JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE
of
Phillips, Gary W. “The Problem of Evil: A Pastoral Approach Part One: The Bad News.” Michigan Theological Journal Volume (Spring 1991): 6-20.
THEO 525 LUO (Spring 2012)
Systematic Theology I
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
January 29, 2012
Summary
W. Gary Phillips goal is to help the reader understand the destructiveness of evil, with the proper solution to identify the problems of evil in the context of pastoral ministry. Philips examines the drastic affects that evil has on victims from a logical and emotional standpoint. While defending the biblical view of the problem with evil answering the question, where is God? Bring into question of God’s goodness and God’s power during natural disasters.
Critical Interaction
In “The Problem of Evil: A Pastoral Approach, Part One: The Bad News” Phillips began by defining and clarifying the term evil meaning both moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil man choices made by his or her own free will. Natural evil destructive forces do not involve human choice. Phillips’ observation of the problem of evil it spread throughout the world.
The logical problem of God’s greatness and goodness is challenged by the bitter evil of the world. If God is all knowing and all powerful, how could God allow so much pain and evil in the world? The logical problem gives individuals personal reasons not to trust God. The emotional problem of when bad things happen – to me. Example of the life of Job experiencing such turmoil and anguish in his life. The problem with evil gives the broken individuals reason not to believe in God. Even in Jobs suffering he trusted the sovereignty of God.
Phillips addresses the inadequate solutions to the problem of evil through: Fideism, Illusionism, Finitism and Transmorlism. The approach to each view thoroughly examined the insights and arguments for each on the problem with...