Hello O lovely readers!
I am working on an honors thesis to fulfill the honors requirements for the university I attend. I have chosen to do my thesis on the topic of suffering and God’s relationship to us while we suffer. I created a questionnaire that includes 9 short answer questions and 1 multiple choice question. If you would be willing to answer the questions, that could be a significant help to me as I consider how I might consider this topic!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5RLMTNG
Thank you so much! I hope that all of you who are Americans enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving. For those of you who are not Americans, I hope that you have a particularly good Nov. 22nd, whether you have anything to celebrate or not! =)
I took your survey.
Thank you sir! I very much appreciate it. This is far too broad a topic to consider on my own.
David,
I cannot stress enough how important it is that you let nothing and no one turn your heart from Christ.
Reformed theology is rife with men who would have you see God as supremely sovereign only. They would have you see god as supremely Holy only.
John 4 says God Is Love.
God is supremely love, and the greatest of these attributes we can reflect and that encompass all other attributes of God is love.
This single attribute of God caused God to become flesh and to die to satisfy the justice and Holiness of God on our behalf.
Cling to God in love and because He first loved us a MORE than LIFE.
I don’t think, having read numerous Reformed theologians and considering myself wholly Reformed in my understanding, that the sovereignty, holiness, and power of God is remotely opposed to Him as also being the God Who is love. On the contrary, I believe His love is displayed in the world primarily through Him sovereignly working all things for the good of those who love Him, and giving Himself up on our behalf to satisfy His judgment like you mentioned. His love is demonstrated in His choice of making alive by grace those who hate Him and have scorned Him. He demonstrates love in choosing to save those who do no good and do not desire Him. He gives worth and saves those who are ultimately unworthy of any affection. That is a wonderful, loving God. That is certainly the God of Reformed theology—not a loveless tyrant, but a God Who calls His sheep to Himself and cares for them.