In light of the VT Massacre
In the wake of tragedies such as 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, as a teacher and pastor I've been challenged by young people to articulate an apologetic in defense of the concept of a loving, omnipotent God. Unfortunately, the most vocal of American church culture has skittered far off the trail of orthodoxy due to the ill effects of humanism, rationalism, and skepticism. This is most clearly illustrated in the anthropomorphous doctrine of God and deified doctrine of man preached from pulpits. In search for authenticity, today's youth quickly dismiss the ready made answers of shallow, untutored faith that gloss over the stunning implications of a creation that is in revolt against the moral order. Contrary to the unbiblical philosophical current, the fight must be waged to protect and advance a true doctrine of God that affirms His Sovereign purposes for the magnification of His Glory. It is to this end, the Glory of God, that all creation exists, and until we reckon ourselves to this truth, the answers of superficial spirituality will come back void.
Jesus, when asked why tragedy struck some and not others, didn't give a quaint answer. He didn't dish out smarmy platitudes intended to make people feel better. He instead responded with harsh reality, "I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."(Luke 13:1-5) In other words, no human deserves a peaceful end to life. It is by God's grace alone we haven't had similar God ordained calamity visited upon us- and there is no guarantee that the future holds otherwise. So be ready.
The links below articulate a position that I think, though at odds with the "mainstream", elevate true Christian doctrine and magnify Christ as the Sovereign ruler of this universe. The first is text of a sermon by John Piper that paints Christ as Supreme in the midst of general suffering. The second is an mp3 file by John MacArthur, wherein he addresses the VT Massacre directly on his "Grace to You" radio program. The third was written by Frank Turk (aka the affable CenturiOn and contributor to Pyromaniacs), it extracts the truth of the Gospel from the meaning of this tragic event. The fourth is a sermon preached by me.
By His Grace, Garet
1. John Piper's The Supremacy of Christ in the Age of Terror
2. Listen to John MacArthur
3. Frank Turk's Just Like Me
4. My sermon How Do We Respond When Life Hurts?
Jesus, when asked why tragedy struck some and not others, didn't give a quaint answer. He didn't dish out smarmy platitudes intended to make people feel better. He instead responded with harsh reality, "I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."(Luke 13:1-5) In other words, no human deserves a peaceful end to life. It is by God's grace alone we haven't had similar God ordained calamity visited upon us- and there is no guarantee that the future holds otherwise. So be ready.
The links below articulate a position that I think, though at odds with the "mainstream", elevate true Christian doctrine and magnify Christ as the Sovereign ruler of this universe. The first is text of a sermon by John Piper that paints Christ as Supreme in the midst of general suffering. The second is an mp3 file by John MacArthur, wherein he addresses the VT Massacre directly on his "Grace to You" radio program. The third was written by Frank Turk (aka the affable CenturiOn and contributor to Pyromaniacs), it extracts the truth of the Gospel from the meaning of this tragic event. The fourth is a sermon preached by me.
By His Grace, Garet
1. John Piper's The Supremacy of Christ in the Age of Terror
2. Listen to John MacArthur
3. Frank Turk's Just Like Me
4. My sermon How Do We Respond When Life Hurts?
Labels: problem of evil, shallow evangelicalism, Sovereignty of God, suffering, VT massacre
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