You've probably heard the phrase "God is in control." In fact, after "Jesus loves you", it's one of the most used phrases in christian circles. Today, I want to submit to you the idea that "God is in control" can actually be a harmful statement, depending on how you define "control" and the context you use it in. I believe it's always really important that we understand the character of God and how he operates in the lives of His children. God is never forceful, and He never takes the free will of mankind. So, to say and/or believe that "God is in control" when it comes to the harmful decisions of mankind (murder, rape, violence, etc.) is a problem in your thinking. Even if your intention in saying "God is in control" is to comfort a family who lost a loved one, it's still a very harmful statement. Why? Because it implies that part of God's "plan" involved the death of their loved one. Let me speak this plainly. God's plan NEVER involves evil. God's plan NEVER involves causing or orchestrating pain or evil to teach you a lesson. God's plan NEVER involves giving you a miscarriage or giving you cancer. That is called the work of evil. God will OF COURSE work unspeakable healing and good out of horrible situations, but God does not CAUSE the horrible situation. If you believe that he does, then you don't believe that God's ways are higher than our ways. You believe that God's ways are lower than our ways. Would you give your children cancer to teach them a lesson? Would you kill the child of your wife before it left her womb to "discipline" her because she'd done something wrong to you? Would you cause a hurricane to wipe out your child's house, and then look your child in the eye and say, "Don't worry, it's all part of my grand plan for your own good?" No. Yet you believe God does that. Do you honestly believe that you are a kinder husband and father to your wife and children than God is to His?
Not only does God not cause evil that occurs in the lives of His children, but He also doesn't micro-manage the natural world they live in. God doesn't control how many M&Ms come out when your pour yourself a bowl of trail mix. God doesn't control how full the Wendy's worker fills your soft drink. I'm not saying God has no power. God IS the ultimate authority in the universe. God did and does make and sustain all of creation and everything good has its origin in Him. I'm not questioning the sovereignty of God. Hear my heart. All I'm saying is that He designed his creation to function without Him having to do every little thing. Now, I know what you're thinking. "But Seth, to say that God is not involved in his creation is a deistic way of thinking!" But I'm not saying God is not involved in his creation. I believe God is involved at an extremely personal level with his creation. All I'm saying is that He doesn't ever take free will, He doesn't ever cause evil, and He doesn't micro-manage weather patterns. I absolutely believe that God is the ultimate authority in the universe. All I'm saying is that I believe God's heart yearns for companionship and a will in the world other than his own, so that He can be loved. That's why he made humans instead of robots. He wants to be freely chosen by His creation, without controlling His creation or forcing them to love Him. To quote the Shack, "Love that is forced is no love at all." God yearns to be loved, and He therefore created mankind with a free will. God has the authority to control every will and occurence in the universe, but there are many things that He chooses not to control.
Not only does God not cause evil that occurs in the lives of His children, but He also doesn't micro-manage the natural world they live in. God doesn't control how many M&Ms come out when your pour yourself a bowl of trail mix. God doesn't control how full the Wendy's worker fills your soft drink. I'm not saying God has no power. God IS the ultimate authority in the universe. God did and does make and sustain all of creation and everything good has its origin in Him. I'm not questioning the sovereignty of God. Hear my heart. All I'm saying is that He designed his creation to function without Him having to do every little thing. Now, I know what you're thinking. "But Seth, to say that God is not involved in his creation is a deistic way of thinking!" But I'm not saying God is not involved in his creation. I believe God is involved at an extremely personal level with his creation. All I'm saying is that He doesn't ever take free will, He doesn't ever cause evil, and He doesn't micro-manage weather patterns. I absolutely believe that God is the ultimate authority in the universe. All I'm saying is that I believe God's heart yearns for companionship and a will in the world other than his own, so that He can be loved. That's why he made humans instead of robots. He wants to be freely chosen by His creation, without controlling His creation or forcing them to love Him. To quote the Shack, "Love that is forced is no love at all." God yearns to be loved, and He therefore created mankind with a free will. God has the authority to control every will and occurence in the universe, but there are many things that He chooses not to control.
SUCH wisdom!
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