Skeptics of Christianity often ask the questions "Could God not do this?" or "Could God not do that?" or "Shouldn't God do this or shouldn't God do that?" All too often this is a diversionary tactic or point of irrelevancy.
For example, one could ask concerning the birth of Christ, could not God have provided him a better place to lay his head? Or, concerning the cross, it's often asked could not God have delivered Christ or accomplished salvation another way? The point is it's not a matter of what God could do, or would do, or should do, but what God has willed to be done! Sure, God could have provided a lavish birth and a life of wealth to his Son, he also could have brought ten thousand angels and delivered Christ from the cross had that been his desire, his commitment, his promise, and his plan; but it was not.
To ask the question "Couldn't God have done this or that?" is either to miss the point or to deter to the realm of the irrelevant. While in come cases and on some levels it may be necessary and useful to address these matters; perhaps reflection on this truth will equip and arm Christian apologists to avoid distractions and continue more useful debate.
For example, one could ask concerning the birth of Christ, could not God have provided him a better place to lay his head? Or, concerning the cross, it's often asked could not God have delivered Christ or accomplished salvation another way? The point is it's not a matter of what God could do, or would do, or should do, but what God has willed to be done! Sure, God could have provided a lavish birth and a life of wealth to his Son, he also could have brought ten thousand angels and delivered Christ from the cross had that been his desire, his commitment, his promise, and his plan; but it was not.
To ask the question "Couldn't God have done this or that?" is either to miss the point or to deter to the realm of the irrelevant. While in come cases and on some levels it may be necessary and useful to address these matters; perhaps reflection on this truth will equip and arm Christian apologists to avoid distractions and continue more useful debate.
Too true, SB, and I will go further and add that asking those types of questions imply that we know better than God, that in our finite intelligence we presume to think that we know how something could have been done better. That is no different than the atheist who accuses God of being evil, or in fact, questions anything done by God.
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