Control.

Author's note: I actually wrote this post in early March 2020, but then COVID happened, and it felt like it wasn't the right time. So I put it on the shelf for a bit. And then I forgot about it, and only just found it again. I've edited the pronouns I use for God, but the rest I've left as is. I would probably phrase some of the later paragraphs slightly differently now? This feels a lot - happier and more certain - than I would typically be about things. But thought this was still worth sharing.

I'll also note that this idea isn't mine. I borrowed it from Wm. Paul Young, who talks through it in one of the chapters of his latest book, Lies We Believe About God. As with all his writing, it's challenging and controversial, but I recommend it.
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This is probably going to be slightly controversial - but at the same time, that's about normal for me.

God is in control.

That's what we hear. In songs, from the pulpit, in times of trouble and suffering, we are told, "Don't worry. God is in control."

I want to suggest that this is actually quite false. 

And by that, I don't mean that something or someone else even bigger is in control; nor do I mean that God has no power in the situations that we find ourselves in. Rather, it's a reflection on the nature of control, and the nature of God. So let's look at that, shall we? 

By control, we typically mean that someone, or something, has complete power in a situation - nothing happens without their say so, everything that happens has been okayed by them, they can do anything (within the given constraints). For instance, we might say that our boss has control over us at work, or that a teacher has control over us at school; in a less tangible way, we might say that our wallets or our phones have control over us at times.

It's important to note the difference between power and control. We often assume that the two are identical, or that one implies the other, but that's not always the case. Power is when somebody has the ability to do something in a given situation; however, they may choose to use or not use that power. But if control is not exercised, it is generally seen as being lost.

Now that we've had a look at what control (and power) is, let's look back at God, why they aren't in control, and why that's actually awesome. 

Now, I'm going to assume three things about God. You may disagree with these, but for the purposes of this argument, I'll be using them. 

Firstly, that God is essentially and fundamentally good. That they are, in fact, the origin of good. 

Secondly, that they are all-powerful. In any situation, they have the ability to do all things (barring weird anomalies like making a rock they can't lift); but again, may choose not to exercise this power at their discretion.

Thirdly, that we have been created, in their image, to be in relationship with them; yet they let us choose this freely, rather than making us robots or puppets.

Now, let us think for a moment about what a God that is in complete control would look like. 

They have created the universe, and everything in it, according to their plan. They set the stars and planets in motion, manifest gravity, light, magnetism, time, all in perfect synchronicity. And then....they make people. 

"No! You're not supposed to do that, you were meant to go the other way!" "You idiot! How could you miss that perfectly obvious sign to go and work in Africa?!" "Why do people keep making the wrong choices? I wrote it all down in a book for them!"

Hopefully you get the idea. We can't hold the ideas of a good God, a God who gives us free will, and a God in complete control, all together. We can lose the first, and have a God that is constantly angry and annoyed at their creation (though some might be forgiven for thinking this was true, from some portions of the Old Testament); we can lose the second, and believe that we're actually all robots or puppets (which some Christians do seem to believe); or we can lose the third, which brings us to a different and new understanding of who God is. 

A God who is powerful....without being controlling. 

I think our difficulty comes from the fact that we so often associate control with power. We assume that if someone has total power, then they must also have total control. Because that's what we see on earth, and what we often do. We assume the negative; absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

But if we assume this, then we forget that God is good. Completely, totally, good. Not just sometimes or a little bit, but always and completely. And so they have no desire to be in control. They have complete power; but because they have created us, and want to be in relationship with us, they don't use that over us.

You can't be in a relationship with someone that you have control over. Some would say that you can't be in relationship with someone that you have power over, either; but you can. If you choose not to use that power in that relationship, without the permission of the other person. 

And so, this is what God does. And this is what we saw Jesus doing. He didn't try and remove himself from the chaos and mess of society; on the contrary, he immersed himself in it. He would share food and drink with "sinners". He sat with the lost and the broken. And when others came against him, he didn't strive to be the loudest voice (though he could if he wanted to) - he was gentle, submissive, loving. He did not come to be served, but to serve....

But, you say. What about when I'm in a bad situation? What about when I'm suffering? Can't God help me? If they're not in control, what can they do? 

Never make the mistake of thinking "not in control" means "not powerful". God can help you in your situation, and it's what they love to do. Whatever your situation is, they are with you in it, and able to help you in ways that you cannot fathom or imagine - because they are powerful, and good, and they love you. Not because they are in control. But at the same time, just because they are powerful, doesn't mean they will do exactly what you want them to do. God is many things, but a wish fairy is not one of them. Neither are they Santa. 

They work in all situations, but often not in ways we expect, or even understand, potentially until much later.

But why is this so important? You might ask. Why is this so good? Well, if we have a God who is completely in control; then that means they are responsible for everything that comes our way. Not just the blessings, the joy, the good things - but also the bad as well. If God is in control, then you have to believe that God either lets it all happen, or even caused it to happen themselves. That's rather difficult (or impossible) to reconcile with a God who is good. And so many Christians are left believing that God is either not as good as they thought - or that all the terrible things that they are experiencing are actually, somehow, good things, and they just can't see it yet. 

But that's a load of trash. God is good. And things in life can be bad - sometimes really bad. The fact that God can make something good out of it doesn't make the original thing good; in fact, it can often highlight just how bad it was. The cross is a classic example. It was a horrific Roman torture device, and one of the worst and most painful ways to die. Yet, through the sacrifice of Jesus, it has also come to be known as a symbol of love, new life, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. That's pretty impressive. 

So, to sum up - God isn't in control. But that's actually a great thing. Because it means that they are good, and that they choose to be in relationship with us, despite our mess of choices. And I think that's rather incredible.