Is God sovereign?

We’ve been talking a lot lately about what it means when we say God is in control of all things or that He is sovereign.

Does it mean that He is intimately and personally involved in every single thing that happens on earth, down to the way you decide to drive to work or the flight you don’t get on that ends up crashing. Every time?

Could the statement simply mean that God is all powerful and could step into any situation at any time He pleases and act in accordance with His will but not that he necessarily does every time?

I’ve found that people who believe the former generally tend to also be of the calvinist persuasion, that God saves a select few and that salvation really isn’t available for everyone.

No matter which of the two you believe, there will be verses in the Bible that seem to support your position so I would encourage you to examine and compare them, remembering to interpret scripture with scripture.

I think what is important is to see if the position lines up with the character of God as revealed through out the Bible. (John 3:16 ‘God so loved….that whoever….’)     (James 1:13 ‘for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man’)

In Genesis we see God having created a perfect place full of everything good. He also put in it a man and a woman. Now God in His power I’m sure could have micro managed everything and controlled them to the utmost degree, keeping everything finely tuned and unstained.

But the story as we see it written in the Bible plays out a little differently. God makes some rules and strong suggestions on the particular things they should not eat. Instead of physically keeping them from it tho, He gives them free choice and as humanity has seen through out history, man chose sin. Over and over again. Sin. God comes back to the garden and after putting up with them playing the blame game, He tells them in Genesis 3 of a world they would now live in filled with hard work and strife. Before it was perfect. Now it was cursed. Sin.

I believe this is why we live in a world filled with awful historical events like the holocaust and 9.11 as well as awful more present day events like you and I sinning. Because God in His love and wisdom, asks us to choose His way every single day. But over and over again we choose sin. We HAVE to realize that we live in a fallen world and there are consequences…even for the so called ‘good’ people. It seems every time something tragic happens like a loved one getting cancer or planes striking a NYC landmark full of thousands of civilians, the question asked is ‘where was God?’ ‘How could He allow something like this to happen?’

I believe God was at the same place on 9.11 as He was when the Israelites decided to crown a king among themselves. He had warned against it but watched them do it anyway and was sad that they chose the destructive path. Whenever there is sin, as there has been throughout history, there will be collateral damage. People who are considered good and people who are considered bad. Both will be hurt.

This should make believers excited for when we can be where it’s perfect with Christ. In Heaven.

So is God sovereign? Yes, I believe He is all powerful and in control of all things. I just don’t believe the Bible teaches that He chooses to actively control all situations at all times.

• I believe God has absolute foreknowledge (He can ‘declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things are not yet done.’ Isa. 46: 10).
• I believe God saves any man who is willing to accept Jesus and repent (John 3:16 etc…)
• I believe that God chooses to not assert his power into every circumstance on earth. (the story of the fall in Genesis etc…)
• I believe that God can and does sometimes control the outcomes of earthly situations for His own glory. (healing the sick in the Bible, leading the Israelites by a cloud, parting the Red Sea, etc…)

Fun in Philly. Oh, and a rally too.

Larissa and I like video and we like Philadelphia. This past Saturday there was a Union, Progressive, Socialist rally. Yup, one of the ‘American Dream Rallies’ that our favorite comrade Van Jones himself  put on the front burner for all those of a left leaning, err….socialist mindset.

We couldn’t help but join in the fun at Love Park in center city Philly and I will refrain from further comment except to say that they shouted more slogans in a 60 minute period than we had probably ever heard. Oh, and it was Godless. Sad. Watch the video below: If it’s slow to load just toggle off the HD option.

(I took liberties with the color since this was a personal exercise project)

I don’t know what they would have against ‘asian provocateurs’:)

Do you think this looks like there’s a reasonable conversation to be had?

Rob Bell and the question of hell.

For the first post of this blog I’ve chosen to feature a promo video from Rob Bell for his new book ‘Love Wins’. I haven’t read this book yet because it’s not out until March 29. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover but if the author tells you about it in a video beforehand, you can use discernment to understand what he’s saying.

He asks some important questions.

1: Will only a few people be in Heaven?

Jesus answered this question in Matthew 7:13-14 when he said this: ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ He seems pretty clear on this question. There is no where else in Scripture that seems to contradict this teaching so let’s move on.

2: If that’s the case then how do you become one of the few?

First of all as someone who is the leader of a mega church and is probably one of the most quoted and cited personalities in American christianity, I’m shocked you seem to not know this. Here again, Jesus gives an answer.

The Bible teaches that none of us are good enough to get to heaven, that we’ve all sinned and fallen short. It doesn’t teach that we can somehow pull ourselves up by our boot straps but in John 3:36 Jesus said this: ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.’

3: What kind of God is that, that we would need to be rescued from this God?

Romans 1:18-20

The Bible shows us two very different but equally important characteristics of God. MERCY and JUSTICE. He did not overlook the sin of Adam (Genesis 3:17-19), Cain (Genesis 4:11-13), Saul (1 Samuel 15:26), or David (2 Samuel 12:8-10). This God also does NOT overlook the sins in our modern world. He did however send Jesus to take our place in the center of His wrath, to bear the punishment for our sin (John 3:16). Because while He is a JUST God, He is also a God full of MERCY.

There are a few other questions that he asks in this video that are also important and it is sad that someone of his stature in the christian world is raising those questions without giving any of the answers. I’m glad the Bible speaks clearly on these questions and doesn’t leave us hanging in a murky cloud of uncertainty as Rob seems to be doing here.

Agree? Disagree? Leave your thoughts in a comment or share it with friends.