God is NOT in Control

Author's Edit March 2015:
There are many things in this post that I no longer believe or agree with. I love going back and seeing God humble me. I have decided not to edit the contents of this post because I want to be open and honest with the ways that God has changed me over the past 2.5 years. Please read some more of my newer posts here and here.

This idea is so indoctrinated into American Christianity, that it can be found all throughout Christian music and on many popular Christian web pages and facebook pages. Many of these sites, create and share sayings that imply God kills people and takes good things from us to improve our faith. They say that it's all in His timing and plan.

If something bad happens, we have all heard people say things like: 
"Well it must have been their time"
"We don't know the mysteries of God."
"God must have needed another angel in heaven"
"Whatever brings Glory to God, even if it's sickness. Amen!"

Kari Job in "Steady my heart" sings,
"Each and every moment,
What's good and what gets broken,
Happens just the way that You plan"

When we say things like this, it shows how little we know or understand about our Heavenly Father. It is unbiblical to say that God is sitting up in heaven causing bad things in our lives.

If something bad happened to you, it's not because God made it happen for some larger purpose in your life. When we say things like this to those around us, we inadvertently make God wicked and a God that uses "end justifies the means" to get his point across. The concept that God is in full control of everything that happens, keeps people from reconciling to God because they question his nature. Even though we say he does these things to build faith, many people actually lose their faith in these struggles.

"If God is good, then how did he *let* that happen to me".
"Why did he let me be abused"
"My husband cheated on me, how could God let that happen"

Sadly many Christians actually think God is schizophrenic by letting stuff happen like that, so they have no way to overcome these types of objections.

I counter these ideas by simply stating what the Bible says. We know that the devil is the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy. Does a thief ask permission before he/she steals something?

In a real world situation, no one would ever say yes to this question. People rob banks, steal purses and take cars completely without asking permission from either the owner or from the authorities. That's the whole part of being "a thief". The dictionary definition says, "one that steals especially stealthily or secretly". This makes perfect sense in the natural world. Thieves disguise themselves and wait until night time or when people are looking the other way to make their move.

However when it comes to spiritual things, many switch their position and say the thief (devil) has to get permission from God to hurt us, give us sickness and even to steal people from our lives. Many can't grasp the concept that the devil could even do this without God's approval. I think what it really comes down to is that we don't like the idea that the devil has the ability to hurt us. To agree with this teaching, it would mean that we are vulnerable and would have to get a better understanding of how we stop the devil's schemes in our lives and in the lives of others. Due to this fear, which is also a tool from the enemy, we take the definition of thief and totally flip it backwards. This whole thought process is a lie and a scheme from the devil to protect himself. Trust what the Lord says in this area and if you like, trust the dictionary definition too!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

It's up to us to decide what we do when the thief robs us of our health, joy, love, family and even our relationship with God himself. Will we continue to blame God or will we stand against the attacks of the enemy? God did not make us powerless to the devil, so we need to understand what Jesus did on the cross to see what authority he gave us against the enemy.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

God bless you all!