Open theism

The following is a copy of something I recently posted on ROOV.com. I place it here for feedback and to encourage you to sign-up for ROOV if it is in your city.

I think open-theism is an example of theology done wrong. I also think when anti-open-theism is theology done wrong. Basically the question comes down to how much God knows. Open theist argue that our modern concept of omnipotence (God knows everything in everytime at everytime completely) is a Platonic idea, not a Christian/Biblical one. So putting Platonic ideas aside we can look solely at the Bible. In Scripture we see tension. Sometimes we see God appear to be surprised or even negotiate with man. Other places we see God know very exact details of the distant future. Closed-theist (those arguing against open-theism) basically argue that the passages about God being surprised are to be taken metaphorically, which is convenient for their argument. Open-theist argue that God knowing future details is merely evidence of His knowledge of the realm of possibilities, which is their idea not the Bible's.

The real problem with open theism is that it does little to solve the problem of evil, which is supposedly the whole reason for the idea in the first place. Saying God doesn't know (or at least not completely) doesn't let God off the hook. For example, much evil is evident to man. I think any concept of God must allow that He at least knows as much as man. But God still doesn't act to rectify the evil that I see. The problem of evil does not arise because God knows all, it arises because how can God be good and choose not to respond to evil.

In reality, the problem of evil is a problem with man not with God. It our logic that is flawed. It is us who can't understand how a good God with the power to do rectify evil does not do it. We say that God must be unjust, but we do not know Justice. God is Just and His actions are justice.

The other extreme is equally flawed. If we believe in a God who has written the script to the world, so that we should just ignore our own responsibilities then we are in error. If we believe that God cannot change His mind, therefore we should not pray that He does, we are in error. We can plead our case to God, knowing that He is just.

ROOV.com

Now this is Christian social networking done right. Not a knock-off of MySpace or Facebook, but a new idea that allows the Body of Christ to function as a Body... The premise is connecting Christians with those in their area and in their church who share interests and passions. The idea is great, but the site is still very much in development... still needs some fleshing out of features. But I encourage you to check it out, I know that the developers would be encouraged. Check it out at ROOV.com


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Red Wings Win Stanley Cup!

So most of you know that I'm not much of a 'sports guy'. While I enjoy watching a game with those who are die-hard fans, if left to my own I wouldn't. There are two exceptions. First of all, if I were in Port Huron, Michigan I would watch the annual Port Huron International Softball Tournament in Pine Grove park, just because it is a beautiful place to watch a game. Second, being from Michigan, I love watching hockey. So even though I was able to watch one game of the playoffs, I am still super pumped that the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. The thing love about the Red Wings is that the team is such a strong and dedicated team. Many have been with the Wings for more than 10 years, even though most other NHL teams would drool at the chance to pick them up.

Here is a quote from Sports Illustrated that I think sums it up pretty well:
"Salary caps, signings and shrewd drafting can transform a team from terrible into a title-winner in a matter of months, yet the Detroit Red Wings remain the champions of consistency and resiliency... the Penguins, whose median age is far lower than the Red Wings ' yet... Only a handful of Penguins have won the Cup; five Red Wings won their fourth Stanley Cup with Detroit... The Red Wings won Cups in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, a remarkable accomplishment given nearly one-fourth of their roster has been with them for all four."

Thoughts on love

"Who are you?" is answered by strangers.
"Who am I?" is answered by lovers.

Who Needs Theology?

So I have had a couple of recent conversations with some people who have posed the question, "Is it good to study the Bible in such an academic way?" As a graduate student in theology the question has obvious ramifications for me personally. I've been working on post with my own answer to this question, but I've been having difficulty finishing it. So I'll throw the question out to see if anyone has any helpful ideas. Is it valuable to study the Bible/God in an academic way? What is the purpose should the study of theology serve?