God is In Control?

One of the things often repeated in Evangelical circles across America is the phrase, "God is in control." In fact, there was a recently released song with this statement as its chorus. But is it really true? Before answering "yes" let's consider what we must conclude if He really is “in control”.

If God is in control, then one must necessarily accept some unsettling aspects of God’s character and his actions. Consider all that he chooses not to do with this control he is reputed to possess: He doesn't stop all serial killers from committing vicious crimes, He does not allow abducted children to be found unharmed or even alive, He does not cure everyone who believes in Him of cancer, even when his people pray earnestly for healing. As is often asked by honest people in times of suffering, "Why didn't God take control of my situation?" Then, there is the question most are afraid to ask: "Did God send this tragedy to me?" Of course, he didn't, but the question makes sense if we believe God is behind the control panel manipulating every aspect of our lives. I don’t know about anyone else, but I cannot serve, much less love, someone who chooses to use his ability to control in such a capricious way. It appears that he is at one moment uncaring and incompetent the next all the while telling me he loves me.

"If Christians believe God is in control and something tragic happens to them...They must ask, 'Why did God do nothing as I suffered?'"

I should stop here for a moment. I can almost hear my reader's blasphemy alarms blaring. I should say that I believe that God is good, that He is loving, and that He is our rescuer. He also is sovereign, and if He chose to seize control of any of the above situations, he could. However, if Christians believe God is in control and something tragic happens to them, what is the first thing they must ask? They must ask, "Why did God do nothing as I suffered?" or worse, "Why did God choose to send this horrible tragedy upon me?"

The truth is God has chosen not to be in control. He wanted his whole creation to function outside of His control. Consider the Garden where he meant for us to live. In that garden, he put a tree with such deadly fruit that those that eat it "will surely die" (Gen. 2:17). Then he let a serpent live there who desired to help us, his most cherished creations, to eat of this terrible tree. Then, as if trying to get us killed, he gave us the ability to choose to eat this fruit as easily as we would eat nourishing food. My parents, if they were to follow God's example, should have opened a bottle of pills and put it next my dinner plate, warning me never to swallow even one pill, knowing full well that my older brother would try to me to eat the whole bottle.

What should we conclude then, about this seemingly negligent attitude of His? To answer that, we need to adjust our view of God. If we can get a corrected view of God, we may find there is something loving and even comforting in his lack of control. I'll pick that up in the next post.