Tag: Free Will

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Why does God seem silent?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants. Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭79‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This Psalm was written as a record of repentance, as Jerusalem was being destroyed – here’s what was happening: “Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city. Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and everyone else who remained. But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in the land of Judah, and he assigned them to care for the vineyards and fields.” Jeremiah‬ ‭39‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

In a strange turn of events Nebuchadnezzar told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah. “See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.”” Jeremiah writes, Nebuzaradan “sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.” Jeremiah had been thrown in prison for telling King Zedekiah what God was going to do to Israel. God then tells Jeremiah to write this about their beloved city, “‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’””

God did keep His promise. The city was destroyed, Jeremiah’s life was spared for a few more years. The Psalmist, recording the most grievous moments, begs for God’s help and vengeance upon Babylon. We know that God did not answer this prayer for 70 years and we know that the final answer to this prayer would not come for several thousand years – at the end of all things.

Interestingly enough, people are still asking this question when looking at the current sufferings throughout the world, “Where is their God?” Tough question, right? God is well aware that evil has been playing out its hand for eons. God is well aware of the grief and suffering humanity has endured. However, God gave us the choice and the free will to “do as we please.” God allowed Israel to be completely unfaithful and turn to worshipping idols and behave unjustly. God punished Israel, He disciplines those He loves, yet still, Israel would not be faithful to Him, to the promise they made to God.

Of course wickedness and evil will be judged, but the delay is for ALL to come to God, restored, reconnected to Himself through Jesus’ sacrifice. The final judgment is coming for those who still refuse to see their own sin and the hope of their own salvation. The Psalmist captures the truth, “demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.” That truth is more profound and powerful today than it ever was!

Prayer

Dad,
Even in my sin you have displayed the power to save me! Even though you get mocked and blamed for evil and wickedness, your judgement is held and tempered by your mercy. The delay of finality is for the benefit of all who would come, all who would see you, know you, love you. I pray for those who have believed the lies of the enemy by trying to secure their own goodness, their own salvation. Help us Oh Lord, save us Oh God!

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The tension of choice.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have always believed that Jesus, and the writers of the New Testament do the best job in interpreting the Old Testament. The Apostle Paul shows us this in Romans. When I had read in Exodus that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. I had a difficult time understanding that and believing it. What did it mean, God hardened his heart? “And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.” Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭21‬. The phrase then shows up after every plague thereafter, “and Pharaoh hardened his heart.” When the plague was over and the disaster disappeared, Pharaoh went back on his word to let the people of Israel go.

Here’s the thing; I believed that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened because he resisted God, disobeyed God, and in doing so, his heart became more and more like a stone rather than flesh. I believed that Pharaoh’s heart-hardening was because it was his choice to resist God. The Apostle Paul however, giving both the interpretation and the application of that idea (hardened heart) was that God to harden Pharaoh’s CHOSE not Pharaoh himself! God chose the Pharaoh of Egypt to display his power over the most powerful human in those ancient days. The Egyptian Pharaoh’s power, wealth and influence was renowned and unstoppable. Paul makes it clear here in Romans, God does what He wants to do by His will – and it is always perfect.

Paul writes, “God chooses people according to his own purposes…” Even later stating that there are those both “prepared for destruction,” and those, “prepared beforehand for glory.” God’s foreknowledge may not force anyone to rebel and resist Him. And, possibly, even in God’s choice of destiny, it could be said that He knows when one will resist no matter what happens. But from our very limited understanding of time and eternity, it becomes a theological battle. Is it free will or predestination? This has been the big debate in Christendom for hundreds of years. Famous theologians have argued vehemently over it. Eventually it became a label, a division and an embarrassment to Christianity. There is a Christian theological dispute between the followers of John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius that continues to this day. These are the mysteries of God’s ways and should always be held in tension. We will not see resolution until the end of time. It is not free will OR pre-determinism, it is both. God’s ways are above our ways, His thoughts above ours! Plus, God in His mercy and grace is always right, true and just! Our lives, our beliefs and behaviors should be based in faith, not in works and we should trust to participate with God in all things at all times. The annoying thing about us as humans is that we just don’t like that!

Prayer

Dad,
We really do not like tension in a world we do not understand, do we? It’s when we make these outlandish statements the the extremes of one belief over another that we arrogantly fall prey to divisiveness. Help us Oh Lord, to be under one banner of Love and Jesus. Help us be united, unified in our faith and not be belligerent in our beliefs or badgering in our words towards one another.

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Pendulum People?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Or, the age of anti-works. Are we so against works that we’re no longer gracefully good?

As a believer I think I would call Christians the “pendulum people.” Over centuries of history and experiencing God myself for the past 46 years, I have seen the Church swing from one extreme to the other. This “works” versus “grace” is just one example. Free will verses sovereignty is another.

One huge swing was from total social involvement in mission, like giving an actual cup of water with the gospel, to just giving the gospel only. At one point Christianity WAS a social gospel, hands on, running into plagues to care for the sick and such. Then it was deemed to liberal to only feed, cloth or shelter and possibly do it in the name of Jesus. So, mission was defined as just giving the gospel and not tending to real needs at all.

We’ve bounced around blaming styles of works and grace, competing and comparing one denomination to another. Both saying, “we’re better because we are Biblical!” When will we get it?

Paul writes to the Ephesians and says, “grace saves you!” Paul writes to the Philippians and says, “Word hard!” Which is it Paul? Of course we should know – it’s BOTH! How long will it take for us to see that FAITH and OBEDIENCE go together and can never be separated? Apparently, we will not fully get it until we reach heaven.

How can we love God and live for Him without both His grace and His power to do, to create, to WORK here on this earth as His Kingdom has arrived and is arriving. It is grace that saves us AND it is works that are the joy of that salvation! Paul says works are the results, the application, the outcome. He uses this interesting Greek word, only found here in Philippians. katergazomai – work out, bring about. It combines two words “work” and “down to the point or thoroughly.” He also adds these two “kick-in-the-pants” words: fear and trembling.

Of course these words are connected to obedience, not necessarily the work. When God rescues and redeems, He does so with purpose in mind. That purpose becomes a mystery and a delight to figure out and get busy with it. If you’ve ever seen a toddler or a preschooler “play,” you know to them it IS work. If you’ve every witnessed a master craftsman building, shaping or painting you’ve seen the joy of pure play. But we say “she’s working” on something or “he’s in his workshop.” God’s grace releases us, frees us to play, with joy, in this world – participating in the Kingdom of God. My advice, quit swinging to the extremes of the pendulum and get busy in the tension of being a human being. Live and love in the paradox of God’s will for us.

Prayer

Dad,
The older I get the more frustrated I become with the polarization of opinion! We fight about the edges of extremes and abandon unity. We quarrel in our corners wasting precious time pointing at each other to bolster our pride and embarrass your grace towards us. I just want to believe and obey. I just want to please you with faith and do what it is you’ve said. Should I become a friend of my brothers and an enemy of yours? Or, a friend of God and let you decide who will join with me? My faith and obedience is in you, for although I love my brothers and sisters, they are not the ones who saved me!

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Jerusalem, the city where messengers go to be murdered.

Reading Time: 4 minutes 
“At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem! “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers!” Luke‬ ‭13:31-34‬a ‭NLT‬‬

Pharisees WARN Jesus? How strange is that? Of course it was only “some” of them. Who was Herod Antipas and why did he want Jesus dead? Herod’s the guy that married his half brother’s wife, Herodias. Then hosted a party where his step-daughter did the magic-mojo dance and in his own inebriated state offered her whatever she asked. Then, daughter and wife asked for John the Baptist’s head! So Herod’s reputation for murdering a prophet had ruined the already thin popularity with the people.

There’s no way Herod would have followed through on this veiled threat. In fact, it is said that Herod himself instructed the religious leaders to spread the rumor so Jesus would take off for Judah and leave Jerusalem. That would be a win-win for Herod and the Pharisees. Clearly, the Pharisees were not trying to help or “save” Jesus. This is one of the reasons Jesus called Herod the “fox.” He was wicked-crafty!

It doesn’t surprise me that Jesus publicly declared, I’m not going to stop pursuing my mission because of threats. Herod didn’t control Jesus’ destiny! Maybe we put to much stock in threats, as if they determine our own calling, mission and destiny?

Then Jesus says the most shaming Jewish people phrase ever! It wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed anywhere else. Whoa.

Jerusalem, was the city known for where prophets go to die? All those Old Testament prophets that the leaders and likely, the people, just didn’t want to listen to – gone, killed to shut them up. That’s not a compliment on God’s own people, killing God’s actual spokespersons. Jesus’ stinging words echo out, Jerusalem, the city that kills God’s messengers… and, even God himself!

Whew, this puts a dark perspective on those stories Jesus told about the land owner leaving his property and entrusting it to others to manage. When violent men show up to take it over, the owner sends someone to warn the squatters. They beat the messengers and chase them out. Then the owner sends his own son, the heir to his own property. The squatters say, “if we kill the owner’s son, then the whole thing will be ours!” Not ever thinking, the owner will come back, not to claim his property but to enact justice for such disregard of life and ownership.

Jesus is telling the religious leaders and ALL OF CREATION, it’s once thing to claim ownership, it’s another thing to kill the owner’s son and believe they can; one, get away with it and two; control their own destiny.

There are those outside of God’s grace, belligerently denying God’s existence, and denying His ownership of EVERYTHING that exists. Plus they disdain God’s own plan to repair and restore the vast breach between himself and humankind. What else is God supposed to do?

This little scene should send shockwaves through humanity, especially in this “God is love and grace” era. Of course God is those qualities. However, we can’t excuse the brash, rude, entitled attitude literally challenging the creator to a old fashion stand off! Us, like tiny little fleas, shaking our fist at heaven and saying, “yeah, what are you going to do about it?” Not a good posture at all.

I believe in Christ and committed my life to him, NOT to escape hell or even judgement. I didn’t believe just to go to heaven. I could not comprehend either heaven or hell as a fifteen year old. I believe because I heard his invitation to be his. That he did love me and he would guide me. Looking back, I didn’t realize what a mess I would have been heading into without him. I came to understand that Jesus seriously DID rescue me and transform my life. He rescued me from myself and the path I would have taken to search for love and meaning. Jesus rescued me from bitterness and anger over several dad abandonment issues and not having a “normal” childhood or life at that time. I believe because I came to know Him through his word – the Bible. I have no intention or desire to run from God or to pretend He doesn’t exist or to be god myself. Nope, I’m his forever.

Prayer

Dad,
It is so good to read about Jesus’ determination of mission yet profoundly sad to read the resolution and disappointment in his words about the “City of God,” you’re city, your people. It breaks my heart to also see a mirror reflection of our own human stubbornness. In a sense, it’s like our “free will” went awry to not just do what we want, when we want but to also do so while running away from you and simultaneously blaming you for our evil decisions and outcomes. It just doesn’t seem fair that you have given us, all of us, so much and we just try to use that against you. That is the wickedness bound up in our human hearts. I ask for forgiveness and mercy, for we do not REALLY know what we do.