Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Our world is full of evil, suffering, and pain.
Just consider the last few weeks with the nature disasters in North American.
In Houston, Texas, 72 people died because of Hurricane Harvey.
In south Florida, 82 people died because of Hurricane Irma.
In Puerto Rico, officially at least 16 people died with higher numbers expected as they continue to clear debris.
Earthquake in Mexico — at least 333
Just over the weekend, a man opened fire on people attending a concert in Las Vegas killing at least 59 people and injuring over 500 people.
It has been called the deadliest mass shooting in US history.
No doubt you have been praying for those affected by this horrific event as I have.
In a mass shooting and other horrific events like it, they that drive people to ask why?
Cancer victims?
Even in the Bible, we can found accounts of horrific tragedies and heinous acts.
Evil and suffering is true of every generation of mankind.
Open your Bible to .
What happens in is quite frankly—messed up.
This account shows the darkness possible in the heart of mankind.
It shows the depravity of mankind.
It shows the degeneracy of mankind.
READ
Story Points of
Right away, the writer tells us of common practice — taking of a concubine.
A concubine held a secondary or inferior status to the husband’s wife.
This practice was commonly accepted in the ancient world, but never was the practice commended by God.
The Bible is simply telling us how things were back then, not necessarily how things should be today.
“…to speak friendly unto her...” — literally speak to her heart
He spends 3 days patching things up and then on the 4th day, he tries to leave, but his father in law compels him to stay.
This happens again the 5th day, but after spending most of the day with his father in law, the couple along with the Levite’s servant depart.
They pass the city of Jebus, Jerusalem, because it’s inhabitants were not of the children of Israel.
They come to a city of Israel, Gibeah, and search to find someone willing to host them for the night.
In Gibeah, the only person willing to host them was an old farmer, who brought them into his home and gave them full hospitality.
While enjoying the hospitality of the old farmer, a group of degenerate men pound on the door [pound fist on pulpit] asking for the Levite, so that they might satisfy their perverted desires.
The old farmer refused but offered his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine for them to use however they pleased.
In the ancient world, women were lightly esteemed and that culture’s laws of hospitality were far important than these two women.
Again, certainly not the view of God— “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
(Genesis 1:27)
Those degenerate men wanted nothing of it, and still insisted on the Levite.
In fear of his life, the Levite took his concubine and gave her to the group of degenerates.
They savagely abused her all night.
At dawn, this poor woman stumbling back to the old farmer’s house and collapse at his door step.
There she died.
The Levite found her and told her, “Up, and let us be going.”
No care or concern for her well being even after being savagely treated.
Then he realizes she is dead, so he takes her body home and there divides it into twelve pieces.
He sends it out to “all the coasts of Isarel.”
(v.
29)
Then we READ
After that verse, I ask myself, Where was God?
Where was God in that night this woman was sexually abused to death?
Where was God in Houston, TX and in South Florida?
Where was God when the earthquake shook Mexico?
When bullets were flying in Vegas?
Where was God?
And what about evil and suffering in light of these verses about God...
How can God be good and there still be evil in this world?
Isn’t it a contradiction to say, an all-good, all-knowing, all-powerful God and evil exists?
We need to find a meaningful answer especially in light of events like hurricanes, shootings, etc. Turning away from God doesn’t produce a better answer at all.
How can God be good and there still be evil in the world?
Christian philosopher and writer, G.K. Chesterton, said about that problem of evil, “When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from Him; but in heaven’s name to what?
My problem with life is not that it is rational, nor that it is irrational…but that it is almost rational.”
Just when we are able to form a cohesive framework, someone or something pokes a hole in it, and we take a step back."
GK Chesterton
We need to find a meaningful answer especially in light of events like hurricanes, shootings, etc. Turning away from God doesn’t produce a better answer at all.
I want to share with you how I have settled this question for my heart.
The Problem of Evil
Many skeptics, atheists, etc. say that God doesn’t exist because pain, suffering, evil exists in the world.
Their argument (originator of the logical problem of evil has been cited as the Greek philosopher Epicurus) goes something like this:
If an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God exists, then evil does not.
There is evil in the world.
Therefore, an all powerful, all knowing, and all loving God does not exist.
This problem of evil is found in 3 different forms.
Any evil disproves an all-good, all-powerful God.
2. The amount of evil disproves all-good, all-powerful God.
— how much evil is too much?
I think we would all agree that any amount is too much?
Is it only the evil that we can understand as necessary or justified?
3. The unjust distribution of evil disproves an all-good, all-powerful, God.
— bad things happening to good people
The argument itself is flawed to begin with.
If we change, the terms it becomes clearer.
If Dr. Rushing owns a car, then it was not recently painted green.
It was not recently painted green.
Therefore, Dr. Rushing does not own a car.
These questions and arguments can cause us to question our own faith—even to doubt God’s goodness or to question His existence because of the evil experienced.
I want to share with you how I have resolved the problem of evil in my own heart.
We need to find a meaningful answer especially in light of events like hurricanes, shootings, etc. Turning away from God doesn’t produce a better answer at all.
We need to find a meaningful answer especially in light of events like hurricanes, shootings, etc. Turning away from God doesn’t produce a better answer at all.
Christian philosopher and writer, G.K. Chesterton, said this about that problem of evil, “When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from Him; but in heaven’s name to what?
My problem with life is not that it is rational, nor that it is irrational…but that it is almost rational.”
Just when we are able to form a cohesive framework, someone or something pokes a hole in it, and we take a step back."
GK Chesterton
These questions and arguments can cause us to question our own faith—even to doubt God’s goodness or to question His existence because of the evil experienced.
I want to share with you not how I have solved the problem of evil, but rather how I have resolved the problem of evil in my own heart.
Argument #1 — Blame God for evil (The Creation Argument)
Natural disasters are often called Acts of God.
God is infinitely, perfectly all-good.
(, ; , )
An infinitely all-good God cannot create or be evil.
(, , , , , ; ; )
Therefore, God Who is infinitely all-good created all things good.
()
An infinitely all-good God cannot create or be evil.
Therefore, God An infinitely all-good God cannot be evil.
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