The first Q&A session was held after a short break. A variety of questions were asked. Early on, there were a few questions on intelligent design (ID) and creation. Dr. Sproul pointed out that the metaphysical assumption behind all science is that the universe is knowable. When the scientist wants to rule out intelligence in the origin of the universe, he's ruling out the possibility for science. Dr. MacArthur said that ID is a "middle ground" for those not satisfied with evolution but also unwilling to embrace the Genesis account. MacArthur encouraged us to embrace the Genesis account.
Someone asked Dr. MacArthur if there is a difference between God "allowing" evil and "willing" evil. Is it passive or active? MacArthur noted that in Rom. 9:22-23, God takes all responsibility for the vessels created for His glory, but He speaks passively of those formed for destruction. [Editorial note: Dr. Sproul also deals with this matter in his excellent book, Chosen By God.]
Dr. MacArthur was asked about his dispensationalism. He noted that "the extent of his dispensationalism" is that he believes there is a future in God's redemptive plan for ethnic Israel. Someone asked about the extent to which doctrine can divide folks (noting that Dr. MacArthur disagrees with Drs. Duncan and Sproul on several matters). Dr. Sproul noted that a church that doesn't care about theology is a dead church. Dr. MacArthur noted that his church had a 14-15 page doctrinal statement called "What We Teach" not "What We Believe" (because they don' t all believe that). John's point is that he wants to recognize that people are in a process (theologically, in their own discipleship).
Someone asked Dr. Sproul about Søren Kierkegaard. Sproul noted that he, too, enjoyed Kierkegaard, but that we should be careful. Truth is not subjectivity.
Someone asked about God's wrath: Who is He mad at? MacArthur noted that God is not angry the way we are angry. God is always angry towards evil and is also always loving. All of His attributes are in operation all the time. His anger is always righteous anger. Dr. Sproul noted that God ordains that evil exists, but that does not make evil good. Rather, the goodness of God is manifest even in the presence of evil.
Someone asked if it was permissible for a terminally ill Christian to withhold medical treatment. Dr. MacArthur said that was fine, since for Christians our true home is heaven. (For a non-Christian, MacArthur added, he would want to extend treatment as long as possible, so as to extend the opportunity for repentance.)
Someone asked how to speak to someone suffering at this very moment. Sproul and MacArthur both answered that the only hope we Christians have in those times is that God is present and that He is orchestrating this suffering to bring about good. If God is not in control, we have no source of hope in a time of suffering.
The last question was about a Christian's role in culture. Sproul noted that many pray for revival. Revival is a process of rebirth. And reformation, starting from within the church (i.e., among those who have been revived), changes the structures of society, because the Christian faith has implications for economics, for political thought, for aesthetics and for all of life.
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