What is God Doing?
What does one do when God seems to destroy what
they are and who they are? Its a paradigm through which many interpret the
world. If God
does all
that happens (in other words, He actively "pushes the button") to us in life,
then certain truths are a reality. What follows are some thoughts regarding an
event and what that means about God. In this I have to note that it is
the Word
that tells us about God and
not
circumstances. I would be interested on anyone else's thoughts on the
matter...
USA news article about Jessica Lunsford's death
at the hands of a child molester. Note the words of the
pastor.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Medical
examiners confirmed the sexual assault by examining her body. But because
suspect John Evander Couey was under the influence of drugs, detectives might
never know how long she was held before she was slain, Citrus County Sheriff
Jeff Dawsy said.
Couey, 46, confessed
to kidnapping and killing Jessica after taking a lie-detector test Friday in
Georgia, officials said. The girl's body was found early Saturday, more than
three weeks after she vanished from her
bedroom.
At Jessica's church on Sunday,
the pastor asked for prayers for the
Lunsfords.
"Lord, we don't always
understand your ways," the Rev. William LaVerle Coats told 175 grieving people
during services at Faith Baptist Church, where many people saw the girl for the
last time on the night she disappeared. "We accept what has taken place here,
and ask that you would give us some
peace."
(My Thoughts) "I
would note that I do agree with the thought, "We accept what has taken place
here, and ask that you would give us some peace." In that, I accept whatever
life hands out as I cannot control it. This is not to say that I do not work for
the betterment of myself and others - it simply means that I will not destroy my
own faith in the stuff of life. Life is, by nature, painful. We live in a fallen
world. Many that keep thrusting God into evil people's actions are not
acknowledging this fact. At least thats how it comes across. I find myself
reacting hard to this approach. Faith and reason do not have to be polar
opposites - they can work together! I believe that God does expect us to use
both in response to a fallen World.
To say, "Lord, we don't
always understand your ways," insinuates that what happens is a result of God.
This I have to react strongly against. I believe that focusing on this
interpretation of events minimizes, yea, even IGNORES the presence of evil on
the earth. If God does all things, what then is "evil?"
Coats asked churchgoers to forgive
Couey. Jessica's father said he may have a hard time with that request. "He
needs to stand up and be a man now and take his death penalty," Mark Lunsford
said.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Dad's
Thoughts:
To blame God for
this when it is obvious that "an enemy hath done this." How will they ever have
peace if they believe in a god who arranges life to be like this? How can they
trust him? If his implacable, irresistable, inexorable will includes this kind
of activity, how could you ever ask anyone to trust such a
god?
Greg Boyd explains that one of
the goals of his organization, Christus Victor, is . .
.
4. Dispelling The Blueprint
Worldview
The Warfare Worldview and the
Open View contrast with the Blueprint Worldview which holds that there is a
divine reason for all that happens. God either ordained or specifically allowed
from all eternity every specific thing that happens, no matter how horrible.
This view unwittingly tarnishes Gods character, damages people, and
hinders evangelism.
He also
writes:
While most of the apostolic
fathers held views that were similar to the warfare worldview, the view which
has been prevalent in western church tradition since the 4th century teaches
that everything that ever happens, whether good or evil, does so according to
Gods will. Thus, the western church has wrestled with the Problem of
Evil throughout most of its historyand rightly so. The warfare
worldview, however, makes sense out of evil, human freedom, and the power and
urgency of prayer, evangelism, and social
action.
Instead of resigning ourselves
to our circumstances when we encounter evil, the warfare worldview encourages
Christians to revolt against evil as evidence of Satans activity, rather
than Gods mysterious will. Satan, fallen angels, and sinful people have
wills of their own, and they are responsible for everything that happens which
is not consistent with the character of God as revealed in Jesus
Christ.
I feel that pastor
and his flock in Homossassa FL are indeed "resigning ourselves to our
circumstances." I am trying to think of how I might pray publicly if I was the
pastor. Just admit that we are devastated, knowing that things in this life
don't go according to His will and ask him for
comfort.
Boyd's website.
http://www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/index.asp?PageID=265
Posted: Wed - March 23, 2005 at 08:56 AM