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| Source: preachinghelp.org |
I realize that theological discussions regarding God's goodness, in light of the "bad" things we see and experience in this world, are not benign entities. Many people reading the previous blog posts might be offended to learn that God causes and orchestrates disaster and "bad" things in our lives and in this world for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. I am reminded of a time several years ago when I was talking on the phone with a dear friend of mine in the wake of the Haitian earthquake. We were talking about this very subject...how a good God can allow "bad" things to happen...and I brought up the Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:5 passages we have already discussed (which state that God not only allows these things, but actually creates/causes them). The phone line went quiet and I heard her come forth with a very pointed clarifying question. "So, are you telling me that God Himself is shaking those plates [of the Earth]?"...and in so many words, I essentially reiterated, "Yes." (Now, just for clarification's sake, I was in no way suggesting that God was causing the earthquake in a vindictive way or as a result of Haiti's sin, ala Pat Robertson...but I digress...). And I will never forget her immediate response....
"MY god wouldn't do such a thing."
Now, I intentionally wrote "god" with a little "g" in the line above to signify that at that moment, my friend had crossed a theological line and essentially stated that she worshipped NOT the Holy Jehovah God of the Old and New Testaments...but instead a little "g" god that she had fashioned in her own mind apart from the Truths of Scripture. In fact, when she was presented with Biblical truth...she flat out rejected it! Now, that is a precarious position to be in and it grieved me then and it continues to grieve me to this day. And my friend is not alone. There are "churches" filled to the brim with pastors and laypeople fully committed to worshiping a "sanitized" god who is congruent with their perceptions of "good." Like my friend stated, their god wouldn't create calamities or orchestrate bad things in the lives of his people. The goodness of their god looks only like hugs and cuddles and kisses, as he dispenses "warm fuzzies" to his followers. He might look like the jolly Santa Claus in the sky, an ever-present genie in a bottle, or a cosmic vending machine who dispenses toys, wishes, and treats to those he "loves." Like Paul warned in the Scriptures, these people choose to turn away from the truth: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
But NO, my friend, this god of theirs is not MY God, the Jehovah God of the Old and New Testament Scriptures who disciplines His children (whom He loves and calls His sons) and intends "bad" things in the lives of His saints to ultimately bring greater rewards of peace and righteousness and deep relationship with Himself for our ultimate good and His glory (Romans 8:28)! This God takes out Uzzah (2 Samuel 6) and Anias & Sapphira (Acts 5) for not taking His Word seriously...for approaching God the way they want to or lying and hiding their greed. Oh, no! My God is NOT "santitary!" He is not "nice" and He is not "safe" and He is certainly not "politically correct!" Let us be mindful to consult the Scriptures to form our idea of what is good and bad and NEVER, no NEVER look to our culture, our "churches," or our own ideations of what is good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable from our Almighty Sovereign God!
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