Does God control everything?

[Dominus Fidelis]

I asked this in the Reformed forum and I'd like to ask it here. I think comparing the two responses will be interesting.

Does He decide everything that happens to us in our lives?

For example, I was reading on crimelibrary.com about a pair of serial killers that liked to kidnap young girls and rape/torture them in their van. I was also reading about one that kept a sex slave for 7 years of torture. (I know...not the best stuff to read about, but it got me wondering about God's control over events).

Personally I can't see God determining these things to happen to people, so I was wondering how it lines up with your beliefs.

The Reformed folks had to say that God does will these things to happen, because he actively decides to not intervene, so it is His will that they happen, and that the reasons are beyond us. I disagree. What do you all think?

[seebs]

Ooh, a very good question.

I plan to have kids. I know that my kids will suffer. I don't necessarily know the exact ways they'll suffer, but I know it will happen... But I plan to have them anyway.

But...

I know my kids will hurt people. (Assuming I have them, and they grow up, anyway.) Some day, one of my kids will be in a serious romantic relationship, and will say something that hurts the other person in that relationship REALLY BADLY.

Do I want this to happen? Because, you know, all I have to do is not have kids, and it won't.

I think that God values our freedom more than our short-term happiness; I think He may well be right to do this. I know that I feel the same way about my hypothetical kids.

But...

It's not something I can just proclaim a solved question. The problem of evil is not an easy one, and not readily dismissed. That it falls short of full logical force does not mean it's not a problem at all.

I knew a girl who was raped as a kid. I mean, a little kid. And one of her big issues with Christianity was how a loving God could possibly have allowed such a thing... And another of her big issues with Christianity was the way Christians tend to try to impose their morals on others.

Honestly, I agree with both of these sentiments, and lack any real way to resolve them, except to say that, on the whole, I would rather live this life than not, and I guess I don't feel I have much grounds for complaint... But then, I've had a really easy life.

A good, tough, question. Thanks for sharing it. I'd offer more of an answer, but I've never met anyone who had an answer I could accept without, at the very least, wondering about it. Some of the answers I've heard to this question make me sick, and I suspect you've heard some of those answers too.

[Treasure the Questions]

By giving us free will God refuses to intervene in every little detail of our lives. However, he did send Jesus to show us how we can intervene on his behalf, to feed the hungry, comfort those who mourn and speak out for the voiceless who are persecuted, downtrodden, marginalised and oppressed.

If each of us who claims to follow Christ did all they could to intervene on God's behalf more people would have reason to believe that God is real and worth following.

Karin

[Dominus Fidelis]

"If each of us who claims to follow Christ did all they could to intervene on God's behalf more people would have reason to believe that God is real and worth following."

Absolutely. :)

[McCravey]

I have come to the conclusion that in spite of the fact that I have free will, it seems that God is in control of my life more than I can understand.

I like to look at it as my destiny. I have a destiny that is predetermined....I can't avoid it. But, it is my freewill that takes me there.

[Toney]

Does He decide everything that happens to us in our lives?

IMO, no. He has foreknowledge, but we decide. God is a perfect gentleman; He wrote the rules and always plays by them. That fact is quite difficult for many to accept. Invite God into your life and the angels in Heaven rejoice; tell Him to stay out, and He does.

The Reformed folks had to say that God does will these things to happen, because he actively decides to not intervene, so it is His will that they happen, and that the reasons are beyond us. I disagree. What do you all think?

I'm with you, DoF. Many "it's a mystery" arguments just don't work for me philosophically. God is perfect reason. Hegel taught that as we reason more perfectly, we approach the mind of God.

Having written that, I also believe that human history is one Great Theophany and I believe in God's majesty and absolute sovereignty in Heaven and on Earth.

[wonder111]

we have the ability to choose, so I would vote no. Free will is a gift, but yes God can intervene. Prayer is our choice