Someone asked me this today, and he said, if God can, He's not all powerful, and if he can't He's not all powerful. How should I respond to this question?
2006-09-29 18:43:58 · 15 answers · asked by Rubberchicken 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
when u probe like this.. doesnt the whole theory of god just crumble?
2006-09-29 18:46:08 · answer #1 · answered by ynroh 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ask him, "What is a rock?"
He will have to define a rock as being an object with spatial dimensions (width, height, depth) and mass.
Then ask, "Is the thing you are asking God to create a rock?" The logical answer is no based on the definition of a a rock -- it can't be infinitely large if it is going to have dimensions and mass. So the question is illogical.
It is similar to the question, "Can God make a 4-sided triangle?" That question is illogical, so it can prove nothing.
2006-09-30 01:58:26 · answer #2 · answered by The1andOnlyMule 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pharisees approached Jesus in the same way. They tried to ask Him questions in an attempt to discredit Him. But in His wisdom He always new the heart of those asking the question and turned the tables on them by exposing their hollowness. For example in John 8:3 when they brought the woman caught in adultery to Him they said, "The Law of Moses commands us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. Then He said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
You see, rather than answering a question that showed the ignorance of those asking it, He turned the tables on them and exposed their own sinfulness and their true heart.
You must be wiser than the individual who by his disbelieve has already proven his lack of wisdom. What this person needs is not an answer. He needs THE ANSWER. He needs Jesus Christ in His life. Only when he knows Jesus will he be able to understand the absurdity of the question itself. Simply put, a non-Christian will never be able to understand the answer to the question they are asking. By taking on Jesus as their savior the veil of lack of understanding will be lifted from their eyes.
2006-09-30 02:02:39 · answer #3 · answered by yagman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question has no correct answer because of the conditions built into it.
It's just like the one that asks, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" If you answer "yes," you're admitting to having beaten your wife at some point. If you answer "no," then you are admitting to beating your wife now.
Answer the jerk this way. He cannot create a rock too heavy to lift, because it is not in His character to do so. He is God, not a circus performer.
2006-09-30 01:48:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
God cannot because He would not contradict Himself, He's perfect after all!
Secondly, just as He wouldn't make 2+2=5 He wouldn't make anything greater than He. After all the job description for being God is being greater than anything that has been created.
2006-09-30 01:48:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anthony M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suppose this question is about the God Jehovah and not some other god. On this assumption I base my answer solely on scripture. "With God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37)
"He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6) The question is one designed only to cause consternation. I choose to believe scripture and you could too.
2006-09-30 02:08:35 · answer #6 · answered by Molly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who ask that question have no concept of the true nature of God. There are pleanty of things that God cannot do because it would be against His nature. Like, God cannot like (Titus 1:2). In addition to that, He cannot steal, commit adultery, etc. In other words He cannot sin.
After explaining that to the person, show him is own sin in the light of God's Law, and ask him if he thinks he will be found innocent or guilty on judgment day and preach the gospel of God's mercy and grace.
2006-09-30 01:49:29 · answer #7 · answered by Jason M 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This isn't possible, not because God couldn't create something that big, but because the thing the rock couldn't be lifted from would be even bigger. It's not possible in any three-dimensional sense.
2006-09-30 01:51:21 · answer #8 · answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well depends on how you see God. If God is all powerful than by definition he can do both. a violation of logic, but hey he's God. how I dont know ask God.
2006-09-30 01:48:09 · answer #9 · answered by mountnrebl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if God is creating something then obviously He has power over it so He could lift anything he made.
2006-09-30 01:48:18 · answer #10 · answered by Ernesto 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your antagonist has created a conundrum, a loop of illogic.
Ask your friend what interest does she or he have in disproving God? Why not try to understand God instead of denying Her?
2006-09-30 01:46:37 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋