:104,y:858,w:450,h:15},
{t:"in history. God ran after Adam to deal with the new situation that",p:88,x:104,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   85",p:88,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:88,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:89,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:89,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:89,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:89,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"resulted from the fall. Ever since that scene in the ancient garden, ",p:89,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the Bible portrays a God who grieves over sin, pleads with people",p:89,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to believe, and reveals his truth in the context of veri",p:89,x:105,y:153,w:348,h:15},
{t:"fiable history, ",p:89,x:463,y:153,w:96,h:15},
{t:"science, and reasonable evidence. God speaks through prophets",p:89,x:105,y:177,w:440,h:15},
{t:"and apostles, giving his word in the living ",p:89,x:105,y:201,w:297,h:15},
{t:"Word. He sent a text ",p:89,x:409,y:201,w:151,h:15},
{t:"through his Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) and reminds us of its content and ",p:89,x:105,y:226,w:443,h:15},
{t:"comfort by the same Holy Spirit.",p:89,x:105,y:250,w:219,h:15},
{t:"But when God has such a desire to be known, to be believed, ",p:89,x:135,y:274,w:414,h:15},
{t:"and to be loved, why do people not become believers and show it",p:89,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"by obedience to his character? In the controlled situations assumed ",p:89,x:105,y:323,w:442,h:15},
{t:"by fatalism, mechanism, and a theology of total divine control, the",p:89,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"only answer can be that God does not want them to believe. ",p:89,x:105,y:372,w:400,h:15},
{t:"When ",p:89,x:515,y:372,w:43,h:15},
{t:"the system is closed, there is no open-ended history, no personal-",p:89,x:105,y:396,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ity, and no choice.",p:89,x:105,y:420,w:122,h:15},
{t:"What, in Fact, is Wr",p:89,x:105,y:469,w:161,h:19},
{t:"ong (W ith Us)?",p:89,x:287,y:469,w:123,h:19},
{t:"It is curious how a double set of assumptions from a ",p:89,x:135,y:512,w:366,h:15},
{t:"fl awed ",p:89,x:510,y:512,w:48,h:15},
{t:"reading of Scripture can lead to such a terrible view of God and ",p:89,x:105,y:537,w:445,h:15},
{t:"humanity. Rather than answering the questions of our age, this",p:89,x:105,y:561,w:441,h:15},
{t:"warped perception con fi rms the worst fears and reactions to ",p:89,x:105,y:585,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Christianity in our generation. Why does so much of the Church ",p:89,x:105,y:610,w:450,h:15},
{t:"plunk itself right into the middle of this error with its teaching of",p:89,x:105,y:634,w:438,h:15},
{t:"selective manipulation from God, thereby provoking people’",p:89,x:105,y:658,w:400,h:15},
{t:"s furi-",p:89,x:515,y:658,w:39,h:15},
{t:"ous reactions and careless excuses? Why do we refuse to proclaim",p:89,x:105,y:683,w:445,h:15},
{t:"instead the surprising, wholesome, and living truth of the Bible?",p:89,x:105,y:707,w:428,h:15},
{t:"It is more than curious—it is maddening. In contrast to the",p:89,x:135,y:731,w:410,h:15},
{t:"Christ who reached out to people, the Church is often like the",p:89,x:105,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Pharisees who restrain people from knowing God by speaking of",p:89,x:105,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"moral and factual absurdities.",p:89,x:105,y:804,w:197,h:15},
{t:"The god of the “selective church” is a deity who really does",p:89,x:135,y:829,w:410,h:15},
{t:"not want people to know him and who, therefore, makes it impos-",p:89,x:105,y:853,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sible. This god does not make additional ef forts to explain and ",p:89,x:105,y:877,w:453,h:15},
{t:"examine reality in what is now the normal world by revealing its",p:89,x:105,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   86",p:89,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:89,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:90,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:90,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:90,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:90,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:90,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:90,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:90,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"abnormality when compared to creation in the past before the fall",p:90,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and to resurrection in the future. This examination would be re-",p:90,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"quired to understand the perversity of the present as man’",p:90,x:104,y:153,w:402,h:15},
{t:"s, not ",p:90,x:515,y:153,w:45,h:15},
{t:"God’s, responsibility. God, as the near-sighted present him, hides ",p:90,x:104,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"in his holiness, speaks about a world unknown, and makes himself",p:90,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"seem totally unrelated, absurd, and incomprehensible. ",p:90,x:104,y:226,w:374,h:15},
{t:"The com-",p:90,x:487,y:226,w:66,h:15},
{t:"mon man has no access to this god. Only the religious freak, the",p:90,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"village idiot, or the man in pursuit of his own mysteries is attracted ",p:90,x:104,y:274,w:442,h:15},
{t:"to this version of the spiritual life.",p:90,x:104,y:299,w:226,h:15},
{t:"Yet many Christians arrive at these stunted conclusions one",p:90,x:134,y:323,w:410,h:15},
{t:"way or another, either when they hold that humankind is so sinful",p:90,x:104,y:347,w:441,h:15},
{t:"that are unable to seek after God or when they are totally disinter",p:90,x:104,y:372,w:433,h:15},
{t:"-",p:90,x:549,y:372,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ested in knowing anything about God. In their reading, the fall of",p:90,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Adam became a total separation; God has turned his back on us. ",p:90,x:104,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"There is nothing good anymore in the human race, therefore God ",p:90,x:104,y:445,w:444,h:15},
{t:"rejects us. The above view of predestination underscores that there",p:90,x:104,y:469,w:441,h:15},
{t:"is nothing humanity can do to ",p:90,x:104,y:493,w:203,h:15},
{t:"find out about God and the ways of",p:90,x:313,y:493,w:236,h:15},
{t:"God.",p:90,x:104,y:518,w:32,h:15},
{t:"The Bible shows the heinousness of sin. “Be ye holy",p:90,x:134,y:542,w:345,h:15},
{t:", even as I ",p:90,x:487,y:542,w:70,h:15},
{t:"am holy” is a standard none of us can reach. “The wages of sin are",p:90,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"death” follows the warning of God to Adam, that the day he eats of",p:90,x:104,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the forbidden fruit he shall die. Sin destroys not just beauty",p:90,x:104,y:615,w:390,h:15},
{t:", but all ",p:90,x:504,y:615,w:54,h:15},
{t:"perfection, and renders it unacceptable. This is confi rmed by the ",p:90,x:104,y:639,w:455,h:15},
{t:"work of Christ in that he bore our sins in his own body on the cross",p:90,x:104,y:664,w:438,h:15},
{t:"and was consequently forsaken by the Father until his work was",p:90,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"finished. Before God, no sin or imperfection is acceptable.",p:90,x:104,y:712,w:389,h:15},
{t:"In addition to this “sinful nature,” our “being dead spiritually”",p:90,x:134,y:737,w:409,h:15},
{t:"and the declaration that “there is no one righteous, not even one;",p:90,x:104,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans",p:90,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"3:10–11) contributed to our sensible understanding of the total de-",p:90,x:104,y:810,w:440,h:15},
{t:"pravity of humanity. It is indeed hopeless, for all the good in the",p:90,x:104,y:834,w:442,h:15},
{t:"world cannot erase the problems we carry with us from the past. ",p:90,x:104,y:858,w:431,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   87",p:90,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:90,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:91,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:91,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:91,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:91,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Yet again we need to look at these and related concepts from",p:91,x:135,y:104,w:410,h:15},
{t:"Ephesians in light of the whole of Scripture to cleanse spiritual",p:91,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"insight from cultural poison added in some theological kitchen. ",p:91,x:105,y:153,w:446,h:15},
{t:"How did such a term as “total depravity” arise? What could color ",p:91,x:105,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"our understanding of Romans 3:12? How does a cultural context",p:91,x:105,y:201,w:440,h:15},
{t:"contribute an unhelpful subtext to our reading of the text? How",p:91,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"does this affect (or infect) our “reading” of human nature or being ",p:91,x:105,y:250,w:445,h:15},
{t:"dead in sin?",p:91,x:105,y:274,w:79,h:15},
{t:"Starting with the concept of “total depravity” as it was origi-",p:91,x:135,y:299,w:419,h:15},
{t:"nally intended, we can see by its connotation that in no area of our",p:91,x:105,y:323,w:438,h:15},
{t:"thought and material life are we perfect. ",p:91,x:105,y:347,w:266,h:15},
{t:"We are born from and into ",p:91,x:379,y:347,w:176,h:15},
{t:"an imperfect world, marked in all areas by the results of the fall. ",p:91,x:105,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"The “totality” expanded across all human efforts, skills and ac-",p:91,x:105,y:396,w:449,h:15},
{t:"complishments. In no area of our lives can we point to perfection. ",p:91,x:105,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"In addition, it is clear that when perfection is marred it has",p:91,x:135,y:445,w:409,h:15},
{t:"become imperfection. A “second” purchased at a factory outlet is",p:91,x:105,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"imperfect, even when it is still able to hold water or to be worn un-",p:91,x:105,y:493,w:438,h:15},
{t:"der a jacket. For the same reason James reminds us that “whoever",p:91,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of",p:91,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"breaking all of it” (2:10). This does not suggest that we are guilty ",p:91,x:105,y:566,w:448,h:15},
{t:"of breaking all laws, but rather that we no longer have the glory of",p:91,x:105,y:591,w:438,h:15},
{t:"perfection. We are all imperfect across the board and in all parts. ",p:91,x:105,y:615,w:436,h:15},
{t:"This universal imperfection should have been admitted when ",p:91,x:135,y:639,w:424,h:15},
{t:"the Roman church gave the impression from its teaching that one",p:91,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"could bargain with God in one area or another to receive grace from",p:91,x:105,y:688,w:440,h:15},
{t:"God. “Sainthood” or the brotherhood of the saints in the Roman ",p:91,x:105,y:712,w:445,h:15},
{t:"church no longer included every believer in Christ, even though ",p:91,x:105,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Paul called all the believers in Corinth “saints of Jesus Christ”",p:91,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(see 1 Corinthians 1:2) with all their confused, mixed-up, and of-",p:91,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ten very sinful ways and views, which he addressed in his letter",p:91,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to them. Instead, for Rome a saint was someone who had reached ",p:91,x:105,y:834,w:453,h:15},
{t:"perfection and had been accepted by God into heaven on that mer",p:91,x:105,y:858,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:91,x:550,y:858,w:5,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   88",p:91,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:91,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:92,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:92,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:92,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:92,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:92,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:92,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:92,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"it. Proof of this was established when they performed miracles or",p:92,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"when their bodies did not decompose.",p:92,x:104,y:128,w:252,h:15},
{t:"We must admit that we do fall short of the God’ s glory. We ",p:92,x:134,y:153,w:425,h:15},
{t:"are not what we were intended to be as Adam’s children in a good ",p:92,x:104,y:177,w:451,h:15},
{t:"world. We have damaged minds and broken bodies. But we are",p:92,x:104,y:201,w:441,h:15},
{t:"not totally depraved, or corrupt through and through, or good for",p:92,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"nothing. That is not the picture Jesus gives of all those citizens",p:92,x:104,y:250,w:440,h:15},
{t:"in normal work who appear in his parables. He never accuses",p:92,x:104,y:274,w:440,h:15},
{t:"his neighbor of total depravity. Paul does not have people’s on-",p:92,x:104,y:299,w:449,h:15},
{t:"tological perversity in mind when he admonished the church in ",p:92,x:104,y:323,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Thessalonica to work for their living so that their daily life may ",p:92,x:104,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"win the respect of outsiders (1 Thessalonians 4:12), or when he ",p:92,x:104,y:372,w:456,h:15},
{t:"says that we should devote ourselves to doing what is good and ",p:92,x:104,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"not live unproductive lives (T itus 3:14). There are many passages ",p:92,x:104,y:420,w:454,h:15},
{t:"in the Old and New Testament where people are praised and where",p:92,x:104,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"good work is honored.",p:92,x:104,y:469,w:149,h:15},
{t:"Noah is called a “righteous man” and is singled out with his",p:92,x:134,y:493,w:410,h:15},
{t:"family to survive the fl ood in an ark. He believed God’ s warning ",p:92,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and started building that enormous ship before it ever started to ",p:92,x:104,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"rain. We can imagine how the people laughed at him. “What a ",p:92,x:104,y:566,w:456,h:15},
{t:"foolish man,” they said, “on dry land to go sailing,” are the words",p:92,x:104,y:591,w:438,h:15},
{t:"of a wonderful chorus. But that is not the faith that mattered to God ",p:92,x:104,y:615,w:441,h:15},
{t:"primarily. Neither is there any indication that Noah is called righ-",p:92,x:104,y:639,w:440,h:15},
{t:"teous only because he believed in the promise to ",p:92,x:104,y:664,w:336,h:15},
{t:"Abraham about ",p:92,x:448,y:664,w:111,h:15},
{t:"the coming Savior. Instead, Genesis 6:9 tells us that, “Noah was",p:92,x:104,y:688,w:442,h:15},
{t:"righteous, because he was blameless among the people of his time ",p:92,x:104,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and he walked with God.” He did not behave the way others around ",p:92,x:104,y:737,w:442,h:15},
{t:"him did. He was not perfect, for no one is after the fall. But that ",p:92,x:104,y:761,w:455,h:15},
{t:"did not make him totally depraved. He was a righteous man. ",p:92,x:104,y:785,w:403,h:15},
{t:"What ",p:92,x:518,y:785,w:40,h:15},
{t:"affirmation, what credit to his choices, what remarkable courage to ",p:92,x:104,y:810,w:443,h:15},
{t:"walk with God rather than to join the crowd!",p:92,x:104,y:834,w:298,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   89",p:92,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:92,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:93,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:93,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:93,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:93,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God’ s Image in Human Faces",p:93,x:105,y:104,w:246,h:19},
{t:"Being imperfect in all areas is not the same as being depraved ",p:93,x:135,y:147,w:413,h:15},
{t:"throughout. Men and women, widows and orphans, well or ill, hu-",p:93,x:105,y:172,w:439,h:15},
{t:"manity never loses the image of God. We are never junk. Sin never",p:93,x:105,y:196,w:445,h:15},
{t:"destroys the re flection of God in human faces (see Genesis 9:6). ",p:93,x:105,y:220,w:420,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:93,x:533,y:220,w:24,h:15},
{t:"need renewal, restoration, and the resurrection to be made perfect",p:93,x:105,y:245,w:439,h:15},
{t:"again. That is the standard acceptable to God. But anything short",p:93,x:105,y:269,w:440,h:15},
{t:"of that is not total depravity , except in the area of moral innocence. ",p:93,x:105,y:293,w:447,h:15},
{t:"The “totality” people spoke about in the seventeenth century was a",p:93,x:105,y:318,w:439,h:15},
{t:"measure of width across all areas of life, not of depth.",p:93,x:105,y:342,w:358,h:15},
{t:"Even Romans 3:12 does not teach what is often read into it in ",p:93,x:135,y:366,w:423,h:15},
{t:"many circles. It does not give us a de",p:93,x:105,y:391,w:248,h:15},
{t:"finition of humanity the way ",p:93,x:360,y:391,w:195,h:15},
{t:"one would make a classi fication in biology, state a legal de fi nition ",p:93,x:105,y:415,w:453,h:15},
{t:"in court, or a describe an attribute in theology",p:93,x:105,y:439,w:311,h:15},
{t:". Man is not by his ",p:93,x:424,y:439,w:136,h:15},
{t:"nature, the way he now is or had been made by God, one who “is",p:93,x:105,y:464,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not righteous, does not seek, does not understand.” In fact he is",p:93,x:105,y:488,w:439,h:15},
{t:"by nature a seeking being. Curiosity is a human characteristic. ",p:93,x:105,y:512,w:417,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:93,x:533,y:512,w:26,h:15},
{t:"transcend the mere present through questions, thought, and inves-",p:93,x:105,y:537,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tigation. All science and art are expressions of this need for us to ",p:93,x:105,y:561,w:445,h:15},
{t:"know more than our present experience. ",p:93,x:105,y:585,w:271,h:15},
{t:"Humans alone inquire about life beyond the surface of things. ",p:93,x:135,y:610,w:413,h:15},
{t:"We seek after God and look for meaning behind events. Our",p:93,x:105,y:634,w:440,h:15},
{t:"searching is very often not according to truth. We abandon reason ",p:93,x:105,y:658,w:451,h:15},
{t:"and reality easily. Facts are frequently left out of our equations. ",p:93,x:105,y:683,w:454,h:15},
{t:"We will make gods in our image all too readily and do the kind of",p:93,x:105,y:707,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things Paul describes in Romans 1:21 and following. But it cannot ",p:93,x:105,y:731,w:453,h:15},
{t:"be said that we do not seek, never understanding. If that were so, a",p:93,x:105,y:756,w:438,h:15},
{t:"multitude of other statements about the divine-human dance would ",p:93,x:105,y:780,w:442,h:15},
{t:"have to be obliterated. They would no longer fi t a comprehensive ",p:93,x:105,y:804,w:454,h:15},
{t:"reading of Scripture. ",p:93,x:105,y:829,w:141,h:15},
{t:"Scripture assumes that we do seek, even though often at the ",p:93,x:135,y:853,w:425,h:15},
{t:"wrong place and with a dishonest heart and mind. For this reason ",p:93,x:105,y:877,w:444,h:15},
{t:"we frequently find God promising that “if you seek the Lord your",p:93,x:105,y:902,w:442,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   90",p:93,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:93,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:94,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:94,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:94,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:94,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:94,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:94,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:94,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God you will find him, if you look for him with all your heart and ",p:94,x:104,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).",p:94,x:104,y:128,w:269,h:15},
{t:"But of course a simplistic reading of Romans 3:12 would pos-",p:94,x:134,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"sibly explain why the Joe next door does not believe what I be-",p:94,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lieve. Such verses give a comfort of sorts about the puzzle each ",p:94,x:104,y:201,w:445,h:15},
{t:"person is to the other, but they do not do justice to Joe or to the",p:94,x:104,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"God who desires to bring Joe to knowledge of God, life, and sal-",p:94,x:104,y:250,w:449,h:15},
{t:"vation. Such readings do a disservice because there are Joes in ",p:94,x:104,y:274,w:446,h:15},
{t:"life who seek to know the truth and ",p:94,x:104,y:299,w:243,h:15},
{t:"fi nd it in bits and pieces. The ",p:94,x:354,y:299,w:205,h:15},
{t:"difference between various people is more related to their honesty ",p:94,x:104,y:323,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and integrity about the real world, real people, and real questions",p:94,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"than some belief that people are ontologically cast from an identi-",p:94,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cal mold, dead to righteousness, seeking, and understanding. ",p:94,x:104,y:396,w:408,h:15},
{t:"What Real Excuse Do W",p:94,x:104,y:444,w:198,h:19},
{t:"e Have?",p:94,x:324,y:444,w:64,h:19},
{t:"Instead let us look at the passage. It stands in the ",p:94,x:134,y:488,w:318,h:15},
{t:"flow of Paul’s ",p:94,x:461,y:488,w:95,h:15},
{t:"argument that we are all under God’ s wrath, because we are each ",p:94,x:104,y:512,w:450,h:15},
{t:"guilty for our willful denial of what is true. ",p:94,x:104,y:537,w:296,h:15},
{t:"We profess ourselves ",p:94,x:408,y:537,w:150,h:15},
{t:"to be wise, when in fact we are fools in our interpretation of real-",p:94,x:104,y:561,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ity (Romans 1:18–22). Only God’ s word gives the fi tting key for ",p:94,x:104,y:585,w:455,h:15},
{t:"an accurate interpretation. The Greek cannot say that he did not",p:94,x:104,y:610,w:444,h:15},
{t:"know God’s laws, for he is condemned on the basis of not keeping ",p:94,x:104,y:634,w:444,h:15},
{t:"his own relative standards. The Jew cannot appeal to his personal",p:94,x:104,y:658,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and special relationship to God, for he does not keep the laws he",p:94,x:104,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"received as part of the Covenant.",p:94,x:104,y:707,w:219,h:15},
{t:"Both Greek and Jew are in the same mess. Neither one of",p:94,x:134,y:731,w:411,h:15},
{t:"them is better than the other . Both are charged with being under ",p:94,x:104,y:756,w:455,h:15},
{t:"sin (Romans 3:9). Neither is acceptable to God where they have ",p:94,x:104,y:780,w:455,h:15},
{t:"arrived in their faiths. Not one or the other understands what is",p:94,x:104,y:804,w:439,h:15},
{t:"true in the universe. Neither of them have sought God in their",p:94,x:104,y:829,w:439,h:15},
{t:"situation of alienation under God’ s wrath. These are the words ",p:94,x:104,y:853,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Paul used in Romans 3:11. He quotes them from Psalms, which ",p:94,x:104,y:877,w:455,h:15},
{t:"report the words of “the fool (who) says in his heart, ‘there is no ",p:94,x:104,y:902,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   91",p:94,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:94,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:95,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:95,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:95,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:95,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"God’” (Psalm 14:1–3; Psalm 53:1–3). He could also have quoted ",p:95,x:105,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Ecclesiastes 7:20, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does",p:95,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"what is right and never sins,” or from Isaiah 59:7, “Their feet rush ",p:95,x:105,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. ",p:95,x:105,y:177,w:316,h:15},
{t:"Their thoughts are ",p:95,x:430,y:177,w:130,h:15},
{t:"evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.”",p:95,x:105,y:201,w:351,h:15},
{t:"This lament over human wickedness and foolishness express-",p:95,x:135,y:226,w:418,h:15},
{t:"es God’s sorrow that neither Gentile nor Jew does much about",p:95,x:105,y:250,w:441,h:15},
{t:"their situation. It is not a legal de",p:95,x:105,y:274,w:226,h:15},
{t:"fi nition of humanity in general. ",p:95,x:338,y:274,w:217,h:15},
{t:"“There is none, no not one . . .” refers to Gentile and ",p:95,x:105,y:299,w:352,h:15},
{t:"Jew, who are ",p:95,x:467,y:299,w:92,h:15},
{t:"addressed until now in Paul’ s letter to the church in Rome. It can-",p:95,x:105,y:323,w:443,h:15},
{t:"not mean that there is no single seeker anywhere in the universe. ",p:95,x:105,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Both Gentiles and Jews need salvation and are brought together in ",p:95,x:105,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the one sacrifi ce of Christ, just as in chapter four which explains",p:95,x:105,y:396,w:441,h:15},
{t:"both believers before Christ’ s death and those after it are brought",p:95,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"together in the common hope we have in the Messiah. ",p:95,x:105,y:445,w:364,h:15},
{t:"It must mean this, for in the preceding chapters the accusation ",p:95,x:135,y:469,w:413,h:15},
{t:"against them (and each of us) is precisely that they should have ",p:95,x:105,y:493,w:455,h:15},
{t:"sought but did not. That is why we are “without excuse” (Romans",p:95,x:105,y:518,w:442,h:15},
{t:"1:20). It is not a case of people not being able to seek until God ",p:95,x:105,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"awakens them to spiritual hunger. Paul says that we knew what ",p:95,x:105,y:566,w:456,h:15},
{t:"can be known of God, it is plain to us (1:19), things have been ",p:95,x:105,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"clearly revealed to us, and we have perceived them (1:20). ",p:95,x:105,y:615,w:393,h:15},
{t:"Yet we ",p:95,x:508,y:615,w:51,h:15},
{t:"suppressed the truth in unrighteousness (1:18), we hold it under",p:95,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"our thumb, we hide it under our hats. Against better evidence from",p:95,x:105,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the created reality around us, we made a lousy judgment to believe",p:95,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"something that makes no sense.",p:95,x:105,y:712,w:210,h:15},
{t:"I think Paul would have ar gued in our context something like",p:95,x:135,y:737,w:414,h:15},
{t:"this: You realize that we live in an ordered universe, and yet you ",p:95,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"choose to believe in chance, even though nowhere do you have",p:95,x:105,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"evidence of real randomness. How stupid! You know how differ-",p:95,x:105,y:810,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ent human beings are from everything else. We speak, animals ",p:95,x:105,y:834,w:456,h:15},
{t:"make noise and signal. We praise and blame others as if they had ",p:95,x:105,y:858,w:448,h:15},
{t:"a choice in their actions, yet we say we believe we are just a more",p:95,x:105,y:883,w:438,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   92",p:95,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:95,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:96,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:96,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:96,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:96,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:96,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:96,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:96,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"complicated animal who follows social and material conditioning ",p:96,x:104,y:104,w:452,h:15},
{t:"or that impersonal matter lies at the origin of personal beings. ",p:96,x:104,y:128,w:417,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:96,x:532,y:128,w:26,h:15},
{t:"assert that a closed system can bring forth open choices. How fool-",p:96,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ish, how inconsistent, how unreal! How do you expect to get away ",p:96,x:104,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"with that and remain credible?",p:96,x:104,y:201,w:202,h:15},
{t:"In other words we have is a capacity to know , to choose; to ",p:96,x:134,y:226,w:423,h:15},
{t:"accept or reject. We act foolishly when we believe contrary to the",p:96,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"evidence. The whole tenor of Scripture is to address our minds, to ",p:96,x:104,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"urge us to reflect, compare and decide what we are going to believe",p:96,x:104,y:299,w:441,h:15},
{t:"about anything. Sin has separated us from pure knowledge. ",p:96,x:104,y:323,w:394,h:15},
{t:"We are ",p:96,x:508,y:323,w:50,h:15},
{t:"now outside the Garden of Eden. But God has run after us, sent ",p:96,x:104,y:347,w:455,h:15},
{t:"letters by prophets and apostles and dwelt among us in his Son ",p:96,x:104,y:372,w:445,h:15},
{t:"from heaven. While the Son returned to heaven, God has given us",p:96,x:104,y:396,w:441,h:15},
{t:"his Spirit so that we would be reminded that what Scripture speaks",p:96,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is true. The apostles reasoned, preached, expounded, exhorted, ar",p:96,x:104,y:445,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:96,x:549,y:445,w:5,h:15},
{t:"gued, and set forth again and again the truth, and many people",p:96,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"responded with understanding and belief. The evidence was clear -",p:96,x:104,y:493,w:450,h:15},
{t:"ly argued, and some of the listeners chose to acknowledge it and ",p:96,x:104,y:518,w:445,h:15},
{t:"draw their bene ficial conclusions.",p:96,x:104,y:542,w:226,h:15},
{t:"The earliest Church did not understand texts and concepts like ",p:96,x:134,y:566,w:423,h:15},
{t:"being “dead in sin” or “spiritually dead” to mean what some now",p:96,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"suggest it to mean. Such “death” is not indicative of an incapac-",p:96,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity to live, to choose, and to seek. The image or concept of being ",p:96,x:104,y:639,w:450,h:15},
{t:"“dead” here cannot be extended to mean lifeless, no heartbeat, no ",p:96,x:104,y:664,w:454,h:15},
{t:"brain activity. “Dead in sin” (Ephesians 2:1) stands in relation to ",p:96,x:104,y:688,w:446,h:15},
{t:"judgment, not existence. It is legal, not existential. ",p:96,x:104,y:712,w:338,h:15},
{t:"There has been ",p:96,x:452,y:712,w:104,h:15},
{t:"a moral death, not an execution. We are alive as human beings with ",p:96,x:104,y:737,w:448,h:15},
{t:"all our curiosity, creativity, and longing. Certainly being “dead in ",p:96,x:104,y:761,w:448,h:15},
{t:"sin” would not deny that the person is able to actively sin, be clev-",p:96,x:104,y:785,w:438,h:15},
{t:"er about it and happy to get away with it. A sinner can also be kind ",p:96,x:104,y:810,w:450,h:15},
{t:"to his neighbor, diagnose an illness well, and re",p:96,x:104,y:834,w:319,h:15},
{t:"fine a complicated ",p:96,x:429,y:834,w:126,h:15},
{t:"procedure. He can lead an active life in pursuit of his values, as we",p:96,x:104,y:858,w:438,h:15},
{t:"like to say in our generation. ",p:96,x:104,y:883,w:194,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   93",p:96,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:96,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:97,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:97,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:97,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:97,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"We are also not “dead” in ef forts to make sense out of reality",p:97,x:135,y:104,w:411,h:15},
{t:". ",p:97,x:551,y:104,w:8,h:15},
{t:"We are able to weigh propositions and seek wisdom. Doing this",p:97,x:105,y:128,w:440,h:15},
{t:"for reasons of personal survival or for understanding of where we",p:97,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"have come from and what it all means is not an indication of spiri-",p:97,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tual death. Children, women, and men, artists and philosophers",p:97,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"have tried to raise such questions. The spiritual death the Bible ",p:97,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:15},
{t:"speaks about does not describe an inability to seek, but rather a",p:97,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choice to limit the areas in which I admit answers. Spiritual death ",p:97,x:105,y:274,w:454,h:15},
{t:"results from dishonesty. It does not furnish a definition of human-",p:97,x:105,y:299,w:447,h:15},
{t:"ity separated from the image of God.",p:97,x:105,y:323,w:245,h:15},
{t:"The result of sin is death, the results of believing what is not",p:97,x:135,y:347,w:409,h:15},
{t:"factual is being foolish. Believing that I can live in a world other",p:97,x:105,y:372,w:438,h:15},
{t:"than God’s world will lead first to spiritual death (an absence from",p:97,x:105,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God’s fellowship and love) and then also to physical death (when I",p:97,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"don’t respect the laws of nature designed by the creator). But even ",p:97,x:105,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"this truth does not mean that I will cease to exist as a conscious",p:97,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"person.",p:97,x:105,y:493,w:48,h:15},
{t:"Being “dead in sin” cannot mean that one is incapable of do-",p:97,x:135,y:518,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ing anything, as if one’ s physical body were dead. Why, even the ",p:97,x:105,y:542,w:454,h:15},
{t:"devil knows and trembles! He is very much alive, yet spiritually ",p:97,x:105,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"dead. Adam was told that disobedience would lead to death. ",p:97,x:105,y:591,w:401,h:15},
{t:"There ",p:97,x:516,y:591,w:43,h:15},
{t:"was an immediate part and a later part, but no ",p:97,x:105,y:615,w:302,h:15},
{t:"final death. His legal ",p:97,x:416,y:615,w:143,h:15},
{t:"status would change immediately , later his physical body would ",p:97,x:105,y:639,w:450,h:15},
{t:"return to dust in death. But at no time was he or will he ever be",p:97,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"gone, dissolved, annihilated and no longer bear the image of God. ",p:97,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Being “spiritually dead” after the fall describes a moral and legal",p:97,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"situation; this does not prevent God from coming and speaking ",p:97,x:105,y:737,w:446,h:15},
{t:"to Adam. Neither does it incapacitate Adam from hearing and re-",p:97,x:105,y:761,w:446,h:15},
{t:"sponding to God. God did not have to make Adam alive after he ",p:97,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:15},
{t:"disobeyed and ate; he was never dead. Nor did God make him",p:97,x:105,y:810,w:440,h:15},
{t:"spiritually alive. The Bible merely says that God talked to him. ",p:97,x:105,y:834,w:448,h:15},
{t:"Adam wa//s guilty and in need of for giveness through the com-",p:97,x:105,y:858,w:446,h:15},
{t:"ing Messiah. For this God killed an animal to cover their legal",p:97,x:105,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   94",p:97,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:97,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:98,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:98,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:98,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:98,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:98,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:98,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:98,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"problem. Nonetheless, Adam was neither unable to respond nor ",p:98,x:104,y:104,w:456,h:15},
{t:"disinterested in what he heard.",p:98,x:104,y:128,w:203,h:15},
{t:"The Spiritual Explains the Factual",p:98,x:104,y:177,w:275,h:19},
{t:"Another way to look at it is to see how the word “spiritual”",p:98,x:134,y:220,w:410,h:15},
{t:"is used in similar contexts. Paul says that spiritual truth needs to ",p:98,x:104,y:245,w:444,h:15},
{t:"be discerned spiritually (1 Corinthians 2:14). But he has already ",p:98,x:104,y:269,w:444,h:15},
{t:"explained in this context that if the Greek listeners sought wisdom ",p:98,x:104,y:293,w:453,h:15},
{t:"in the contemplation of their own ideals of beauty",p:98,x:104,y:318,w:344,h:15},
{t:", rhetoric, and ",p:98,x:456,y:318,w:101,h:15},
{t:"justice and therefore found the word of the cross foolish (1:18), ",p:98,x:104,y:342,w:445,h:15},
{t:"our wisdom is not of another kind, as if it were ugly",p:98,x:104,y:366,w:359,h:15},
{t:", dumb, and ",p:98,x:471,y:366,w:86,h:15},
{t:"irrational. The difference lies in the fact that it originated from",p:98,x:104,y:391,w:442,h:15},
{t:"another author with another content, which the Greeks would not",p:98,x:104,y:415,w:439,h:15},
{t:"accept. God’s Spirit tells us what is in God’ s mind. We understand ",p:98,x:104,y:439,w:452,h:15},
{t:"something spiritually when we have understood what the Holy ",p:98,x:104,y:464,w:447,h:15},
{t:"Spirit has explained about how things really are. ",p:98,x:104,y:488,w:326,h:15},
{t:"“Spiritual” in the Bible does not indicate something in opposi-",p:98,x:134,y:512,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tion to material, nor to what is rational, creational, or moral. ",p:98,x:104,y:537,w:413,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:98,x:528,y:537,w:31,h:15},
{t:"Russian Orthodox view of seeing a higher spiritual awareness in ",p:98,x:104,y:561,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the poor, the sick, and the unthinkingly submissive shows the in-",p:98,x:104,y:585,w:440,h:15},
{t:"fl uence of Plato where Jesus should have a say instead. Likewise, ",p:98,x:104,y:610,w:444,h:15},
{t:"“spiritually dead” is the person who does not have what the Holy ",p:98,x:104,y:634,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Spirit was given to bring to believers after Christ ascended to ",p:98,x:104,y:658,w:447,h:15},
{t:"his father",p:98,x:104,y:683,w:63,h:15},
{t:"’s house. They don’t have the reality and experience of",p:98,x:170,y:683,w:378,h:15},
{t:"adoption certainty, of sonship, comfort, truth, and advocacy before",p:98,x:104,y:707,w:441,h:15},
{t:"God. But it says nothing of an inability to seek God or an absence",p:98,x:104,y:731,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of desire to know who God is.",p:98,x:104,y:756,w:201,h:15},
{t:"When you see more than this in “spiritual death,” you have",p:98,x:134,y:780,w:410,h:15},
{t:"turned the human being into something that ",p:98,x:104,y:804,w:301,h:15},
{t:"fi ts into your system ",p:98,x:413,y:804,w:146,h:15},
{t:"of divine selection. You will have confused the inability to merit",p:98,x:104,y:829,w:442,h:15},
{t:"grace with an inability to seek the grace of God. Such hyper",p:98,x:104,y:853,w:394,h:15},
{t:"-sensi-",p:98,x:509,y:853,w:44,h:15},
{t:"tivity (and its attendant introspection) makes one afraid that seek-",p:98,x:104,y:877,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ing (or wishing to believe a credible and living God) itself could ",p:98,x:104,y:902,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   95",p:98,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:27 PM",p:98,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:99,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:99,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:99,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:99,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"be construed as a merit. Instead you would prefer to see the fallen ",p:99,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"humanity’s remaining glory in being human put to death than ac-",p:99,x:105,y:128,w:441,h:15},
{t:"knowledge a merciful God who chose to of fer redemption even ",p:99,x:105,y:153,w:453,h:15},
{t:"to those who reject it for their own reasons, therefore having no ",p:99,x:105,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"excuse that they were not among the elect. ",p:99,x:105,y:201,w:287,h:15},
{t:"The great fear in some circles is that something of value to ",p:99,x:135,y:226,w:416,h:15},
{t:"God remains in humanity after the fall with which humans might ",p:99,x:105,y:250,w:454,h:15},
{t:"bargain with God or claim salvation. That is an understandable ",p:99,x:105,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"concern, for any bargaining chip diminishes the total distance be-",p:99,x:105,y:299,w:442,h:15},
{t:"tween sinful people and a holy God. Yet the human search to un-",p:99,x:105,y:323,w:445,h:15},
{t:"derstand and find answers is not a “work” that counts toward merit. ",p:99,x:105,y:347,w:452,h:15},
{t:"Why is the discussion limited to an either / or between two extreme ",p:99,x:105,y:372,w:453,h:15},
{t:"options, rather than seeing that humanity is valuable to God for",p:99,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"reasons of having been created by him. The Bible declares a God ",p:99,x:105,y:420,w:450,h:15},
{t:"who does not abandon his creation but runs after it to redeem it. ",p:99,x:105,y:445,w:429,h:15},
{t:"The theological fear of sounding like people can make an ef-",p:99,x:135,y:469,w:410,h:15},
{t:"fort to earn the merit of Christ (an apprehension made tangible",p:99,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in Roman Catholic theology for a long time before and after the",p:99,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Reformation) is understandable. One is not limited to an option, ",p:99,x:105,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"though, in which God becomes in some form dependent on human ",p:99,x:105,y:566,w:444,h:15},
{t:"effort to accomplish salvation. Neither is the common alternative",p:99,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of this view found in Scripture. Nothing in the Bible states that",p:99,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God has chosen you personally , set you apart from many others, in ",p:99,x:105,y:639,w:447,h:15},
{t:"order that you might believe, while others can’",p:99,x:105,y:664,w:313,h:15},
{t:"t believe until they ",p:99,x:427,y:664,w:129,h:15},
{t:"are similarly set apart. ",p:99,x:105,y:688,w:152,h:15},
{t:"That view expresses perhaps more the experiential joy of the",p:99,x:135,y:712,w:410,h:15},
{t:"believer than biblical theology . It rightly emphasizes the personal",p:99,x:105,y:737,w:444,h:15},
{t:"interest of God in our salvation. It reminds us of the full price",p:99,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God is prepared to pay for our forgiveness and resurrection, when ",p:99,x:105,y:785,w:451,h:15},
{t:"we had nothing with which to weigh in. It brings out the marvel-",p:99,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ous work of God on our behalf, without which there would be no ",p:99,x:105,y:834,w:444,h:15},
{t:"salvation.",p:99,x:105,y:858,w:64,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   96",p:99,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:99,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:100,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:100,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:100,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:100,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:100,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:100,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:100,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"But all these wonderful points can be justly maintained without",p:100,x:134,y:104,w:409,h:15},
{t:"having to turn salvation into a personal mystery",p:100,x:104,y:128,w:320,h:15},
{t:", an experience of ",p:100,x:432,y:128,w:127,h:15},
{t:"God’s selection of a dead piece of wood or a potter",p:100,x:104,y:153,w:335,h:15},
{t:"’s vessel, which ",p:100,x:448,y:153,w:107,h:15},
{t:"he then regenerates and turns into a believing human being.",p:100,x:104,y:177,w:397,h:15},
{t:"“From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the",p:100,x:134,y:201,w:410,h:15},
{t:"sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He",p:100,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the",p:100,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14). This ",p:100,x:104,y:274,w:455,h:15},
{t:"passage speaks of the whole work of God through each member of",p:100,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the Trinity, forming the “locus” of our wonder , awe, and thankful-",p:100,x:104,y:323,w:446,h:15},
{t:"ness. The work of the Spirit will sanctify your salvation to obtain ",p:100,x:104,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the glory of Jesus Christ. It says nothing about regeneration being ",p:100,x:104,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"required to enable a person to believe. Only a culture in love with ",p:100,x:104,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"either personal destiny (as found in pre-scienti",p:100,x:104,y:420,w:314,h:15},
{t:"fi c superstition) or ",p:100,x:427,y:420,w:132,h:15},
{t:"personal rights and advantages (found in democratic individual-",p:100,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ism) will focus on the chosen and immediate self instead of God. ",p:100,x:104,y:469,w:437,h:15},
{t:"Paul says in Romans 8:7 that “the sinful mind is hostile to ",p:100,x:134,y:493,w:416,h:15},
{t:"God” without stating that there is a necessity of maintaining such ",p:100,x:104,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"carnality. The princes and wise folk of this world did not recognize ",p:100,x:104,y:542,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Christ, because they delighted, as did the Greeks of 1 Corinthians",p:100,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"1:18–25, in their own course, thought world and beliefs. ",p:100,x:104,y:591,w:380,h:15},
{t:"The path ",p:100,x:494,y:591,w:63,h:15},
{t:"of the sinful has nothing to do with God having elected other peo-",p:100,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ple elsewhere. “You will seek me and fi nd me when you seek me ",p:100,x:104,y:639,w:454,h:15},
{t:"with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). ",p:100,x:104,y:664,w:255,h:15},
{t:"Guilty Fr",p:100,x:104,y:712,w:68,h:19},
{t:"om Folly and Indif",p:100,x:181,y:712,w:146,h:19},
{t:"ference",p:100,x:345,y:712,w:65,h:19},
{t:"In my experience, many reject God and his mercy in response",p:100,x:134,y:756,w:410,h:15},
{t:"to a distorted caricature of Christianity characterized by this low",p:100,x:104,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"view about human beings. If there is a spirit of the age that blinds",p:100,x:104,y:804,w:438,h:15},
{t:"us today, it is also found in the Greek view of God wherever it is",p:100,x:104,y:829,w:440,h:15},
{t:"held by the Church in distinction to the Jewish/biblical one. People",p:100,x:104,y:853,w:438,h:15},
{t:"reject what they hear presented as Christianity though they have",p:100,x:104,y:877,w:439,h:15},
{t:"never heard biblical responses to their questions. Christians be-",p:100,x:104,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   97",p:100,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:100,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:101,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:101,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:101,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:101,x:105,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"lieve they give scripturally grounded answers, but their answers",p:101,x:105,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"often leave God first guilty of manipulation and then indif",p:101,x:105,y:128,w:386,h:15},
{t:"ferent to ",p:101,x:498,y:128,w:59,h:15},
{t:"a messy world reputedly of his design and making to begin with. ",p:101,x:105,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"That proposition is morally reprehensible and intellectually more ",p:101,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"of what all religions teach already , only now with different names ",p:101,x:105,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"and peculiar practices.",p:101,x:105,y:226,w:149,h:15},
{t:"The unique difference of Christianity, of God, men, and wom-",p:101,x:135,y:250,w:416,h:15},
{t:"en in history took Paul two years to explain in Ephesus, while",p:101,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"many of us believe that communicating the Christian gospel can ",p:101,x:105,y:299,w:445,h:15},
{t:"be done today with a tract. We are irresponsibly shallow when we",p:101,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"assume that the Church deserves a hearing when we do not cover",p:101,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"content as similar and complete as what Paul taught during his two ",p:101,x:105,y:372,w:442,h:15},
{t:"weeks in Thessalonica. He gave more than a few spiritual laws or",p:101,x:105,y:396,w:441,h:15},
{t:"an invitation to love, hope, and faith. When he referred to these ",p:101,x:105,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Christian realities, he fleshed them out with a lar ger content. Love, ",p:101,x:105,y:445,w:450,h:15},
{t:"hope, and faith are the result of Paul having laid out a completely ",p:101,x:105,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"different worldview from anything the Greek citizens in town had ",p:101,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"ever heard. There was no fate anymore, no cycle to life, no confu-",p:101,x:105,y:518,w:441,h:15},
{t:"sion among the gods, and a moral judgment at the end of linear ",p:101,x:105,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"history (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10). ",p:101,x:105,y:566,w:257,h:15},
{t:"Paul also taught biblical ethics about marriage, respect for hu-",p:101,x:135,y:591,w:409,h:15},
{t:"man beings, social engagement, and work, and ",p:101,x:105,y:615,w:318,h:15},
{t:"he concludes with ",p:101,x:431,y:615,w:125,h:15},
{t:"a biblical approach to life and death (ch. 4). He ur",p:101,x:105,y:639,w:327,h:15},
{t:"ged the believers ",p:101,x:441,y:639,w:118,h:15},
{t:"to be more alert, critical, and discerning of their culture. ",p:101,x:105,y:664,w:377,h:15},
{t:"As a result of such content, the whole world was eventual-",p:101,x:135,y:688,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ly changed, beginning in the Roman Empire. With Christianity, ",p:101,x:105,y:712,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Europe became a separate continent of ideas and practices, much ",p:101,x:105,y:737,w:451,h:15},
{t:"more than only geographically , and then spread them across the ",p:101,x:105,y:761,w:456,h:15},
{t:"world. ",p:101,x:105,y:785,w:47,h:15},
{t:"Such wealth and beauty, such intellectual answers and social",p:101,x:135,y:810,w:413,h:15},
{t:"realities we, however, have abandoned in what has become our ",p:101,x:105,y:834,w:456,h:15},
{t:"central interest: personal relations, feeling better",p:101,x:105,y:858,w:341,h:15},
{t:", and drawing ",p:101,x:454,y:858,w:106,h:15},
{t:"more elect people into our support group.",p:101,x:105,y:883,w:276,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   98",p:101,x:17,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:101,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:102,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:102,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:102,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:102,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:102,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:102,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:102,x:540,y:950,w:13,h:12},
{t:"Our human nature is precisely never , in the way God treats ",p:102,x:134,y:104,w:425,h:15},
{t:"us, destroyed. We have a profound legal and a creational problem",p:102,x:104,y:128,w:442,h:15},
{t:"because of Adam’s sin and ours. But we never cease being human ",p:102,x:104,y:153,w:446,h:15},
{t:"beings who can and must think, seek, and discover . Only from ",p:102,x:104,y:177,w:456,h:15},
{t:"foolishness do we believe what is wrong, only from selected evi-",p:102,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"dence do we come to faulty conclusions. Evidence may be with-",p:102,x:104,y:226,w:440,h:15},
{t:"held deliberately; truth may be distorted. Surrounding culture and ",p:102,x:104,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"religious teaching may seek to cover up or distort the evidence of",p:102,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"reality. Yet reality demands a verdict which most religions do not",p:102,x:104,y:299,w:440,h:15},
{t:"provide. They tend to deny parts of that reality",p:102,x:104,y:323,w:319,h:15},
{t:". Wherever reality ",p:102,x:429,y:323,w:127,h:15},
{t:"is admitted, the shoe of religion will be too small for my feet and ",p:102,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"pinch. ",p:102,x:104,y:372,w:45,h:15},
{t:"I must then take it of f to wiggle my toes in greater freedom",p:102,x:134,y:396,w:413,h:15},
{t:"until I find a shoe that fits. And there the Bible gives such comfort, ",p:102,x:104,y:420,w:452,h:15},
{t:"such encouragement, such an af",p:102,x:104,y:445,w:212,h:15},
{t:"firmation to the human being with ",p:102,x:322,y:445,w:231,h:15},
{t:"God’s promise that “whoever seeks me with his whole heart shall",p:102,x:104,y:469,w:440,h:15},
{t:"surely find me,” a truth said in various ways throughout Scripture. ",p:102,x:104,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"The jailor in Philippi, Nicodemus by night, Martin Luther read-",p:102,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing the Bible—anyone really seeking—God will find him. Finding ",p:102,x:104,y:542,w:452,h:15},
{t:"God is not a matter of accomplishing something, but of God’",p:102,x:104,y:566,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:102,x:548,y:566,w:13,h:15},
{t:"promise that he will reveal himself to us. God ties himself down to ",p:102,x:104,y:591,w:442,h:15},
{t:"do what it takes to become known by us. On the individual level",p:102,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"only a lack of honesty, not a designation as spiritually dead, will",p:102,x:104,y:639,w:442,h:15},
{t:"stand in the way of genuine discovery",p:102,x:104,y:664,w:252,h:15},
{t:". ",p:102,x:362,y:664,w:8,h:15},
{t:"Our barber at the beginning of the book has only ever looked at",p:102,x:134,y:688,w:409,h:15},
{t:"real life, history, and most of the Church’ s teaching. These sources ",p:102,x:104,y:712,w:453,h:15},
{t:"do not reveal God’s mind, desire, and actions. He has never looked ",p:102,x:104,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"at the Bible, that Word which speaks not through reality , but about ",p:102,x:104,y:761,w:453,h:15},
{t:"it. It judges reality, encourages revolt and asks to be taken as a",p:102,x:104,y:785,w:442,h:15},
{t:"whole. “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that",p:102,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).",p:102,x:104,y:834,w:373,h:15},
{t:"It is clear that we cannot save ourselves. It is too late for that; we",p:102,x:134,y:858,w:408,h:15},
{t:"are already damaged, imperfect, and morally guilty",p:102,x:104,y:883,w:337,h:15},
{t:". We have noth-",p:102,x:449,y:883,w:103,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   99",p:102,x:16,y:1051,w:117,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:102,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:103,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:103,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:103,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:103,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"ing we can bargain with. We rightly reject any notion of “works”",p:103,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"contributing to fi ll the measure of God’s requirement to “be holy , ",p:103,x:105,y:128,w:454,h:15},
{t:"even as (he is) holy .” Yet the fear among some Protestants to men-",p:103,x:105,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tion works, effort, human and professional qualities has led us to ",p:103,x:105,y:177,w:446,h:15},
{t:"embrace a very distorted image of humanity that is not biblical any ",p:103,x:105,y:201,w:442,h:15},
{t:"longer. God never treats fallen humanity as unworthy of his love, ",p:103,x:105,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"grace, and effort. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through ",p:103,x:105,y:250,w:445,h:15},
{t:"faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by ",p:103,x:105,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). ",p:103,x:105,y:299,w:349,h:15},
{t:"This “grace” is what Paul has been building up ",p:103,x:135,y:323,w:316,h:15},
{t:"to all along. It ",p:103,x:460,y:323,w:99,h:15},
{t:"is Christ, the gift of God for our salvation, unmerited, freely given. ",p:103,x:105,y:347,w:452,h:15},
{t:"“Grace” is not an act of God to select some to salvation, but the",p:103,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"gift of God, an unmerited favor , which he presents to the world in ",p:103,x:105,y:396,w:448,h:15},
{t:"the finished work of Christ. God has predestined all kinds of reali-",p:103,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ties mentioned in the fi rst chapter of Ephesians and accomplished ",p:103,x:105,y:445,w:447,h:15},
{t:"them through Christ’s sacrifice for us. ",p:103,x:105,y:469,w:260,h:15},
{t:"God is not shopping for souls in a messy world. He is not",p:103,x:135,y:493,w:410,h:15},
{t:"choosing some and rejecting others. What God has done for us in ",p:103,x:105,y:518,w:450,h:15},
{t:"Christ Jesus is to present us with a gift, which, like any gift ever",p:103,x:105,y:542,w:435,h:15},
{t:", ",p:103,x:551,y:542,w:8,h:15},
{t:"needs to be accepted. We do that by faith, which means that we",p:103,x:105,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"conclude that God is not lying about it. ",p:103,x:105,y:591,w:264,h:15},
{t:"We can freely believe him ",p:103,x:377,y:591,w:182,h:15},
{t:"and be thankful. The gift is Christ. There is no deceit or disap-",p:103,x:105,y:615,w:449,h:15},
{t:"pointment about that gift. He is God and judge. Christ takes away ",p:103,x:105,y:639,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the moral guilt of those who believe him to do this in his death and ",p:103,x:105,y:664,w:442,h:15},
{t:"resurrection. We check it out and find that it is reasonable, true to ",p:103,x:105,y:688,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the promises, historic and powerful, for Jesus was raised from the",p:103,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"dead, the first of many.",p:103,x:105,y:737,w:156,h:15},
{t:"Believing this to be true and relying on its content is faith, ",p:103,x:135,y:761,w:416,h:15},
{t:"through which we declare our thankfulness, wonder",p:103,x:105,y:785,w:352,h:15},
{t:", and dedica-",p:103,x:465,y:785,w:87,h:15},
{t:"tion. Faith is not the gift spoken of here in Ephesians 2:8–9, how",p:103,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"human beings always respond to evidence, real or imaginary",p:103,x:105,y:834,w:398,h:15},
{t:". Faith ",p:103,x:512,y:834,w:45,h:15},
{t:"is part of being human, the ability to conclude that there is enough ",p:103,x:105,y:858,w:442,h:15},
{t:"evidence to rely on. The scientist believes with the evidence of his",p:103,x:105,y:883,w:442,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   100",p:103,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:103,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:104,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:104,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:104,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:104,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:104,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:104,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:104,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"experiences. The lover believes the observations he has made and ",p:104,x:104,y:104,w:446,h:15},
{t:"what she knows about the loved one. “Faith is the assurance of",p:104,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things hoped for (on the basis of good evidence), the conviction of",p:104,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"things not (exhaustively) seen” (Hebrews 1 1:1 NASB, with author ",p:104,x:104,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"notes). Any medical doctor functions this way when he believes",p:104,x:104,y:201,w:441,h:15},
{t:"the complaints of his patients, uses his diagnostic skills and pro-",p:104,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"poses a treatment. He has to believe it ",p:104,x:104,y:250,w:253,h:15},
{t:"first to practice medicine. In ",p:104,x:364,y:250,w:189,h:15},
{t:"fact faith is the way we know anything.",p:104,x:104,y:274,w:262,h:15},
{t:"Before God, faith has no bartering value. Faith does not con-",p:104,x:134,y:299,w:409,h:15},
{t:"strain God to action and is not a condition for God to give sal-",p:104,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"vation. But faith is a condition without which we cannot receive",p:104,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"anything, neither medical help nor salvation in Christ.",p:104,x:104,y:372,w:359,h:15},
{t:"God never treats humanity as incapable of seeking or free",p:104,x:134,y:396,w:410,h:15},
{t:"from responsibility for failing to seek. “Come now and let us rea-",p:104,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"son together,” or, “Should you inquire of the dead on behalf of the",p:104,x:104,y:445,w:441,h:15},
{t:"living,” are part of a list of such ef",p:104,x:104,y:469,w:225,h:15},
{t:"forts to make himself be known. ",p:104,x:336,y:469,w:217,h:15},
{t:"These are honest questions on the part of God to us. Jesus sought",p:104,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the crowds to address them. The Apostles spoke at length to the ",p:104,x:104,y:518,w:455,h:15},
{t:"mind and heart of listeners wherever they found them. ",p:104,x:104,y:542,w:375,h:15},
{t:"Amos the ",p:104,x:488,y:542,w:71,h:15},
{t:"prophet was sent to the hostile Northern Kingdom to speak to the ",p:104,x:104,y:566,w:454,h:15},
{t:"authorities, much to their annoyance. Elijah warned ",p:104,x:104,y:591,w:358,h:15},
{t:"Ahab of the ",p:104,x:471,y:591,w:88,h:15},
{t:"judgment to come (1 Kings 17). Jonah preached in Nineveh, and ",p:104,x:104,y:615,w:445,h:15},
{t:"most of the inhabitants of that great city repented. ",p:104,x:104,y:639,w:336,h:15},
{t:"When the Bible speaks of the basic problem of humanity in ",p:104,x:134,y:664,w:416,h:15},
{t:"terms of its foolish beliefs and its rejection of God, it points out",p:104,x:104,y:688,w:438,h:15},
{t:"the need for turning around to the greater evidence of God, to ",p:104,x:104,y:712,w:456,h:15},
{t:"greater faithfulness to reason and the real world, to the ",p:104,x:104,y:737,w:374,h:15},
{t:"Word and ",p:104,x:488,y:737,w:70,h:15},
{t:"instructions of the Creator . It does not speak of an impossibility of",p:104,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"humanity to think, to make choices and to change ways. ",p:104,x:104,y:785,w:388,h:15},
{t:"Our sin ",p:104,x:502,y:785,w:57,h:15},
{t:"is not part of his system. There is no fl aw in our ability to know , ",p:104,x:104,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"only in our desire to be consistent with reality. And that desire is ",p:104,x:104,y:834,w:454,h:15},
{t:"a matter of choice.",p:104,x:104,y:858,w:124,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   101",p:104,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:104,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:105,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:105,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:105,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:105,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"Therefore we are not in a closed system. ",p:105,x:135,y:104,w:267,h:15},
{t:"We do not have a des-",p:105,x:409,y:104,w:143,h:15},
{t:"tiny that dictates events. There is no fate controlling all of life. Our ",p:105,x:105,y:128,w:453,h:15},
{t:"situation is not totally constraining. ",p:105,x:105,y:153,w:239,h:15},
{t:"We live in a context of reality , ",p:105,x:350,y:153,w:208,h:15},
{t:"in which past choices have produced inevitable consequences. But",p:105,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"we also live in a reality in which people can create alternatives, in-",p:105,x:105,y:201,w:438,h:15},
{t:"vent new ways, get on top of circumstances, and repent. ",p:105,x:105,y:226,w:369,h:15},
{t:"We are not ",p:105,x:484,y:226,w:75,h:15},
{t:"completely caught in a chain of cause and ef",p:105,x:105,y:250,w:298,h:15},
{t:"fect. Christianity and ",p:105,x:411,y:250,w:145,h:15},
{t:"Judaism do not produce cultures and attitudes of endless chains of",p:105,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"“again and again.”",p:105,x:105,y:299,w:123,h:15},
{t:"God is innocent of what people have done or continue to do ",p:105,x:135,y:323,w:415,h:15},
{t:"every day. He is Lord, but not a sovereign puppeteer. The God ",p:105,x:105,y:347,w:456,h:15},
{t:"of the Bible is not “in control” in any kind of deterministic un-",p:105,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"derstanding. The God of the Bible is not a mechanism. He treats ",p:105,x:105,y:396,w:455,h:15},
{t:"people the way he made them to act: by choice, creatively and ",p:105,x:105,y:420,w:446,h:15},
{t:"responsibly. ",p:105,x:105,y:445,w:85,h:15},
{t:"During my lectures for many years in the former Soviet Union, ",p:105,x:135,y:469,w:413,h:15},
{t:"I kept pointing out how our Christian view of men and women in ",p:105,x:105,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the West excludes any final determinism behind human existence. ",p:105,x:105,y:518,w:448,h:15},
{t:"There is a form to reality, but within that form people are able to ",p:105,x:105,y:542,w:448,h:15},
{t:"create, choose, and act. The stars do not determine behavior . A ",p:105,x:105,y:566,w:456,h:15},
{t:"choice is different from matter functioning on matter",p:105,x:105,y:591,w:354,h:15},
{t:". ",p:105,x:465,y:591,w:8,h:15},
{t:"All their lives, Russians have heard the opposite: history de-",p:105,x:135,y:615,w:409,h:15},
{t:"termines events, energy functions mechanistically in their lives, ",p:105,x:105,y:639,w:455,h:15},
{t:"the party determines what people do and how they live. But in God ",p:105,x:105,y:664,w:442,h:15},
{t:"we have an awakened independence and responsibility to create",p:105,x:105,y:688,w:440,h:15},
{t:"history, rather than to suffer as a part of it. Evil must be resisted,",p:105,x:105,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"a more balanced diet and exercise implemented, better medica-",p:105,x:105,y:737,w:440,h:15},
{t:"tion and technologies found, relationships formed from love and ",p:105,x:105,y:761,w:455,h:15},
{t:"respect. There is no total inevitability for man, and only the Bible",p:105,x:105,y:785,w:440,h:15},
{t:"explains why and how .",p:105,x:105,y:810,w:155,h:15},
{t:"How tragic that many Christians do not understand these vari-",p:105,x:135,y:834,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ous links but introduce God with characteristics very similar to ",p:105,x:105,y:858,w:445,h:15},
{t:"those of the older Fates. Instead of state and history",p:105,x:105,y:883,w:341,h:15},
{t:", is it now sup-",p:105,x:455,y:883,w:97,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   102",p:105,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:105,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Re al Lif",p:106,x:223,y:57,w:62,h:14},
{t:"e V",p:106,x:304,y:57,w:21,h:14},
{t:"er sus Sp",p:106,x:333,y:57,w:66,h:14},
{t:"irit",p:106,x:414,y:57,w:26,h:14},
{t:"ual E",p:106,x:452,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"sc ap e",p:106,x:503,y:57,w:51,h:14},
{t:"",p:106,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"posed to be God controlling their lives? But they have lived under",p:106,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"control all their lives! The creativity and individual responsibility ",p:106,x:104,y:128,w:447,h:15},
{t:"has been beaten out of them. They wait, as on the sidelines of ",p:106,x:104,y:153,w:456,h:15},
{t:"life, until things happen; and evil people will make things happen!",p:106,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"When the demon is driven out and not replaced with the Spirit of",p:106,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God, the demon and all his seven friends will return.",p:106,x:104,y:226,w:350,h:15},
{t:"God is not in this kind of control. Sin reigns where it was",p:106,x:134,y:250,w:410,h:15},
{t:"chosen. There is a war going on, and we take sides in it. ",p:106,x:104,y:274,w:377,h:15},
{t:"We avoid ",p:106,x:490,y:274,w:67,h:15},
{t:"being swallowed up along the way by “test[ing] everything that is",p:106,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"said. Hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT). Then ",p:106,x:104,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"we can have a say in history by the choices people make, the com-",p:106,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"munities they create, and in policies they pursue. ",p:106,x:104,y:372,w:328,h:15},
{t:"What a horror to ",p:106,x:441,y:372,w:114,h:15},
{t:"the human spirit to leave him only with a Christian version of the",p:106,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"same determined fl ow of events which controls all reality and al-",p:106,x:104,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"lows for no human contribution.",p:106,x:104,y:445,w:215,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   103",p:106,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:106,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:107,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER SEVEN",p:107,x:264,y:239,w:119,h:15},
{t:"INFINITEPE",p:107,x:135,y:284,w:154,h:25},
{t:"RSONAL GOD ",p:107,x:323,y:284,w:205,h:25},
{t:"AND",p:107,x:297,y:321,w:58,h:25},
{t:"FINITEPE",p:107,x:128,y:358,w:125,h:25},
{t:"RSONAL HUM",p:107,x:280,y:358,w:183,h:25},
{t:"AN",p:107,x:488,y:358,w:42,h:25},
{t:"The central question remains: is God guilty or innocent? ",p:107,x:134,y:450,w:388,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:107,x:532,y:450,w:27,h:15},
{t:"need to address it further . Is God almighty (El-Shaddai) and in ",p:107,x:104,y:474,w:455,h:15},
{t:"control? If he is in control, is he good ",p:107,x:104,y:499,w:264,h:15},
{t:"and evil, and are we mis-",p:107,x:376,y:499,w:174,h:15},
{t:"taken when we see these as opposites? Or has God died?",p:107,x:104,y:523,w:377,h:15},
{t:"As we consider this more closely we need to make a small",p:107,x:134,y:547,w:410,h:15},
{t:"excursion in our minds to consider alternatives as well as implica-",p:107,x:104,y:572,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tions of what the Bible tells us. Doing this has led to wonderful",p:107,x:104,y:596,w:439,h:15},
{t:"results in people’s hearts, minds, and lives. When they read the ",p:107,x:104,y:620,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Bible, they realized that God made us with a purpose, that he loves",p:107,x:104,y:645,w:439,h:15},
{t:"us, and that we are meant to be people. As people, we were not to ",p:107,x:104,y:669,w:450,h:15},
{t:"take our cues about life from circumstances, but from God. ",p:107,x:104,y:693,w:418,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:107,x:532,y:693,w:28,h:15},
{t:"would understand things better because we could think, which was",p:107,x:104,y:718,w:439,h:15},
{t:"necessary if we are to understand God’ s Word rather than merely ",p:107,x:104,y:742,w:451,h:15},
{t:"being exposed to creation as our neighborhood. ",p:107,x:104,y:766,w:318,h:15},
{t:"We can observe in ",p:107,x:430,y:766,w:125,h:15},
{t:"the Word, the Bible, and God’s actions that creation is quite a mess",p:107,x:104,y:791,w:443,h:15},
{t:"now. God is not at home here, and he is not at all pleased.",p:107,x:104,y:815,w:384,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is stated to be someone speci",p:107,x:134,y:839,w:348,h:15},
{t:"fi c. He is ",p:107,x:491,y:839,w:68,h:15},
{t:"not everything existing, assuming of course that you, me, and the",p:107,x:104,y:864,w:439,h:15},
{t:"text under your eyes exist. God is someone who thinks, feels, and ",p:107,x:104,y:888,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   105",p:107,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:107,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:108,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:108,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:108,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:108,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"acts. More than that, there is a plurality or diversity in the Godhead ",p:108,x:105,y:104,w:441,h:15},
{t:"forever. For they decide to create together: “Let us make” re",p:108,x:105,y:128,w:405,h:15},
{t:"fl ects ",p:108,x:519,y:128,w:40,h:15},
{t:"this plurality. Kings and presidents of nations other than the Jews",p:108,x:105,y:153,w:441,h:15},
{t:"used such a formulation as a plural of majesty in their speeches ",p:108,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"and letters. The Jews, however, never used it except to indicate ",p:108,x:105,y:201,w:456,h:15},
{t:"several personages. King David never speaks of himself as “we.”",p:108,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Jews were aware that elsewhere the plural of majesty was usual, ",p:108,x:105,y:250,w:454,h:15},
{t:"but they did not employ it. A person’s value, power, or esteem ",p:108,x:105,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"does not derive from his multiplying himself or being more formal",p:108,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"or more important. The Bible presents God as Trinity of distinct ",p:108,x:105,y:323,w:455,h:15},
{t:"persons. The Father loved the Son from before the foundation of",p:108,x:105,y:347,w:441,h:15},
{t:"the world. ",p:108,x:105,y:372,w:71,h:15},
{t:"God created a real world with increasing details and dif",p:108,x:135,y:396,w:370,h:15},
{t:"feren-",p:108,x:515,y:396,w:39,h:15},
{t:"tiations. He took time for that and gave the mandate to continue",p:108,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"creation to humankind, male and female, equally in the image of",p:108,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God.",p:108,x:105,y:469,w:32,h:15},
{t:"God looked at everything he had made and was pleased. It was",p:108,x:135,y:493,w:410,h:15},
{t:"all very fi tting, or “good,” a word that is derived from the word ",p:108,x:105,y:518,w:455,h:15},
{t:"“god” and indicates that nothing was out of place, in disarray",p:108,x:105,y:542,w:399,h:15},
{t:", ugly, ",p:108,x:514,y:542,w:44,h:15},
{t:"or in conflict in the original creation. But it was all outside of God, ",p:108,x:105,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"distinct from him, though not out of his presence. God is never",p:108,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"absent, uninvolved, or merely observing as the deists taught. ",p:108,x:105,y:615,w:407,h:15},
{t:"This is important for our discussion, for it means that there is",p:108,x:135,y:639,w:409,h:15},
{t:"a certain limitation to the eternal God. Creation did not make God ",p:108,x:105,y:664,w:443,h:15},
{t:"bigger; it did not emanate from him. God is not the totality of what",p:108,x:105,y:688,w:438,h:15},
{t:"is. Creation was vis-à-vis to God. The infi nite God of the Bible is ",p:108,x:105,y:712,w:454,h:15},
{t:"not all-inclusive. There is a reality outside of God, for he brought",p:108,x:105,y:737,w:442,h:15},
{t:"it into being in its precise forms, or nature, outside himself.",p:108,x:105,y:761,w:394,h:15},
{t:"There is also a second limitation to the God of the Bible. He ",p:108,x:135,y:785,w:424,h:15},
{t:"is infi nite in his personality, his character. This means two things. ",p:108,x:105,y:810,w:451,h:15},
{t:"Infi nity is a kind of measure. It addresses quantities, while per",p:108,x:105,y:834,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:108,x:550,y:834,w:5,h:15},
{t:"sonality is a matter of de fi nition and qualities. Practically it tells",p:108,x:105,y:858,w:443,h:15},
{t:"us that God’s characteristic love is not confused with hate, his pa-",p:108,x:105,y:883,w:440,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   106",p:108,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:108,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:109,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:109,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:109,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:109,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:109,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:109,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:109,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:109,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"tience is not indifference, his mercy is not judgmental. He is in",p:109,x:104,y:104,w:427,h:15},
{t:"fi -",p:109,x:539,y:104,w:14,h:15},
{t:"nite in who he is, but he is not in",p:109,x:104,y:128,w:225,h:15},
{t:"fi nity as such. One can also say ",p:109,x:335,y:128,w:219,h:15},
{t:"it this way: the practice of his attributes never comes to an end. ",p:109,x:104,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"There is an in fi nitely inexhaustible measure of his speci",p:109,x:104,y:177,w:386,h:15},
{t:"fi c love, ",p:109,x:498,y:177,w:60,h:15},
{t:"but it is never confused with hate. Consequently",p:109,x:104,y:201,w:322,h:15},
{t:", some real things ",p:109,x:433,y:201,w:125,h:15},
{t:"are excluded from God or outside him. They only exist outside and ",p:109,x:104,y:226,w:449,h:15},
{t:"in distinction of or even in opposition to God. For instance, there",p:109,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is no deceit in God, no evil, no death. These are creations of later ",p:109,x:104,y:274,w:454,h:15},
{t:"creatures, both among angels and men, and not part of the eternal",p:109,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God of the Bible. ",p:109,x:104,y:323,w:119,h:15},
{t:"God is then in a real way, and not just in terms of language, ",p:109,x:134,y:347,w:419,h:15},
{t:"limited to being a particular God with certain attributes. ",p:109,x:104,y:372,w:386,h:15},
{t:"We will ",p:109,x:500,y:372,w:59,h:15},
{t:"see more implications of this in the next chapter",p:109,x:104,y:396,w:330,h:15},
{t:". Here I want to ",p:109,x:442,y:396,w:114,h:15},
{t:"draw attention to the fact that attributes are quali",p:109,x:104,y:420,w:326,h:15},
{t:"fiers to God, like ",p:109,x:439,y:420,w:119,h:15},
{t:"adjectives to a noun. They do not defi ne or limit God to have a ",p:109,x:104,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"specifi c character and personality, as if someone else imposed ",p:109,x:104,y:469,w:456,h:15},
{t:"them from outside or behind God. It is rather that such clarifying ",p:109,x:104,y:493,w:452,h:15},
{t:"adjectives of God’s attributes, his being and personality , are writ ",p:109,x:104,y:518,w:455,h:15},
{t:"large and loud in bold af firmations and distinctives. Our God is not",p:109,x:104,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"unknowable. Words do not slide past him. He is the living ",p:109,x:104,y:566,w:401,h:15},
{t:"Word, ",p:109,x:513,y:566,w:45,h:15},
{t:"and because of this he can talk, communicate, and make his will",p:109,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"known. One cannot speak of God as personality or mind with all",p:109,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that this communicates and at the same time assume that God is",p:109,x:104,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"just infi nite. Infi nity cannot even be expressed, since every word ",p:109,x:104,y:664,w:447,h:15},
{t:"defines a particular slice of reality",p:109,x:104,y:688,w:226,h:15},
{t:". ",p:109,x:335,y:688,w:8,h:15},
{t:"We have then in the Bible a speci",p:109,x:134,y:712,w:229,h:15},
{t:"fi c God who exists forever ",p:109,x:369,y:712,w:190,h:15},
{t:"and whose being is forever faithful. This affirmation of the person ",p:109,x:104,y:737,w:450,h:15},
{t:"of God, his eternal existence, does not mean that everything is al-",p:109,x:104,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ready and forever “now” to him. His knowledge of all things does",p:109,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not imply his experience of all things co-equally or even at any ",p:109,x:104,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"time. Therefore he knows what a unicorn would look like, but he",p:109,x:104,y:834,w:440,h:15},
{t:"never made one. He chose to create a world without unicorns, but",p:109,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with a platypus, eels, and other ",p:109,x:104,y:883,w:211,h:15},
{t:"fierce and unusual creatures. ",p:109,x:321,y:883,w:194,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   107",p:109,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:109,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:110,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:110,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:110,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:110,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"For a second reason there is no need to place all reality into ",p:110,x:135,y:104,w:415,h:15},
{t:"an “Eternal Now” before God. There was a “before” creation, fol-",p:110,x:105,y:128,w:444,h:15},
{t:"lowed by an “after” creation; “before” Christ’",p:110,x:105,y:153,w:308,h:15},
{t:"s fi nished work and ",p:110,x:421,y:153,w:136,h:15},
{t:"“after;” a “not yet” about the coming of the Holy Spirit and “then”",p:110,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"an outpouring on Pentecost. Michelangelo’ s painting of “The ",p:110,x:105,y:201,w:458,h:15},
{t:"Creation of Adam” in Rome shows that God had Eve in mind when ",p:110,x:105,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"he made Adam. She is there among the angels in the other arm of",p:110,x:105,y:250,w:440,h:15},
{t:"God. But she did not come into existence until after ",p:110,x:105,y:274,w:342,h:15},
{t:"Adam had fi rst ",p:110,x:455,y:274,w:104,h:15},
{t:"been made with bones. Then Eve was made as Adam’s helpmeet.",p:110,x:105,y:299,w:441,h:15},
{t:"We see that the Bible does not present a God who is ",p:110,x:135,y:323,w:365,h:15},
{t:"simply ",p:110,x:509,y:323,w:51,h:15},
{t:"infi nite in contrast to our fi niteness, but there is more. God cre-",p:110,x:105,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ated a real world but then told the human beings to create realities",p:110,x:105,y:372,w:438,h:15},
{t:"God could not have created. I imagine, though I am not directly ",p:110,x:105,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"told, that Adam and Eve were created as adults, not babies. ",p:110,x:105,y:420,w:407,h:15},
{t:"They ",p:110,x:521,y:420,w:39,h:15},
{t:"were then in turn to have babies just like apple trees were made ",p:110,x:105,y:445,w:455,h:15},
{t:"to produce apples. Adam and Eve were created as adults, since",p:110,x:105,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"babies depend on parents and only the next generation could have ",p:110,x:105,y:493,w:454,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve as parents. Having babies and growing apples is",p:110,x:105,y:518,w:440,h:15},
{t:"part of the nature of creation, but not in the nature of God. God ",p:110,x:105,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"made things and people to function in certain ways and thereby ",p:110,x:105,y:566,w:445,h:15},
{t:"to increase what he had fi rst made out of nothing. A stage is set ",p:110,x:105,y:591,w:455,h:15},
{t:"with props and de fi nitions, but it is up to the actors to accept the",p:110,x:105,y:615,w:441,h:15},
{t:"encouragement of the director to ",p:110,x:105,y:639,w:221,h:15},
{t:"fill the world with words and ac-",p:110,x:332,y:639,w:217,h:15},
{t:"tions and to use props. ",p:110,x:105,y:664,w:153,h:15},
{t:"Natural things function according to their template, which ",p:110,x:135,y:688,w:418,h:15},
{t:"means they cannot do anything else. They repeat what their in-",p:110,x:105,y:712,w:445,h:15},
{t:"structions tell them. They follow the laws typical of their nature. ",p:110,x:105,y:737,w:447,h:15},
{t:"But the typical nature of human beings is to be persons, i.e., to ",p:110,x:105,y:761,w:445,h:15},
{t:"think, to love, to imagine, to invent. Our bodies conform to their",p:110,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"nature. Our minds in their nature need instruction from outside to ",p:110,x:105,y:810,w:443,h:15},
{t:"know what is wise and good, especially since, in a fallen world, we ",p:110,x:105,y:834,w:453,h:15},
{t:"don’t know from inside ourselves what our purpose is, nor what is",p:110,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"good. All kinds of actions are now typical of human beings ",p:110,x:105,y:883,w:394,h:15},
{t:"around ",p:110,x:508,y:883,w:50,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   108",p:110,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:110,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:111,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:111,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:111,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:111,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:111,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:111,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:111,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:111,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"us, and a broken universe with life and death no longer models",p:111,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"goodness, peace, or harmony in any clear form.",p:111,x:104,y:128,w:316,h:15},
{t:"The creator instructs us by means of language, sentences, ",p:111,x:134,y:153,w:418,h:15},
{t:"and concepts. He explains purposes, relationships, and inquiry to ",p:111,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"our minds. He expects us to reason with those propositions and ",p:111,x:104,y:201,w:445,h:15},
{t:"to discover their quality. Discernment is a constant admonition ",p:111,x:104,y:226,w:450,h:15},
{t:"in Scripture precisely because we must choose and then face the",p:111,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"consequences. ",p:111,x:104,y:274,w:99,h:15},
{t:"Having both God and Man, male and female “in the image ",p:111,x:134,y:299,w:426,h:15},
{t:"of God,” describes a situation in which there are many players on ",p:111,x:104,y:323,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the stage of life. (We deliberately leave out the angels and their",p:111,x:104,y:347,w:442,h:15},
{t:"choices, though they also fi gure in creation.) My point is that in ",p:111,x:104,y:372,w:449,h:15},
{t:"real history we have acts of God. And we have original acts of hu-",p:111,x:104,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"man beings that are not controlled, or in any way caused, by God. ",p:111,x:104,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"He trains us by instruction, not by behavior modifi cation through ",p:111,x:104,y:445,w:453,h:15},
{t:"stimulus and response, nor by our genetic constitution. He appeals",p:111,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to our minds and enjoys the good consequences of our creativity",p:111,x:104,y:493,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:111,x:550,y:493,w:9,h:15},
{t:"We add to what God has made, even when we create things that are",p:111,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a lie. That’s what happened at the Fall.",p:111,x:104,y:542,w:259,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve created a fallen world, where death would ",p:111,x:134,y:566,w:418,h:15},
{t:"slowly cover everything like a ",p:111,x:104,y:591,w:210,h:15},
{t:"fi ne and poisonous dust. This was ",p:111,x:320,y:591,w:239,h:15},
{t:"not God’s plan, neither his desire. He had tried to prevent that with ",p:111,x:104,y:615,w:443,h:15},
{t:"words, with warnings, and with a good world. Yet it was within ",p:111,x:104,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"the shape of a creation with personages that reality would never be",p:111,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"static, history would never be repetitive, and tomorrow would be",p:111,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"different from today. The creature made history within the bounds",p:111,x:104,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"of what God had made. God acts into that history to restore it, ",p:111,x:104,y:737,w:446,h:15},
{t:"augment it, redirect it, and simultaneously with the creature doing ",p:111,x:104,y:761,w:453,h:15},
{t:"what is within his nature: to create. ",p:111,x:104,y:785,w:237,h:15},
{t:"It is not all part of the original master plan. Creation is a",p:111,x:134,y:810,w:410,h:15},
{t:"framework of conditions and de",p:111,x:104,y:834,w:213,h:15},
{t:"finitions. It is not the cause of hu-",p:111,x:323,y:834,w:225,h:15},
{t:"man action, but rather it de fines the playing field on which human ",p:111,x:104,y:858,w:451,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   109",p:111,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:111,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:112,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:112,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:112,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:112,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"actions take place. There is no final cause for them other than that",p:112,x:105,y:104,w:444,h:15},
{t:"it lies within the “image-of-the-creator” to originate choices. ",p:112,x:105,y:128,w:407,h:15},
{t:"We have a God who is sad, furious, active, and troubled, but",p:112,x:135,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"also capable of doing that extra work that is required to bring in ",p:112,x:105,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"“everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24) again. Both God and the",p:112,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"creatures as persons initiate choices and act into reality with con-",p:112,x:105,y:226,w:438,h:15},
{t:"sequences to each other. God does that within the boundaries of ",p:112,x:105,y:250,w:455,h:15},
{t:"his character, the creature within the boundaries of being human. ",p:112,x:105,y:274,w:446,h:15},
{t:"Whatever reason brought forth, any personal choice is not ",p:112,x:105,y:299,w:394,h:15},
{t:"a prior ",p:112,x:510,y:299,w:50,h:15},
{t:"cause or a determining condition, but the way persons think, act, ",p:112,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and express themselves. For the same reason, by having a choice, ",p:112,x:105,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"we can also reject the best reasoning and act irrationally",p:112,x:105,y:372,w:373,h:15},
{t:".",p:112,x:487,y:372,w:4,h:15},
{t:"God knew all this ahead of time, of course. But his knowledge",p:112,x:135,y:396,w:410,h:15},
{t:"does not produce all events. Creative choices do that. God did not",p:112,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"make Adam as sinful, but free to sovereignly , and from himself, ",p:112,x:105,y:445,w:452,h:15},
{t:"choose to continue in the love in which and for which he had been ",p:112,x:105,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"made a human being, or to turn his back on it and to seek another",p:112,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"direction. He could believe God or disbelieve him. His choice was",p:112,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"for or against love, obedience, and fellowship. It was not a choice",p:112,x:105,y:542,w:438,h:15},
{t:"between good and evil. Only the choice to disbelieve God brought",p:112,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"evil into existence in the human realm for the ",p:112,x:105,y:591,w:306,h:15},
{t:"first time.",p:112,x:420,y:591,w:64,h:15},
{t:"History of Interwoven Choices",p:112,x:105,y:639,w:249,h:19},
{t:"The Bible clearly states that God did not in any way deter",p:112,x:135,y:683,w:405,h:15},
{t:"-",p:112,x:550,y:683,w:5,h:15},
{t:"mine what Adam did. There was no causal relation between God’ s ",p:112,x:105,y:707,w:454,h:15},
{t:"knowledge and the creature’ s choice. God’s knowledge is truly ",p:112,x:105,y:731,w:453,h:15},
{t:"infi nite, but it does not cause an action in another person. God’",p:112,x:105,y:756,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:112,x:549,y:756,w:12,h:15},
{t:"knowledge does not in any compelling way , materially or intellec-",p:112,x:105,y:780,w:446,h:15},
{t:"tually, infl uence the creature’s choice. In contrast to such notions, ",p:112,x:105,y:804,w:448,h:15},
{t:"God pleads with man, argues with him, can even make donkeys",p:112,x:105,y:829,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   110",p:112,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:112,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:113,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:113,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:113,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:113,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:113,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:113,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:113,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:113,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"talk to the obstinate, or changes the context of a person’",p:113,x:104,y:104,w:385,h:15},
{t:"s refl ec-",p:113,x:499,y:104,w:55,h:15},
{t:"tion. God acts at all times into history",p:113,x:104,y:128,w:262,h:15},
{t:". Yet there is no causal or ",p:113,x:372,y:128,w:187,h:15},
{t:"necessary relationship between God’ s moral, ambitious, and pas-",p:113,x:104,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"sionate intervention and the free acts of real personages or agents. ",p:113,x:104,y:177,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Actions express a deliberate choice to prefer",p:113,x:104,y:201,w:305,h:15},
{t:", create and value a ",p:113,x:417,y:201,w:143,h:15},
{t:"freely chosen original goal, idea, reality , or effort. Anything less ",p:113,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:15},
{t:"than that makes God the cause by force, setup, or manipulation. ",p:113,x:104,y:250,w:453,h:15},
{t:"None of these are evidenced in the Bible. ",p:113,x:104,y:274,w:279,h:15},
{t:"Neither do certain views about the decrees of God or what is ",p:113,x:134,y:299,w:424,h:15},
{t:"called his foreordination of events correspond to what the Bible",p:113,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"talks about. The infl uence of Greek thought and pagan fatalism",p:113,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"must very carefully be kept out of Jewish biblical thought at all",p:113,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"times. Much of the trouble in the discussion about God’",p:113,x:104,y:396,w:379,h:15},
{t:"s respon-",p:113,x:492,y:396,w:61,h:15},
{t:"sibility for human evil or the state of the world starts here. In dis-",p:113,x:104,y:420,w:438,h:15},
{t:"cussion the two can easily be confused. Greek and Hebraic views",p:113,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"could not be further apart.",p:113,x:104,y:469,w:173,h:15},
{t:"Greek and pagan views start with the idea that a transcendent",p:113,x:134,y:493,w:410,h:15},
{t:"and invisible power is in char ge and controls all events. Transferred ",p:113,x:104,y:518,w:451,h:15},
{t:"into Christian teaching, these views come out as God the Sovereign ",p:113,x:104,y:542,w:442,h:15},
{t:"created our world, including for some unknown reason also sin and ",p:113,x:104,y:566,w:442,h:15},
{t:"death. This view of God would cover all reality and sees a divine",p:113,x:104,y:591,w:440,h:15},
{t:"purpose behind all of it. At any moment the world is then always",p:113,x:104,y:615,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the best possible world. Yet this is not the biblical idea. God alone",p:113,x:104,y:639,w:443,h:15},
{t:"is Lord, but creatures also create signi",p:113,x:104,y:664,w:251,h:15},
{t:"ficantly in history, including ",p:113,x:363,y:664,w:193,h:15},
{t:"evil, which even God cannot ignore. That is why I mentioned God ",p:113,x:104,y:688,w:449,h:15},
{t:"starting to work again on the eighth day",p:113,x:104,y:712,w:262,h:15},
{t:". The sin of Adam changed ",p:113,x:373,y:712,w:183,h:15},
{t:"the whole equation. God did not will or cause this change, nor ",p:113,x:104,y:737,w:456,h:15},
{t:"could he have prevented it. But a new enterprise, an engagement",p:113,x:104,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"toward redemption at a high price, is started. God runs after Adam ",p:113,x:104,y:785,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and asks, “Where are you?” The promise of the Messiah and the",p:113,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"rules for holiness and life are the mission and business plans in the ",p:113,x:104,y:834,w:453,h:15},
{t:"mess Adam’s sin created. ",p:113,x:104,y:858,w:174,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   111",p:113,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:113,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:114,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:114,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:114,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:114,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"The decrees of God are the express determinations of God ",p:114,x:135,y:104,w:417,h:15},
{t:"to get something done. First it was creation in its form, then the",p:114,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"labor of interference and repair for our restoration after the fall. ",p:114,x:105,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"In addition, as Ed Veith1 very helpfully points out, God works by ",p:114,x:105,y:176,w:448,h:15},
{t:"means. He designed and created all natural processes. He also uses",p:114,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the means of his Word, his acts of grace, accessible language and ",p:114,x:105,y:226,w:447,h:15},
{t:"dreams explained, and miraculous acts. He calls the church to ex-",p:114,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"hibit spiritual care over his people. He uses natural laws, moral ",p:114,x:105,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"laws, and various callings or vocations in human life to bring ",p:114,x:105,y:299,w:447,h:15},
{t:"about his purposes. He calls bakers to bake our bread, mechanics",p:114,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to fi x our cars, and governments and their agents in the police, in ",p:114,x:105,y:347,w:444,h:15},
{t:"courts, and in jails, even the military , to serve the good and to be ",p:114,x:105,y:372,w:454,h:15},
{t:"agents of wrath to evildoers. God’ s providence refers to his care to ",p:114,x:105,y:396,w:448,h:15},
{t:"provide for life in the chemistry of nature and the biology of our",p:114,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"bodies, in nutrition and digestion. ",p:114,x:105,y:445,w:228,h:15},
{t:"God acts by all kinds of means. In that framework exist the",p:114,x:135,y:469,w:410,h:15},
{t:"specific actions chosen by Man. God’ s decrees and his providence",p:114,x:105,y:493,w:445,h:15},
{t:"include the fact that all human choices have rational, lawful, and ",p:114,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"consistent consequences. It is lawful for apple trees to produce",p:114,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"apples. Psalm 104 runs through a long list of wise works of God (v",p:114,x:105,y:566,w:435,h:15},
{t:". ",p:114,x:551,y:566,w:7,h:15},
{t:"24) in all creation, among them the sky , the sea and the mountains, ",p:114,x:105,y:591,w:449,h:15},
{t:"the animals and plants, even the weather patterns. ",p:114,x:105,y:615,w:335,h:15},
{t:"But then the human response is one of song and praise, of",p:114,x:135,y:639,w:410,h:15},
{t:"thought and meditation, of desiring to be a pleasure to God and ",p:114,x:105,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"rejoicing in the Lord (v. 33–34). Our faith serves God, our works",p:114,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"serve our neighbor and people in general, in an interaction of vari-",p:114,x:105,y:712,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ous callings. These actions are choices, not decrees of God. It is",p:114,x:105,y:737,w:441,h:15},
{t:"lawful for the inanimate creation to function according to their",p:114,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"received program of being things. It is lawful for human beings to ",p:114,x:105,y:785,w:443,h:15},
{t:"make free choices for which they alone are responsible. ",p:114,x:105,y:810,w:374,h:15},
{t:"1. Gene Edward Veith, Jr., God at Work, Your Christian Vocation in All of Life",p:114,x:105,y:885,w:426,h:12},
{t:"(Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002).",p:114,x:105,y:905,w:209,h:12},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   112",p:114,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:28 PM",p:114,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:115,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:115,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:115,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:115,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:115,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:115,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:115,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:115,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"It is decreed that we live in a rational universe and not in a",p:115,x:134,y:104,w:409,h:15},
{t:"topsy-turvy one. You eat poisonous mushrooms and you will get",p:115,x:104,y:128,w:442,h:15},
{t:"very ill, if you even survive them, regardless of your religious con-",p:115,x:104,y:153,w:449,h:15},
{t:"victions, personal intentions, nationality , gender, or sexual prefer-",p:115,x:104,y:177,w:450,h:15},
{t:"ence. This is a logical, lawful universe. There is no god, force or ",p:115,x:104,y:201,w:455,h:15},
{t:"fate that will disturb the neatness of God’ s decrees that such a ",p:115,x:104,y:226,w:456,h:15},
{t:"world exists. The notion that he has “ordained whatever comes to ",p:115,x:104,y:250,w:446,h:15},
{t:"pass” refers to reality functioning lawfully",p:115,x:104,y:274,w:287,h:15},
{t:". There will be justice, ",p:115,x:398,y:274,w:157,h:15},
{t:"a reality of cause and ef fect, and lasting results from the work of",p:115,x:104,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Christ for all creation.",p:115,x:104,y:323,w:147,h:15},
{t:"With the same rationality human beings will make choices. ",p:115,x:134,y:347,w:417,h:15},
{t:"That is in our nature. What choices we make is a matter of personal",p:115,x:104,y:372,w:442,h:15},
{t:"decisions, selected priorities, and of love. Each choice will carry ",p:115,x:104,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"its own ordained consequence. In the world that God ordained, you ",p:115,x:104,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"will not be able to have your cake and eat it as well, nor are there",p:115,x:104,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"free lunches or a grace that is free to God. God’",p:115,x:104,y:469,w:322,h:15},
{t:"s creation and his ",p:115,x:434,y:469,w:124,h:15},
{t:"Word demonstrate reasonable consequences to any choice. Reality ",p:115,x:104,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"speaks louder than any superstition and old wives tales against the",p:115,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"experience of injustice as seemingly normal and lasting. ",p:115,x:104,y:542,w:378,h:15},
{t:"Human reality is not an experience of an inevitable chain of ",p:115,x:134,y:566,w:425,h:15},
{t:"events ordained solely by the knowledge and will of God. It also ",p:115,x:104,y:591,w:444,h:15},
{t:"includes wicked acts and crazy preferences by the will of Man, not",p:115,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to mention the works of the evil one. But God has ordained that",p:115,x:104,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"there would be consequences to each choice, ",p:115,x:104,y:664,w:317,h:15},
{t:"fi rst real pain and ",p:115,x:429,y:664,w:128,h:15},
{t:"frustration, then judgment and restoration.",p:115,x:104,y:688,w:281,h:15},
{t:"God’s knowledge covers more than the things that occur",p:115,x:134,y:712,w:379,h:15},
{t:". But ",p:115,x:521,y:712,w:37,h:15},
{t:"it never implies, in contrast to Greek ideas of God’s perfection, ",p:115,x:104,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"something like a material or causal necessity for knowledge to ",p:115,x:104,y:761,w:446,h:15},
{t:"become reality in all areas. Things and situations known by God ",p:115,x:104,y:785,w:449,h:15},
{t:"do not become real merely because he knows them, for in",p:115,x:104,y:810,w:405,h:15},
{t:"fi nite ",p:115,x:519,y:810,w:39,h:15},
{t:"knowledge includes knowledge of what is and what shall be, but",p:115,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"also what could be, if something else were chosen (consequential",p:115,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"knowledge); furthermore it includes knowledge of what could nev-",p:115,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   113",p:115,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:115,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:116,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:116,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:116,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:116,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"er be under any circumstances (counter -factual knowledge). There ",p:116,x:105,y:104,w:453,h:15},
{t:"is therefore no guarantee or necessary link between everything that ",p:116,x:105,y:128,w:453,h:15},
{t:"God knows in his infi nite knowledge and the fewer events that ",p:116,x:105,y:153,w:456,h:15},
{t:"actually occur in history . ",p:116,x:105,y:177,w:172,h:15},
{t:"We must not allow Greek ideas to creep into the Christian ",p:116,x:135,y:201,w:417,h:15},
{t:"views. In Greek thought, a perfect being is complete. For Plato ",p:116,x:105,y:226,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the divine was the ideal beyond all what he saw as the vagaries of",p:116,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"time, action, and appearances. Aristotle’s concept of God was a ",p:116,x:105,y:274,w:456,h:15},
{t:"totally self-sufficient being, an uncaused cause, without any need. ",p:116,x:105,y:299,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Were it not so, that being or god would be imperfect, waiting for ",p:116,x:105,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"events to occur and love to be expressed. ",p:116,x:105,y:347,w:275,h:15},
{t:"Their gods never experi-",p:116,x:388,y:347,w:163,h:15},
{t:"enced anything new in the world of facts or emotions or reactions. ",p:116,x:105,y:372,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Here perfect knowledge covers all reality",p:116,x:105,y:396,w:275,h:15},
{t:".",p:116,x:386,y:396,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Contrast this with the Bible, where perfect knowledge in-",p:116,x:135,y:420,w:410,h:15},
{t:"cludes also imagination, fantasy , and even the lies of people and ",p:116,x:105,y:445,w:450,h:15},
{t:"the devil. God knows them all, but outside the mind of God they ",p:116,x:105,y:469,w:454,h:15},
{t:"will not all become real. Neither does God relate ",p:116,x:105,y:493,w:334,h:15},
{t:"to them equally ",p:116,x:448,y:493,w:109,h:15},
{t:"and without moral evaluation.",p:116,x:105,y:518,w:199,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is not a “Platonic Ideal” or like any ",p:116,x:135,y:542,w:417,h:15},
{t:"lesser god of the Greeks. First there is true personality in God, ",p:116,x:105,y:566,w:445,h:15},
{t:"who needs to communicate, love, and enjoy . It is not an imposed ",p:116,x:105,y:591,w:451,h:15},
{t:"need, no late arrival in the development of God. God is a person ",p:116,x:105,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"who forever thinks, feels, and acts. Personality communicates, and ",p:116,x:105,y:639,w:442,h:15},
{t:"that need is expressed and ful",p:116,x:105,y:664,w:203,h:15},
{t:"fi lled forever among the three per -",p:116,x:314,y:664,w:241,h:15},
{t:"sons of the Godhead. Their love, pleasure, and imagination are",p:116,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"eternally expressed, then brought into creation and expanded to ",p:116,x:105,y:712,w:445,h:15},
{t:"include a covenant with all God decided to make when he said, ",p:116,x:105,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"“Let us make.” ",p:116,x:105,y:761,w:106,h:15},
{t:"The Bible does not know the self-contemplating God of Islam, ",p:116,x:135,y:785,w:413,h:15},
{t:"the Greek pantheon, or our modern ideal of radical individualism.",p:116,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Other deities are invariably loners, unful",p:116,x:105,y:834,w:279,h:15},
{t:"fi lled in any expression ",p:116,x:391,y:834,w:166,h:15},
{t:"of true personality, sterile in power, and abstract from any real ",p:116,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:15},
{t:"humanity.",p:116,x:105,y:883,w:67,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   114",p:116,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:116,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:117,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:117,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:117,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:117,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:117,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:117,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:117,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:117,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"Second, the God of the Bible is a God of covenants, of rela-",p:117,x:134,y:104,w:410,h:15},
{t:"tionships established to expand into the created world the real-",p:117,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ity of an eternal relationship between each member of the ",p:117,x:104,y:153,w:390,h:15},
{t:"Trinity. ",p:117,x:504,y:153,w:54,h:15},
{t:"Having created human beings as well, God, who in his eternal be-",p:117,x:104,y:177,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ing is gracious and loving, in a real sense needs his creation. For",p:117,x:104,y:201,w:438,h:15},
{t:"God does not back out of his commitments, does not write of",p:117,x:104,y:226,w:410,h:15},
{t:"f his ",p:117,x:524,y:226,w:34,h:15},
{t:"investment. He increases the value of holdings rather than walking ",p:117,x:104,y:250,w:442,h:15},
{t:"off in self-interest: “God so loved the world that he gave his only ",p:117,x:104,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"son. . . .” One may not fully agree with ideas such as “the pathos",p:117,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of God” and the suggestion that God is the most tragic ",p:117,x:104,y:323,w:382,h:15},
{t:"fi gure in ",p:117,x:496,y:323,w:62,h:15},
{t:"the Bible. Yet the engagement of God to of fer the Messiah as sac-",p:117,x:104,y:347,w:446,h:15},
{t:"rifi ce for humanity’s sin in order to remove both guilt and death ",p:117,x:104,y:372,w:448,h:15},
{t:"shows God’s faithfulness to the covenant of creation by means of ",p:117,x:104,y:396,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the covenant of grace.",p:117,x:104,y:420,w:147,h:15},
{t:"For God, perfection is not an all-encompassing totality that",p:117,x:134,y:445,w:410,h:15},
{t:"includes events already created by his creatures or those still to ",p:117,x:104,y:469,w:445,h:15},
{t:"be created. Again, God’s infinity describes the measure of his par",p:117,x:104,y:493,w:438,h:15},
{t:"-",p:117,x:549,y:493,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ticular attributes: goodness, mercy , holiness, and love are some ",p:117,x:104,y:518,w:456,h:15},
{t:"of them, but in fi nity as such is not an attribute. God’ s existence ",p:117,x:104,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"forever in the past and in the future as ",p:117,x:104,y:566,w:261,h:15},
{t:"Trinity stands in antithesis ",p:117,x:372,y:566,w:186,h:15},
{t:"to the separate members of the Trinity’s possible non-existence. ",p:117,x:104,y:591,w:452,h:15},
{t:"God created a world outside himself after the ",p:117,x:104,y:615,w:310,h:15},
{t:"Triune God existed ",p:117,x:422,y:615,w:134,h:15},
{t:"forever in perfection before creation and without it. ",p:117,x:104,y:639,w:351,h:15},
{t:"They exist in ",p:117,x:464,y:639,w:92,h:15},
{t:"a sequence of “before-and-after” forever in both directions, past",p:117,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and future. Yet not all events are co-temporanious to him. Reality ",p:117,x:104,y:688,w:445,h:15},
{t:"is not an “Eternal Now” to him. There is always also a future to ",p:117,x:104,y:712,w:450,h:15},
{t:"God’s experiences. ",p:117,x:104,y:737,w:131,h:15},
{t:"God rejoices over good choices made on earth. He gives condi-",p:117,x:134,y:761,w:410,h:15},
{t:"tional promises to people and grieves or rejoices over the outcome",p:117,x:104,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(2 Samuel 7:11ff. and 2 Chronicles 7:17f f.). He makes the prom-",p:117,x:104,y:810,w:446,h:15},
{t:"ise of the land, yet the journey took an extra forty years because",p:117,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of the unbelief by the exodus generation (Numbers 14:20–33). ",p:117,x:104,y:858,w:455,h:15},
{t:"God knows what will happen to David if he remains in the city ",p:117,x:104,y:883,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   115",p:117,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:117,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:118,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:118,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:118,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:118,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"of Keilah and can tell him that. But God also knows that David ",p:118,x:105,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"will choose to fl ee when he hears what God tells him will happen ",p:118,x:105,y:128,w:446,h:15},
{t:"(1 Samuel 23:7ff.). God can announce to Jonah that Nineveh will",p:118,x:105,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"be destroyed because of its sin. When the inhabitants of that great",p:118,x:105,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"city repent, which Jonah in a sense had feared they might do when ",p:118,x:105,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"they would hear of the impending judgment, the destruction never ",p:118,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"falls. One might also wonder what would have happened to Sodom",p:118,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"if Abraham had pled for the fi ve righteous people in the city and ",p:118,x:105,y:274,w:449,h:15},
{t:"not stopped after interceding for ten. ",p:118,x:105,y:299,w:247,h:15},
{t:"These are situations in experience and history open to people",p:118,x:135,y:323,w:410,h:15},
{t:"and God, subject to real choices of all involved. ",p:118,x:105,y:347,w:319,h:15},
{t:"They are not open ",p:118,x:433,y:347,w:123,h:15},
{t:"or uncertain to God who knows the end from the beginning in all",p:118,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"details. But they are really open, subject to the choices of per",p:118,x:105,y:396,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:118,x:550,y:396,w:5,h:15},
{t:"sonages involved. Only when prior knowledge by God is equated ",p:118,x:105,y:420,w:453,h:15},
{t:"with necessary occurrence in some form of determinism is there a",p:118,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"problem. But such is not the nature of God’ s knowledge, where the",p:118,x:105,y:469,w:446,h:15},
{t:"infinite knowing mind of God is not the same as the in",p:118,x:105,y:493,w:359,h:15},
{t:"finite Father ",p:118,x:473,y:493,w:86,h:15},
{t:"in heaven exposed to a local particular event experienced by him",p:118,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and his creatures on earth. ",p:118,x:105,y:542,w:178,h:15},
{t:"A “Fateful” Regr",p:118,x:105,y:590,w:132,h:19},
{t:"ession",p:118,x:253,y:590,w:53,h:19},
{t:"People in our own cultural past saw themselves caught in ",p:118,x:135,y:634,w:418,h:15},
{t:"some fateful program. Today, people easily see themselves as part",p:118,x:105,y:658,w:443,h:15},
{t:"of a more mechanical or genetic program and have returned to this",p:118,x:105,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"view. The intervening years of Jewish and Christian thought are all",p:118,x:105,y:707,w:440,h:15},
{t:"but forgotten, as if nothing has changed. In both cases real human ",p:118,x:105,y:731,w:444,h:15},
{t:"freedom and signi ficant actions by the creature are excluded. ",p:118,x:105,y:756,w:402,h:15},
{t:"These ",p:118,x:515,y:756,w:43,h:15},
{t:"views are held when we seek to recognize causation. It offers us ",p:118,x:105,y:780,w:455,h:15},
{t:"both security and innocence. It is then convenient to blame God ",p:118,x:105,y:804,w:445,h:15},
{t:"for all evil, but this is not in any way the Bible’",p:118,x:105,y:829,w:306,h:15},
{t:"s view. Nor is it log-",p:118,x:420,y:829,w:132,h:15},
{t:"ical. Only when freedom to act is af",p:118,x:105,y:853,w:234,h:15},
{t:"firmed can moral judgments be",p:118,x:346,y:853,w:205,h:15},
{t:"made. If everything is part of a ",p:118,x:105,y:877,w:214,h:15},
{t:"fl ow of causations, nothing could ",p:118,x:326,y:877,w:229,h:15},
{t:"finally be different and all complaint is without justi",p:118,x:105,y:902,w:349,h:15},
{t:"fi cation. ",p:118,x:461,y:902,w:58,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   116",p:118,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:118,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:119,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:119,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:119,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:119,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:119,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:119,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:119,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:119,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"Someone might object that the emphasis on human freedom",p:119,x:134,y:104,w:411,h:15},
{t:"in action is itself a consequence of a shift in cultural orientation, ",p:119,x:104,y:128,w:443,h:15},
{t:"coming out of the Enlightenment, the focus on human rights and ",p:119,x:104,y:153,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the liberation of humanity from authorities of state and church ",p:119,x:104,y:177,w:446,h:15},
{t:"and, finally, from God. “Man is the measure of all things” follows",p:119,x:104,y:201,w:441,h:15},
{t:"Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s affirmation of autonomous freedom. ",p:119,x:104,y:226,w:420,h:15},
{t:"But the notion that any real freedom to act comes from the",p:119,x:134,y:250,w:410,h:15},
{t:"teaching of the Bible fi rst. The person who is able to so think of",p:119,x:104,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"his freedom and insist on it, to protect it against the powers of past",p:119,x:104,y:299,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Fate and present State, is himself dif ferent from all parts of reality ",p:119,x:104,y:323,w:448,h:15},
{t:"that are merely conditioned re",p:119,x:104,y:347,w:199,h:15},
{t:"flexes and effects of prior causes. In ",p:119,x:309,y:347,w:245,h:15},
{t:"other words, the creature able to imagine, invent, and play God is",p:119,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"himself free from the determinants of external causes. No other",p:119,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"creature in the known universe is able to pursue as well as to per",p:119,x:104,y:420,w:433,h:15},
{t:"-",p:119,x:549,y:420,w:5,h:15},
{t:"vert justice, to make art or make an ass of himself, to dream of his",p:119,x:104,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"freedom and to dread a situation that is already determined in all",p:119,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"its parts.",p:119,x:104,y:493,w:56,h:15},
{t:"God is sovereign, and God has created a dependent sovereign-",p:119,x:134,y:518,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ty for us. Our freedom exists within a created order, but within it ",p:119,x:104,y:542,w:454,h:15},
{t:"history does not follow a script already written. If Nineveh had not",p:119,x:104,y:566,w:438,h:15},
{t:"repented, it would have been destroyed. If Solomon had remained ",p:119,x:104,y:591,w:443,h:15},
{t:"faithful, Christ would have been born through his descendents. If",p:119,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Judas had not betrayed Christ, we do not know who else would ",p:119,x:104,y:639,w:446,h:15},
{t:"have done it. But of course, Judas had a problem with money all",p:119,x:104,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"along (John 12:4ff.; 13:29). These are not theoretical “ifs” but ",p:119,x:104,y:688,w:457,h:15},
{t:"the twists and turns of real history in which several actors make",p:119,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choices and in which God with sovereignty will bring about a real",p:119,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"resolution without “doing violence to the will of the creature.”",p:119,x:104,y:761,w:415,h:15},
{t:"It is helpful to see that sovereignty as a concept deals with ",p:119,x:134,y:785,w:416,h:15},
{t:"governance, not mechanisms. It relates to will and purpose, to ",p:119,x:104,y:810,w:447,h:15},
{t:"ideas and power to implement these ideas. Sovereignty is moral",p:119,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and legislative. It is also implemented or executed within the reach ",p:119,x:104,y:858,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of defined authority. God is God. Yet having made man a true and ",p:119,x:104,y:883,w:449,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   117",p:119,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:119,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:120,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:120,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:120,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:120,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"creative person with a derived sovereignty",p:120,x:105,y:104,w:278,h:15},
{t:", God’s sovereignty does ",p:120,x:389,y:104,w:169,h:15},
{t:"not execute its power through every action of humankind. Not all",p:120,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"history accords necessarily with the will of the sovereign God. For",p:120,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"this reason God states the blessings and the curses at the end of",p:120,x:105,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Deuteronomy: the choice is lar gely yours!",p:120,x:105,y:201,w:285,h:15},
{t:"This scripturally-proposed view of free human agency frees",p:120,x:135,y:226,w:410,h:15},
{t:"God’s sovereignty from the constraint—imposed by Greek think-",p:120,x:105,y:250,w:440,h:15},
{t:"ing through the centuries—to make God be the ",p:120,x:105,y:274,w:317,h:15},
{t:"first and sole actor ",p:120,x:430,y:274,w:129,h:15},
{t:"in charge of all events, to determine all things and therefore to ",p:120,x:105,y:299,w:446,h:15},
{t:"make him ultimately responsible. Yet such a Greek view of divine",p:120,x:105,y:323,w:445,h:15},
{t:"sovereignty, fate or control is what is widely imposed on and as-",p:120,x:105,y:347,w:441,h:15},
{t:"sociated with Christianity . When this happens so readily it will ",p:120,x:105,y:372,w:456,h:15},
{t:"explain the reason why anyone who has seen the absurdity of life",p:120,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"“under the sun” has good reasons not to respect or even ",p:120,x:105,y:420,w:374,h:15},
{t:"fight such ",p:120,x:489,y:420,w:69,h:15},
{t:"a god. ",p:120,x:105,y:445,w:44,h:15},
{t:"“Open” to Real Events ",p:120,x:105,y:493,w:189,h:19},
{t:"The teaching about the “Openness of God” is sensitive to this",p:120,x:135,y:537,w:409,h:15},
{t:"dilemma, addressing the reality of an open history",p:120,x:105,y:561,w:347,h:15},
{t:", the need for ",p:120,x:460,y:561,w:101,h:15},
{t:"prayer and wisdom to interfere against real evil in the forms of",p:120,x:105,y:585,w:439,h:15},
{t:"suffering and injustice. It rightly rejects sovereignty portrayed as",p:120,x:105,y:610,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the root of necessary occurrences and events. ",p:120,x:105,y:634,w:301,h:15},
{t:"Yet attempting to get ",p:120,x:414,y:634,w:144,h:15},
{t:"right up in the saddle of an old horse, it strained so much that it",p:120,x:105,y:658,w:438,h:15},
{t:"fell off the other side.",p:120,x:105,y:683,w:144,h:15},
{t:"Openness theology has gone overboard. It recognizes rightly ",p:120,x:135,y:707,w:415,h:15},
{t:"that in reality no human being can be a practical fatalist. We all ",p:120,x:105,y:731,w:455,h:15},
{t:"complain, object, and cry out for a change. Some even pray as if it",p:120,x:105,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"mattered. Not one of us is able to accept reality lying down. So we",p:120,x:105,y:780,w:439,h:15},
{t:"act as if we matter, as if prayer is effective in the life of God, as if",p:120,x:105,y:804,w:444,h:15},
{t:"God could do something about evil and pain. We write to correct ",p:120,x:105,y:829,w:454,h:15},
{t:"error and fill in where ignorance left a gaping hole.",p:120,x:105,y:853,w:341,h:15},
{t:"“Openness” admits the reality of historic sequences of events. ",p:120,x:135,y:877,w:413,h:15},
{t:"They have not all “happened already” in the mind and eternal now",p:120,x:105,y:902,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   118",p:120,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:120,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:121,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:121,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:121,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:121,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:121,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:121,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:121,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:121,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"of God. God and humanity come to experience and (in this sense)",p:121,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"know things and events when they take place. This goes in the ",p:121,x:104,y:128,w:456,h:15},
{t:"right direction toward a more biblical understanding of life in a",p:121,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fallen world. It con fi rms that Jesus did not accept situations as",p:121,x:104,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"fi nal but interfered against false reasoning, sickness, evil govern-",p:121,x:104,y:201,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ment, other sin, and even death. He did not play-act when he was",p:121,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"troubled by people’s problems or tired from his active ministry",p:121,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:". ",p:121,x:550,y:250,w:10,h:15},
{t:"Jesus on earth and the Father in heaven did face new and burden-",p:121,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"some situations in real history . ",p:121,x:104,y:299,w:212,h:15},
{t:"There is an openness to history , a realization that life is not ",p:121,x:134,y:323,w:425,h:15},
{t:"following tracks set in concrete. God is not ",p:121,x:104,y:347,w:303,h:15},
{t:"fi nished with reality ",p:121,x:415,y:347,w:142,h:15},
{t:"yet; we shouldn’t be either. While rightly adjusting their view of",p:121,x:104,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"life, history, and God to this realization and objecting to the de-",p:121,x:104,y:396,w:441,h:15},
{t:"terminism inherent in a narrow view of sovereignty , Openness ",p:121,x:104,y:420,w:457,h:15},
{t:"Theology makes God ignorant of the twists and turns of future ",p:121,x:104,y:445,w:456,h:15},
{t:"history, equally surprised and pained as we are and only capable of",p:121,x:104,y:469,w:440,h:15},
{t:"dealing with any eventuality by his might when it surfaces. ",p:121,x:104,y:493,w:397,h:15},
{t:"The problem with that view is that is reduces God to a bigger",p:121,x:134,y:518,w:410,h:15},
{t:"human—a cosmic older brother who suf fers, grieves, and holds ",p:121,x:104,y:542,w:456,h:15},
{t:"our hands in misery, because he has no prior knowledge of and ",p:121,x:104,y:566,w:449,h:15},
{t:"little control over events. (Emmanuel, God-with-us, may indeed ",p:121,x:104,y:591,w:454,h:15},
{t:"be our sibling, but to see God solely in this dimension is to have",p:121,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"an impoverished vision.)",p:121,x:104,y:639,w:165,h:15},
{t:"Determinism places everything under the total control of God ",p:121,x:134,y:664,w:414,h:15},
{t:"by leaving out truly signi fi cant creaturely actions. Openness by ",p:121,x:104,y:688,w:450,h:15},
{t:"contrast turns God into a pal, a companion, one who “feels our",p:121,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"pain” but has no real control. Such a God would not know any-",p:121,x:104,y:737,w:440,h:15},
{t:"thing until something became historical. Genesis 22:12 is cited in ",p:121,x:104,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"this context to show that God does not know everything, including ",p:121,x:104,y:785,w:442,h:15},
{t:"both the possible and the impossible. God, so it is proposed, did ",p:121,x:104,y:810,w:444,h:15},
{t:"not know that Abraham loved and obeyed God to the degree that",p:121,x:104,y:834,w:442,h:15},
{t:"he was willing to kill Isaac until he raised the knife. But the text",p:121,x:104,y:858,w:438,h:15},
{t:"does not support this proposition which fails to make a distinction ",p:121,x:104,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   119",p:121,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:121,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:122,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:122,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:122,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:122,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"between knowledge as understanding and knowledge as historic",p:122,x:105,y:104,w:440,h:15},
{t:"experience. It is the latter , not the former, that had to wait until the",p:122,x:105,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"knife was held over Isaac’ s body. ",p:122,x:105,y:153,w:230,h:15},
{t:"God promised many years before that through Isaac the bless-",p:122,x:135,y:177,w:410,h:15},
{t:"ing would come to Israel and the whole world. God knew",p:122,x:105,y:201,w:388,h:15},
{t:", and so ",p:122,x:502,y:201,w:57,h:15},
{t:"did Abraham, that the end of Isaac would not come on Mt. Moriah. ",p:122,x:105,y:226,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Father and son would return to the waiting servants at the foot of",p:122,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the mountain (Genesis 22: 1–3). The knowledge spoken of in the ",p:122,x:105,y:274,w:454,h:15},
{t:"text deals with the actuality of the sacri",p:122,x:105,y:299,w:268,h:15},
{t:"fi ce to God and Abraham ",p:122,x:380,y:299,w:179,h:15},
{t:"in contrast to a known faith and commitment of Abraham to trust ",p:122,x:105,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God to even raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham knew that this ",p:122,x:105,y:347,w:456,h:15},
{t:"would not be the death of the lad. He knew that God does not",p:122,x:105,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"require the human sacri fi ce so common in the surrounding cul-",p:122,x:105,y:396,w:444,h:15},
{t:"tures. He could assure the boy that God would provide himself a",p:122,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sacrifi ce. God in turn knows the heart of Man, knows the twists",p:122,x:105,y:445,w:440,h:15},
{t:"and turns of history, and can tell prophetically ahead of time what",p:122,x:105,y:469,w:442,h:15},
{t:"will take place under any possible condition. ",p:122,x:105,y:493,w:303,h:15},
{t:"The knowledge God ",p:122,x:416,y:493,w:140,h:15},
{t:"acquired on the mountain was the experience, not the insight, that",p:122,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Abraham actually trusted God in practice.",p:122,x:105,y:542,w:279,h:15},
{t:"It is in this sense of actual experience that the word “know” is",p:122,x:135,y:566,w:409,h:15},
{t:"often used in relation to people and God. It does not stand against",p:122,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"“ignorance” and is not limited to scienti",p:122,x:105,y:615,w:270,h:15},
{t:"fi c insight in time. When ",p:122,x:383,y:615,w:176,h:15},
{t:"Isaac knew Rebecca in his tent, the same word was used to tell us",p:122,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that they made love and became one. In Hebraic understanding, ",p:122,x:105,y:664,w:445,h:15},
{t:"knowledge was always something in relation to concrete reality",p:122,x:105,y:688,w:436,h:15},
{t:". ",p:122,x:551,y:688,w:9,h:15},
{t:"Jewish people were not as interested in philosophical specula-",p:122,x:105,y:712,w:448,h:15},
{t:"tion as the Greeks were. “What does God say and do? ",p:122,x:105,y:737,w:371,h:15},
{t:"When and ",p:122,x:485,y:737,w:73,h:15},
{t:"where?” is much more important than what we, paying too much ",p:122,x:105,y:761,w:454,h:15},
{t:"devotion to our Greek philosophical relatives, believe in our spec-",p:122,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ulative mind. ",p:122,x:105,y:810,w:92,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   120",p:122,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:122,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"Inf init",p:123,x:102,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"e-Per",p:123,x:166,y:57,w:36,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:123,x:214,y:57,w:53,h:14},
{t:"od and F",p:123,x:283,y:57,w:55,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:123,x:356,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal H",p:123,x:440,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"uman",p:123,x:509,y:57,w:43,h:14},
{t:"",p:123,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"Evil Gets Banished",p:123,x:104,y:104,w:154,h:19},
{t:"We are caught then between those within Christianity who ",p:123,x:134,y:147,w:426,h:15},
{t:"embrace with passion and their own vocabulary the old lure of a",p:123,x:104,y:172,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Greek idea of perfection, in",p:123,x:104,y:196,w:189,h:15},
{t:"fi nity, and knowledge and those who ",p:123,x:298,y:196,w:257,h:15},
{t:"advocate the heroism of God and humanity in the face of an un-",p:123,x:104,y:220,w:439,h:15},
{t:"certain future. Who is in control? How do we ",p:123,x:104,y:245,w:327,h:15},
{t:"fi t in? Who is in ",p:123,x:436,y:245,w:122,h:15},
{t:"charge here? Outside of Christianity and Judaism these questions",p:123,x:104,y:269,w:440,h:15},
{t:"are resolved with reference to one ",p:123,x:104,y:293,w:229,h:15},
{t:"final determining power or glue",p:123,x:339,y:293,w:210,h:15},
{t:"which frees humanity from responsibility and blames “the other”",p:123,x:104,y:318,w:439,h:15},
{t:"in whatever guise is fashionable: all human experience is fully re-",p:123,x:104,y:342,w:439,h:15},
{t:"lated to a god, nature, earth, or history",p:123,x:104,y:366,w:252,h:15},
{t:". Any one of these made and ",p:123,x:362,y:366,w:191,h:15},
{t:"willed it all. In that world everything has its place and purpose. ",p:123,x:104,y:391,w:445,h:15},
{t:"You just stop thinking and accept it silently",p:123,x:104,y:415,w:288,h:15},
{t:". ",p:123,x:399,y:415,w:8,h:15},
{t:"The alternative, what I call God’ s heroism, suggests more ",p:123,x:134,y:439,w:427,h:15},
{t:"moral strength on God’s part than creative power to act. In this",p:123,x:104,y:464,w:443,h:15},
{t:"case real history happens behind a curtain, allowing access for ",p:123,x:104,y:488,w:456,h:15},
{t:"God and humanity alike only as directed by the script. ",p:123,x:104,y:512,w:362,h:15},
{t:"The heroes, ",p:123,x:475,y:512,w:81,h:15},
{t:"God and humanity, face monsters, but as each head is chopped of",p:123,x:104,y:537,w:432,h:15},
{t:"f, ",p:123,x:544,y:537,w:13,h:15},
{t:"seven more arise without any certainty of an end in sight. ",p:123,x:104,y:561,w:386,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible, however , is a fi ghting tiger rather than ",p:123,x:134,y:585,w:420,h:15},
{t:"a gargoyle. There is a roar to his Word and a claw to his judgment, ",p:123,x:104,y:610,w:448,h:15},
{t:"while fate, idols, and native spirits of the earth leave you with ",p:123,x:104,y:634,w:446,h:15},
{t:"their cruel grin on a silent and ugly face. Heroes die eventually",p:123,x:104,y:658,w:436,h:15},
{t:", ",p:123,x:550,y:658,w:9,h:15},
{t:"but under the God of the Bible the battle is already won. ",p:123,x:104,y:683,w:386,h:15},
{t:"Yahweh ",p:123,x:500,y:683,w:58,h:15},
{t:"is innocent of the broken, unjust, and absurd world we inhabit. He",p:123,x:104,y:707,w:439,h:15},
{t:"has overcome the world.",p:123,x:104,y:731,w:163,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   121",p:123,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:123,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"",p:124,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"CHAPTER EIGHT",p:124,x:267,y:239,w:114,h:15},
{t:"THE INFINITEPE",p:124,x:139,y:284,w:214,h:25},
{t:"RSONAL",p:124,x:398,y:284,w:112,h:25},
{t:"GOD OF SC RIP TURE",p:124,x:181,y:321,w:289,h:25},
{t:"A believing Muslim will tell you that there is but one God, that",p:124,x:134,y:413,w:409,h:15},
{t:"he is everywhere requiring obedience and that he will reward you ",p:124,x:104,y:438,w:444,h:15},
{t:"with riches and pleasures in heaven for following the way set forth ",p:124,x:104,y:462,w:452,h:15},
{t:"in the Holy Qur ’an. All events on earth will take place according ",p:124,x:104,y:486,w:447,h:15},
{t:"to his will. He is merciful and mighty and will judge the earth with ",p:124,x:104,y:511,w:442,h:15},
{t:"power and reward the believer with riches and sweets.",p:124,x:104,y:535,w:361,h:15},
{t:"Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and other Enlightenment philoso-",p:124,x:134,y:559,w:410,h:15},
{t:"phers have proposed that Islam is one of the three monotheistic",p:124,x:104,y:584,w:439,h:15},
{t:"religions of the world, which are so similar that with tolerance we",p:124,x:104,y:608,w:438,h:15},
{t:"should all accept the fatherhood of God and follow the commands. ",p:124,x:104,y:632,w:443,h:15},
{t:"In the end Jews, Christians, and Muslims will discover that they ",p:124,x:104,y:657,w:444,h:15},
{t:"all worship the same God. Like three brothers, they each have the",p:124,x:104,y:681,w:439,h:15},
{t:"full love of their father .",p:124,x:104,y:705,w:159,h:15},
{t:"This idea is one of the foundations for teaching tolerance af-",p:124,x:134,y:730,w:409,h:15},
{t:"ter years, if not centuries, of religious wars. ",p:124,x:104,y:754,w:309,h:15},
{t:"There is much that ",p:124,x:421,y:754,w:139,h:15},
{t:"appeals in this proposition. Tolerance of diverse viewpoints is an ",p:124,x:104,y:778,w:449,h:15},
{t:"expression of respect and love, though the views still should be",p:124,x:104,y:803,w:439,h:15},
{t:"placed on the table of reality and measured for what they are worth ",p:124,x:104,y:827,w:442,h:15},
{t:"in what they set out to explain. ",p:124,x:104,y:851,w:209,h:15},
{t:"It will quickly become evident that Judaism and Christianity ",p:124,x:134,y:876,w:415,h:15},
{t:"also believe in one God who created a real world of things and ",p:124,x:104,y:900,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   123",p:124,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:124,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:125,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:125,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:125,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:125,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"people. But then the paths split and Islam goes its own way",p:125,x:105,y:104,w:404,h:15},
{t:". For, ",p:125,x:519,y:104,w:41,h:15},
{t:"while Allah is seen to be in control of everything with ",p:125,x:105,y:128,w:390,h:15},
{t:"fi nality, ",p:125,x:504,y:128,w:56,h:15},
{t:"Yahweh is not in the same way fi nal. Yahweh created a world ",p:125,x:105,y:153,w:456,h:15},
{t:"where additions, change, even laughter and lies are possible. There ",p:125,x:105,y:177,w:453,h:15},
{t:"is life outside of God in the Bible, both in that the work of human-",p:125,x:105,y:201,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ity changes what God had made after six days of creation and in ",p:125,x:105,y:226,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the way that one can speak of a secular reality",p:125,x:105,y:250,w:307,h:15},
{t:". “Secular” refers to ",p:125,x:419,y:250,w:136,h:15},
{t:"what is taking place under heaven or without God. Of course, in ",p:125,x:105,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"one sense nothing takes place without some relation to the Creator",p:125,x:105,y:299,w:435,h:15},
{t:". ",p:125,x:551,y:299,w:7,h:15},
{t:"But in another sense, there is a reality of facts, choices, and events",p:125,x:105,y:323,w:438,h:15},
{t:"in which God is not directly involved because they are, ",p:125,x:105,y:347,w:383,h:15},
{t:"fi rst, the ",p:125,x:498,y:347,w:61,h:15},
{t:"natural consequences of the original creation and, later",p:125,x:105,y:372,w:376,h:15},
{t:", also the ",p:125,x:491,y:372,w:70,h:15},
{t:"results of human choices.",p:125,x:105,y:396,w:169,h:15},
{t:"Such a reality is not admitted in Islam. In some areas Islam",p:125,x:135,y:420,w:410,h:15},
{t:"readily seems to be a marriage between Jewish ideas and texts, ",p:125,x:105,y:445,w:446,h:15},
{t:"on one side, and paganism, including the worship of the Moon ",p:125,x:105,y:469,w:446,h:15},
{t:"crescent, on the other. From Jewish thought comes the idea of one",p:125,x:105,y:493,w:442,h:15},
{t:"God, a text to cite and obey , and certain stories of faith and obedi-",p:125,x:105,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ence. From paganism comes the idea of all reality being part of",p:125,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"one: earth, nature and heaven are all part of God. ",p:125,x:105,y:566,w:324,h:15},
{t:"The moon’s cres-",p:125,x:438,y:566,w:116,h:15},
{t:"cent, the symbol for Islam, is also the reminder of the moon cult in ",p:125,x:105,y:591,w:442,h:15},
{t:"the Near East of old. In this intimate association of all reality",p:125,x:105,y:615,w:411,h:15},
{t:", we ",p:125,x:527,y:615,w:33,h:15},
{t:"find more paganism than biblical thought. ",p:125,x:105,y:639,w:283,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is the creator of all good things, but they ",p:125,x:135,y:664,w:413,h:15},
{t:"have an existence of their own, “according to their various kinds.”",p:125,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"They should be worked on and changed into greater variety",p:125,x:105,y:712,w:397,h:15},
{t:". After ",p:125,x:512,y:712,w:48,h:15},
{t:"the Fall they also need improvement and protection through hu-",p:125,x:105,y:737,w:449,h:15},
{t:"man effort. This is part of the dominion mandate, which ",p:125,x:105,y:761,w:389,h:15},
{t:"fi rst en-",p:125,x:502,y:761,w:53,h:15},
{t:"courages creativity and then, after the Fall, also demands moral",p:125,x:105,y:785,w:439,h:15},
{t:"resistance to evil and practical correction of a damaged world. ",p:125,x:105,y:810,w:417,h:15},
{t:"We ",p:125,x:533,y:810,w:26,h:15},
{t:"should not tolerate thorns and thistles, deserts and even death as",p:125,x:105,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"normal, justified, or associated with God and his will for creation. ",p:125,x:105,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   124",p:125,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:125,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:126,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:126,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:126,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:126,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:126,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:126,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:126,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"When we look out on reality with the clarifying insight from",p:126,x:134,y:104,w:410,h:15},
{t:"the Bible, we find the glasses we need to see reality in proper per",p:126,x:104,y:128,w:436,h:15},
{t:"-",p:126,x:549,y:128,w:5,h:15},
{t:"spective. Scripture invites us to a realistic assessment of the sad ",p:126,x:104,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and broken reality after the Fall. It does not encourage a faith that",p:126,x:104,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"denies the problems, or dreams that are forever imaginary",p:126,x:104,y:201,w:386,h:15},
{t:". It does ",p:126,x:499,y:201,w:59,h:15},
{t:"not demand obedience to what is or to some unexplained divine",p:126,x:104,y:226,w:440,h:15},
{t:"authority. According to Scripture’s unusual insistence, we should ",p:126,x:104,y:250,w:450,h:15},
{t:"recognize that what is taking place among people and in nature",p:126,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"is marked by the reality of death. It no longer corresponds to the",p:126,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"perfection that God designed and made. No longer does God look ",p:126,x:104,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"at man and beast, nature and human nature and say",p:126,x:104,y:347,w:342,h:15},
{t:", “Behold, it is ",p:126,x:454,y:347,w:104,h:15},
{t:"very good.”",p:126,x:104,y:372,w:78,h:15},
{t:"We have already shown that the Bible does not present a God ",p:126,x:134,y:396,w:414,h:15},
{t:"who planned it this way. His idea and its execution were perfec-",p:126,x:104,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"tion. The creature, starting somewhere on the eighth day and then ",p:126,x:104,y:445,w:444,h:15},
{t:"continuing into history, created many new realities. Some of the",p:126,x:104,y:469,w:443,h:15},
{t:"good ones were naming the animals and discovering that Eve was",p:126,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not in any way one of them, but distinctly like himself. ",p:126,x:104,y:518,w:376,h:15},
{t:"Their life ",p:126,x:490,y:518,w:69,h:15},
{t:"continued in relationship to one another , in becoming one and en-",p:126,x:104,y:542,w:446,h:15},
{t:"joying God and creation for some time. But at a certain moment in ",p:126,x:104,y:566,w:443,h:15},
{t:"history Adam and Eve also created a fallen world, a reality which ",p:126,x:104,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"has been with us ever since. But it was not forever in the past, and ",p:126,x:104,y:615,w:442,h:15},
{t:"happily it shall not be this way forever in the future.",p:126,x:104,y:639,w:346,h:15},
{t:"This does not mean that God is now absent as Deism taught. ",p:126,x:134,y:664,w:415,h:15},
{t:"God has not made the world like clockwork, wound up and left to ",p:126,x:104,y:688,w:444,h:15},
{t:"gradually wind down without his intervention or even presence. ",p:126,x:104,y:712,w:445,h:15},
{t:"Neither is creation divine, though it is a divine creation. Nature",p:126,x:104,y:737,w:439,h:15},
{t:"does not contain God, but neither would nature exist without",p:126,x:104,y:761,w:440,h:15},
{t:"God’s ideas and power to bring it about. God continues to add to ",p:126,x:104,y:785,w:445,h:15},
{t:"what he made at first and what it became, through miracles and by ",p:126,x:104,y:810,w:453,h:15},
{t:"his Spirit. ",p:126,x:104,y:834,w:69,h:15},
{t:"This is a very important factor Scripture insists on. Nature can-",p:126,x:134,y:858,w:409,h:15},
{t:"not be thought of as a world of naked facts, for they are someone’s ",p:126,x:104,y:883,w:453,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   125",p:126,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:126,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:127,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:127,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:127,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:127,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"creation. Creation consists of ideas realized in material form. ",p:127,x:105,y:104,w:400,h:15},
{t:"There ",p:127,x:516,y:104,w:42,h:15},
{t:"was thought and action, word and matter: a real nature designed ",p:127,x:105,y:128,w:453,h:15},
{t:"and realized. Heaven and earth do not only declare the glory of",p:127,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God, but they are his. At the same time, nature needs a continuous",p:127,x:105,y:177,w:442,h:15},
{t:"repair job post-fall, which all people are mandated to perform as",p:127,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"they join God in his efforts to bring in justice, righteousness, and ",p:127,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"shalom. Human beings and ecology are creaturely , but humanity ",p:127,x:105,y:250,w:453,h:15},
{t:"also receives moral instructions from God by means of language, ",p:127,x:105,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"texts, and concepts. Nature is impersonal, amoral, and suffering, ",p:127,x:105,y:299,w:454,h:15},
{t:"but without emotions or moral judgment. Only people can care for",p:127,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the things of God and their neighbors.",p:127,x:105,y:347,w:253,h:15},
{t:"I mentioned above that nature still functions lawfully and ",p:127,x:135,y:372,w:418,h:15},
{t:"regularly according to the given pattern. By contrast, persons have",p:127,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"a pattern that requires instruction to know what moral functions ",p:127,x:105,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"to select. Since creative freedom is part of what is inherent in a",p:127,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"person, we require explanations on the right use of freedom. In ",p:127,x:105,y:469,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the absence of an automatic program we require instructions about",p:127,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"what is right, good, and just, for we function less by instinct than ",p:127,x:105,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"by discernment and making choices. This discernment has to be ",p:127,x:105,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"learned. We are not born with it or with instinctual responses to ",p:127,x:105,y:566,w:446,h:15},
{t:"all situations.",p:127,x:105,y:591,w:88,h:15},
{t:"The Bible instructs us that what is now normal is the result of",p:127,x:135,y:615,w:409,h:15},
{t:"God’s creation having been af fected by the fall of man (and Satan, ",p:127,x:105,y:639,w:447,h:15},
{t:"but that is not our central concern here). It is abnormal in rela-",p:127,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tion to what God had had in mind. Nature is no longer completely ",p:127,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"the expression of the divine will. God did not want people to suf-",p:127,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fer drought and hunger, catastrophes and death, inhuman govern-",p:127,x:105,y:737,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ments and physical handicaps. These result from sin and its ef fects ",p:127,x:105,y:761,w:453,h:15},
{t:"on all of creation. ",p:127,x:105,y:785,w:121,h:15},
{t:"The Fr eedom to Resist ",p:127,x:105,y:834,w:201,h:19},
{t:"The moral reaction, therefore, to reality bearing these masks",p:127,x:135,y:877,w:410,h:15},
{t:"of sin is to discern what ought to be beyond what merely is. Action ",p:127,x:105,y:902,w:451,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   126",p:127,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:127,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:128,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:128,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:128,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:128,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:128,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:128,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:128,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"is then encouraged to interfere signi",p:128,x:104,y:104,w:237,h:15},
{t:"ficantly with “normality”: fi rst ",p:128,x:348,y:104,w:210,h:15},
{t:"to resist a hostile status quo, then to withstand the tendency to-",p:128,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ward both fragmentation among people and ",p:128,x:104,y:153,w:310,h:15},
{t:"fi nally death itself. ",p:128,x:422,y:153,w:136,h:15},
{t:"Genesis 3 describes not only the Fall of the ",p:128,x:104,y:177,w:312,h:15},
{t:"fi rst human beings ",p:128,x:424,y:177,w:136,h:15},
{t:"and its ugly consequences, but also the encouragement by God to ",p:128,x:104,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"resist, even to interfere with what has now become normal human ",p:128,x:104,y:226,w:443,h:15},
{t:"reality and experience. All through the remainder of the Bible, ",p:128,x:104,y:250,w:450,h:15},
{t:"God intervenes in word and power , with miracles and advice, with ",p:128,x:104,y:274,w:448,h:15},
{t:"prophets and his own Son. God gives a dif",p:128,x:104,y:299,w:277,h:15},
{t:"ferent example to isolate",p:128,x:388,y:299,w:162,h:15},
{t:"the temptation and, for some, even the attraction to just give in, to ",p:128,x:104,y:323,w:442,h:15},
{t:"bow to history, and to take direction for our actions from nature. ",p:128,x:104,y:347,w:446,h:15},
{t:"By its sheer vastness, age, and uncomplaining silence, nature in-",p:128,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"vites us to conform and submit. ",p:128,x:104,y:396,w:214,h:15},
{t:"Let us return to Job once more at this point. He must have felt",p:128,x:134,y:420,w:409,h:15},
{t:"like giving in at times; with friends like his, who can stand out",p:128,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"like a sore thumb for long? Yet God praises Job, who insists that",p:128,x:104,y:469,w:444,h:15},
{t:"a normal reading of events would not be just or right in at least",p:128,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"three ways. His friends suggests he accept his lot. He should hide",p:128,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"his misgivings about it in humility and acknowledgment of guilt. ",p:128,x:104,y:542,w:454,h:15},
{t:"The problems are obviously of his own making, and only his stub-",p:128,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"bornness keeps him from acknowledging the fact. ",p:128,x:104,y:591,w:334,h:15},
{t:"Assuming a fair ",p:128,x:446,y:591,w:112,h:15},
{t:"world as they do, Job must deserve such suf",p:128,x:104,y:615,w:293,h:15},
{t:"fering.",p:128,x:404,y:615,w:43,h:15},
{t:"But Job knows he is a righteous man who like Noah did not",p:128,x:134,y:639,w:410,h:15},
{t:"live like everybody else. So he insists correctly ",p:128,x:104,y:664,w:326,h:15},
{t:"that God explain ",p:128,x:439,y:664,w:118,h:15},
{t:"himself. His sufferings are not deserved. His experiences are ab-",p:128,x:104,y:688,w:442,h:15},
{t:"surd. Does God agree with the advice of the friends? Does he iden-",p:128,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tify with the currents of Job’ s personal experiences and history? Is",p:128,x:104,y:737,w:443,h:15},
{t:"there no outside source of greater justice?",p:128,x:104,y:761,w:277,h:15},
{t:"And the Book of Job shows us that the friends’ assumption ",p:128,x:134,y:785,w:424,h:15},
{t:"of a fair deal at all times is wrong. We do not live in a world of ",p:128,x:104,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"justice under the sun. Reality is lar ger than it appears to be. There ",p:128,x:104,y:834,w:454,h:15},
{t:"is a second stage to history , where actions take place that have ",p:128,x:104,y:858,w:456,h:15},
{t:"consequences on the stage of our life. ",p:128,x:104,y:883,w:254,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   127",p:128,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:128,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:129,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:129,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:129,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:129,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"First, God does show himself, which is what Job asked for and ",p:129,x:135,y:104,w:413,h:15},
{t:"what is so rare in our world. Adam and Eve were thrown out of the ",p:129,x:105,y:128,w:453,h:15},
{t:"garden, and neither they nor their children and future generations",p:129,x:105,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are admitted any longer. So where is God? We live in a world of ",p:129,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"God’s seeming absence. What does he have to say about this unfair",p:129,x:105,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"human experience? Let him show himself. God is not afraid to ",p:129,x:105,y:226,w:446,h:15},
{t:"give an explanation. God does show up to respond to Job in a way ",p:129,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"that honors him and sets him above his friends.",p:129,x:105,y:274,w:314,h:15},
{t:"Then God explains that Job’ s friends have it all wrong to as-",p:129,x:135,y:299,w:414,h:15},
{t:"sume a fair world and a sound judgment. A fallen world is not fair . ",p:129,x:105,y:323,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Their conclusion is too super",p:129,x:105,y:347,w:191,h:15},
{t:"ficial, taking occurrences in Job’ s life ",p:129,x:302,y:347,w:257,h:15},
{t:"as justified rather than looking at them from the perspective of life",p:129,x:105,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"in a fallen world, where justice is rare under the sun. ",p:129,x:105,y:396,w:366,h:15},
{t:"That is the ",p:129,x:481,y:396,w:79,h:15},
{t:"biblical perspective from the start. Without it we follow the word ",p:129,x:105,y:420,w:450,h:15},
{t:"of nature and history instead of the Word of God. ",p:129,x:105,y:445,w:338,h:15},
{t:"Finally, God turns to Job and reminds him that he was not",p:129,x:135,y:469,w:411,h:15},
{t:"there at the creation and therefore does not fully understand the",p:129,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"complexity of the real world, both seen and unseen. ",p:129,x:105,y:518,w:369,h:15},
{t:"There is a ",p:129,x:483,y:518,w:78,h:15},
{t:"war going on, in which believers are falsely accused and where ",p:129,x:105,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"God endures the wiles of the devil for a while. Events on the hid-",p:129,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"den stage of real history take time. The accuser will be shown to ",p:129,x:105,y:591,w:450,h:15},
{t:"be wrong but not until he has carried out his desire to prove God ",p:129,x:105,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"unfair, wrong, and unworthy .",p:129,x:105,y:639,w:198,h:15},
{t:"Job is right to believe that this is an absurd world that does",p:129,x:135,y:664,w:409,h:15},
{t:"not in many particulars follow God’ s will or exhibit any true jus-",p:129,x:105,y:688,w:445,h:15},
{t:"tice. God affirms this, denounces the foolish friends, and comforts",p:129,x:105,y:712,w:441,h:15},
{t:"Job greatly. The explanation transcends the events and places them ",p:129,x:105,y:737,w:453,h:15},
{t:"into a larger context which includes the seen and the unseen as",p:129,x:105,y:761,w:441,h:15},
{t:"well as the past, present, and future.",p:129,x:105,y:785,w:239,h:15},
{t:"You will recall that with the ",p:129,x:135,y:810,w:192,h:15},
{t:"fi rst two chapters of the Book of",p:129,x:332,y:810,w:217,h:15},
{t:"Job we become privy to that wider and more complex view",p:129,x:105,y:834,w:409,h:15},
{t:", un-",p:129,x:523,y:834,w:31,h:15},
{t:"derstanding more of it. There is a demonic accusation, which God ",p:129,x:105,y:858,w:447,h:15},
{t:"takes seriously and deals with over time to defuse all the tempta-",p:129,x:105,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   128",p:129,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:29 PM",p:129,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:130,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:130,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:130,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:130,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:130,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:130,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:130,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"tions of the devil and to prove him wrong. For the time being, God ",p:130,x:104,y:104,w:442,h:15},
{t:"endures evil. I believe that one part of this is from God’",p:130,x:104,y:128,w:369,h:15},
{t:"s patience, ",p:130,x:482,y:128,w:74,h:15},
{t:"but there is also the element of real time involved in God’",p:130,x:104,y:153,w:398,h:15},
{t:"s hav-",p:130,x:512,y:153,w:41,h:15},
{t:"ing to endure the choices of his creatures and their consequences",p:130,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"before being able to weigh in against them. ",p:130,x:104,y:201,w:292,h:15},
{t:"What we learn from this and the panoply of Scripture is that ",p:130,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:15},
{t:"God does not see reality and history to be the revelation of his will. ",p:130,x:104,y:250,w:441,h:15},
{t:"God’s will is found in his Word and what he originally created. ",p:130,x:104,y:274,w:450,h:15},
{t:"The universe was good, for it came into being in form and content",p:130,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"according to divine fi at. It is no longer this way , since the sin of ",p:130,x:104,y:323,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve has affected all creation. ",p:130,x:104,y:347,w:273,h:15},
{t:"The Word of God gives us a platform from which to judge all",p:130,x:134,y:372,w:411,h:15},
{t:"reality. The world-that-is does not have to be accepted as necessar",p:130,x:104,y:396,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:130,x:549,y:396,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ily final, good, or approved. Until death itself is swallowed up and ",p:130,x:104,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Christ reigns on earth there will be no fair situation, no total justice",p:130,x:104,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"for anyone, no area of experience to be uncritically accepted as",p:130,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"coming from God. Nor should every possible experience of",p:130,x:104,y:493,w:406,h:15},
{t:"fered ",p:130,x:519,y:493,w:39,h:15},
{t:"in the market of the world or in the church be made, pursued, or",p:130,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"embraced. Reality is too confused, often too dangerous. Like cer",p:130,x:104,y:542,w:434,h:15},
{t:"-",p:130,x:549,y:542,w:5,h:15},
{t:"tain foods, it is often very appealing to the taste while poisonous ",p:130,x:104,y:566,w:454,h:15},
{t:"to life. ",p:130,x:104,y:591,w:47,h:15},
{t:"The sovereignty of God is not af",p:130,x:134,y:615,w:236,h:15},
{t:"fi rmed when you believe ",p:130,x:376,y:615,w:185,h:15},
{t:"that what happens in life is ful",p:130,x:104,y:639,w:204,h:15},
{t:"fi lling what God has in mind. Only ",p:130,x:314,y:639,w:239,h:15},
{t:"God’s speaking explains what he desires and the kinds of things",p:130,x:104,y:664,w:440,h:15},
{t:"he does. God’s sovereignty is honored when you live and work ",p:130,x:104,y:688,w:448,h:15},
{t:"under his instruction, not under the dictate of events. ",p:130,x:104,y:712,w:364,h:15},
{t:"Their pow-",p:130,x:477,y:712,w:75,h:15},
{t:"er does not always express the power of God. That would be a ",p:130,x:104,y:737,w:456,h:15},
{t:"very mechanical, material view of sovereignty-as-power",p:130,x:104,y:761,w:376,h:15},
{t:". It would ",p:130,x:488,y:761,w:68,h:15},
{t:"also turn God into one who approves of all things happening and ",p:130,x:104,y:785,w:454,h:15},
{t:"sees them as good, fair, and just. Nowhere in Scripture do we ",p:130,x:104,y:810,w:417,h:15},
{t:"fi nd ",p:130,x:528,y:810,w:30,h:15},
{t:"such wholesale identi fi cation between event and godly approval. ",p:130,x:104,y:834,w:449,h:15},
{t:"Instead we find a God at work changing the course of history",p:130,x:104,y:858,w:401,h:15},
{t:", lead-",p:130,x:512,y:858,w:40,h:15},
{t:"ing people to repentance and a reorientation of their lives, plead-",p:130,x:104,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   129",p:130,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:130,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:131,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:131,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:131,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:131,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"ing with Jerusalem to believe, encouraging the rich young ruler to ",p:131,x:105,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"follow Christ, healing the sick, comforting the poor",p:131,x:105,y:128,w:351,h:15},
{t:", and feeding ",p:131,x:464,y:128,w:94,h:15},
{t:"the hungry. Jesus’ frequent laments about the disciples, those “of",p:131,x:105,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"little faith,” his anger at the tomb of Lazarus, his complaint about",p:131,x:105,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"the unfaithfulness of Israel, and every other prophetic passage in ",p:131,x:105,y:201,w:444,h:15},
{t:"the Bible addressing the beliefs and practices of his people would ",p:131,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:15},
{t:"be senseless if sovereignty implied an immediate and unlimited ",p:131,x:105,y:250,w:446,h:15},
{t:"power to accomplish God’s will merely by willing it. ",p:131,x:105,y:274,w:361,h:15},
{t:"Such a view of sovereignty appeals to both mystics and me-",p:131,x:135,y:299,w:419,h:15},
{t:"chanics. The former delight in the embrace of “otherness” and ",p:131,x:105,y:323,w:448,h:15},
{t:"“wholeness” and see some hidden bene",p:131,x:105,y:347,w:271,h:15},
{t:"fi t to all experiences, in-",p:131,x:382,y:347,w:168,h:15},
{t:"cluding evil. They fl oat on a rickety boat in a sea of great legal,",p:131,x:105,y:372,w:442,h:15},
{t:"scientifi c, social, and cultural uncertainty , hoping to arrive some-",p:131,x:105,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"how refined through the whole experience, when in fact they pos-",p:131,x:105,y:420,w:440,h:15},
{t:"sibly should have opposed the experience of illness, injustice, and ",p:131,x:105,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"oppression. The latter see in such a view of sovereignty a parallel",p:131,x:105,y:469,w:441,h:15},
{t:"to their world of computer buttons, binary instructions, and video ",p:131,x:105,y:493,w:443,h:15},
{t:"games. Both fi t into the pagan idea of the interrelated oneness",p:131,x:105,y:518,w:442,h:15},
{t:"of all reality. This view also does well in ages where sovereigns",p:131,x:105,y:542,w:441,h:15},
{t:"can kill their subjects with impunity , when there is no recourse to ",p:131,x:105,y:566,w:449,h:15},
{t:"law or independent courts. It also works in a world where, with a",p:131,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"push of the finger, you can annihilate the monster in the computer",p:131,x:105,y:615,w:442,h:15},
{t:"game without regret or accusation. But it is not the biblical view",p:131,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of God’s sovereignty.",p:131,x:105,y:664,w:146,h:15},
{t:"The point is that God is innocent of the tragedy that followed ",p:131,x:135,y:688,w:414,h:15},
{t:"Adam and Eve’s fall. The creature was free to love or withhold ",p:131,x:105,y:712,w:449,h:15},
{t:"love, to obey or not obey . This is the only way that love and obe-",p:131,x:105,y:737,w:443,h:15},
{t:"dience can exist; if there are any conditions forcing the outcome, ",p:131,x:105,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"one can no longer speak of either",p:131,x:105,y:785,w:219,h:15},
{t:". These terms require the element",p:131,x:329,y:785,w:220,h:15},
{t:"of originality, choice, and creativity—precisely the real things that",p:131,x:105,y:810,w:441,h:15},
{t:"are part of human beings bearing the Imago Dei. Anything less ",p:131,x:105,y:834,w:455,h:15},
{t:"than this would be a controlled situation and would turn the hu-",p:131,x:105,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"man being into something less than what God made, a little lower",p:131,x:105,y:883,w:439,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   130",p:131,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:131,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:132,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:132,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:132,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:132,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:132,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:132,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:132,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"than the angels, having dominion over all things created (Psalm",p:132,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"8:5–8).",p:132,x:104,y:128,w:47,h:15},
{t:"Contemporary people, just as in previous generations, always",p:132,x:134,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"try to fi nd some external cause to be able to excuse their harmful",p:132,x:104,y:177,w:440,h:15},
{t:"actions. It always strikes me as curious that they will not similarly ",p:132,x:104,y:201,w:442,h:15},
{t:"seek to explain away the good things they do. For these we want to ",p:132,x:104,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"receive credit ourselves. We only want to see the problems we cre-",p:132,x:104,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"ate as inheritance from the past. We readily blame the stars in the",p:132,x:104,y:274,w:444,h:15},
{t:"heavens, genetic conditions, the weight of traditions, customs and ",p:132,x:104,y:299,w:443,h:15},
{t:"habits, and finally also God; when it comes to causes for problems, ",p:132,x:104,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"we refer to something bigger behind us. ",p:132,x:104,y:347,w:269,h:15},
{t:"As I have suggested before, this is the nature of fatalism. It",p:132,x:134,y:372,w:409,h:15},
{t:"assumes a closed system in which one thing inevitably leads to ",p:132,x:104,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"another and in which nothing dif ferent could have happened any-",p:132,x:104,y:420,w:445,h:15},
{t:"where along the way. ",p:132,x:104,y:445,w:148,h:15},
{t:"The Bible alone frees people from such a prison of all-deter",p:132,x:134,y:469,w:404,h:15},
{t:"-",p:132,x:549,y:469,w:5,h:15},
{t:"mining forces and conditions and re-establishes true signi",p:132,x:104,y:493,w:388,h:15},
{t:"fi cance. ",p:132,x:502,y:493,w:55,h:15},
{t:"In the Bible alone is the human being honored as a child of God ",p:132,x:104,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and not a child of natural circumstances. Even when the king of",p:132,x:104,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Assyria is used as a razor on the head and feet of sinful Israel",p:132,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(Isaiah 7:20), the image does not imply mechanics, but war that",p:132,x:104,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"will bring God’s judgment on Israel, even as Assyria will later be ",p:132,x:104,y:615,w:454,h:15},
{t:"judged for her cruelty and paganism. One can speak of real distinc-",p:132,x:104,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tions between right and wrong only in connection with genuine",p:132,x:104,y:664,w:440,h:15},
{t:"choices by free agents. Without them any differences are social, ",p:132,x:104,y:688,w:452,h:15},
{t:"temporal, and cultural. Such variations are relative to the belief",p:132,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"system of a small group of people at a certain time somewhere, ",p:132,x:104,y:737,w:445,h:15},
{t:"held for reasons of their own caprice.",p:132,x:104,y:761,w:248,h:15},
{t:"Why then do so many Christians ",p:132,x:134,y:785,w:226,h:15},
{t:"fi nd it attractive to read the ",p:132,x:366,y:785,w:193,h:15},
{t:"God of the Bible into such a closed system? From whence comes",p:132,x:104,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the old habit of turning God into the original cause of everything?",p:132,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"In the process of trying to maintain our own innocence, we turn ",p:132,x:104,y:858,w:445,h:15},
{t:"people into less than what Scripture assumes about us in our quali-",p:132,x:104,y:883,w:438,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   131",p:132,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:132,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:133,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:133,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:133,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:133,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"ties and our foolishness. Neither our goodness nor our absurdity ",p:133,x:105,y:104,w:445,h:15},
{t:"are in any genuine sense real if God is in control the way ",p:133,x:105,y:128,w:387,h:15},
{t:"Allah is ",p:133,x:502,y:128,w:58,h:15},
{t:"said to be in control, or in the way such opposites as New ",p:133,x:105,y:153,w:400,h:15},
{t:"Agers ",p:133,x:515,y:153,w:45,h:15},
{t:"and materialists say the zodiac signs under which you were born ",p:133,x:105,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"finally control everything. The upshot is always that good and evil ",p:133,x:105,y:201,w:453,h:15},
{t:"are only apparent opposites; in the end, everything is just in God’",p:133,x:105,y:226,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:133,x:549,y:226,w:10,h:15},
{t:"flow of things. Why not acknowledge instead an open ",p:133,x:105,y:250,w:367,h:15},
{t:"field where ",p:133,x:479,y:250,w:80,h:15},
{t:"responsibility for human choices lies with us?",p:133,x:105,y:274,w:305,h:15},
{t:"Amazing contortions of the mind are proposed and required to ",p:133,x:135,y:299,w:423,h:15},
{t:"include God in the chain of conditions that determine my life, in-",p:133,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"cluding my salvation or condemnation. Many writers and preach-",p:133,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ers quote Jonathan Edwards to justify variable meanings of the",p:133,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"word “will” in connection with God, so that God can be sovereign ",p:133,x:105,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in the sense of being in control and at the same time hold me ac-",p:133,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"countable. The Bible does not go through such hoops at all. ",p:133,x:105,y:445,w:407,h:15},
{t:"They ",p:133,x:521,y:445,w:38,h:15},
{t:"are unnecessary unless you wish to hold to mechanistically tight",p:133,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"total sovereignty. And this is a vantage point foreign to Scripture.",p:133,x:105,y:493,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Beautiful Notes of Dissent ",p:133,x:105,y:542,w:222,h:19},
{t:"When you join an orchestra that performs a composition from",p:133,x:135,y:585,w:410,h:15},
{t:"the world’s religions and philosophies, it is required that you fol-",p:133,x:105,y:610,w:440,h:15},
{t:"low the same melody, beat, and tempo. There is a conductor to ",p:133,x:105,y:634,w:452,h:15},
{t:"hold it all together. But why can’t there be a solo as well, some-",p:133,x:105,y:658,w:444,h:15},
{t:"times playing with and sometimes in opposition to the body of",p:133,x:105,y:683,w:440,h:15},
{t:"the orchestra? Why does the biblical view of God, humanity, and ",p:133,x:105,y:707,w:454,h:15},
{t:"history have to accord with the fuller volume of the orchestra of",p:133,x:105,y:731,w:439,h:15},
{t:"world religions? If the great world religions play in some form of",p:133,x:105,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"harmony, can Judaism and Christianity not stand out? Can they ",p:133,x:105,y:780,w:447,h:15},
{t:"not sound a different tune, one in which God is an eternal person ",p:133,x:105,y:804,w:446,h:15},
{t:"with a moral character, who thinks, feels, and acts; who laughs",p:133,x:105,y:829,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and grieves; who powerfully intervenes; and who will bring moral",p:133,x:105,y:853,w:439,h:15},
{t:"judgment on the lives of people and angels rather than weaving ",p:133,x:105,y:877,w:445,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   132",p:133,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:133,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:134,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:134,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:134,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:134,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:134,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:134,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:134,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"them into a seamless cloth of morally indif",p:134,x:104,y:104,w:282,h:15},
{t:"ferent events in the pas-",p:134,x:393,y:104,w:157,h:15},
{t:"sage of time?",p:134,x:104,y:128,w:88,h:15},
{t:"It is quite natural that one wants to belong, to be accepted. ",p:134,x:134,y:153,w:416,h:15},
{t:"Herein lies the attraction of religion and ideology",p:134,x:104,y:177,w:339,h:15},
{t:". They provide ",p:134,x:452,y:177,w:108,h:15},
{t:"a community of those tied to nature or history , gender or race, ",p:134,x:104,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"land and language. It is a lonely place for naked human beings, ",p:134,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"small latecomers in much of history . But to accept reality as it is",p:134,x:104,y:250,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and to play along with its melody already means a denial of hu-",p:134,x:104,y:274,w:449,h:15},
{t:"man uniqueness and then of the uniqueness of the views found ",p:134,x:104,y:299,w:446,h:15},
{t:"in Scripture. Jerusalem—not Athens, Rome, or California—is the ",p:134,x:104,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"place where God has put his name and revealed his Son. ",p:134,x:104,y:347,w:370,h:15},
{t:"A commu-",p:134,x:483,y:347,w:70,h:15},
{t:"nity without a knowable God in heaven is a community of earth, ",p:134,x:104,y:372,w:444,h:15},
{t:"blood relations, and time, all of which are ultimately impersonal",p:134,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and amoral. ",p:134,x:104,y:420,w:82,h:15},
{t:"Yet through the centuries, Christian apologists like Origen and ",p:134,x:134,y:445,w:413,h:15},
{t:"Augustine led the Church at lar ge into such accommodation. They ",p:134,x:104,y:469,w:453,h:15},
{t:"repeatedly buckled under the pressure to conform with what such ",p:134,x:104,y:493,w:444,h:15},
{t:"pagan views of earth and blood and ethnicity taught; rearranging ",p:134,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"the names and symbols, yet playing still the same old melody of",p:134,x:104,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"earth and sky. They presented the God of the Bible as ",p:134,x:104,y:566,w:357,h:15},
{t:"fitting exact-",p:134,x:468,y:566,w:84,h:15},
{t:"ly into the clothes made for pagan deities. ",p:134,x:104,y:591,w:282,h:15},
{t:"They blended God with ",p:134,x:393,y:591,w:161,h:15},
{t:"the Greek Ideal, with Hegel’ s History, with Voltaire’s and Hitler",p:134,x:104,y:615,w:436,h:15},
{t:"’s ",p:134,x:543,y:615,w:15,h:15},
{t:"notions of Race. Consequently they lost both God and the divine",p:134,x:104,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"image in humanity.",p:134,x:104,y:664,w:130,h:15},
{t:"This is a bit like the overzealous shop assistant saying he has",p:134,x:134,y:688,w:409,h:15},
{t:"just what you need, only to pull out last year",p:134,x:104,y:712,w:306,h:15},
{t:"’s shoes or jeans or ",p:134,x:419,y:712,w:140,h:15},
{t:"say that this particular item is no longer made, merely because he ",p:134,x:104,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"wants to sell you something from the stock he has. ",p:134,x:104,y:761,w:341,h:15},
{t:"The pagan melody is the music of the spheres, the sound ",p:134,x:134,y:785,w:418,h:15},
{t:"of nature, the remaining harmonious bits of creation’",p:134,x:104,y:810,w:368,h:15},
{t:"s post-Fall ",p:134,x:481,y:810,w:80,h:15},
{t:"clockwork. The solo voice from heaven was not often listened to. ",p:134,x:104,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"It has to be ordered separately and with some ef",p:134,x:104,y:858,w:328,h:15},
{t:"fort. Yet without ",p:134,x:440,y:858,w:119,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   133",p:134,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:134,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:135,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:135,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:135,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:135,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"it there is no real history as a process through choices, creativity",p:135,x:105,y:104,w:435,h:15},
{t:", ",p:135,x:551,y:104,w:9,h:15},
{t:"and imagination. ",p:135,x:105,y:128,w:116,h:15},
{t:"For that reason Islam does not know a purposeful process to ",p:135,x:135,y:153,w:415,h:15},
{t:"life, work, and creativity. Muhammad is the climax of history; ",p:135,x:105,y:177,w:456,h:15},
{t:"since then, faith is measured by constant and collective repetition. ",p:135,x:105,y:201,w:452,h:15},
{t:"Islam is in its core an imposed instrument for the community of",p:135,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"the right faith, not a path toward new vistas. For Islam time, life, ",p:135,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and experiences stand still and obedience is the only area in which ",p:135,x:105,y:274,w:442,h:15},
{t:"there can be change. It calls for the individual’",p:135,x:105,y:299,w:313,h:15},
{t:"s adjustment to the ",p:135,x:426,y:299,w:134,h:15},
{t:"status quo, not a moral and practical re-evaluation of both personal",p:135,x:105,y:323,w:438,h:15},
{t:"life and that status quo in light of existing problems. ",p:135,x:105,y:347,w:352,h:15},
{t:"The unique emphasis in the Bible is its historical emphasis, ",p:135,x:135,y:372,w:416,h:15},
{t:"not only in the sense of relating events in time and space where",p:135,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"they can be checked for their truthful occurrence, but also in the",p:135,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sense that history is not an inevitable program. History starts with ",p:135,x:105,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"God creating a purposeful world and continues with God’",p:135,x:105,y:469,w:380,h:15},
{t:"s and hu-",p:135,x:494,y:469,w:59,h:15},
{t:"manity’s continuing creativity, effort, refl ection, and accomplish-",p:135,x:105,y:493,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ments. Your creative life will never end, there will be a judgment, ",p:135,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"your works will follow you (Revelation 14:13) and in all things",p:135,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"your actions will have real results forever",p:135,x:105,y:566,w:276,h:15},
{t:".",p:135,x:388,y:566,w:4,h:15},
{t:"Sover eignty Revisited",p:135,x:105,y:615,w:184,h:19},
{t:"Of course God is sovereign, but in a speci",p:135,x:135,y:658,w:293,h:15},
{t:"fi c sense. He has ",p:135,x:436,y:658,w:125,h:15},
{t:"created a real and lawful world, but he has not set down all future",p:135,x:105,y:683,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choices by those he made to be persons. There is no god behind ",p:135,x:105,y:707,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God to dictate what will happen. But he has made creatures in the",p:135,x:105,y:731,w:439,h:15},
{t:"image of God, who are called “elohim,” or “gods,” because their",p:135,x:105,y:756,w:439,h:15},
{t:"real and signi ficant choices should, but don’ t always, follow God’s ",p:135,x:105,y:780,w:453,h:15},
{t:"Word (Psalm 82:6; John 10:35). They can create good and evil ",p:135,x:105,y:804,w:456,h:15},
{t:"situations—not against God’ s power, but against his character .",p:135,x:105,y:829,w:425,h:15},
{t:"The sovereignty of God is established in the fact that only ",p:135,x:135,y:853,w:416,h:15},
{t:"God is eternal, there is none other . No one else made him. Of ",p:135,x:105,y:877,w:456,h:15},
{t:"course that is a major question, but it has an obvious and therefore",p:135,x:105,y:902,w:438,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   134",p:135,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:135,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:136,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:136,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:136,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:136,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:136,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:136,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:136,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"quite simple answer. Since nothing existing in the world we know",p:136,x:104,y:104,w:442,h:15},
{t:"comes, from nothing, something must have always been there. For",p:136,x:104,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"otherwise nothing would be there now",p:136,x:104,y:153,w:258,h:15},
{t:". This “something” without ",p:136,x:367,y:153,w:191,h:15},
{t:"a beginning, which was always there, is not a thing but a person. ",p:136,x:104,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Only things can come from other things; but choice, conscious-",p:136,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ness, imagination, and the life of the mind could only arise from a ",p:136,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"person. A closed system of cause and ef fect can never bring forth ",p:136,x:104,y:250,w:450,h:15},
{t:"any reality of freedom, originality , and signifi cance. ",p:136,x:104,y:274,w:357,h:15},
{t:"God in the high order of Trinity can alone serve as the ex-",p:136,x:134,y:299,w:414,h:15},
{t:"planation for both impersonal things around us and real persons. ",p:136,x:104,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"Welcome to the world in which you are at home as a person. Persons",p:136,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"are not misfi ts in a world created by a personal God. ",p:136,x:104,y:372,w:358,h:15},
{t:"We have not ",p:136,x:469,y:372,w:89,h:15},
{t:"evolved by mutation into realms of personality and choice from a",p:136,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"world where there are no choices and no personality",p:136,x:104,y:420,w:348,h:15},
{t:".",p:136,x:460,y:420,w:4,h:15},
{t:"All things are present to God (his omnipresence); God knows",p:136,x:134,y:445,w:410,h:15},
{t:"all things, including “the end from the beginning” (his omni-",p:136,x:104,y:469,w:440,h:15},
{t:"science); and he is almighty, for he made the heavens and the earth ",p:136,x:104,y:493,w:452,h:15},
{t:"(his omnipotence). ",p:136,x:104,y:518,w:129,h:15},
{t:"These terms require careful biblical understanding lest they ",p:136,x:134,y:542,w:416,h:15},
{t:"be made light of and popularized beyond recognition, and lest God ",p:136,x:104,y:566,w:442,h:15},
{t:"become again the “deus ex machina,” suf",p:136,x:104,y:591,w:275,h:15},
{t:"ficient for wishful think-",p:136,x:387,y:591,w:163,h:15},
{t:"ing, but not true to Scripture. We have already suggested that om-",p:136,x:104,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"nipresence indicates that there is no place in heaven, earth, or hell",p:136,x:104,y:639,w:438,h:15},
{t:"where anyone can be out of God’s presence. There is no hiding ",p:136,x:104,y:664,w:455,h:15},
{t:"place anywhere. But it does not mean that God is in everything. ",p:136,x:104,y:688,w:445,h:15},
{t:"God is not in my sandwich. There is space outside of God. This ",p:136,x:104,y:712,w:455,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   135",p:136,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:136,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:137,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:137,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:137,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:137,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"is a fi rst defi nition, which is a “limit.” (T o defi ne means to draw ",p:137,x:105,y:104,w:455,h:15},
{t:"limits and distinctions of where one thing ",p:137,x:105,y:128,w:280,h:15},
{t:"finishes and another be-",p:137,x:393,y:128,w:158,h:15},
{t:"gins). God is not in fi nite. He is the in fi nite-personal Creator. His ",p:137,x:105,y:153,w:455,h:15},
{t:"characteristics know no end, but they are de",p:137,x:105,y:177,w:290,h:15},
{t:"fined as love, wisdom, ",p:137,x:403,y:177,w:152,h:15},
{t:"holiness, justice, truth, etc. God is inexhaustible in his love and ",p:137,x:105,y:201,w:445,h:15},
{t:"justice, but he is never deceitful or unjust.",p:137,x:105,y:226,w:279,h:15},
{t:"God’s omniscience implies that he knows in",p:137,x:135,y:250,w:304,h:15},
{t:"fi nitely what is, ",p:137,x:446,y:250,w:114,h:15},
{t:"what shall be, what was; God also knows what could have been, ",p:137,x:105,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"what could never have been and what could be, if a condition were",p:137,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"kept or not. As mentioned before, God can tell Solomon that the",p:137,x:105,y:323,w:441,h:15},
{t:"Messiah will come from his descendents unless he turns away from",p:137,x:105,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God. He knows both and further possibilities, not just vague op-",p:137,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tions, but any outcome depends on the real choice Solomon made. ",p:137,x:105,y:396,w:443,h:15},
{t:"That alone could mean in fi nite knowledge. He can predict what ",p:137,x:105,y:420,w:456,h:15},
{t:"will happen, including the result of each option the Roman soldiers ",p:137,x:105,y:445,w:453,h:15},
{t:"had to abandon or to stay with Paul and the passengers during the",p:137,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"shipwreck on the way to Rome (Acts 27:31). God does not only ",p:137,x:105,y:493,w:445,h:15},
{t:"know these things theoretically , but sharply in his mind as real ",p:137,x:105,y:518,w:456,h:15},
{t:"possibilities. And he knows what choices the creatures will make.",p:137,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Yet that knowledge, because it is in",p:137,x:135,y:566,w:254,h:15},
{t:"fi nite, does not tie the ",p:137,x:395,y:566,w:167,h:15},
{t:"hands of people to make one choice and not another",p:137,x:105,y:591,w:349,h:15},
{t:". For God not ",p:137,x:462,y:591,w:97,h:15},
{t:"only knows what will come to pass, but also what would come to ",p:137,x:105,y:615,w:444,h:15},
{t:"pass if another choice is made. It is a Greek, not a biblical, idea",p:137,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"that God’s perfect knowledge requires that what is known must",p:137,x:105,y:664,w:441,h:15},
{t:"also happen. For God also knows the things that cannot ever hap-",p:137,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"pen in the creation he decided to create. Mere knowledge of things",p:137,x:105,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"and events in God’s mind do not inevitably lead to their occurrence",p:137,x:105,y:737,w:442,h:15},
{t:"and therefore to God experiencing them.",p:137,x:105,y:761,w:270,h:15},
{t:"God’s infi nite knowledge of the past, present, and future is",p:137,x:135,y:785,w:411,h:15},
{t:"complete knowledge of real and variable options, choices, and ",p:137,x:105,y:810,w:447,h:15},
{t:"conditional settings. Yet this knowledge does not make the future",p:137,x:105,y:834,w:443,h:15},
{t:"happen. The future is not fixed and frozen, for only when a future",p:137,x:105,y:858,w:443,h:15},
{t:"in time becomes the present is it the experience in real time and ",p:137,x:105,y:883,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   136",p:137,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:137,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:138,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:138,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:138,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:138,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:138,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:138,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:138,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"space. In the in fi nite knowledge of God, all future free decisions",p:138,x:104,y:104,w:442,h:15},
{t:"can be known by God in the same way that factually and logically ",p:138,x:104,y:128,w:452,h:15},
{t:"impossible consequences of prior conditions can also be known by ",p:138,x:104,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"a God who, being big enough to have in",p:138,x:104,y:177,w:274,h:15},
{t:"fi nite knowledge, knows ",p:138,x:385,y:177,w:173,h:15},
{t:"that there is for many known possibilities no way they could ever",p:138,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"occur.",p:138,x:104,y:226,w:41,h:15},
{t:"Why should it be impossible that “a future free decision . . . ",p:138,x:134,y:250,w:415,h:15},
{t:"cannot be known ahead of time by God?”",p:138,x:104,y:274,w:269,h:15},
{t:"1 The future is not an open ",p:138,x:380,y:274,w:172,h:15},
{t:"question to God, neither is man locked into play-acting. ",p:138,x:104,y:299,w:373,h:15},
{t:"There is a ",p:138,x:487,y:299,w:70,h:15},
{t:"dynamic, but of several personages at once.",p:138,x:104,y:323,w:290,h:15},
{t:"God’s omnipotence in the Bible means that he is the one who ",p:138,x:134,y:347,w:415,h:15},
{t:"alone made all things in the original creation. Other things also ",p:138,x:104,y:372,w:445,h:15},
{t:"were made later by the creatures. This includes each of us as ba-",p:138,x:104,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"bies, made by one father and one mother each. ",p:138,x:104,y:420,w:325,h:15},
{t:"We were known, ",p:138,x:437,y:420,w:120,h:15},
{t:"but not individually made by God. Neither did two mothers or two ",p:138,x:104,y:445,w:443,h:15},
{t:"fathers conceive us. Reality is speci",p:138,x:104,y:469,w:236,h:15},
{t:"fic, detailed, and known. Later",p:138,x:347,y:469,w:202,h:15},
{t:"creations by human beings—not God—also include windmills, do-",p:138,x:104,y:493,w:440,h:15},
{t:"mesticated animals, jet engines, computer chips, BL",p:138,x:104,y:518,w:346,h:15},
{t:"T sandwiches, ",p:138,x:457,y:518,w:98,h:15},
{t:"and root beer. God’s creatures made these.",p:138,x:104,y:542,w:285,h:15},
{t:"God made earth, water , air, and planets in space as well as ",p:138,x:134,y:566,w:426,h:15},
{t:"a man and a woman. He rules over sun, moon and stars, which ",p:138,x:104,y:591,w:448,h:15},
{t:"were worshipped by Babylonians and Egyptians, by Incas and still",p:138,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"today by the astrologically inclined. He set their templates and ",p:138,x:104,y:639,w:446,h:15},
{t:"placed them in order. He made people and directs them not by ",p:138,x:104,y:664,w:450,h:15},
{t:"instincts or templates, but by words of explanation, by language. ",p:138,x:104,y:688,w:444,h:15},
{t:"He continuously acts into the course of history",p:138,x:104,y:712,w:309,h:15},
{t:", from running after ",p:138,x:420,y:712,w:137,h:15},
{t:"1. Clark Pinnock’s response to Bruce Reichenbach in Predestination and Free ",p:138,x:104,y:759,w:430,h:12},
{t:"Will (Wheaton, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986), 138 for repeated, yet unexplained ",p:138,x:104,y:783,w:428,h:12},
{t:"assertions. With what reasoning, for instance, can Pinnock say that “future free",p:138,x:104,y:808,w:422,h:12},
{t:"decisions do not exist anywhere to be picked up on even by an omniscient being,”",p:138,x:104,y:832,w:437,h:12},
{t:"when omniscience precisely states the opposite and all creation, free agents, and",p:138,x:104,y:856,w:427,h:12},
{t:"the lamb of God existed all along in the mind of God and then later became real",p:138,x:104,y:881,w:425,h:12},
{t:"in history?",p:138,x:104,y:905,w:56,h:12},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   137",p:138,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:138,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:139,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:139,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:139,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:139,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"Adam to answered prayer and miracles today . He is not the absent ",p:139,x:105,y:104,w:454,h:15},
{t:"God. There is a Sabbath rest to come, but it is not yet.",p:139,x:105,y:128,w:359,h:15},
{t:"Here, too, there are limitations. God cannot do evil and get",p:139,x:135,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"away with it as God. Were he to lie, or had Jesus not gone to the",p:139,x:105,y:177,w:444,h:15},
{t:"cross, God would no longer remain God. He is bound to keep his",p:139,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"promises. Not that anyone is forcing him to do that, but by his own ",p:139,x:105,y:226,w:442,h:15},
{t:"moral “limitations” he has tied himself down to not lying about",p:139,x:105,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"them.",p:139,x:105,y:274,w:37,h:15},
{t:"We must not immediately reject the notion of limitations to ",p:139,x:135,y:299,w:416,h:15},
{t:"the God of the Bible. If you do anyway , you will run into at least ",p:139,x:105,y:323,w:454,h:15},
{t:"three problems. First, you will not have a personal God. ",p:139,x:105,y:347,w:380,h:15},
{t:"A person ",p:139,x:494,y:347,w:64,h:15},
{t:"is always speci fi c and distinct, with individual characteristics. ",p:139,x:105,y:372,w:420,h:15},
{t:"All ",p:139,x:534,y:372,w:26,h:15},
{t:"this would fall away if there were no distinction any more between ",p:139,x:105,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"God’s love and hate, between justice and injustice.",p:139,x:105,y:420,w:338,h:15},
{t:"Second, if God has no de fining limitations in his character , all ",p:139,x:135,y:445,w:423,h:15},
{t:"words about and from God would be meaningless. An infi nite of ",p:139,x:105,y:469,w:454,h:15},
{t:"any kind, even a non-distinguished God cannot be spoken about",p:139,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with defi ning terms. There is then no word of God, no communi-",p:139,x:105,y:518,w:443,h:15},
{t:"cation of truth, at best only approximations. But an approximation ",p:139,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"without knowledge about what it is approximate to is meaningless. ",p:139,x:105,y:566,w:442,h:15},
{t:"Liberal theology understood this clearly , but rather than rejecting ",p:139,x:105,y:591,w:450,h:15},
{t:"it, its practitioners found satisfaction in the remaining and unre-",p:139,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"solved personal mystery beliefs.",p:139,x:105,y:639,w:214,h:15},
{t:"Third, if God were not limited, he would be one with creation, ",p:139,x:135,y:664,w:413,h:15},
{t:"for there is no room for anything outside of or beyond in",p:139,x:105,y:688,w:382,h:15},
{t:"fi nity. In ",p:139,x:497,y:688,w:62,h:15},
{t:"that case you could not exist as a distinct person. ",p:139,x:105,y:712,w:345,h:15},
{t:"All talk about ",p:139,x:458,y:712,w:102,h:15},
{t:"good and evil as different from each other would be meaningless. ",p:139,x:105,y:737,w:447,h:15},
{t:"You are left with silence as a philosophical answer you cannot live",p:139,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"with in practice.",p:139,x:105,y:785,w:107,h:15},
{t:"Such is not historic Christianity or the faith of ",p:139,x:135,y:810,w:320,h:15},
{t:"Abraham. An ",p:139,x:463,y:810,w:97,h:15},
{t:"infi nite, non-specifi c God can grant no certainty or comfort, for",p:139,x:105,y:834,w:442,h:15},
{t:"to him (Would God then be an “it?”) there are no distinctions of ",p:139,x:105,y:858,w:455,h:15},
{t:"any kind. Abraham’s faith and mine is based on words that com-",p:139,x:105,y:883,w:442,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   138",p:139,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:139,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:140,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:140,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:140,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:140,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:140,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:140,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:140,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"municate accurately. Abraham believed God on the basis of what",p:140,x:104,y:104,w:443,h:15},
{t:"he knew from both words and observations: promises spoken to ",p:140,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"him, including those about Isaac and descendents all the way to the",p:140,x:104,y:153,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Messiah; and experiences that con",p:140,x:104,y:177,w:236,h:15},
{t:"fi rmed those words in reality , ",p:140,x:347,y:177,w:213,h:15},
{t:"such as Sarah’s miraculous conception even though her womb was",p:140,x:104,y:201,w:442,h:15},
{t:"as good as dead from old age.",p:140,x:104,y:226,w:198,h:15},
{t:"The Zen practice of silence is a more ",p:140,x:134,y:250,w:255,h:15},
{t:"fi tting response to a si-",p:140,x:396,y:250,w:154,h:15},
{t:"lent and non-differentiated infi nite. It is not a silence of mean-",p:140,x:104,y:274,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ing, but a silent sigh, like the last bit of air escaping from a punc-",p:140,x:104,y:299,w:438,h:15},
{t:"tured tire. Without a specifi c, personal God, there is no way to go ",p:140,x:104,y:323,w:448,h:15},
{t:"ahead. We cannot even name him, it, or anything “god,” “being,”",p:140,x:104,y:347,w:441,h:15},
{t:"or “power.”",p:140,x:104,y:372,w:79,h:15},
{t:"Silence! Real silence: no words, no complaints, no laughter or",p:140,x:134,y:396,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tears or holding of hands. No words on a page, no page in the real",p:140,x:104,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"world, no real world.",p:140,x:104,y:445,w:140,h:15},
{t:"Language always de fines, draws boundaries, and thereby clar",p:140,x:134,y:469,w:408,h:15},
{t:"-",p:140,x:549,y:469,w:5,h:15},
{t:"ifi es. That is why silence, the absence of language and concepts",p:140,x:104,y:493,w:440,h:15},
{t:"and even of “one thinking” (the “Cogito er",p:140,x:104,y:518,w:289,h:15},
{t:"go sum” of Descartes) ",p:140,x:400,y:518,w:158,h:15},
{t:"is the opposite to Christianity but not a part of it. Humanity in the",p:140,x:104,y:542,w:438,h:15},
{t:"image of God is very much thinking, creating, debating, and lov-",p:140,x:104,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing. It is a central part of that image of God.",p:140,x:104,y:591,w:293,h:15},
{t:"In all three areas of omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipo-",p:140,x:134,y:615,w:410,h:15},
{t:"tence, we are dealing with speci",p:140,x:104,y:639,w:215,h:15},
{t:"fi cs in relationship to the in",p:140,x:325,y:639,w:184,h:15},
{t:"fi nite-",p:140,x:514,y:639,w:39,h:15},
{t:"personal and personal-in finite God. The words describe quali fi ers, ",p:140,x:104,y:664,w:453,h:15},
{t:"not absolutes. We live before God. He knows and is able to be . ",p:140,x:104,y:688,w:447,h:15},
{t:". . God. With these defi ning specifi cs of God, we have not lost ",p:140,x:104,y:712,w:456,h:15},
{t:"anything but gained the possibility of knowing for sure that God ",p:140,x:104,y:737,w:444,h:15},
{t:"exists, who he is, and that he truly loves us in word and deed. “God ",p:140,x:104,y:761,w:452,h:15},
{t:"demonstrates his own love for us in this: ",p:140,x:104,y:785,w:278,h:15},
{t:"While we were still sin-",p:140,x:389,y:785,w:161,h:15},
{t:"ners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). ",p:140,x:104,y:810,w:264,h:15},
{t:"We have gained the possi-",p:140,x:375,y:810,w:175,h:15},
{t:"bility of understanding why things are so wrong in a fallen world, ",p:140,x:104,y:834,w:443,h:15},
{t:"without God being in any way responsible for it. More than that, ",p:140,x:104,y:858,w:444,h:15},
{t:"we have a God who is, in fact, furious about what sin has done to ",p:140,x:104,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   139",p:140,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:140,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:141,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:141,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:141,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:141,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"his beautiful creation. Evil, sin, and death are not a part of God’",p:141,x:105,y:104,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:141,x:549,y:104,w:11,h:15},
{t:"omnipotent acts.",p:141,x:105,y:128,w:110,h:15},
{t:"Unless God is limited to being moral rather than simply pow-",p:141,x:135,y:153,w:410,h:15},
{t:"erful, there would not be any way to judge immorality, evil, and ",p:141,x:105,y:177,w:455,h:15},
{t:"death. If God were in char ge of all that happens, we could not call",p:141,x:105,y:201,w:443,h:15},
{t:"anything good or evil. Everything would then be godly",p:141,x:105,y:226,w:379,h:15},
{t:", without ",p:141,x:493,y:226,w:68,h:15},
{t:"differentiation from the demonic.",p:141,x:105,y:250,w:222,h:15},
{t:"The God of the Bible is not sovereign in the sense of total me-",p:141,x:135,y:274,w:419,h:15},
{t:"chanical control. Stalin controlled Russia through interference into ",p:141,x:105,y:299,w:442,h:15},
{t:"every area of life and all levels of society. He controlled the Party ",p:141,x:105,y:323,w:453,h:15},
{t:"by means of power, guns, and the fear of his people. This was pos-",p:141,x:105,y:347,w:447,h:15},
{t:"sible in large part because of the oppressive historic experiences of",p:141,x:105,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"Russians married to a platonic spirituality in both church and state. ",p:141,x:105,y:396,w:442,h:15},
{t:"This prepared Russia for a secular version of what the church had ",p:141,x:105,y:420,w:443,h:15},
{t:"taught as divine control before 1917, manifested then as historic",p:141,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"necessity (Hegelianism) and “scienti",p:141,x:105,y:469,w:243,h:15},
{t:"fic” rationality (materialism). ",p:141,x:355,y:469,w:199,h:15},
{t:"Unfortunately, many efforts to bring Christianity back to ",p:141,x:135,y:493,w:428,h:15},
{t:"Russia after 1991 have replaced the idea of the material and politi-",p:141,x:105,y:518,w:438,h:15},
{t:"cal control of Marxism with a ",p:141,x:105,y:542,w:214,h:15},
{t:"fl awed teaching of God’s control ",p:141,x:324,y:542,w:237,h:15},
{t:"without the liberating content of the Gospel. “Russians need to ",p:141,x:105,y:566,w:446,h:15},
{t:"know that someone is in control” is not the Christian answer to ",p:141,x:105,y:591,w:445,h:15},
{t:"their personal, social, and spiritual questions after the collapse of ",p:141,x:105,y:615,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the central state and economic planning. What is new (for they ",p:141,x:105,y:639,w:453,h:15},
{t:"have not heard something like it for generations) is an understand-",p:141,x:105,y:664,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ing of personal responsibility , courage, discipline, and initiative, ",p:141,x:105,y:688,w:449,h:15},
{t:"and a God who establishes a covenant of favor to enable us to step ",p:141,x:105,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"out of fate, destiny, and the collective mentality .",p:141,x:105,y:737,w:328,h:15},
{t:"Failing to explain this merely nurtures the historic dependence",p:141,x:135,y:761,w:409,h:15},
{t:"on central power, waiting on the sidelines to see what destiny",p:141,x:105,y:785,w:405,h:15},
{t:", god, ",p:141,x:517,y:785,w:40,h:15},
{t:"or the state will do next. Where we have, from our Christian past, ",p:141,x:105,y:810,w:448,h:15},
{t:"the proverb, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil,” the equivalent",p:141,x:105,y:834,w:440,h:15},
{t:"Russian proverb, from its resigned mentality and fear of being no-",p:141,x:105,y:858,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ticed is, “The tallest blade gets the sickle.”",p:141,x:105,y:883,w:283,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   140",p:141,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:141,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:142,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:142,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:142,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:142,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:142,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:142,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:142,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"God’s sovereignty then is in purpose, power, and ability to ",p:142,x:134,y:104,w:426,h:15},
{t:"accomplish what he sets out to do. Yet each of these words has ",p:142,x:104,y:128,w:456,h:15},
{t:"real defi nitions, i.e., limitations like any word. ",p:142,x:104,y:153,w:323,h:15},
{t:"These limitations ",p:142,x:435,y:153,w:125,h:15},
{t:"are not only real to us, but also to God, who is a person and not",p:142,x:104,y:177,w:439,h:15},
{t:"absolute faceless power . ",p:142,x:104,y:201,w:169,h:15},
{t:"God is sovereign in his purpose, but this purpose refers to ",p:142,x:134,y:226,w:417,h:15},
{t:"specific realities. He purposed to have more than sticks and stones, ",p:142,x:104,y:250,w:452,h:15},
{t:"impersonal functionaries according to template. God created hu-",p:142,x:104,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"man beings capable of imagination, choice, and freedom—all pre-",p:142,x:104,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"requisites for love and joy and consciousness. He wanted someone",p:142,x:104,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"outside himself in his image, for sticks and stones do not love, ",p:142,x:104,y:347,w:445,h:15},
{t:"listen, and respond. They just lie there and shine, blossom, or ",p:142,x:104,y:372,w:457,h:15},
{t:"whatever their program tells them to do. Only people can love, ",p:142,x:104,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"discuss, search, and enjoy. Part of the purpose of God then is to ",p:142,x:104,y:420,w:449,h:15},
{t:"have people with minds, souls, and intelligence as well as eternal",p:142,x:104,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"material bodies. God’s purpose was not primarily that we would ",p:142,x:104,y:469,w:448,h:15},
{t:"obey him. His purpose was to surround himself with angels and ",p:142,x:104,y:493,w:445,h:15},
{t:"human beings, so that he could love, enjoy, and talk with them and ",p:142,x:104,y:518,w:453,h:15},
{t:"they with him. ",p:142,x:104,y:542,w:100,h:15},
{t:"Creation is a richer reality for the existence of personal crea-",p:142,x:134,y:566,w:409,h:15},
{t:"tures. Even sinful man is seemingly worth God’s effort to gain the ",p:142,x:104,y:591,w:454,h:15},
{t:"pleasure of having more than sticks and stones in creation. God’",p:142,x:104,y:615,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:142,x:548,y:615,w:11,h:15},
{t:"craftsmanship of humanity was not a failure and is still not a fail-",p:142,x:104,y:639,w:438,h:15},
{t:"ure. He set out to display his image, male and female; it was and is ",p:142,x:104,y:664,w:453,h:15},
{t:"a success. Just look around you. Do you not see human beings all",p:142,x:104,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"over the place? Make a list of the good things people have done, ",p:142,x:104,y:712,w:444,h:15},
{t:"invented, played for and learned, by whose ef",p:142,x:104,y:737,w:312,h:15},
{t:"forts we live fuller ",p:142,x:424,y:737,w:135,h:15},
{t:"and easier lives. The question of their motivation does not come ",p:142,x:104,y:761,w:455,h:15},
{t:"in here. Just the facts, ma’am, nothing but the facts, please! Fact",p:142,x:104,y:785,w:438,h:15},
{t:"is, without human beings we would not be here either",p:142,x:104,y:810,w:356,h:15},
{t:". And if only ",p:142,x:468,y:810,w:88,h:15},
{t:"“believers” had value and deserved praise, each of us would have",p:142,x:104,y:834,w:439,h:15},
{t:"no place to start.",p:142,x:104,y:858,w:110,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   141",p:142,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:142,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:143,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:143,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:143,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:143,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"The creature is a disappointment only for what he did against",p:143,x:135,y:104,w:410,h:15},
{t:"his better knowledge with the abilities and form God gave him, not",p:143,x:105,y:128,w:439,h:15},
{t:"because he turned out to be something else, such as an animal. I ",p:143,x:105,y:153,w:455,h:15},
{t:"can only become a sinner if I am ",p:143,x:105,y:177,w:219,h:15},
{t:"first conceived and born a human ",p:143,x:330,y:177,w:224,h:15},
{t:"being; that is my fundamental greatness, “a little lower than the",p:143,x:105,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"angels” (Psalm 8:5), which I have now soiled ",p:143,x:105,y:226,w:307,h:15},
{t:"but not lost through ",p:143,x:421,y:226,w:137,h:15},
{t:"sin. The human being as a human being is therefore not a disap-",p:143,x:105,y:250,w:449,h:15},
{t:"pointment to God. God’s judgment is not about being human, but",p:143,x:105,y:274,w:443,h:15},
{t:"about our being immoral, foolish, and unfaithful.",p:143,x:105,y:299,w:326,h:15},
{t:"By referring to God’s sovereignty in power I want to suggest",p:143,x:135,y:323,w:413,h:15},
{t:"that God is able to do what is in his character to do. He is the al-",p:143,x:105,y:347,w:438,h:15},
{t:"mighty because he originally created all things. He spoke, and it",p:143,x:105,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"was. He sustains creation as well and made it in such a way that",p:143,x:105,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"it will not contradict itself. God still creates additional realities",p:143,x:105,y:420,w:438,h:15},
{t:"by what we commonly call miracles. They are not freak events or",p:143,x:105,y:445,w:445,h:15},
{t:"events without an explanation. Just as God created something out",p:143,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of nothing so can he powerfully create additional things: lunch for",p:143,x:105,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fi ve thousand hungry listeners, oil for the widow who fed Elijah, ",p:143,x:105,y:518,w:444,h:15},
{t:"stronger cell walls in the body tissues for the sick. He can make",p:143,x:105,y:542,w:439,h:15},
{t:"blind people see, and we could make a whole list of things God has",p:143,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"done to show his existence and power . He can even raise Lazarus ",p:143,x:105,y:591,w:454,h:15},
{t:"from the dead, though that poor fellow had to die a second time",p:143,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"later.",p:143,x:105,y:639,w:33,h:15},
{t:"But from this it does not follow that God can do anything and ",p:143,x:135,y:664,w:414,h:15},
{t:"everything at all times. Again, we would all say that God cannot",p:143,x:105,y:688,w:443,h:15},
{t:"lie, for the book of Hebrews tells us that it is impossible for God to ",p:143,x:105,y:712,w:442,h:15},
{t:"lie and get away with it. He would be able to lie, but not retain his",p:143,x:105,y:737,w:438,h:15},
{t:"holy character at the same time. Jesus could physically refuse to ",p:143,x:105,y:761,w:444,h:15},
{t:"go to the cross for us. In the movie The Last Temptation of Christ",p:143,x:105,y:785,w:447,h:15},
{t:"this possibility is explored through in a thorough and imaginative",p:143,x:105,y:810,w:439,h:15},
{t:"way. Could Jesus have decided not to go to the cross but instead ",p:143,x:105,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"to start a normal life, to marry someone like Mary Magdalene or ",p:143,x:105,y:858,w:455,h:15},
{t:"Martha, have children, and then at a certain age die? ",p:143,x:105,y:883,w:349,h:15},
{t:"Why not? It’s ",p:143,x:463,y:883,w:95,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   142",p:143,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:143,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:144,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:144,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:144,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:144,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:144,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:144,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:144,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"a thought. It is even a good thought, for it is a way to show that",p:144,x:104,y:104,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Jesus really had a choice in the matter , which he himself expresses",p:144,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"when he says that he dreads this coming hour",p:144,x:104,y:153,w:317,h:15},
{t:", but then for that ",p:144,x:429,y:153,w:131,h:15},
{t:"hour he has come into the world (John 12:27). And again a choice ",p:144,x:104,y:177,w:454,h:15},
{t:"is real when Jesus asks the Father in Gethsemane whether there is",p:144,x:104,y:201,w:439,h:15},
{t:"not perhaps another way to redeem us than through becoming sin ",p:144,x:104,y:226,w:452,h:15},
{t:"for us and facing its consequence: death and a separation from the",p:144,x:104,y:250,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Father in heaven in substitution for us.",p:144,x:104,y:274,w:256,h:15},
{t:"So there are things that God can possibly do physically",p:144,x:134,y:299,w:380,h:15},
{t:", but ",p:144,x:522,y:299,w:37,h:15},
{t:"he would no longer remain the Holy God the Bible talks about. In ",p:144,x:104,y:323,w:443,h:15},
{t:"addition there are also things God cannot do for the simple reason ",p:144,x:104,y:347,w:443,h:15},
{t:"that God also has to exist with the consequences of his own prior",p:144,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"choices and acts. For instance, God cannot make creation disap-",p:144,x:104,y:396,w:439,h:15},
{t:"pear, never to have existed. Once there, it cannot be erased. Having ",p:144,x:104,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"been there from Genesis 1:1 on, creation has eternal consequences ",p:144,x:104,y:445,w:453,h:15},
{t:"that even God cannot do away with. ",p:144,x:104,y:469,w:244,h:15},
{t:"God also cannot make history go backward. ",p:144,x:134,y:493,w:289,h:15},
{t:"Back to the Future ",p:144,x:431,y:493,w:127,h:15},
{t:"is a film expressing a serious playfulness with history that requires",p:144,x:104,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"more imagination than your unicorn. The idea of someone inter -",p:144,x:104,y:542,w:450,h:15},
{t:"acting with history past to create the marriage of the protagonist’",p:144,x:104,y:566,w:433,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:144,x:548,y:566,w:10,h:15},
{t:"parents is a wonderful mind game. But it is not history",p:144,x:104,y:591,w:375,h:15},
{t:". I cannot ",p:144,x:488,y:591,w:71,h:15},
{t:"intervene after my birth to arrange for my conception. History is",p:144,x:104,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"linear; it does not go back and start over again in a dif",p:144,x:104,y:639,w:361,h:15},
{t:"ferent tract. ",p:144,x:475,y:639,w:81,h:15},
{t:"God has made a covenant in a world of choices and consequences, ",p:144,x:104,y:664,w:443,h:15},
{t:"including his own choice to create us in a particular way. Additional ",p:144,x:104,y:688,w:452,h:15},
{t:"acts of God or humanity can change the course of history",p:144,x:104,y:712,w:384,h:15},
{t:", but not ",p:144,x:497,y:712,w:61,h:15},
{t:"deny its reality. There is no way of ever going back. The moment ",p:144,x:104,y:737,w:454,h:15},
{t:"of the choice already made is forever and irretrievably past. ",p:144,x:104,y:761,w:401,h:15},
{t:"Much attention is given to the passages in the Bible that speak ",p:144,x:134,y:785,w:413,h:15},
{t:"of God’s repentance. But in each case the repentance is the re-",p:144,x:104,y:810,w:440,h:15},
{t:"sult of a change in circumstances. It does not indicate that God ",p:144,x:104,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"changed his mind or that expanding knowledge led to a dif",p:144,x:104,y:858,w:401,h:15},
{t:"ferent ",p:144,x:515,y:858,w:44,h:15},
{t:"choice by God. Instead we find that when people repent or Moses",p:144,x:104,y:883,w:444,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   143",p:144,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:30 PM",p:144,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:145,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:145,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:145,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:145,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"prays to intercede for them, the whole context has ",p:145,x:105,y:104,w:348,h:15},
{t:"changed. The ",p:145,x:463,y:104,w:98,h:15},
{t:"moral standing of the situation is now dif",p:145,x:105,y:128,w:286,h:15},
{t:"ferent. Signifi cant acts ",p:145,x:399,y:128,w:161,h:15},
{t:"change the whole mix of reality in all of life. God’",p:145,x:105,y:153,w:352,h:15},
{t:"s moral rela-",p:145,x:466,y:153,w:87,h:15},
{t:"tionship to a new situation is dif ferent from what it was before ",p:145,x:105,y:177,w:456,h:15},
{t:"the signifi cant acts of the creatures. God would not be moral or",p:145,x:105,y:201,w:441,h:15},
{t:"trustworthy if his relation to changed situations continued unaf-",p:145,x:105,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"fected by the change. God is true to himself, faithful to his being ",p:145,x:105,y:250,w:443,h:15},
{t:"and character. For that reason nothing signi",p:145,x:105,y:274,w:285,h:15},
{t:"ficant leaves him in any ",p:145,x:396,y:274,w:158,h:15},
{t:"way static, or unmoved, or stubborn. His “repentance” only ex-",p:145,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"presses the changes embraced by God in light of his holy character",p:145,x:105,y:323,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to continue truthfully with the new situation. ",p:145,x:105,y:347,w:301,h:15},
{t:"God’s repentance then is not an admission of wrong on his",p:145,x:135,y:372,w:411,h:15},
{t:"part, but the moral personal response to what human beings and ",p:145,x:105,y:396,w:445,h:15},
{t:"angels do to change situations. When Israel sins, God wishes he ",p:145,x:105,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"had not called them. When Israel repents, God welcomes her with ",p:145,x:105,y:445,w:447,h:15},
{t:"open arms. In each case it is the choice of the creature to follow",p:145,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"or to refuse their Lord and Creator that af",p:145,x:105,y:493,w:275,h:15},
{t:"fects the moral reality of",p:145,x:388,y:493,w:163,h:15},
{t:"God’s relationship. ",p:145,x:105,y:518,w:131,h:15},
{t:"Talking about limitation in the Bible’ s understanding of God ",p:145,x:135,y:542,w:421,h:15},
{t:"does not make God small, powerless, or subject to someone else’",p:145,x:105,y:566,w:434,h:15},
{t:"s ",p:145,x:549,y:566,w:10,h:15},
{t:"rules. It is rather in the nature and character of God, who has been ",p:145,x:105,y:591,w:442,h:15},
{t:"himself—this specifi c God—forever. Another universe does not ",p:145,x:105,y:615,w:456,h:15},
{t:"exist any more than another God exists anywhere. I am not saying ",p:145,x:105,y:639,w:443,h:15},
{t:"this from personal preference; it is rather that the God of the Bible",p:145,x:105,y:664,w:438,h:15},
{t:"tells us this for the sake of our own con",p:145,x:105,y:688,w:275,h:15},
{t:"fi dence, trust, and hope. ",p:145,x:388,y:688,w:169,h:15},
{t:"These would be meaningless if God or reality were different. In ",p:145,x:105,y:712,w:455,h:15},
{t:"a world where anything could theoretically happen there would ",p:145,x:105,y:737,w:446,h:15},
{t:"be no basis for hope, con fi dence, and trust, for nothing could be",p:145,x:105,y:761,w:443,h:15},
{t:"expected with any assurance.",p:145,x:105,y:785,w:194,h:15},
{t:"Of course, there would be no basis for science either",p:145,x:135,y:810,w:374,h:15},
{t:". You ",p:145,x:517,y:810,w:44,h:15},
{t:"would hide in a cave against all eventualities, only to be crushed ",p:145,x:105,y:834,w:444,h:15},
{t:"sooner or later when the cave itself collapsed.",p:145,x:105,y:858,w:304,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   144",p:145,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:31 PM",p:145,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:146,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:146,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:146,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:146,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:146,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:146,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:146,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"God’s sovereignty is grounded in his alone being God: eternal, ",p:146,x:134,y:104,w:413,h:15},
{t:"good, and wise. God’s sovereignty is not brute power , does not ",p:146,x:104,y:128,w:456,h:15},
{t:"describe a closed system of controls, and is not outside of recog-",p:146,x:104,y:153,w:443,h:15},
{t:"nizable moral de fi nitions.",p:146,x:104,y:177,w:172,h:15},
{t:"One further limitation is spoken of in the Bible. Both ex-",p:146,x:134,y:201,w:410,h:15},
{t:"treme Calvinism and the reaction against it found in the Openness",p:146,x:104,y:226,w:439,h:15},
{t:"Theology neglect the element of real time in de",p:146,x:104,y:250,w:318,h:15},
{t:"fi ning sovereignty ",p:146,x:430,y:250,w:125,h:15},
{t:"scripturally. The former makes sovereignty too inclusive and abol-",p:146,x:104,y:274,w:441,h:15},
{t:"ishes real signi fi cance for persons, as if God’ s sovereignty had ",p:146,x:104,y:299,w:454,h:15},
{t:"quasi-mechanical consequences. The latter excludes God’s de-",p:146,x:104,y:323,w:449,h:15},
{t:"tailed knowledge from his sovereignty and reduces it to his own ",p:146,x:104,y:347,w:445,h:15},
{t:"sovereign actions in many new and previously unknown situations",p:146,x:104,y:372,w:439,h:15},
{t:"when they occur. Both of them hold to an idea of sovereignty with-",p:146,x:104,y:396,w:441,h:15},
{t:"out doing full justice to either Scripture or reality",p:146,x:104,y:420,w:331,h:15},
{t:". Time, in a nar-",p:146,x:444,y:420,w:110,h:15},
{t:"rowly scientifi c sense, is a physical quality of creation. But we",p:146,x:104,y:445,w:441,h:15},
{t:"also have to acknowledge that for God to be someone—an eternal",p:146,x:104,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"being with personality and revealed characteristics as the Bible",p:146,x:104,y:493,w:439,h:15},
{t:"depicts—God must exist in something like time. ",p:146,x:104,y:518,w:332,h:15},
{t:"To avoid confu-",p:146,x:444,y:518,w:107,h:15},
{t:"sion with physical time and to defuse the emotional reaction so ",p:146,x:104,y:542,w:445,h:15},
{t:"common when we relate the Creator to creation, one may choose",p:146,x:104,y:566,w:440,h:15},
{t:"to speak of a “before and after” relationship. ",p:146,x:104,y:591,w:300,h:15},
{t:"We have talked about a “time” before creation that is dif",p:146,x:134,y:615,w:371,h:15},
{t:"ferent ",p:146,x:515,y:615,w:43,h:15},
{t:"from what exists now after creation. There is no “eternal now” to ",p:146,x:104,y:639,w:450,h:15},
{t:"God except where people have robed God in Greek epistemologi-",p:146,x:104,y:664,w:447,h:15},
{t:"cal clothing. The God of the Bible communicates, loves, discusses, ",p:146,x:104,y:688,w:444,h:15},
{t:"and concludes his choices among each member of the ",p:146,x:104,y:712,w:360,h:15},
{t:"Trinity with ",p:146,x:473,y:712,w:83,h:15},
{t:"his statement, “Let us create.” There must be sequence or there ",p:146,x:104,y:737,w:456,h:15},
{t:"would be no love, communication, exchange of ideas, and selec-",p:146,x:104,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"tion of options considered. Such is the God of the Bible who had ",p:146,x:104,y:785,w:444,h:15},
{t:"not already made what he then made by divine ",p:146,x:104,y:810,w:315,h:15},
{t:"fi at.",p:146,x:427,y:810,w:25,h:15},
{t:"Here also Greek ideas have unfortunately crept into the teach-",p:146,x:134,y:834,w:409,h:15},
{t:"ing of the church, sometimes nurtured from apologetic interests",p:146,x:104,y:858,w:439,h:15},
{t:"wishing to provide Greek thinkers the answer to their idea of God ",p:146,x:104,y:883,w:443,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   145",p:146,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:31 PM",p:146,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:147,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:147,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:147,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:147,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"within their de finitions. But you can’ t squeeze Yahweh into a Greek ",p:147,x:105,y:104,w:450,h:15},
{t:"paradigm. Augustine, for instance, made valuable contributions to ",p:147,x:105,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"the insight of the church, but he was also a prisoner to the Greek ",p:147,x:105,y:153,w:444,h:15},
{t:"texts and bowed to the demands of his historical period. ",p:147,x:105,y:177,w:382,h:15},
{t:"This can ",p:147,x:497,y:177,w:62,h:15},
{t:"be seen not only in his views on human sexuality",p:147,x:105,y:201,w:331,h:15},
{t:", but in his view ",p:147,x:444,y:201,w:116,h:15},
{t:"of the relationship between God’s sovereignty, human reality, and ",p:147,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:15},
{t:"the question that interests us here, of time. He says about God, ",p:147,x:105,y:250,w:445,h:15},
{t:"“Neither does his attention pass from thought to thought, for his",p:147,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"knowledge embraces everything in a single spiritual contuition”",p:147,x:105,y:299,w:439,h:15},
{t:"(City of God, XI, 21) as if God’s thoughts were not sequential, but",p:147,x:105,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"simultaneous. ",p:147,x:105,y:347,w:96,h:15},
{t:"Augustine fears that sequential thinking would reduce God ",p:147,x:135,y:372,w:417,h:15},
{t:"to fi nite dimensions and make him divisible. While reductionism ",p:147,x:105,y:396,w:455,h:15},
{t:"must be avoided, a way should be found to address the reality of",p:147,x:105,y:420,w:439,h:15},
{t:"God’s true personhood: who knows all things and the end from the",p:147,x:105,y:445,w:440,h:15},
{t:"beginning, yet who experiences reality in sequence as it occurs",p:147,x:105,y:469,w:439,h:15},
{t:"also in time and space. God knows things intuitively and not infer-",p:147,x:105,y:493,w:449,h:15},
{t:"entially in his mind. But the creator of a real historic and special",p:147,x:105,y:518,w:438,h:15},
{t:"universe “knows” reality, in the Jewish and biblical sense, as a",p:147,x:105,y:542,w:443,h:15},
{t:"series of experiences in the sequence of their occurrence. In this",p:147,x:105,y:566,w:439,h:15},
{t:"sense time is not only a dimension of creation, but also relates",p:147,x:105,y:591,w:439,h:15},
{t:"to experience, to life, to personality. Such time does not come in ",p:147,x:105,y:615,w:454,h:15},
{t:"measurable units, is not mathematical. Experientially speaking, at",p:147,x:105,y:639,w:439,h:15},
{t:"times, time can “stand still” or then again “",p:147,x:105,y:664,w:287,h:15},
{t:"fl y. ” ",p:147,x:400,y:664,w:34,h:15},
{t:"I want to call this “time” before and after something. It allows",p:147,x:135,y:688,w:409,h:15},
{t:"for the fact that to God not all events are coexistent. God took six ",p:147,x:105,y:712,w:443,h:15},
{t:"days of whatever length to create a multifaceted world. In the full-",p:147,x:105,y:737,w:449,h:15},
{t:"ness of time Christ was born of a woman, as God had promised a",p:147,x:105,y:761,w:439,h:15},
{t:"long time before. The sin of Adam led to an immediate result in ",p:147,x:105,y:785,w:450,h:15},
{t:"the legal sphere and a delayed result on the physical sphere. The ",p:147,x:105,y:810,w:455,h:15},
{t:"children who would continue the human race had yet to be born ",p:147,x:105,y:834,w:445,h:15},
{t:"before Adam’s body would return to the dust from which it had",p:147,x:105,y:858,w:442,h:15},
{t:"been taken.",p:147,x:105,y:883,w:75,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   146",p:147,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:31 PM",p:147,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:148,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:148,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:148,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:148,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:148,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:148,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:148,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"In a parallel way, the effect of the death of Christ had an im-",p:148,x:134,y:104,w:413,h:15},
{t:"mediate component to restore a holy legal relationship of believers",p:148,x:104,y:128,w:445,h:15},
{t:"with God. The delayed effect of the power of the resurrection in ",p:148,x:104,y:153,w:448,h:15},
{t:"our lives will take time; it is still outstanding. Interestingly",p:148,x:104,y:177,w:396,h:15},
{t:", Luke ",p:148,x:510,y:177,w:48,h:15},
{t:"reports that Moses and Elijah talked to Jesus on the Mount of ",p:148,x:104,y:201,w:456,h:15},
{t:"Transfi guration about his coming departure, his death, and resur",p:148,x:104,y:226,w:435,h:15},
{t:"-",p:148,x:549,y:226,w:5,h:15},
{t:"rection on which they had placed all their hope for redemption. ",p:148,x:104,y:250,w:445,h:15},
{t:"It was future in time to their lives, and everything depended on ",p:148,x:104,y:274,w:445,h:15},
{t:"Christ’s fulfilling the promise of the Covenant in his time.",p:148,x:104,y:299,w:388,h:15},
{t:"As the fall had immediate and gradual ef fects, we are not ",p:148,x:134,y:323,w:427,h:15},
{t:"surprised to fi nd immediate and gradual effects in the redemption ",p:148,x:104,y:347,w:453,h:15},
{t:"through Christ. Time is real, signi fi cant, and impossible to “jump ",p:148,x:104,y:372,w:450,h:15},
{t:"over.” God takes his creation seriously",p:148,x:104,y:396,w:259,h:15},
{t:". To do otherwise would be ",p:148,x:368,y:396,w:190,h:15},
{t:"a form of lying about what kind of a world he has made. ",p:148,x:104,y:420,w:376,h:15},
{t:"We could ",p:148,x:490,y:420,w:66,h:15},
{t:"no longer say that we believed God to tell us the truth about all of",p:148,x:104,y:445,w:438,h:15},
{t:"life.",p:148,x:104,y:469,w:26,h:15},
{t:"But more than this, we also ",p:148,x:134,y:493,w:186,h:15},
{t:"find that “time” is a part of God’ s ",p:148,x:326,y:493,w:232,h:15},
{t:"battle for our redemption. It takes time to accomplish it. God is not",p:148,x:104,y:518,w:438,h:15},
{t:"the super magician in the sky who with the wave of a wand could ",p:148,x:104,y:542,w:444,h:15},
{t:"do anything at any time. That is not what God has revealed to us. ",p:148,x:104,y:566,w:448,h:15},
{t:"To hold such a view is simply an embrace of pure magic and pagan ",p:148,x:104,y:591,w:443,h:15},
{t:"speculation. Let me tell you why I think this.",p:148,x:104,y:615,w:299,h:15},
{t:"The Bible speaks of a battle in the heavens. ",p:148,x:134,y:639,w:314,h:15},
{t:"The Lord is a ",p:148,x:456,y:639,w:104,h:15},
{t:"warrior for us. Satan is seeking whom he may devour. An an-",p:148,x:104,y:664,w:449,h:15},
{t:"gel was unable to reach Daniel with prophecy from God before",p:148,x:104,y:688,w:440,h:15},
{t:"three weeks passed, and then only with the help of another an-",p:148,x:104,y:712,w:439,h:15},
{t:"gel, Michael (Daniel 10:10–14f f). In Job we see what happens in ",p:148,x:104,y:737,w:449,h:15},
{t:"heaven in relation to and with ef fects on us. Job never saw this ",p:148,x:104,y:761,w:455,h:15},
{t:"heavenly stage. We who read the fi rst two chapters of Job see it ",p:148,x:104,y:785,w:455,h:15},
{t:"there and also when Elisha asks for the servant’",p:148,x:104,y:810,w:312,h:15},
{t:"s eyes to be opened ",p:148,x:424,y:810,w:130,h:15},
{t:"to see that more fi ght with the Lord than with the adversary (2 ",p:148,x:104,y:834,w:449,h:15},
{t:"Kings 6:17). ",p:148,x:104,y:858,w:87,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   147",p:148,x:16,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:31 PM",p:148,x:549,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inno",p:149,x:105,y:57,w:65,h:14},
{t:"cenc e of G",p:149,x:181,y:57,w:81,h:14},
{t:"od",p:149,x:272,y:57,w:18,h:14},
{t:"",p:149,x:105,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"In other words, the time has not yet come for some things. God ",p:149,x:135,y:104,w:413,h:15},
{t:"is the one who has designed this kind of reality",p:149,x:105,y:128,w:324,h:15},
{t:". It is signifi cant, ",p:149,x:437,y:128,w:121,h:15},
{t:"though, that creatures also make use of time, add time, and disturb ",p:149,x:105,y:153,w:442,h:15},
{t:"what happens in time. It took an extra forty years for the Israelites",p:149,x:105,y:177,w:438,h:15},
{t:"to enter the Promised Land because their parents, who doubted ",p:149,x:105,y:201,w:446,h:15},
{t:"God’s promise when they saw “giants” there, had to die ",p:149,x:105,y:226,w:370,h:15},
{t:"first. Their ",p:149,x:484,y:226,w:74,h:15},
{t:"unbelief wasted time for them, their children, and for God! God ",p:149,x:105,y:250,w:445,h:15},
{t:"pleads with people through prophets, but they often refuse to lis-",p:149,x:105,y:274,w:439,h:15},
{t:"ten. Jesus preached in Nazareth, but could not do a mighty work ",p:149,x:105,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"there, except healing a few , because of their unbelief. ",p:149,x:105,y:323,w:363,h:15},
{t:"God’s dealing with people in the real world takes place in real",p:149,x:135,y:347,w:410,h:15},
{t:"history, where significant actions, choices, and consequences mark ",p:149,x:105,y:372,w:446,h:15},
{t:"time and give it its contours. All reality takes place in “before and ",p:149,x:105,y:396,w:448,h:15},
{t:"after” relationships. Time is not only a physical object. It is also a",p:149,x:105,y:420,w:442,h:15},
{t:"measure of how people distinguish between “now” and “outside of",p:149,x:105,y:445,w:439,h:15},
{t:"now,” which can be past or future.",p:149,x:105,y:469,w:228,h:15},
{t:"The important thing is to see that God not only created his-",p:149,x:135,y:493,w:410,h:15},
{t:"tory, but that to God there has always been a sense and experience",p:149,x:105,y:518,w:439,h:15},
{t:"of sequence: “The Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not ",p:149,x:105,y:542,w:455,h:15},
{t:"yet been glorifi ed” (John 7:39). Mary was not allowed to touch ",p:149,x:105,y:566,w:448,h:15},
{t:"Jesus after the resurrection, because he had not yet ascended to the",p:149,x:105,y:591,w:438,h:15},
{t:"Father (John 20:17). But John also mentions that soon after Jesus",p:149,x:105,y:615,w:439,h:15},
{t:"had ascended Thomas was invited to touch Jesus (John 20:27). ",p:149,x:105,y:639,w:448,h:15},
{t:"Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the",p:149,x:105,y:664,w:440,h:15},
{t:"world, but not dead for our sins until he hung on the cross and was",p:149,x:105,y:688,w:439,h:15},
{t:"forsaken by the Father .",p:149,x:105,y:712,w:156,h:15},
{t:"The other central af fi rmation in the Bible is that there is not",p:149,x:135,y:737,w:413,h:15},
{t:"one actor in history, not one controlling agent, not one signi",p:149,x:105,y:761,w:405,h:15},
{t:"fi cant ",p:149,x:518,y:761,w:42,h:15},
{t:"choice maker, but several. God created the world for himself. But",p:149,x:105,y:785,w:441,h:15},
{t:"God also made signi fi cant creatures and gave them the mandate",p:149,x:105,y:810,w:443,h:15},
{t:"to subdue the earth, to have dominion, to give names, and to love. ",p:149,x:105,y:834,w:443,h:15},
{t:"Fulfi lling such mandates by choice rather than by template, in-",p:149,x:105,y:858,w:440,h:15},
{t:"innocence of god.indd   148",p:149,x:17,y:1051,w:122,h:9},
{t:"9/12/2007   4:49:31 PM",p:149,x:550,y:1051,w:103,h:9},
{t:"The Inf",p:150,x:159,y:57,w:54,h:14},
{t:"inite-Per",p:150,x:231,y:57,w:64,h:14},
{t:"sonal G",p:150,x:323,y:57,w:56,h:14},
{t:"od of S",p:150,x:400,y:57,w:49,h:14},
{t:"crip",p:150,x:471,y:57,w:32,h:14},
{t:"ture",p:150,x:512,y:57,w:39,h:14},
{t:"",p:150,x:532,y:950,w:19,h:12},
{t:"stinct, or necessity would af fect all of history. History in the Bible ",p:150,x:104,y:104,w:454,h:15},
{t:"was never fixed in concrete or tied to tracks laid by God. ",p:150,x:104,y:128,w:383,h:15},
{t:"God’s sovereignty is not af fected by all the players, but they ",p:150,x:134,y:153,w:419,h:15},
{t:"do shape history. Who will exist as someone’s baby? When will the ",p:150,x:104,y:177,w:453,h:15},
{t:"resurrection and judgment come? These are contingent on choices ",p:150,x:104,y:201,w:454,h:15},
{t:"by a number of participants. The human “ifs” are of tremendous ",p:150,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:15},
{t:"signifi cance. ",p:150,x:104,y:250,w:89,h:15},
{t:"Think about how these “ifs” positively impact the emotional",p:150,x:134,y:274,w:410,h:15},
{t:"life of God. If God is in such control that everything already and ",p:150,x:104,y:299,w:444,h:15},
{t:"for all times is what he intended, we have no truly grieving God, ",p:150,x:104,y:323,w:444,h:15},
{t:"no man of sorrows, no sadness of Jesus when the rich young rul-",p:150,x:104,y:347,w:439,h:15},
{t:"er walked away without believing. God has then designed what",p:150,x:104,y:372,w:440,h:15},
{t:"is now normal, and implicitly endorses what takes place at any ",p:150,x:104,y:396,w:446,h:15},
{t:"time. In terms of ideas or philosophy , and how you see things, it ",p:150,x:104,y:420,w:455,h:15},
{t:"is a modern variant of the same old pagan order",p:150,x:104,y:445,w:334,h:15},
{t:", this time with ",p:150,x:446,y:445,w:111,h:15},
{t:"Christian vocabulary. Life and death are then justi",p:150,x:104,y:469,w:349,h:15},
{t:"fi ed, as is my ",p:150,x:459,y:469,w:99,h:15},
{t:"bad temper, your murderous tendencies, your near -sightedness, ",p:150,x:104,y:493,w:455,h:15},
{t:"and your addictions. God then made