.         It is not loving to the God you serve to sound contradiction and foolish, and then drag His Name down with you.  For many they would rather let scripture suffer its reputation than their own.

         For example you might read the bible saying God is loving and always good.  Then you read a passage that says God is the cause or is behind the evil in a particular place[1], which is quite often. Indeed, God is the metaphysical cause of all evil.  Yet, in "your" mind these things seems to be separate things about God's character.  Yet, does the bible say it appears to be two separate things in "God's" mind?  Does the bible say when God is behind evil He stops being good and loving?  If not why do you think such low and ignoble thoughts contrary to this?  If God is still loving and good when He is behind evil and judgment why go to other places of scripture to reassure you that He is?  Do you really love God and take Him at His word, or would you rather love yourself and take yourself at your words? Which master do you love and submit too dear reader?

           Many say they use only deduction to interpret scripture, but most inevitably, whether knowingly or not, use humanly inductive logic. See people assume if there is a disconnect in their minds concerning God is good and yet He orchestrates evil that there is this same disconnect in God's mind.  This God would openly rebuke! (Psalm 50:2).  See, in God's mind there is prefect seamless connection, perfect logic, and perfect moral harmony that He is infinite good and is the ultimate cause and force behind all evil for His wise ends.

        The problem is that there is a disconnect in your mind, and instead of humbly admitting to it, you would rather tarnish the scripture by shaking your fist at it and yelling mystery!  No, how dare you!  There is a mystery in your mind!  There is a paradox in your mind!  The problem is that you are evil and desire to bring God down to your pathetic level.  But you need to realize this.  The word of God is God Himself (Romans 9:17), or that the bible is God's mind.  If you say there is paradox or mystery in the bible you are ultimately saying there is a paradox in the mind of God, which is blasphemy.  There is mystery in your mind not God's!  It would behoove all to be humble and admit your own limitations while not dragging God down with you in your mysteries and paradoxes. 

          Saying "apparent paradoxes" is no help to the matter.  It is nothing but a nicer more cleaver way to cover your inadequacies and sinful pride and plaque the Scriptures with foul play.  If I wrote a book on algebra that was truly logically correct and coherent and I heard someone say, what this man wrote is an "apparent paradox," I would still be offended.  Many of us while in school when being perplexed with a subject would not dare say "apparent paradox" but say, Teacher I lack the ability to understand, please help me.  Yet, many Christians dare not to give God even the same respect, but instead of suffering their pride from being hurt yell "apparent paradox" at God's Word, or Mind.  How can this be!

          I have always taught that the bible itself endorses its readers to use deduction (2 Peter 1:3-4) while condemning inductive logic (Psalm 50:21), but Vincent Cheung is great at explaining what that actually looks like.

           See, forming a conclusion from deduction is nothing more than restating the premises of the proposition, which was stated from the scripture itself to begin with.  This is what scripture teaches is rational and logical.  Recall when Paul in the first part of Romans 11 quotes 1 Kings 19.  There God told the prophet that He as reserved 7000 men for Himself who had not bowed to Baal.  Yet from this Paul deduces that God therefore, always has a present election of people in all times in all places.  What this is, is nothing more than a restating of the scriptural premises of 1 Kings 19!  Paul is not stating something new, which 1 Kings 19 did not say, but is merely making explicit what was already said in a conclusion applicable for his day and time and ours.  This is the logical form of deduction scripture affirms as good and for us to use.  

Here is Vincent:

"They claim that they appeal to mystery where biblical revelation terminates, but this is a lie. Scripture provides an elaborate doctrine on the subject, much more complete than they are willing to acknowledge. The truth is that for them mystery does not begin where revelation ends, but it begins where their position becomes so obviously false and incoherent that they appeal to mystery to stop the discussion by force. For them, mystery begins where their acceptance of Scripture ends.

We readily agree that false deductions are just that - false.  But what about true inferences, valid deductions?

The common resistance to follow what Scripture teaches to its logical conclusion represents the misunderstanding that the logical conclusion of a set of premises can produce something different from or disallowed by the premises. But this is only true of induction. With deduction, the reasoning process by definition derives a logically necessary conclusion from the premises, that is, one that is already contained by the premises. The deduction does not manufacture new information, and the conclusion produces nothing in addition to or different from the premises. This conclusion is not invented as a best estimation based on the premises; rather, it is merely pointed out and made explicit. Therefore, refusing to make or accept a deductive inference from what Scripture asserts is the equivalent of refusing what Scripture asserts, since the conclusion of such a deduction is what Scripture asserts."[2]

          From this I would like to draw my reader's attention back to the first example when the bible tells us God is always good, and loving, but then also we read God is the orchestrating cause behind evil.  People with disconnects and paradoxes in their own minds, after reading this will seek out to read God's love somewhere else in order to reassure them God is good and loving. Yet, this is a huge error and it is mockery of God's word.  When you read God is behind evil in a particular passage did it say also in the passage that God was not loving, or good while doing these things?  If not why then do you go to other passages to reassure you of God's goodness?  If you would accept and believe that God is in fact "good", then you would accept when God is behind evil He is "good."  See, Jeremiah 32:42 tells us as we read God is sovereign in causing evil, that believers are likewise reassured He will be sovereign in causing all the good He promised us in Christ.  But, the fact is that you neither believe God is good nor sovereign behind evil, you are like a wave tossed in the wind.  How can such a person find confidence in the gospel of Christ, where God is very much the cause of evil to His Son, and cause of good to His Saints?

          From scripture I know God is goodness and love "itself".  Therefore, without the bible explaining God's actions, I know by deduction what goodness is concerning God: for what God does is by definition good, since He is goodness itself (Exodus 33:19). What I just said is nothing more than restating that God is always good, but saying it explicitly in the application of evil. Still the bible also gives many explanations to us for why He is behind evil.  Ultimately it is for His glory to be exhibited (Genesis 50:20) and with the "intention" (James 5:11) of showing His elect mercy and compassion.

          I would also like to challenge some of my Presbyterian brothers who have a notion you cannot get too practical with God's word.  This is absolutely false and is ultimately a rejection of God's words, for if you use pure deduction the application of a biblical proposition is nothing more than a restating of that proposition itself, and therefore a rejection of such an application is a rejection of the bible's propositions themselves. The application is Not something new, but merely a biblical truth made explicit and restated in your life's practice.

          See, instead of being so quick to cry out "mystery "mystery", there needs to be cries of asking God's forgiveness for not loving, accepting and understanding His word as we ought!  So take courage in the cross my readers!  For our Lord Jesus Christ is looking, no! is greatly delighted to forgive all who would only but cry out "forgive me a sinner."  Jesus is looking, no! greatly pleased to give wisdom, and an accepting heart and understanding to all who would only but cry out "forgive me, I am a fool." Christ is looking, no! greatly desiring to highly exalt anyone who is only but willing to humble themselves under the mighty and gracious hand of God crying out "I have nothing. You alone are my wisdom, You are my righteousness, You are my only good thing."  

          Dear reader what are you crying out today?  -Mysteries or Revelations?  Blasphemes or Truths?  Humanistic induction or Heavenly Deduction?  Humility or Pride?  Paradoxes or Praises?-  Are you taking God's reputation and His word down with you in your low and ignoble thoughts, or are you raising His honor to the Heavens on the wings of worthy praises, true statements of His glory and pure love for Him in His gospel?

          Lastly, I would like to explain another reason why my passion is fueled on this topic.  It comes from something David Wells said, as I very loosely paraphrase him: "For the first time in a millennium the church is not leading the culture, and particularly by a pure gospel!  The reason the church is not doing so is this.  For over a millennium the church's intellectuals have spoken above the culture and so lead it.  But today so much of our church's intellectuals have been so infected with their present culture that when they stand up to speak they are proclaiming nothing more than the exact same thing the culture is!  This ought not to be!  If the church wishes to once again to lead the culture for the Glory of Jesus Christ, She much learn to divorce Her thinking from worldly logic, ideas and sentimentality, so that when she speaks she will be saying something not only different from everyone else but also what is desperately needed for their salvation!"

          When the world looks at, for example Haiti and the devastation there, they cry "mystery" "mystery" regarding why this evil happened.   When other false religions see this horror they cry out "mystery mystery".  When secularist and agnostics see this they cry out "mystery mystery".  Then when a corrupt and cultured Christianity sees this they bark up and say "mystery mystery".  Oh wonder no one is paying attention to this form of false Christianity!  It is saying nothing more than everyone else!  Oh what has become of us!  Our voice blends in perfectly with this world, who then can hear us?

          Dear reader the bible does not cry mystery here, but Judgment for sin, compassion and good for saints, that just as God is sovereign in causing evil He is also sovereign in causing all good to those who would but love and believe in His Son.  In times like this the bible cries out that God does not let any sin go unpunished, therefore, run to the cross of Jesus Christ where mercies are free, and grace is your companion forever.  The bible, in times like this, says it's time for repentance so that Christ is gloried and you satisfied in Him, who is our glory!  In times like this the bible says fear God and repent, love Him and worship.  The bible says it is for the reason God is causing calamity that He is serious about sin, but also because Christ died at a definite place and time that He is serious about forgiving repentant sinners!  See, true Christianity or Gospel has much to say that is totally different that what the whole world is saying, so that if it was only spoken many people will listen.  Doubtless many will be angry at both God's sovereignty and free grace in Jesus Christ, but likewise many will also repent, believe; and loving him in the power of the Holy Spirit will lead the culture around them so that unbelievers will see and glorify your Father in Heaven!

          Dear saints, take up the sword of truth in your right hand and the shield of faith in your left. Wipe the sweat of false logic and sin from your eyes.  Charge oh courageous Christian!  Your destiny is sure!  Christ is your reward!  Let love and truth rule once again!  By God's grace your suffering fight will be your sanctification and for others their salvation!  Charge and watch the Sun grow closer and the water sweeter!  For Aslan!  Charge!

Yours in the labor to love Christ: Oshea

[1] To see more about God being behind and causing evil please read: Who is responsible for Evil?

[2] Vincent Cheung from, Blasphemy and Mystery in Theology.