An Act of God
You, the first person to encounter my chronicles for at least four thousand years, beware. Do not feel honored by your primacy in reading the revelations of my Ixian storehouse. You will find much pain in it. Other than the few glimpses required to assure me that the Golden Path continued, I never wanted to peer beyond those four millennia. Therefore, I am not sure what the events in my journal may signify to your times. I only know that my journals have suffered oblivion and that the events which I recount have undoubtedly been submitted to historical distortion for eons. I assure you that the ability to view our futures can become a bore. Even to be thought of as a god, as I certainly was, can become ultimately boring. It has occurred to me more than once that holy boredom is good and sufficient reason for the invention of free will.
—Inscription on the storehouse at Dar-es-Balat
An Act of God declares God or nature caused a natural disaster to occur…that this event was outside the hands of humans…if we call a natural disaster an Act of God what should we call an event of great fortune that defies nature to the extent that it would be considered outside the hands of humans…events that took intervention from outside creation?
God gets the “blame” when things go tragically awry in nature….should He then get the “credit” when the opposite is true? Obviously this term Act of God is one of legal terminology but the concept is one that humans have wrestled with for ages. If God acts within His creation are we simply puppets or pieces upon His game board? Or are we free agents capable of our own free determination in our thoughts words and actions? Of course this also arises the question of nature vs nurture.
These are titanic questions…actually was the Titanic sinking an Act of God? Did God cause the design of the ship, its manufacture and command it along with its passengers to be in the location it was as well as the iceberg then force its sinking and the death of so many of its passengers? Are we simply puppets or programs doing what we are commanded? Or do we have genuine freewill?
Certainly as God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (including us of course) and is Almighty we are not absolutely free. Beyond creating and sustaining God does interact with His creation. He speaks to people and has done miracles…for example God performed many miracles as He set the Jewish people free of their slavery in Egypt, and then of course there is His personal visitation as Jesus…acts of God…
Does God force your fashion disaster in the morning? How about your bad hair day? Is God to blame that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a disaster on ice? Some people when sinning have declared “the devil made me do it” but some would fatalistically blame God for their sins…
Although we are not absolutely free we are sufficiently free, God does touch people’s lives and does interact with historic events but He also does allow us genuine freewill. The Factor of the Fall is frequently underestimated by people…when Adam and Eve declared civil war against God in the Garden of Eden this began the distortion of creation…our weeds and rotting decay have devastated the universe…everything in creation is broken…Earth and humans included…therefore human actions, in their act of war against God have caused natural catastrophes…life since the Garden is one long natural disaster…a natural consequence…an act of humans…
God has absolute foreknowledge, He not only knows everything that will happen He also knows every potential outcome etc…however His knowledge does not mean that He forces everything to happen…Some desire absolute freewill, this would require the non-existence of God (including in His initial creative acts in our universe). God is a Personal Being that has chosen to interact with His creation. You may know that a persons hand will get burned in the fire but it does not mean you forced them to put their hand among the flames…some would say you don’t learn until you feel the heat…
Some like the idea of being puppets as it makes them feel they are not responsible for their actions. Others have the felt need that a superior being is absolutely in control of absolutely everything (often these persons also fall prey to conspiracy theories about forces among us that are puppet masters)…
I suggest to you that there are indeed times when we can say “that was an Act of God.” Then there are other times when we can say that was human or natural in its catalyst…Yes God is Sovereign of the universe and under His sovereignty He allows us sufficient genuine freewill. There is I recognize a tension in this…it is not as neat and tidy as some would like…I suggest this is part of its sublime beauty…when the finite attempts to wrestle with the infinite often the finite will find Mystery…God is in control but He is not a control freak…
Now let us prepare for a different twist on the same theme as we visit MAX
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Hi LS,
"I assure you that the ability to view our futures can become a bore." - huh...indeed...
"Even to be thought of as a god, as I certainly was, can become ultimately boring." - when I read this, I recalled Jesus...he must feel like this...
"God gets the “blame” when things go tragically awry in nature….should He then get the “credit” when the opposite is true?" - so true. People like to blame God for everything when most of the times they are the ones to be "blamed" (it is their responsibility); however it is easier to blame an exterior source than oneself (for this would force any individual to actually confront its mistakes and irresponsible choices).
Yes, God should definitely get the credit when great things happen. This is what we call a blessing.
We already had this discussion; but I will reiterate: we are not puppets, even though God designs our destiny (yet, through free will we can choose which road to take in order to fulfil that destiny, meaning that we are responsible for our own choices in how to accomplish the mission).
"Does God force your fashion disaster in the morning? How about your bad hair day? Is God to blame that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a disaster on ice?" - No. No. No.
"Some people when sinning have declared “the devil made me do it” but some would fatalistically blame God for their sins…" - like I said self-accountability is hard to face.
Adam and Eve declared Civil war against God? LOL LOL only you, man! But I loved the expression: extremely creative.
"God has absolute foreknowledge" - Amen to that!
"God is in control but He is not a control freak…" - Hear! Hear!
LSus, this was absolutely marvellous! Sublime reading: one of your best *applauding*!
I loved the touch of provocation here and there...but hey, that is our trademark after all lol ;).
Congratulations, I loved it :D!
Cheers
Hello Maximus...
"I assure you that the ability to view our futures can become a bore." - huh...indeed...
"Even to be thought of as a god, as I certainly was, can become ultimately boring." - when I read this, I recalled Jesus...he must feel like this...”
- This quote from the Dune book I thought was rather intriguing. The character has an enormous life span and has prescience but is not the same as the God of the Bible. Therefore as he is not absolute he can get bored. As finite beings we cannot truly appreciate the infinite God. Jesus is God:
...we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
- - Titus 2:13 TNIV
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
- - 2 Peter 1:1 TNIV
to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
- - Jude 1:25 TNIV
But whoever publicly disowns me I will disown before my Father in heaven.
- - Jesus speaking...Matthew 10:33 TNIV
"God gets the “blame” when things go tragically awry in nature….should He then get the “credit” when the opposite is true?" - so true. People like to blame God for everything when most of the times they are the ones to be "blamed" (it is their responsibility); however it is easier to blame an exterior source than oneself (for this would force any individual to actually confront its mistakes and irresponsible choices).
Yes, God should definitely get the credit when great things happen. This is what we call a blessing.”
- Very good comment...
“We already had this discussion; but I will reiterate: we are not puppets, even though God designs our destiny (yet, through free will we can choose which road to take in order to fulfil that destiny, meaning that we are responsible for our own choices in how to accomplish the mission).”
- I know it is the two year debate but it fits with this topic...besides things change over time...like my hairline...When you say destiny do you mean final outcome?
"Does God force your fashion disaster in the morning? How about your bad hair day? Is God to blame that the Toronto Maple Leafs are a disaster on ice?" - No. No. No.”
- Not even the Maple Leafs *incredulous*
"Some people when sinning have declared “the devil made me do it” but some would fatalistically blame God for their sins…" - like I said self-accountability is hard to face.”
- So people’s final destination is their choice?
“Adam and Eve declared Civil war against God? LOL LOL only you, man! But I loved the expression: extremely creative.”
- God is King of the creation, our King...Sovereign, that makes us His subjects, if we declare through our sins that we will not follow Him then we have declared civil war...we are traitors .
"God has absolute foreknowledge" - Amen to that!
- Amen to that! :)
"God is in control but He is not a control freak…" - Hear! Hear!
- Amen to that! :)
“LSus, this was absolutely marvellous! Sublime reading: one of your best *applauding*!
I loved the touch of provocation here and there...but hey, that is our trademark after all lol ;).”
- Oh my....how true...LOL...you are becoming more wise all the time...Oh Queen of Provocation...Maximus the Great...
My father was teasing me the other day about using my free will to teach a class on Calvinism! I was also reading up on the Pilgrims of Massachusetts. It seems that they were heavily involved in the middle of an Arminian/Calvinism dispute in Leiden before proceeding on to America.
My mindset is more along the lines of man doing something stupid and suffering the natural consequences, while we pray for an Act of God to obtain relief from those actions. It does seem to me rather inconsistent to beg God to act, enjoys the benefits of His blessings, and then get all wound up when nature brings us to the inevitable, final result of life in a more dramatic and sudden manner.
Hi Looney,
Actually it sounds like we come from a rather similar position, perhaps quite so. Personally I find myself aligning as a five point Calvinist, however it is rather surprising and unsettling how few people actually understand the Calvinist and Arminian positions…for example many would be surprised that I am a five point Calvinist after reading this kind of article…I would say that “hyper-Calvinism” (five and half point Calvinism) goes beyond what I find feasible in Scripture.
Freewill, predetermination and the will of God are conversations that are of exceeding depth aiding in growth but with many potential pit falls…The challenge of people working their brain around the idea of foreknowledge as opposed to absolute forced action can be difficult but rewarding…Is God forcing you to teach a class on Calvinism? Which position best demonstrates God’s character in action? If God is omnipotent (which He is) then how free are we in absolute measure (try measuring absolutes)? How hard was Pharaohs heart and who hardened it?
Have you read any RC Sproul on this topic?
Sadly, I haven't read RC Sproul. But then again, I haven't read Arminius or Calvin either. I had started with some of the church fathers and made it all the way down to Anselm, but then got bogged down.
Have you ever pondered that there isn't enough time to really learn enough about Christianity while earning a living - but after we retire we might have sufficient time to learn all the ins and outs, pros and cons regarding Christian theology and its implications for the life choices which we made decades earlier?
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