If God can do anything, can He create a rock so big He cannot lift it? | Teen Ink
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If God can do anything, can He create a rock so big He cannot lift it?

March 31, 2013
By TargonTheDragon GOLD, Ofallon, Missouri
More by this author
TargonTheDragon GOLD, Ofallon, Missouri
15 articles 16 photos 292 comments

Favorite Quote:
First dentistry was painless.<br /> Then bicycles were chainless,<br /> Carriages were horseless,<br /> And many laws enforceless.<br /> <br /> Next cookery was fireless,<br /> Telegraphy was wireless,<br /> Cigars were nicotineless,<br /> And coffee caffeineless.<br /> <br /> Soon oranges were seedless,<br /> The putting green was weedless,<br /> The college boy was hatless,<br /> The proper diet fatless.<br /> <br /> New motor roads are dustless,<br /> The latest steel is rustless,<br /> Our tennis courts are sodless,<br /> Our new religion &mdash; godless.

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If God can do anything, can He create a rock big enough that He cannot lift it?
There are primarily two things wrong with this statement. The first is the preconceived idea that God can do anything. I believe that there are some small things that God cannot do. But these things do no limit Him; in fact I believe they make Him more impressive.

-He cannot sin

-He cannot lie (which is a sin)

-He cannot betray His own character
The inability to do these things actually strengthens Him, because he’s not burdened by the weakness of sin. The inability to sin, and therefore fail, is more of a strength than a weakness.

The second problem is your point of view. You are, in essence, putting God in a box by limiting Him to interaction with something physical, the rock. God is not only a spiritual being; He is outside space and time. He created space and time! So you are, by asking this question, limiting Him to the physical. He is so big, so out of our human comprehension that it is not that He can’t per say, but more of it does not apply to Him.

© Vanessa R., Marblehead, MA

The author's comments:
A common question that puts a lot of young Christians down, because it seems they have hit a wall. But here it is addressed.
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This article has 5 comments.

TargonTheDragon GOLD said...
on Jun. 15 2013 at 5:16 pm
TargonTheDragon GOLD, Ofallon, Missouri
15 articles 16 photos 292 comments

Favorite Quote:
First dentistry was painless.<br /> Then bicycles were chainless,<br /> Carriages were horseless,<br /> And many laws enforceless.<br /> <br /> Next cookery was fireless,<br /> Telegraphy was wireless,<br /> Cigars were nicotineless,<br /> And coffee caffeineless.<br /> <br /> Soon oranges were seedless,<br /> The putting green was weedless,<br /> The college boy was hatless,<br /> The proper diet fatless.<br /> <br /> New motor roads are dustless,<br /> The latest steel is rustless,<br /> Our tennis courts are sodless,<br /> Our new religion &mdash; godless.

View profile
No problem! I am glad you found it helpful! hehe, that is, after all, why its here:P
Cutey-Beauty SILVER said...
on Jun. 15 2013 at 4:41 am
Cutey-Beauty SILVER, Ulaanbaator, Other
6 articles 0 photos 65 comments

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Soli Deo Gloria.

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YAY! Now I can finally answer this question clearly and quickly to the point-thanks so much for writing this eye-opening article :) Hope you get a lot more reads on this...  
LiraDaeris PLATINUM said...
on Apr. 3 2013 at 6:23 pm
LiraDaeris PLATINUM, Tucson, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 135 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You&#039;re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who&#039;ll decide where to go...&rdquo; <br /> ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You&#039;ll Go!

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I like mine fluffy, especially if a cheese-filled crust is involved. But with a spherical pizza cutter all the mozzarella would be all over the box instead of my plate T_T
TargonTheDragon GOLD said...
on Apr. 3 2013 at 12:42 pm
TargonTheDragon GOLD, Ofallon, Missouri
15 articles 16 photos 292 comments

Favorite Quote:
First dentistry was painless.<br /> Then bicycles were chainless,<br /> Carriages were horseless,<br /> And many laws enforceless.<br /> <br /> Next cookery was fireless,<br /> Telegraphy was wireless,<br /> Cigars were nicotineless,<br /> And coffee caffeineless.<br /> <br /> Soon oranges were seedless,<br /> The putting green was weedless,<br /> The college boy was hatless,<br /> The proper diet fatless.<br /> <br /> New motor roads are dustless,<br /> The latest steel is rustless,<br /> Our tennis courts are sodless,<br /> Our new religion &mdash; godless.

View profile
yes! thanks for providing some support! your pizza cutter example is very helpful for clarifying what i was trying to explain. its also nice to hear someone understand what im trying to say. and flatbread pizza's not that bad, especially if its Imo's.
LiraDaeris PLATINUM said...
on Apr. 3 2013 at 1:19 am
LiraDaeris PLATINUM, Tucson, Arizona
22 articles 0 photos 135 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You&#039;re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who&#039;ll decide where to go...&rdquo; <br /> ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You&#039;ll Go!

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My apologetics teacher discussed this. The only limit that God has is that he cannot limit Himself. That would go against omnipotence, but that doesn't mean that He isn't all powerful. The question "Can God make a rock so large that He cannot lift it?" is a self-confuting statement, basically the same as "Can a limitless thing limit itself?" It is not a hindering limit- it is like the rule you need to bounce off of for creativity. (Example, if someone tells you to think of something, your mind goes blank.) You may as well be asking if a pizza cutter can be sphere-shaped. Just because one cannot be to be a pizza cutter does not mean it is a limiting limit to the pizza cutter. I hate flatbread pizza anyways :P