A theology that attributes everything that happens to God's direct will—including both good and evil—creates significant theological and philosophical problems.
The Problem of Evil and Divine Goodness
- If God directly wills all events, including acts of evil, suffering, and injustice, then it becomes difficult to reconcile God's goodness with the existence of such evils.
- This theology risks making God the author of evil, contradicting scriptural affirmations of His holiness (Habakkuk 1:13, James 1:13).
Moral Responsibility and Human Free Will
- If everything happens according to God's direct will, then human choices—including sinful ones—would not be truly free but rather divinely predetermined.
- This would undermine moral accountability, as people would not genuinely be responsible for their actions.
- The Bible frequently calls individuals to repent and act righteously, which presupposes real human choice (Deuteronomy 30:19, Joshua 24:15).
The Meaning of Prayer and Effort
- If all events are directly willed by God in an absolute sense, then prayer, effort, and moral striving might seem meaningless.
- Why pray for healing, justice, or transformation if everything—including suffering and injustice—is exactly as God wills it?
- This could lead to fatalism rather than faith.
Justice and Divine Judgment
- If God directly wills everything, then divine punishment of sin becomes perplexing. How can God judge people for doing what He directly willed them to do?
- A theology that makes God the cause of sin raises serious ethical concerns about divine justice and fairness.
The Nature of Love and Relationship
- Love requires freedom. If God's will is the only determining factor in all human actions, then love toward God (or from God) is not truly relational but mechanistic.
- This could diminish the meaning of a loving relationship between God and humanity.
This allows for a God who is sovereign yet does not directly will evil, preserving both divine justice and human responsibility.
More: Sabbath School Lesson 8: Free Will, Love, and Divine Providence
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