ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 25, 2026
Have you ever heard someone say, “Remember, God is in control.” Maybe you’ve said those words yourself. The question I ask is what does someone mean when they speak of God being in control? Does that mean there is no such thing as free will? If you say God is in control of all things, then it is hard to argue for free will. And if God is in control of all things, then sin, evil, injustice, and similar things are of God. When I meet people who have experienced great suffering, whether physical or emotional, to imply that God was and is in control of all things is not very comforting. It’s like being told that you are to seek comfort from the one who is causing the pain. That’s not helpful or healthy. And equally troubling for me, if God is in control of all things and there is no free will, then what exactly is love? In my mind, love requires someone to freely choose. Now some people will try to nuance their way around these conundrums, and there might be a way of doing so with some rhetorical gymnastics, but at the end of the day, I would much rather think of God as the One who chooses to be incarnational, being present in every moment and alongside us amidst our free will. God calls, inspires, encourages, teaches, beckons, counsels, and so many other things, but does it all as One who respects our free will. I find that helpful…
God who loves us and is always inviting us into a deeper and more transformative relationship, I pray this day for a faith that helps me appreciate the freedom I have, including the capacity to follow in the ways of Jesus. Amen.
