fatalism

How often have you heard a believer say, “but it must be God’s will..?”

Often when a decision is made or an event happens which is sanctioned by authorities or the answer to a perfectly sane request in prayer is seemingly answered ‘no.’

Often with the appointment of workers, the decisions of a corporate church leadership, the actions of the state etc.

As if the sovereignty of God means every decision of import by leadership is the enforced will of God. I sure there’s a brand of hyper-Calvinism that subscribes to this view, but it makes no sense. I’m guessing that most followers of Jesus wouldn’t really stand up for this view. But functionally it is what happens.

If something happens which is a hard decision or hurts someone or prayer isn’t answered, it’s down to God, because He's big enough to take it, He can cope with blame or spite or the difficulty.

The possibility that every decision every Christian organisation and individual makes could not only be wrong but barking mad needs to be faced by all of us. But the key possibility is that I, We, may have got all, many or most of our decisions wrong is more important. The humility of this understanding, the acknowledgment that it is easy to step out of God’s will and even easier to step back into His plan.

This underpinned by a faith in a perfect loving Father who wants nothing but the best for us and the knowledge that He does work all things (our successes and failures, right and wrong decisions) for the good of those that love Him.