Discuss in ILovePhilosophy.com: RFG 10: The Problem of Sin

Tim Keller’s The Reason for God Book Discussion – Part 2: The Reasons for Faith

TEN: The Problem of Sin

“In chapter 10, Keller delves into the issue of sin and its consequences. He begins by positing that we already know sin exists: ‘It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with the world’ (p. 159). Do you agree that it’s valid to define what is broken in the world as sin? Why or why not? And given all the things that are broken in the world, what questions does that raise in your mind about God?” – Penguin http://download.redeemer.com/sermons/Penguin%20Reader%20Guide.pdf

I like how Keller points out that any time we attempt to build our identity on anything but God and His eternal love, it is sin. An identity built apart from God “can desert you in a moment” (164). God is the only one who can meet our need for Him. Attempting to meet that need with god-substitutes reflects and intensifies our “disordered loves” (165). Sin “does not only have an internal impact on us but also a devastating effect on the social fabric,” (167). “Edwards concludes that only if God is our summum bonum, our ultimate good and life center, will we find our heart drawn out not only to people of all families, races, and classes, but to the whole world in general,” (168). “The more we love and identify deeply with our family, our class, our race, or our religion, the harder it is not to feel superior or even hostile to other religions, races, etc.,” (169). “If you don’t live for Jesus you will live for something else. … If there is a God who created you, then the deepest chambers of your soul simply cannot be filled up by anything less. That is how great the human soul is. If Jesus is the Creator-Lord, then by definition nothing could satisfy you like he can, even if you are successful. Even the most successful careers and families cannot give the significance, security, and affirmation that the author of glory and love can. … Jesus is the only Lord who, if you receive him, will fulfill you completely, and, if you fail him, will forgive you eternally,” (172-173). If you are not living for God’s eternal love – what are you living for? Does it fulfill you completely?

What of the 5 options below (explained in the link below) do you choose and why:
Free to Be or Not to Be

1. Evil exists, therefore a Good Creator does not exist.
2. All is god (pantheism) and there is no evil.
3. There is no such thing as evil, because evil implies an objective, transcendent moral law, which only exists if God exists, and God does not exist.
4. Dualism: good and evil in eternal opposition.
5. Sin is co-creating (exercising free will) apart from God (love).

Do you agree/disagree with any of the vices/virtues being labeled as such in the link below, and do you agree/disagree they all spring from the Golden Rule or royal law of love?
http://theswordandthesacrificephilosophy.blogspot.com/2008/08/sword-and-sacrifice-philosophy.html