harvey1 wrote:However, there’s another question that we must address, and that is whether the reasons for God not acting are sufficient to suggest that God has all the qualities in full that people often ascribe to God.
I believe there are reasons why God does not act in situations of pain/evil. And one main reason I believe is so that God would be able to redeem the pain/evil. What God wants during times of trial is for people to choose to allow God to redeem it. So, yes, in a sense, God chooses not to stop evil to allow the opportunity for people to choose to allow God to redeem it.
God had the power to remove the thorn from Paul. But He didn’t remove it. Paul could’ve said, “This is ridiculous. I’m a mighty man of God. I can’t forgive God for not getting rid of this thorn.” But, instead, he said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
When Jesus prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Could God have been able to remove the cup and prevent Jesus to suffer on the cross? I guess an “omnipotent” God could’ve removed it. But Jehovah God did not. He allowed Jesus to suffer (arguably the most suffering for any human in existence) so that he could redeem it (and ultimately redeem us).
So, I believe that a god not acting during situations of pain/evil are compatible with the God of the Bible. As to whether they are compatible with the “qualities in full that people often ascribe to God”, I’m not sure since I don’t know what are those qualities that others claim God has.
https://debatingchristianity.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=64912#p64912