We can say God creates evil by defining evil. Evil was evil not until He called it so.
The easiest way to think of this is: We have free choice, but God knows which way we will choose. The devil has free choice, but he can be counted on to do his evil. The devil doesn't seek permission to attack us, but he always will if God backs His hedge away from us.
When we look to the early Protestant Christians belief systems, we must realize they carried many false doctrines from the RCC they spun off from. You are right on here trofumis.
First I'll address NoNameMcgee about whether all his statements are true. They are for right now. God is not done with anyone yet.
Magenta you are so close to understanding what God is doing with mankind. It is hard for us to understand how God looks back through time to allow evil to happen to enhance our spiritual growth. Even David said "by your hand Lord has this bad happened to me." Or something to that effect. So if God backs His hedge away from us it is the same as Him attacking us. The devil is faithful at his job. How all this predestination and foreknowledge is too hard for our little minds. Bottom line: God reigns. We just have to trust God.
The easiest way to think of this is: We have free choice, but God knows which way we will choose. The devil has free choice, but he can be counted on to do his evil. The devil doesn't seek permission to attack us, but he always will if God backs His hedge away from us.
When we look to the early Protestant Christians belief systems, we must realize they carried many false doctrines from the RCC they spun off from. You are right on here trofumis.
First I'll address NoNameMcgee about whether all his statements are true. They are for right now. God is not done with anyone yet.
Magenta you are so close to understanding what God is doing with mankind. It is hard for us to understand how God looks back through time to allow evil to happen to enhance our spiritual growth. Even David said "by your hand Lord has this bad happened to me." Or something to that effect. So if God backs His hedge away from us it is the same as Him attacking us. The devil is faithful at his job. How all this predestination and foreknowledge is too hard for our little minds. Bottom line: God reigns. We just have to trust God.
I agree that God defines what is good and what is evil. I do not like the term free will, partly because it is fraught with too many issues which cloud the issue. I prefer instead the term self will. It is indisputable that man possesses a will that is in opposition to the will of God. I trust that God is good and has our best interests at heart