God vs. Rock

cmp.2009.02.02
ed.2009.02.03

Organization
1. Introduction
2. Can God Create a Rock He Cannot Lift?
3. A Really, Really, Simple Response
4. Conclusion

1. Introduction
Okay, the World's whole "If God is Omnipotent, then why is he forced to endure imperfection" problem is really frustrating me. So, I am in this weird position of "Am I going crazy or has the world gone mad and cannot see this?"

So, here is an explanation that I often give, and I would really appreciate any corrections and comments about the general validity of the response.

I promise to pretty this up a bit more at some point.

2. Can God Create a Rock He Cannot Lift?
This argument is intended to provide a logically sound proof that God cannot be omnipotent by relying on the strength of the "Indirect Proof" frequently relied on in logic and science.

1. God can do anything.
2. So, God must be able to create anything.
3. So, God must be able to create a rock he cannot lift.
4. If God cannot lift the rock, he cannot do anything.
5. 1 and 4 = Contradiction/Indirect proof ...
6. Therefore God cannot do anything.

3. A Really, Really, Simple Response

1. In order for any X to be restrained or restricted there must be some force equal to or greater than X to restrain it.
2. In order for God to be restrained there must be some force equal to or greater than God to stop him.
3. We assert that there is none greater than God. (Bible)
4. So, no greater force can restrain God.
5. BUT, is there some equal to God?
6. No, we assert that there are none beside God. (Bible)
7. So, if there is nothing greater than X, and nothing equal X, then what other possibility remains?
8. X = X. God = God.
9. God is not greater than himself, but God is equal to himself.
10. Since God is equal to himself, then God can restrain himself.
11. If God creates a rock, then promises to not lift it, then God cannot lift it, until the force, that restrains him is removed, (the force of himself).

4. Conclusion
So, as you can see, I have managed to convince myself that this is pretty logical.

God is still the Most High, and God is still limited by himself without a contradiction. God promises to be just. God promises to perfect. And these promises constrain God in a way that require Him to patiently endure evil as well as to perfect the imperfect, for a time anyway.

The idea that God is "All knowing" is not "traditional theology", well, at the very least these ideas are certainly not Biblical. There are MANY instances in Scripture where God chooses to know, or not to know people, (God is therefore not omniscient in the way we think). There are also many instances where God chooses to be or not be different places, (therefore, God is not omnipresent as we think). And, there are many places in Scripture where God constrains himself, (and since he is not mighty enough to overcome himself, he is not omnipotent in the way we think).

So, by theologians creating intellectual, unbiblical arguments, they maintain unsustainable positions. However, if you just go simply with what is written, there isn't a contradicton cocerning this. Rather, in both Jewish and Christian Scripture, there are many references that specifically address this:

Gen. 22:16 "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son ..."

Hebrews 6:13
For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,