Why God Isn't Your Indulgent Parent: J.I. Packer on Pain and Providence скачать в хорошем качестве

Why God Isn't Your Indulgent Parent: J.I. Packer on Pain and Providence

"Based on the transcript of Dr. J.I. Packer’s lecture, here is a summary of his teaching on providence and evil: Dr. Packer argues that the ""problem of evil"" is largely a modern struggle. While previous generations accepted a flawed world as the result of the Fall and God’s justice, modern culture expects God to act like an indulgent parent, leading to ""cosmic resentment"" when life is painful. He asserts that ""theology is for doxology,"" meaning our understanding of God must ultimately lead to praise, even amidst suffering. Packer defines evil as ""good gone wrong"" but clarifies that not all pain is evil; some serves as a merciful warning or necessary discipline. He reviews and critiques various intellectual attempts to explain evil—such as Dualism, Christian Science, and Process Theology—finding them scripturally insufficient. Instead, Packer offers a practical, biblical response: God acts to redeem and renew the cosmos. Just as God brought good out of the evil of the Cross, He uses suffering to produce moral maturity, prioritizing our holiness over our immediate happiness. Regarding mass atrocities, Packer maintains the difficult theological stance that all fallen humans merit judgment; therefore, God’s preservation of anyone is an act of sovereign grace. Finally, he distinguishes between God’s ""preceptive will"" (His commands) and His ""decretive will"" (His sovereign plan), urging believers to trust that God is actively working all things for His glory."