God Is in Control: If That’s True, Then What About These Pressing Questions? By Ray Hollenbach for Church Leaders
A while back my friend was teaching on Psalm 115:16. He’s an excellent teacher but something of an iconoclast. “People like to say God is in control,” he said. “I’ve got news for you—He’s not. If God were in control, this world would look a lot different than it does.” His words have echoed around in my head for months.
Some people were scandalized; some were energized. His point was that we have been told a great many things about God in our lives, but have we examined them to see if they fit with our personal experience? For example, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is breaking in (Matthew 4:17), but doesn’t that mean there are places on the earth where God does not rule and reign? What is the evidence in my own life: Is God “in control” of my heart? my thoughts? my actions? What about my own world: Is God is control of my neighborhood or community?
Many people embrace the idea that God is somehow pulling the levers behind the screen of life. “God is all-powerful,” they say. “His will cannot be denied. Therefore, everything that happens must be part of his plan from the beginning.” But does “power” always mean “control”?
Support Our Site
Now is your chance to support Gospel News Network.
We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
It’s true: God does manage to draw wonderful outcomes from the foolishness of men. It is also true that the glory of God’s power and wisdom is frequently on display in human affairs in spite of our choices, not because of them. Part of the glory of God is his ability to accomplish his will in the midst of the complexity of a billion human choices. He does not over-rule our lives. He works within them. He is forgiving, patient, and kind. He knows our weaknesses and chooses to partner with us anyway. What some people mean for evil, God turns into good. God is never the author of evil, but he is the editor!
