This is a continuation of yesterday’s post. In that post I had written:
“On July 31, 2012 Roger E. Olson wrote an article called ‘Why is Jonathan Edwards considered so great?’ My purpose is not to say whether or not Olson has represented the heretic Edwards accurately, but just to make observations on some of Olson’s objections to the sovereignty of God.”
Olson writes (underlining emphasis mine):
“And yet, Edwards insisted that God abhors sin and evil. Why? If they are determined by his wisdom and necessary for his glory, why would he abhore [sic] them? Edwards tried to resolve this by appealing to God’s larger and narrower views. In the grand scope of things, seen from the widest perspective possible, sin and evil are part of the grand scheme of God to glorify himself. On the other hand, in the narrower perspective, God abhors them and commands creatures not to do them. And punishes them with eternal suffering for doing what serves his glory and is necessary” (Roger E. Olson).
[Caveat: HERE is Jonathan Edwards presenting a view of God’s sovereignty that exhibits or promotes the same proud boast for which God punished the king of Assyria. In brief, Jonathan Edwards was in league with the Assyrian king.]
To re-quote a portion from Olson:
“And yet, Edwards insisted that God abhors sin and evil. Why? If they are determined by his wisdom and necessary for his glory, why would he abhore [sic] them?
Olson’s objection is that if sin and evil glorify God at the level of His sovereign decree, then WHY would He take vengeance and abhor that through which His glory is demonstrated and abounds (cf. Romans 9:17-24)? Why abhor sin? Why even call it sin? If the sinner glorifies God in this way (since God is not and cannot be thwarted), then WHY is he judged as a sinner? WHY is he called a “sinner”? You notice the familiar objections, yes?
“But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man). Let it not be. For then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just” (Romans 3:5-8).
Agrammatos 