God is love. Period. Love, as God defines it “does not insist on it's own way” - true love doesn't control, it actually releases, allows the one who is loved the space they need to love back of their own free will. At the heart of a God of love, is a God who permits choice.
The nature of choice is that it offers different outcomes. Choosing the roast lamb from the menu means I don't get the vegetarian option. It would be unjust if having chosen the lamb, the waiter brought the broccoli and cheese bake. Similarly, if having made the choice you were brought both dishes, it would make the choice pointless. In short, for choice to be real, there have to be different outcomes depending on the choice you have made.
God.loves us and has therefore given us choice. But that choice has to lead eventually to different outcomes. In Eden he plants two trees, the tree of life and the tree that will lead to death. He is clear about the choice, clear about what his desire is for them and clear about the consequences of choosing wrongly. But he gives choice – it's the loving thing to do.
But what if we choose wrongly? What if every time I make a bad or ungodly choice, I immediately suffer the consequence? Or what if every time I made a good choice, God blessed my socks off? We would simply become like well trained dogs. Our actions might be motivated by love, but they might equally well be done out of fear of reprisal or hope of reward. And that is not what God has created us for – we are not meant to be puppets with reward and punishment pulling our strings.
Love gives choice, choice has consequence. But the consequence may be distant from the choice. "The sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous" , bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad. Of course, God is powerful enough to intervene and prevent bad choices being made - but that would remove choice and with it, the opportunity to love.
To the casual observer, it looks like there isn't justice, that God isn't fair or loving. The reverse is true - it is because of love that the situation arises - and justice will be done. "God is not mocked" Ultimately wrongs will be righted, the wicked brought to account. Ultimately and for eternity, the oppressed find freedom, fulfilment and joy.
But it isn't just a future hope. We, the church are called to be bringers of that justice and liberty today. We are called to bring healing and freedom. Let's stop blaming God for the situation and play our part of the solution.
The nature of choice is that it offers different outcomes. Choosing the roast lamb from the menu means I don't get the vegetarian option. It would be unjust if having chosen the lamb, the waiter brought the broccoli and cheese bake. Similarly, if having made the choice you were brought both dishes, it would make the choice pointless. In short, for choice to be real, there have to be different outcomes depending on the choice you have made.
God.loves us and has therefore given us choice. But that choice has to lead eventually to different outcomes. In Eden he plants two trees, the tree of life and the tree that will lead to death. He is clear about the choice, clear about what his desire is for them and clear about the consequences of choosing wrongly. But he gives choice – it's the loving thing to do.
But what if we choose wrongly? What if every time I make a bad or ungodly choice, I immediately suffer the consequence? Or what if every time I made a good choice, God blessed my socks off? We would simply become like well trained dogs. Our actions might be motivated by love, but they might equally well be done out of fear of reprisal or hope of reward. And that is not what God has created us for – we are not meant to be puppets with reward and punishment pulling our strings.
Love gives choice, choice has consequence. But the consequence may be distant from the choice. "The sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous" , bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad. Of course, God is powerful enough to intervene and prevent bad choices being made - but that would remove choice and with it, the opportunity to love.
To the casual observer, it looks like there isn't justice, that God isn't fair or loving. The reverse is true - it is because of love that the situation arises - and justice will be done. "God is not mocked" Ultimately wrongs will be righted, the wicked brought to account. Ultimately and for eternity, the oppressed find freedom, fulfilment and joy.
But it isn't just a future hope. We, the church are called to be bringers of that justice and liberty today. We are called to bring healing and freedom. Let's stop blaming God for the situation and play our part of the solution.
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