But we are not talking only of human acts of sin. What about events like tsunamis and earthquakes and infants dying in burning buildings. And what of the innocent victims of human violence. We agree that criminal is the sinner, but what justice is there for the infant who is burned to death by the criminal - or drowned in a tidal wave? What do we tell the man who lost his wife and children that day? How is that justice in light of an all-knowing and all-powerful God?

I know that this has been answered - but we need to be fully aware of all the consequences - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It is hard not to flinch when we are faced with the enormity of evil where justice is not simply punishing the guilty party, or where "innocents" are the victims.

(For many of you, this is a lob - a high arching shot and easy to returner. But that is not going to make the return pretty. )

You can see also how the idea of "free will" idea is no answer to this. At best, "free will" appears to make us responsible for our own sins. It does not bring justice to all the innocent victims of "natural" disasters and evil men.

__________________
R. Anthony Coletti
Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Jonesborough, TN
[i]et venite et arguite me dicit Dominus[/i]