God and Big Rocks
“Can God make a rock so big even He can’t lift it?”
On its face, this question is supposed to throw the Christian off his game. It is a challenge to God’s Omnipotence (attribute of being all-powerful). The insinuation is, “If Godcannot make a rock so big… then he is not all-powerful due to the inability to create said rock.” Or, on the other side of the coin, “If God can make a rock so big… then also, he is not all-powerful due to his inability to lift it.” The senselessness of the question can be seen. However, I will attempt to answer it.
The question seeks the affirmation of, what is known as a violation of the “Law of Non-Contradiction”. Simply put, the Law of Non-Contradiction states that A cannot be both B and not B at the same time, and in the same sense. An example would be, a leaf can be red and yellow at the same time, but not in the same sense. The leaf will be partially red and partially yellow. A violation of non-contradiction (or in other words acontradiction) would be to say the leaf is both red and yellow at the same time and in the same sense without a distinction. Another example would be to say that you are reading this, and you are not reading this at the same time. For when you cease reading, in the same sense you are still reading. Clear as mud, right. Let’s try this, I cannot be both physically alive and physically not alive (dead) at the same time. Unless of course I’m a vampire or a zombie. But hopefully, you get the picture.
The above examples serve to demonstrate contradictions. What is the definition of acontradiction? The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as, “a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another” (contradiction, def.1). Another word we need to look at is imperfection. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as, “a fault, blemish, or undesirable feature” (imperfection, def.1) Given this, we can assume a contradiction by its nature is an imperfection.
Now, back to the question at hand. For a person to pose the above question shows a lack of understanding regarding the nature of God. A lot of people have a misunderstanding of what it means for God to be all-powerful. Do you think God is capable of sin...? No, Sin is an imperfection and that would go against his nature of being holy and perfect. So, let’s apply this to the issue at hand. We’ve established that, “creating a rock so big he can’t lift it” is a contradiction, and a contradiction constitutes an imperfection. Imperfection goes against God’s nature of holiness and perfection. Therefore, God cannot be imperfect. So no, God cannot create a rock so big he can’t lift it. Not because he is lacking in his omnipotence (power), but because it would go against his attributes and nature, and would constitute imperfection. As stated above, God is perfect. In all that he does, and in all that he is.
Works Cited
“contradiction.” The New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd Edition. Copyright 2005 by Oxford University Press. Kindle eBook file
“imperfection.” The New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd Edition, Copyright 2005 by Oxford University Press. Kindle eBook file
On its face, this question is supposed to throw the Christian off his game. It is a challenge to God’s Omnipotence (attribute of being all-powerful). The insinuation is, “If Godcannot make a rock so big… then he is not all-powerful due to the inability to create said rock.” Or, on the other side of the coin, “If God can make a rock so big… then also, he is not all-powerful due to his inability to lift it.” The senselessness of the question can be seen. However, I will attempt to answer it.
The question seeks the affirmation of, what is known as a violation of the “Law of Non-Contradiction”. Simply put, the Law of Non-Contradiction states that A cannot be both B and not B at the same time, and in the same sense. An example would be, a leaf can be red and yellow at the same time, but not in the same sense. The leaf will be partially red and partially yellow. A violation of non-contradiction (or in other words acontradiction) would be to say the leaf is both red and yellow at the same time and in the same sense without a distinction. Another example would be to say that you are reading this, and you are not reading this at the same time. For when you cease reading, in the same sense you are still reading. Clear as mud, right. Let’s try this, I cannot be both physically alive and physically not alive (dead) at the same time. Unless of course I’m a vampire or a zombie. But hopefully, you get the picture.
The above examples serve to demonstrate contradictions. What is the definition of acontradiction? The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as, “a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another” (contradiction, def.1). Another word we need to look at is imperfection. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as, “a fault, blemish, or undesirable feature” (imperfection, def.1) Given this, we can assume a contradiction by its nature is an imperfection.
Now, back to the question at hand. For a person to pose the above question shows a lack of understanding regarding the nature of God. A lot of people have a misunderstanding of what it means for God to be all-powerful. Do you think God is capable of sin...? No, Sin is an imperfection and that would go against his nature of being holy and perfect. So, let’s apply this to the issue at hand. We’ve established that, “creating a rock so big he can’t lift it” is a contradiction, and a contradiction constitutes an imperfection. Imperfection goes against God’s nature of holiness and perfection. Therefore, God cannot be imperfect. So no, God cannot create a rock so big he can’t lift it. Not because he is lacking in his omnipotence (power), but because it would go against his attributes and nature, and would constitute imperfection. As stated above, God is perfect. In all that he does, and in all that he is.
Works Cited
“contradiction.” The New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd Edition. Copyright 2005 by Oxford University Press. Kindle eBook file
“imperfection.” The New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd Edition, Copyright 2005 by Oxford University Press. Kindle eBook file