The “Questions Christians Can’t Answer” has appeared on this blog in the past and have rated in the top ten blog posts I’ve done over the years So I’ve decided to add one today:
Why did God create angels that could defy him?
Freewill is necessary for an individual to express true love. God is not interested in fake or forced love from sentient beings. There seems to have been a time with angels had freewill just as humans have always had. It is the freewill that got Satan and his angels into trouble. Most theologians see a few passages of Scripture as addressing the pride and self-involvement which caused the angel Lucifer (Satan) to fall. This might give some insight as to why the other angels did. (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:12-17)
Why is there so much divorce in Christian marriages? Since it was put in God’s hands, it should not be harmed.
A study by Shaunti Feldhahn showed about 15-20% of Christian marriages end in divorce. About 18% of those married and divorced again, so Christian divorce is not the 50% often cited. Counting divorces rather than the individuals skews the results. But the divorce rate is still high for a faith that frowns on divorce.
Part of the issue is the definition of “Christian.” Studies vary widely in the numbers because the qualifications to be included in the “Christian” category are different with each study.
Still, freewill is the culprit here. Christians are people. People marry for the wrong reasons especially today. Some marry out of desperation, some marry for love alone without looking for shared values, religion, even the definition of what a marriage is, some don’t consider marriage as a lifetime commitment in the first place and easily give up with the going gets rough. Some do not seek counseling prior to the wedding.
Even if the percentage of Christian divorce were as low as 15%, it is too many. Christians as well as non-believers, need to understand marriage more and fully commit to a lifetime relationship before the wedding day. Divorce should not be an option.
If Jesus is God, why did he beg himself at Gethsemane?
Jesus is both God and man. At Gethsemane He was fully human and facing separation from the Father to whom He prayed (Matt. 27:46) for the first time in all eternity. Jesus didn’t want that separation, but He had to endure it in order to take upon Himself the sins of the world.
Are wealthy Christians condemned already? Since the Bible says it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle eye than for a rich man to enter heaven.
No, wealthy Christians are not condemned because of their wealth. If that were true, nearly all Americans would be condemned as we are wealthy compared with much of the rest of the world. Jesus, in the context of the passage, is saying God can do this, but man cannot do it on his own. Notice the disciples asked the same question in verse 25:
Matt. 19:23-26 (ESV) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
If everything God created is perfect, why must he use heaven to motivate us to believe in him?
Creation was perfect but is no longer. It is the Fall which brought about evil and decay. While heaven is a reward and a motivation for some, it is the forgiveness of our sins which is our motivation to believe in Him (Eph. 2:8-9).
Since we have carnal reasoning, why did God say, “Come now and let us reason together?”
God gave us a brain and the ability to reason. Even fallen man is perfectly able to do a cost/benefit analysis.
The quote is from Isa. 1:18-20 where God is laying out a logical if/then/else proposition. “If you obey, then your sins will be forgiven, else they won’t be.” While God was speaking to the Israelites at the time, the same is true today.
Is God of one mind since the Bible says he has two wills?
If this is referring to Gethsemane again, it is the same answer: Jesus was both man and God. His will as man was to avoid suffering, but He yielded to the perfect will of the Father.
God is one being existing in three persons, three centers of consciousness, but not three minds. Since God is perfect and infinite in these three persons, there can be no conflict in thought.
Can our good actions make us live forever?
No. Titus 3:4-5 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
It is faith in Christ alone that gives us eternal life.
Will infants who die at birth make it to heaven?
Yes. Deut 1:39 says there is a time when we are children when we do not know good or evil. We cannot be held responsible for evil if we do not understand it. Some believe this is what Paul is talking about in Rom. 7:9 (ESV) I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
2 Sam. 12:22-23 tells us babies will go to heaven as David said he would see his dead infant son again.
Isn’t it true that the devil and his works will be destroyed?
No. The devil will not be destroyed. He and his bunch will suffer in the lake of fire forever: “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” — Revelation 20:10 (ESV)
His fallen angels will join him there: Matt. 21:41 (ESV) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
Why is this important?
We need to have ready answers for those who would challenge our faith with questions they think have no Christian answer. This blog post is meant to help us do just that.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 