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The link can be found here.
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What do I think of Clay Jones's book published by Harvest House Publishers? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I want to thank Harvest House for sending me a copy of Clay Jones's book. I consider him a friend and he has helped me through some personal issues of mine that I have struggled with before. I was thrilled to hear about this book and after reading it, I have to say I love it and I hate it.*
This is a great book because it is a thorough look at the problem of evil. Many questions will be answered and questions one didn't know were out there will be addressed. It is a challenge for anyone who wants to use the problem of evil as an argument against theism.
With that being said, why would I hate this book at the same time?
I hate it because this is more than a detached look at the problem of evil. This is an in-your-face look. It's so much easier to talk about evil when it's the people out there who are the problem. It's easy to condemn genocide when you realize you're not one of those people doing it. You're a "good person" after all. It's not so easy when you realize that many of these people we today call "good people" are people who are just as much capable of genocide. In fact, if we think we're better than those who do commit genocide, we've taken the first step to being a person who will commit genocide.
Jones's book shows that evil is not just a problem out there. Evil is a problem within. Regularly throughout the book, I would experience knowing that I contribute to the problem of evil and if I don't in a major way, there's not much that's stopping me from doing so. It's much better to talk about evil when it's something out there, but Jones won't leave it at that.*
Jones also includes much about Heaven in this book, which is quite good. He also got me right here as I realized I don't have the great desire for Heaven that I should. Part of this could be we just don't know what Heaven is like. Jones says that the most common comparison between the eternal state and our world today is marriage.
This also I concur with. For a young man especially growing up, he finds that he knows two things normally about sex. First, he has never really had it before. Second, he knows that he wants it and that it's very good. This is the same with heaven. In fact, the desire for both is enjoyable itself. Ask any husband who knows that tonight is the night. He has something to look forward to all day.
Fortunately, Jones does help someone change their outlook. He does say that if Heaven was the way the popular media depicts it, it would be understandable to not look forward to it. Heaven will not be an eternal church service nor will it be just sitting on a cloud playing a harp forever. Heaven is a place where we will be doing the work of God and some will be leading others and ruling cities. Yeah. Think about what it would be like if all of a sudden Seattle was placed under your control.
If there was something I would have liked explained more in the book, it's natural evil. I really don't think the fall is sufficient to explain it all. After all, if our scientific history is correct, there were earthquakes and such before the fall. There also is the case of animal predation. Why does a porcupine have quills except to defend it from predators? Dembski argues that God made the world knowing about the fall in advance, which is true, but also raises the question of what did happen there. I would have liked to have seen more from Jones on this front as natural evil is usually one of the biggest hurdles that is raised.
Jones's book is not just good apologetics. It's also good for Christian practice. Jones doesn't just equip you with answers and understanding, but he also shows you where you need to develop and how the problem of evil really begins with you. He also reminds you to put your hope in the future promise of God.*
I recommend Jones's book, but be prepared when you read it. Be ready to take look at yourself. You might not like what you see. Again, evil seems easy to complain about when it comes to people outside of you. It's not as pleasant when you realize you are part of the problem.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
The link can be found here.
-----
What do I think of Clay Jones's book published by Harvest House Publishers? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I want to thank Harvest House for sending me a copy of Clay Jones's book. I consider him a friend and he has helped me through some personal issues of mine that I have struggled with before. I was thrilled to hear about this book and after reading it, I have to say I love it and I hate it.*
This is a great book because it is a thorough look at the problem of evil. Many questions will be answered and questions one didn't know were out there will be addressed. It is a challenge for anyone who wants to use the problem of evil as an argument against theism.
With that being said, why would I hate this book at the same time?
I hate it because this is more than a detached look at the problem of evil. This is an in-your-face look. It's so much easier to talk about evil when it's the people out there who are the problem. It's easy to condemn genocide when you realize you're not one of those people doing it. You're a "good person" after all. It's not so easy when you realize that many of these people we today call "good people" are people who are just as much capable of genocide. In fact, if we think we're better than those who do commit genocide, we've taken the first step to being a person who will commit genocide.
Jones's book shows that evil is not just a problem out there. Evil is a problem within. Regularly throughout the book, I would experience knowing that I contribute to the problem of evil and if I don't in a major way, there's not much that's stopping me from doing so. It's much better to talk about evil when it's something out there, but Jones won't leave it at that.*
Jones also includes much about Heaven in this book, which is quite good. He also got me right here as I realized I don't have the great desire for Heaven that I should. Part of this could be we just don't know what Heaven is like. Jones says that the most common comparison between the eternal state and our world today is marriage.
This also I concur with. For a young man especially growing up, he finds that he knows two things normally about sex. First, he has never really had it before. Second, he knows that he wants it and that it's very good. This is the same with heaven. In fact, the desire for both is enjoyable itself. Ask any husband who knows that tonight is the night. He has something to look forward to all day.
Fortunately, Jones does help someone change their outlook. He does say that if Heaven was the way the popular media depicts it, it would be understandable to not look forward to it. Heaven will not be an eternal church service nor will it be just sitting on a cloud playing a harp forever. Heaven is a place where we will be doing the work of God and some will be leading others and ruling cities. Yeah. Think about what it would be like if all of a sudden Seattle was placed under your control.
If there was something I would have liked explained more in the book, it's natural evil. I really don't think the fall is sufficient to explain it all. After all, if our scientific history is correct, there were earthquakes and such before the fall. There also is the case of animal predation. Why does a porcupine have quills except to defend it from predators? Dembski argues that God made the world knowing about the fall in advance, which is true, but also raises the question of what did happen there. I would have liked to have seen more from Jones on this front as natural evil is usually one of the biggest hurdles that is raised.
Jones's book is not just good apologetics. It's also good for Christian practice. Jones doesn't just equip you with answers and understanding, but he also shows you where you need to develop and how the problem of evil really begins with you. He also reminds you to put your hope in the future promise of God.*
I recommend Jones's book, but be prepared when you read it. Be ready to take look at yourself. You might not like what you see. Again, evil seems easy to complain about when it comes to people outside of you. It's not as pleasant when you realize you are part of the problem.
In Christ,
Nick Peters