215 How Can God Be In Control?

Join us on our journey to understand the God that Jesus knew. Today we consider questions like Does God Allow or permit Evil? Does God have Abusive Relationships? Where was God in the holocaust? Where was He in the genocide in Rwanda? Or on 911? There are no simple answers as some Christians would like to believe. Is God in Control? The answer is Yes and No. The answer depends what kind of control one has in mind. The answer is Yes and No. You will need to listen to find out.

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SHOW NOTES

Is God in Control?

Why this essay? Because being “in control” is terribly important to human beings. It

surfaces in our positional posturing, in the title games we play, and in the hierarchical

authority structures we invent.

Also, if God is in control he is not very good at it. We have the abuse of children, women,

the elderly, animals and plants. If God controls the planet how shall he answer those who

suffer at the hands of other human beings and the devil? This is the driving force behind the protests of the neo atheists against the cruelty of religion.

God’s Will

Being in control means that you can impose your will on others. Here is God’s will.

Who wants/desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth

(1Timothy 2:4).

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient

toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter

3:9).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Why does this planet not experience God’s will? Here is the reason.

an enemy (the devil) has done this (Matthew 13:28).

The thief (the devil) comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I (Jesus Christ) have come

to give you abundant life (John 10:10).

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the

control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)

The devil's work cannot be left out of the picture. Yes, sinners are responsible for much of

the evil on the planet, but so are the devil and his evil angels. They work tirelessly to

destroy all that is good and healthy out of their hatred for God (John 8:44).

Jesus admonishes his disciples to pray because God’s will is not being done on earth.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6: ).

God’s Suffering and Control

The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that sin from its very inception

has brought to the heart of God. DA 480

And the King (God) will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of

these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:40).

That means never has a child been molested, never has a woman been raped, never has a man been murdered when God Himself was not murdered, raped, and molested in that

individual. It was not just a human that was violated, it was God too. God has identified

with us so we are able to comprehend that he has suAered with us.

When we speak of God “being in control” we need to define what is meant by the term

“control.” Control may be physical, political or moral. Some physical control is needed to

protect against physical chaos.

Physical Control

A pilot needs to be in physical control of the aircraft. A creator needs to be in physical

control of the creation. Planets need to orbit in an orderly way. Parents need to be in control of a baby to ensure its early development. Political leaders need to be in control of the infrastructure of the country. Managers need to be in control of manufacturing. With the use of Artificial Intelligence there is the fear that machines could start acting

autonomously, that is “out of control.” Police departments and armies are used to enforce

physical control by heads of state. The modus operandi here is the motivation of fear. If you do not follow the rules you are fined, incarcerated or even executed or killed, as in war.

Skill and Control

This is the ability to control events by an innate or learned skill or expertise. Examples are

flying an aircraft; chairing a meeting or organizing an activity; public speaking; excelling in a sport. Control is thus achieved by superior skill. When I am driving a car I can make it go where I want, when I want, and at the speed I want. In this usage “driving" is used as a

synonym for total and complete physical control.

Manipulation and Control

Control by manipulation occurs when greed or fear is used to get your own way with others.

Manipulation is manifest through fear, as when an armed person orders others around.

Examples of manipulation can be seen in some advertisings, the sale of street drugs, the

sex trade and enormous diAerence between worker and management remuneration. God, contrary to some teaching does not manipulate aAairs to suit himself.

Some believe they are spared death because they have not finished the work required of

them by God. This understanding makes God the ultimate manipulator. Manipulation can masquerade as choice. A child who is asked if they want to go to bed has no choice in the matter. Their choice is an illusion since they are going to bed anyhow. Freedom of choice means that there is no coercion or manipulation.

The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind

submission, an unreasoning control. (SC43)

God and Control

God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is vulnerability (Simone Weil) and the cross is the greatest

evidence of God’s vulnerability. If one party always gets their own way there is little love in the relationship. Love can inspire or influence but never control. Paul understood this

maxim and described love or God as follows

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does

not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being

wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins

out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through

every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

God is the Creator and sustains all life. He is in control in the sense that He could turn oA

any or all life support at any time in the same way that the Managing Director of a power

company can stop supplying power to the grid. It is unlikely that this would happen

because the function of the company is to provide power. So, to say that God could end all life is quite different to saying that He would. God is omnipotent but this not mean that he would terminate the life of those who disagree with him because he is primarily love.

Jesus and Control

Jesus was in control of the storm on Galilee, of evil spirits, of disease and death, of hunger and birth defects and yet he will teach that

whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant . . . just as the Son of

Man did not come to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:26-28)

He washes the disciple’s feet, and predicts that he will wait on and serve the saved at the

marriage supper of the Lamb

The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the

truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

(Luke 12:37).

God and Jesus Christ are Siamese twins

God and Jesus Christ are Siamese twins joined at the heart working for man’s restoration

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the

ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18)

It seems what is meant when we speak of God "being in control" is that God has not given

up hope, He has not left us totally to the consequences of our choices but has provided the "Band Aids" and the "antiseptics" for our wounds (John 3:16) and given us the inspiration and opportunity not to refuse his rescue. He still believes in us and believes there is a solution to our present desperate situation.

God believes that eventually His working by love and freedom rather than manipulation will triumph over evil.

Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1

Corinthians 13:13).

The downfall of Communism in Eastern Europe provides an interesting analogy.

Communism's fall was a consequence of the system imploding on itself. The system was

not destroyed by an outside power. It ended up being bankrupt, socially, morally and

financially. The system had done its best and failed. The hearts of the Soviets are highly

unlikely to ever be tempted again by Marxism in the future.

When the West offered food and capital to help rebuild the Soviet economy, the Soviets

have a powerful incentive to adopt the Capitalist system which has survived for centuries

and would seem to be a superior system.

In this sense, capitalism is in control now. This is what I suspect, or hope, we mean when

we say that God is in control. We mean that His system of love and unselfishness will still

be there when all other alternatives have collapsed. God's form of government will show

itself to be the only system that works in the long run. This knowledge and experience is

what will insulate the universe against any further rebellion.

Parents and Teenagers

Every parent knows the time will come when they have to choose between retaining control of the car or providing the freedom the teenager desires. One thing is sure: as the teenager drives away from home for the first time the parent is no longer in control! Most parents spend the evening concerned for their child’s safe return. That about sums it up.

Adam took the “car.” He had to, if he was free. There was a terrible catastrophe, and we are still picking up the pieces or consequences today. We are free. We are not controlled or manipulated by God. The mess the planet is in proves that once and for all.

I am sure that God, in His kindness, would like to counteract every consequence of evil, but then we would not experience our freedom. We would be on a leash. The universe would be manipulated, and we would not know the truth about choice, freedom and love. We would be God’s pets. Well cared for and happy as pets but never knowing the mind of God.

Does God allow or permit Evil?

If we say that God permits evil, as the story told in Job chapters one and two, it seems to

imply that God is culpable of what he permits. If I know there is a poisonous snake down

the path and allow people to follow the path without caution I am culpable of the

consequences.

If I do my best to prevent them going down the path but they go anyway then I have done my compassionate duty. God does not permit or allow evil or our bad choices. They are forced on him because His universe is based on love which includes freedom. Love does not control the other. Controlling the other is abuse. God’s love is vulnerable and we can use this aspect of love to wound God and others.

If God permits the sex trade He is guilty of the abuse that follows. God did not permit Adam and Eve to sin. He weighted their choice positively by having only one tree with negative consequences in the garden. Their poor choice forced sin onto God’s creation which eventually resulted in the Cross. This is forever evidence of the vulnerability of God.

God is true to His desire for us to be free moral beings in every sense of the word. He will

therefore, not over-ride the consequences of our choices and actions. There are abused

children and God must watch the abuse happening. When we speak of God "permitting"

evil, we mean that because He values our freedom He must watch this evil taking place

and experience the consequences for Himself.

Does God have Abusive Relationships?

An abusive relationship becomes possible when there is a power diAerential between the

parties. If one party always gets their way it is an abusive relationship. There are exceptions such as a mother with a newborn infant or a physician with a patient. The mother and the doctor need to get their way. We are more aware of abusive relationships than ever before in the history of the world which had been predominantly abusively patriarchal.

What about the relationship between God and humans? Does God always get his own

way? This is where the cross demonstrates the lack of abuse by God for the perpetrators of the torture and execution of Jesus Christ. While some stories in the Bible portray God asabusive the cross is the most visible and convincing evidence of the relationship that God has with sinners. It is one of unconditional and vulnerable love. God is other-centred and self-denying. Sinners die at the end not because God executes them but because they prefer their own way to the way of God’s love.

If, as it is traditionally taught, God eventually turns on those who do not do what he wants

them to do and then executes them by fire one can hardly claim God is not an abusive party in the relationship. Just the use of fire is a horrific punishment and implies a vindictive, harsh being.

Some argue that sinners deserve this treatment, but God revealed himself to Moses as a

merciful, compassionate being (Exodus 34:6). It is impossible to think of Jesus treating

people this way. The dialogue between Jesus and the sons of thunder, James and John, in regard to the Samaritan village which refused hospitality to Jesus makes it impossible for Jesus to act or react this way (Luke 9:52-56).

Unfounded Questions of God

An unrealistic concept of God and control asks questions like: “Where was God in the

holocaust? Where was God in the genocide in Rwanda? Where was God on September 11, 2001 with the attacks on the New York Trade Towers?” These questions assume God can control or manipulate the feelings of hate which inspire acts like these. Hatred carries its own consequences of violent feelings and destructive actions. When we hate, we destroy ourselves, even in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10)

When will we take responsibility for our thoughts and feelings? When? That is the question we often evade by glibly stating: “God is in control.”

It is frightening but responsible to think these thoughts. There are no simple answers as

some Christians would like to believe. We cannot pray our way to health and wealth. We

must eat right and work hard, and even then we might be poor and sickly because of the

unrighteousness that prevails on the planet.

So what shall we conclude? Is God in control? The answer depends on what aspect of

control one has in mind. If it is God's sovereign power which He could use to manipulate

the universe or people, the answer would be, No! On the other hand, if one is

concentrating on God's desire and enthusiasm for saving the race, the answer is, Yes!

Well, it won't be over until the choir sings:

Hallelujah! for our Lord God Almighty reigns. (Revelation 19:6)

Is God reigning at present? The answer is “yes” and “no.” Yes! He reigns physically all over

the universe, except here. Yes! He reigns in all His friend’s hearts, but not in every heart.

For the present there is an evil prince who reigns (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world

approaches. He has no power over me (John 14:30 NLT)

Therefore, there is trouble, trauma and tragedy for God's friends. While God would like to

protect His friends from all these experiences the evil prince gets at them from time to

time. But it will not always be so, and the choir will sing when the reign of evil is over and

God reigns. His reign is re-established forever by the choice of His friends and the demise

of His enemies. The song of God reigning sovereign is sung often in the book of Revelation (11:15,17; 12:10; 15:4).

11:15 NLT Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices

shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,[a] and he will reign forever and ever.”

Hallelujah! It is going to happen. It will happen eventually. We are prisoners of hope and

very happy for this hope.

Ian Hartley, revised August 2025