by Mike Edwards
I guess depends if he gets impeached! Religious leaders say
the darnest things. God gets a bad rap when Christians make certain claims
about God and events in the world. Even “it was meant to be” implies God is
responsible for suffering in the world. God ordaining who wins elections means
you weren’t really free to vote anyway other than what God had determined. This
makes a mockery of the freedom God has given us. An uncontrolling God may be a
more satisfying alternative.
It matters if we claim God controls or knows the future.
A young woman may ask God for wisdom in marrying their
partner. It seems a match made in heaven, but their partner becomes abusive and
the children suffer too. If God supposedly knows the future, why didn’t God
warn the young woman? A human parent would if they knew ahead of time. A
controlling God can lead to asking “why or what is God punishing me for” or
“God, do you really love me?” There really isn’t freedom if the future is
already known thus determined.
But the Bible says…
It is commonly thought that an all-powerful Supreme Being
must know the future much less control the future. Yet, the Bible speaks about
God regretting decisions (i.e. Gen. 6:6). If God knows the outcome of
decisions, why does God make regrettable decisions? Many biblical passages
refer to God changing their mind depending on what choices humans freely make.
Did Jesus simply peer into the future when predicting Peter
would deny Christ three times before it actually happened? Could Peter really
resist? Why would Jesus pray Peter’s faith would succeed if failure was
inevitable (Luke 22:32)? Jesus’ prediction could have been a warning to Peter
to prepare for upcoming faith challenges. A professor may observe a student and
warn they will fail their class but hoping the student avoids such failure.
Biblical prophecies aren’t peering into a determined future but can serve as
warnings. They only come to past if not heeded.
There are freedoms in God not knowing the future.
God guidance isn’t some mystery. God isn’t hiding a “known”
future for important decisions. We don’t have to live in fear of making “right
decisions.” We already know the mind of God when it comes to moral decisions;
otherwise, God supports us in making best decisions at the time that make our lives
and the lives of others better. The future is open. There isn’t one correct
decision. Joy and good can be achieved by taking any number of paths and
avoiding immoral paths.
God is not controlling.
God can’t control the future without making a mockery of
freedom. God wants us to feel free without strings attached, unlike what we may
feel from human parents when making decisions. If God can’t control the future,
can God make any promises? A God who creates can surely guarantee eternal life
after life here on earth for those who desire to be with their Creator.
Meanwhile, God seeks to partner with us to make for a better world. God doesn’t
control lives or elections!
