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Posts Tagged ‘uncontrolling love’

Good News – God Can’t Be In Control!

Posted in Acceptance, christian living, Lifestyles, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on September 8, 2024|

Mike Edwards

It is intuitive to assume an all-powerful, almighty God has complete control. We sometimes assume God has total control when we say “why God” during suffering. It is often said that God has a plan for your life or everything happens for a reason. This implies God is responsible for tragedies in your life. I doubt that! See here what God’s plan is for your life.

God can’t be controlling

Logically, God can’t be all-controlling or all-powerful and humans have some freedom/power? Besides, controlling love is an oxymoron. Ask adult children with such parents. Even the Bible claims love does not insist on its own way (I Cor 13:5). God can’t be unloving, thus controlling sometimes. In God’s defense, it is not possible for God to create freedom unless there is the possibility of love or hate. Without freedom we could accuse God of not creating the very best world where only true, authentic relationships can develop. We must rethink if God can have unlimited control or power.   

God doesn’t plan tragedies in your life 

No, God doesn’t plan for you to be unable to have children if you desire to be a mom or dad

No, God doesn’t plan for your body to be wrecked by cancer

No, God didn’t want you sexually or physically abused as a child

No, God didn’t want your partner to leave you by wanting a divorce

No, God didn’t want your loved one murdered or severely injured in a car accident

No, God didn’t want you let go from your job

Doesn’t the Bible claim God is all-powerful?

The Bible can be used to defend or oppose believing God is all-powerful or controlling. For instance, the Bible says God changes their mind based on human decisions made. That hardly appears to be a controlling attribute. So much evil in the world surely proves a perfect, loving God can’t be in total control. If a Creator exists, surely a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. I am convinced true Godly or human love can’t be controlling.

Does God just “allows” your suffering? 

If we hold on to God simply limits their Power, this suggests God can do something but doesn’t. We must come up with a better explanation that God simply allows – thus controls – evils but doesn’t cause evils. A God who can prevent evil but doesn’t is counter-intuitive to love. No loving parent or God sits idly by when they could prevent tragedies such as rape or murder. No, all evil doesn’t eventually lead to good as if some grand plan by God! Ask sexual abuse victims or family members of murdered victims. Are we to believe God doesn’t care, God is punishing us, or God has abandoned us and left us clueless what the grand plan? God doesn’t just allow your suffering! 

The possibility of a less powerful, uncontrolling God!

The only God worth believing in must be loving. God’s nature can’t be all-powerful or controlling. In our suffering we don’t have to feel God doesn’t care or that God could do something and doesn’t. Good news – God knows and empathizes with us in our suffering. God grieves with us. God can empower, inspire, and accompany us. God can influence us to follow Jesus’ example which can make for a much grander world. God doesn’t derive pleasure by seeing us in pain but the unfortunate truth in a free world is suffering happens. Lean on God and others for emotional support and encouragement in difficult times.

Good News – God Can’t Be In Control!

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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God, Are You Really As Violent As Claimed In The Old Testament?

Posted in Bible, christian living, tagged , , , , on May 4, 2020|

By Mike Edwards

The amount of violence recorded as commanded by God is undeniable such as ordering the death of women, children, infants and animals in war (I Sam. 15:3). Many assume a Book supposedly inspired by God means God approved what was written about God. Who is to say the writers weren’t on the same spiritual journey we all are on – discovering what God is really like! Violent views of God can often lead to justifying wars and killing infidels in God’s name.

It is best to admit we can’t prove God inspired (aka approved) all recorded in the Bible.

Let’s be honest. We can’t prove God took over the biblical writers’ minds to control what’s written. Writers rarely claimed audible God-speak. “God said” written hundreds of times could be a figure of speech expressing an inner impression about God – right or wrong. Writers/editors of the Bible didn’t intentionally lie but were honest about their understandings of God at the time. This may explain violence wrongly contributed to God. I think best to not use the word “inspired” as most associate that with God agreeing with every thought or belief the writers had about God.

Did God approve certain violence to bring the Israelites freely along to the truth?

It is argued Israel’s laws were a step up from other ancient near eastern laws. At times maybe they were, but it is rational to question many laws set forth. God surely didn’t approve a woman being required to marry her rapist (Deut. 22: 28-29) or killing boys and non-virgins but sparing virgins for the warriors (Num. 31:18). Did God accommodate because the Israelites couldn’t handle the truth that requiring a woman to marry their rapist or family murderer is further victimization? I doubt it!

Is violence by God simply warfare exaggeration or hyperbole?  

Warfare rhetoric was common in ancient literature to induce fear and victory. But, even if God didn’t mean to be taken literally, why would God inspire violent metaphors like I Sam. 15 to include women, children, infants, and animals? Imperfect, human leaders don’t even use such language. I question if the writers heard God correctly to command such language even metaphorically.

Maybe the violence commanded by God didn’t take place?

Archaeology can suggest biblical events never happened and were recorded centuries later to convey spiritual truths. The creation account in Genesis may not be an actual historical event. It is also pointed out many of the genocide-like commands supposedly from God were not carried out as survivors are listed later in the story. Maybe extermination passages are meant to be understood within the context of initially driving out the enemy. The problem though is that God supposedly said these violent commands – not if commands were obeyed, didn’t take place, or were hyperbole.

Is violence explained because God can do whatever the Hell God wants?  

It is normal to feel compelled to justify passages above because God’s actions in the OT aren’t always moral from a human perspective. So, it is suggested God’s ways don’t have to be fair because God is God. Yet, the Bible encourages us to be perfect like God or imitate God (Mt. 5:48, Eph. 5:1). If human and God’s morals are different, how can we know how to be perfect like God? We don’t always know what perfect love is, but I doubt God is the parent that says “do as I say not what I do.” God’s morals are not some mystery. God’s good isn’t sometimes evil.

Objections when claiming the Bible doesn’t always depict God perfectly.  

  • We can’t know God if we can’t trust the Bible. See here.
  • God wouldn’t allow so much uncertainty. See here.

 God’s uncontrolling rather than controlling love can explain much of the OT.

Many practices in the OT such as animal sacrifices and other behaviors supposedly desired and commanded by God were humans’ understanding of God during those times. God’s love never controls one’s beliefs but seeks to influence for good. Freedom is necessary for authentic, lasting relationships. I have no doubt that the Bible has God’s blessing. So much wisdom has been gained by reading and reflecting. But, God never intended a Book to not be questioned or to take the place of a relationship with God and others. God seeks to influence so we might make choices in the interest of ourselves and others in the long-run.

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