To give you all a update. He is actually doing much better. And he appears to be very happy that me and others have prayed for him. So from the way it looks, it may easily have helped.
Actually. I believe your friend could be at a very dangerous point, call it wild intuition but I would say what you described is not healthy at all. He is slipping back into his blissful state of faith without facing his objections intellectually to the Bible.
Is this the same friend about whom you said:
He stated a day or so ago that while reading the book of Job, he's now convinced that God intentionally causes evil to get whatever outcome He so wants.
Hello! that is a very apt, serious, challenging objection to theology, one that needs research, brainstorming, intellectual answering and reason. I am baffled that your friend came to terms with it in two days.
I can only say, don't take your friend's "better" state as somewhat of a solace. And if anything, tell him to clear out his objections, unless he wants to go down in depression again and leaving faith.
he also said:
If God is ultimately responsible for all the evil in the world, simply because he solely in charge of everything that happens in the world, then how is it really possible to "depart from evil"
Do you know how much wrong there is in that statement, and your friend is going back into faith with this image of God in his head? even if that's not the case and your friend thinks of God in the old way he did, the bubble has burst. Until he finds or gets an answer for his objection, I would humbly suggest to stay away from apologetics. Look into theology, his own theology and make a sense of things. Sit down and ask himself why does he feel what he feels, ask others for helping him make sense.
And it may sound like I am being extra jumpy on this specific point, experience tells me that it is little objections like these which when remain un-challenged ultimately seals you out of faith.
Bottomline, your friend needs to have the soil of his heart let the roots of his faith reach down to the waters of life. He has to know and understand Christ and his love. One based on intimate relationship. Where you just know the other guy and you know what he and she can and would do. His words echo a far-cry from this. Tell him to Restore relationship, tell him to pray and let God and others guide him.
Intellectual guidance without the understanding of Christ's love means nothing. And in my opinion your friend is missing on both things.
