Remember the movie Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey? I can remember the stir that movie caused among some Christian circles when folks realized the whole movie was about a man who receives God’s powers and abilities for a time. I remember the newspaper asked folks to write in and tell what they would do if they had God’s power.
I read so many responses that were published in the newspaper- people claiming that they would stop all the world’s hunger if they had the power of God. Others expressed how they would prevent wars, famines, global pollution, drug trafficking …you name it. For all the best intentions and desires of these good people writing in to the newspaper, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Do these people think God never thought of this?”
If God already has God’s power, why hasn’t He done any of these things? Couldn’t He rescue us all from mayhem and tragedy. If we want wars and human rights violations to end, doesn’t He?
Maybe He has done those things and is doing them. Now, you Sunday School scholars out there are probably are already working up your answer to my query so far. “JESUS!” you’re saying, “Jesus, is the answer…cause he died for us and made EVERYTHING better!” My response is, “Yes, …but, no.”
You see Christ died for us in obedience to his Father. In doing so he provided the possibility for each person’s relationship with God to be made right again …as it was before the Fall in Genesis chp. 3. BUT, WHAT ABOUT SIN AND THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF SIN IN THIS WORLD?!?! (Reference the previously mentioned famine, war, drug trafficking…etc.)
This is where a quote from on of my Biblical Faith professors at Trevecca University comes to mind. Andy Johnson once said, ”God’s sovereignty is in His love, not in His power.”
Now, I’m not sure how many times Andy has been shouted down for making such a comment but I have to commend him for boldy stating God’s relationship to this world just as he saw it …and just as he read it in the scriptures. Andy was not in fact saying that God’s power is in any way limited but was saying that God has determined his own sovereignty by the measure of His love and not the measure of what is He simply capable of as all powerful Yahweh. Consider this: if God wanted to solve all of mankind’s evils and problems by tonight, could He? But, what would it take to happen? According to scripture (Genesis chp. 6, 7 and 8) God did solve all of mankind’s evils and problems once: HE FLOODED IT.
But, through Christ Jesus, He has made a way to solve the evil and sin in each man and woman. Sin still remains in the world as a condition of the Fall. Sin still remains in the hearts of men and women because God so loves us that He allows the freedom to choose Him. And, the freedom to choose God means also a freedom to choose not God. And there lies the rub; we are allowed by God’s grace and love to remain in our problems/sin/evil so long as we might one day choose Him.
God’s love will not override our…humanness. He will not force us to love Him. He will not force us to trust Him. That would not be love…or trust. Whatever it would be would not resemble anything human. If God forced our love and our wills toward Him ( and I do believe He certainly has the power to do so) we would no longer be human (made in His image) but we would then be puppets…sad robots…
Maybe if he did do those things we might become less …human. Less a reflection of Him and more like a robot simply doing and thinking only what we are programmed to do and think. But maybe if he did do those things…force us, we might all get our wish. God would finally do what we would have done long ago if we had His power.
God’s sovereignty is in His love not in His power.
Your comments on sovereignty and love are so interesting. I do agree that it is due to God’s Love for us that we are capable of sin. Odd isn’t it?
But, this also speaks towards a fundamental misunderstanding (in my opinion, anyway) on what the very nature of sin or unrighteousness is. Whether we are believers in The Trinity or in no god at all we all have an innate sense of right and wrong (though it varies). And, that caused those people to say they would end famine, war, suffering, etc. if they were God. The misunderstanding is that sin is an unbalance of righteousness at its core. Add more righteousness get less sin. Well, maybe. But adding righteousness without Love…what’s the point? That’s pure legalism.
Aaron, I think you’re right. Our Father could add all the Good he wants, for He is certainly able as He is the Creator of Good. But, what a profound thought to consider that He doesn’t want our righteousness…He wants our love. If we truly give Him love the righteousness will follow as a result.
If God’s sovereignty is in His love not in His power, then does that mean that we get closer to Him through Love and devotion, not simply through acts of righteousness (or a lack of sin)?
By: Scott Hutcheson on September 10, 2009
at 11:58 AM
Love what and how you’ve written here Aaron. This is such an important topic and we have it so confused much of the time. Thanks for the clarity.
By: Steve on September 9, 2009
at 4:07 PM