God the Father, Mentor's Guide, MG06

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G O D T H E F A T H E R

* How can we so understand the doctrine of God’s providence that we use these powerful truths to counsel and comfort those who are enduring trial and tribulation in their lives?

Evolution, Creation, or What?

After youth group, one of the students, Shirley, asks if she can talk to you about a school project she is working on. As a part of her high school chemistry essay, she has chosen to write a paper on the evolution debate. She is not certain if she should reveal in the paper that she is a Christian herself, or if she should merely list the different arguments that are swirling around this discussion. In researching it, she has come to believe that perhaps parts of evolution may not be so far from the truth, but her conscience is bound to her faith that God Almighty alone is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. She is hurt and confused when she hears her teacher suggest that creationism is not science but fanciful imagination, but wants not to burn bridges as she shares her faith as a follower of Jesus. She is confused about what should be the best strategy for her paper. How would you advise Shirley in her project–what approach should she take, and how should she handle her work? While browsing the shelf in a local bookstore, you come across a book which makes the argument that the Holocaust (the extermination of six million Jews by the Third Reich from 1939-1945) was an actual punishment upon them for having crucified the Messiah. The author claims to be a historian, although he suggests that his analysis is largely theological (he also claims to be a Christian). What are we to make of this book? How are we to take analysis like this which looks at events in history and then suggests that God intended for the events to take place to fulfill a divine purpose . (For instance, many believed in the early part of the 19th century, that slavery was predestined for African Americans since, according to their argument, they were included in Noah’s cursing of Ham for his indiscretion after the flood [cf. Gen. 9.24-25]). Holocaust a Punishment

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