What is God doing about evil?

So, it has been quite some time since I have blogged. I have deduced that it is, now, 'a time' to blog. Realize that this is not intended to be a 'funny' blog, an interesting blog, or even an informative blog. We have an essay question in my Christian Ethics class that will be on our test tomorrow. In grappling with the question, I told myself, "self, what better way of studying for your test AND providing some fodder for the blogging community. You shall bear an answer and you shall call this answer 'blog,' and you will post this on your blog.'

So here we go...let's start with the question, to be followed by the answer

Be prepared to write an essay discussing and detailing response to the question, “What is God doing about evil?” Be sure you give attention to each of the six elements of the answer to the question as presented in the text.

Through his work of redemption, God is creating and shaping us to be people who constantly live in obedience and are engaged in lifestyles of worship towards him. Through this, we bear witness to the world what God’s true purpose of creation is.

In Dr. Joseph Holloway’s not-yet-published work, “The Poetics of Grace,” he answers this question about theodicy (What is God doing about evil?) using six characteristics of “Christian Ethics.”

Firstly, a theocentric ethic uses Ephesians 1:2 and 6:23-24 to demonstrate that God uses grace and peace in route to achieving reconciliation for a fractured world. The life God calls believers to exhibit is made possible by God’s grace and peace.

Secondly, a redemptive ethic highlights that in the center of God’s redemptive work is God’s triumph over evil. Through Christ, we are called to live a life that is free from the destructive powers that threaten God’s intent for humanity (justice and a restored [redeemed] world).

Thirdly, the ecclesial ethic. The community of faith (the Church) should be involved in the center of God’s redemptive activity among a world that is engaged in a conflict with evil. God employs the Church to witness the power of the Gospel and its ability to reconcile. In turn, the Church is to be a witness to the world of the power of a collective group of those who have been reconciled.

Fourth, the narrative ethic. Christian Ethics looks towards matters of character and virtue and how that impacts our overall view of the world and how it should be. The world, however, is typically engaged in decisionist ethics. We take this overall view of the world and how it should be (referred to, by Berger, as the “Sacred Canopy”) and use it as a formula for decision-making. On the other hand, the Christian Ethic looks towards the overall narrative of our Christian walk. It contains the past, present and future. We do not let our individual decisions dictate who we are, but our overall walk (peripateo in the greek). Paul calls to “walk worthily” of our calling.

Fifth, the liturgical ethic. (liturgia, Latin for Worship) Worship is a central task of our moral witness. Paul urges us to orient our lives towards praising God. We must perceive the world as it truly is so that we might faithfully live out this life of praise.

Sixth, the eschatological ethic. This is where we find our promise and our hope. When we realize what God is ‘up to,’ we see that he intends to see a redeemed creation.