Articles
Lucky You!
When events happen in one’s life, whether good or bad, someone will inevitably attribute it to “luck” — either ‘good’ luck or ‘bad’ luck. Being that luck is defined in one way as “the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person’s life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities” [Random House Unabridged Dictionary], some seem to think there is some mysterious force in life that will bring events about and one will either be blessed or cursed by that ‘luck.’ Others, though, use the term as it is also defined, that being “events that are beyond control and seem subject to chance.” In this way, some see events as purely by chance, with no motivating force behind whatever has happened; to them, it is just life — no more than that.
Regardless of the definition intended by attributing events to ‘luck,’ it is worthwhile to consider that there is much in life beyond one’s own control; as much as we would like to have life all planned out and dream of a smooth, trouble-free life, that is no guarantee — not even for the people of God. Though some mistakenly believe that being a Christian guarantees a blessed, trouble-free life, that is not promised anywhere in Scripture. If anything, we are promised quite the opposite! Paul wrote plainly, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Not exactly a ‘bed of roses.’
Many more believe that there is, in fact, no event that happens without God’s direction, and that is true among believers and non-believers. One online article asks and then answers, “Has God predetermined every tiny detail in the universe, such as dust particles in the air and all of our besetting sins? Yes.” Another says, “His control means that everything happens according to his plan and intention.” Note that they say “everything,” which must necessarily include evil and sin. Included in this control is, as they go on to say, “More problematically, God even foreordains people’s sins.” And if one should object to this idea due to its obvious and inherent injustice and despicable and abhorrent consequences [i.e., God is the source and cause of all evil], they will merely reply, “We have no right to question God’s action. Since He is sovereign, He can do whatever He wants.” As another explains it, “The sovereignty of God means that as ruler of the Universe, God is free and has the right to do whatever he wants. He is not bound or limited by the dictates of his created beings. Further, he is in complete control over everything that happens here on Earth. God’s will is the final cause of all things.” In other words, we mere humans could not possibly understand why God not only allows evil and suffering, but why He causes evil and suffering.
I will state it plainly that this is one of the most disgusting and blasphemous doctrines that has ever existed, if only for the fact of who it paints God to be! Let us consider the reasons why this doctrine is so disgusting, why it is blasphemous, and why it is simply illogical nonsense, according to the Scriptures — God’s revealed word.
The Illogic of this Belief. Those who argue for the complete sovereignty of God [meaning He directs every action, including all sin and all evil] must ignore the fact that this cannot logically be argued from Scripture. In fact, there are occasions when God Himself has said that the actions of some men He “did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind” (Jer. 19:5); now, if God did not command it, and the thought did not even enter into His mind, how could He have directed it to be done? The very definition of sin, as God’s word defines it (1 John 3:4), means man transgresses [goes against] the will of God; if God truly controls every action of man, though, there could be no such thing as sin! You see, if we claim to believe God’s word, and that we believe it to be truth (John 17:17), then we must acknowledge that the words God inspired the various writers to use cannot be contradictory. To say that God is the source of evil is contradictory to Bible teaching about who God is and what He does, and what sin is, so it is thus false teaching.
Furthermore, the psalmist tells us, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways” (Psa. 145:17); this would necessarily eliminate anything that God did as unrighteous or evil. The psalmist also writes by inspiration of God, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness” (Psa. 45:7); and, “there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Psa. 92:15). My friend, if there is no unrighteousness in Him, how could He be the source of it? And, lest someone try to wriggle out of this by saying the righteousness of God is different than the righteousness He expects of man, let us recall that John also wrote by the inspiration of God, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). To claim belief in God and His word and, at the same time, teach that He is the source of evil and suffering is simply illogical and plainly contradicts the Scriptures. This concept is false.
A Blasphemous Doctrine. Let us first clarify the meaning of this word, lest anyone say it is too strong an accusation. Blasphemy is, by definition, any “indignity offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah.” [Webster’s] To say that God — who is love (1 John 4:8), whose mercy is immeasurable (Psa. 103:8-10), who is righteous in all He does (Psa. 145:17), and who cares for the condition of man and seeks His good and His salvation (John 3:16) — is the source of evil would be recognized as blasphemous to any honest observer.
Please don’t conclude that this denies or overrules God’s sovereignty; it is a false claim [the black-or-white fallacy of argument] to say either God controls everything or He is not really sovereign. God most certainly has given man free will to choose good or evil, and his choice does not overrule God in any way because God, in His sovereign power, determined that man would have that freedom of choice [as well as the rewards or consequences of that choice]. Evil and suffering exist because man has free will, and chose evil and sin early in his existence (Gen. 3:1-6). Evil, sin, suffering, and death have existed ever since.
So, where does ‘luck’ come into play? If we consider the second definition as stated at the beginning of this article, we find that God’s word even speaks of such. The wise writer reminds us, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all” (Eccl. 9:11). In other words, regardless of your physical abilities or strength, and regardless of your intelligence and/or education, it is likely that you will experience pretty much what every man on earth will suffer, or has suffered. He had written earlier, “There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous” (Eccl. 8:14). This, my friend, is the reality of life.
No, God has not predetermined all that will ever happen; we who believe in the God of the Bible should stop telling others, “God has a plan for you,” as some sort of false hope that the bad times will eventually turn good, or that some serious illness was meant to be a lesson from God. That is a disgusting picture of our God, and blasphemous, too. Evil is not of God. — Steven Harper
