_GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?
_Ever since the events of September 11, almost daily violence is either being
done or being exposed related either directly or indirectly to religion.
Whether it's perpetrated by Islamic zeal, Palestinian revenge, or Zionist
resolve, we are being bombarded by the disputes of Abraham's sons. Recently
we have also seen news, the most heinous in nature, of perpetrators on trial
for murder and mistreatment of children, and even bizarre disrepect for the
deceased unequaled since the holocaust. All of the above have served to
bring much reproach upon God's name, and a sense of bewilderment and anger
upon victims who are left to struggle with questions of why it happened.
If you have been disillusioned or offended by things that have been done in
the name of God in whom you may or may not believe, I ask for your forgiveness
on behalf of the church. You can be assured that in most cases people do not
fully realize what they are doing. If they did, they would show appropriate
regard for the eternal weight of their actions.
God cares very much when innocent people are hurt. When we get ourselves into
trouble, we do so usually by choice. The same is true for the innocent who
are violated - others have made the choices that have impacted them in a
defiling way.
Bible teachers often stress the sovereignty of God, and while this is completely
true, the unsaved are left to ponder "if God is sovereign, why does He choose
to let people suffer?"
God has chosen for redemptive reasons to limit His activities in the earth to that
which is done by the Holy Spirit through the Lord Jesus. This is the purpose of
prayer and communion with Him. Every believer is called to get actively involved
in seeking, hearing, and declaring God's will in the earth. What is commonly known
as "The Lord's Prayer" is a model for this union of man's faith touching the
purposes of God and the kingdom of heaven (Matt 6:9-15). We get ourselves into trouble
when a heavier emphasis is placed upon debate rather than a demonstration of faith
and the power of God. We traded our perfect relationship with God for knowledge
at the fall, and we've been avoiding His Holy Presence ever since. It's still part
of man's sin nature to be lured toward knowlege. Knowlege causes us to feel a "lift"
in our pride. Being in God's Presence on the other hand often causes us to see
our sin. It's not unusual to weep when the Presence of God falls heavily in a meeting
or during our personal time with Him. We opt for what makes us more comfortable
- distance, doctrine and debate. However, the doctrinal arrows we shoot reveal
the hidden secrets in our hearts.
An avoidance of the true Presence of God will surely lead to a moral or ethical
failure sooner or later. We can be encouraged that the reverse is also true - no matter
how much we have been hurt or have hurt others, there is opportunity for healing
in that same Presence. God has desired fellowship with man since creation.
He hasn't changed His mind, and He sent His Son, Yeshua, to prove it.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through Him might be saved.
John 15:4-5
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in Me, and I in him,
the same bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
February 24, 2002
done or being exposed related either directly or indirectly to religion.
Whether it's perpetrated by Islamic zeal, Palestinian revenge, or Zionist
resolve, we are being bombarded by the disputes of Abraham's sons. Recently
we have also seen news, the most heinous in nature, of perpetrators on trial
for murder and mistreatment of children, and even bizarre disrepect for the
deceased unequaled since the holocaust. All of the above have served to
bring much reproach upon God's name, and a sense of bewilderment and anger
upon victims who are left to struggle with questions of why it happened.
If you have been disillusioned or offended by things that have been done in
the name of God in whom you may or may not believe, I ask for your forgiveness
on behalf of the church. You can be assured that in most cases people do not
fully realize what they are doing. If they did, they would show appropriate
regard for the eternal weight of their actions.
God cares very much when innocent people are hurt. When we get ourselves into
trouble, we do so usually by choice. The same is true for the innocent who
are violated - others have made the choices that have impacted them in a
defiling way.
Bible teachers often stress the sovereignty of God, and while this is completely
true, the unsaved are left to ponder "if God is sovereign, why does He choose
to let people suffer?"
God has chosen for redemptive reasons to limit His activities in the earth to that
which is done by the Holy Spirit through the Lord Jesus. This is the purpose of
prayer and communion with Him. Every believer is called to get actively involved
in seeking, hearing, and declaring God's will in the earth. What is commonly known
as "The Lord's Prayer" is a model for this union of man's faith touching the
purposes of God and the kingdom of heaven (Matt 6:9-15). We get ourselves into trouble
when a heavier emphasis is placed upon debate rather than a demonstration of faith
and the power of God. We traded our perfect relationship with God for knowledge
at the fall, and we've been avoiding His Holy Presence ever since. It's still part
of man's sin nature to be lured toward knowlege. Knowlege causes us to feel a "lift"
in our pride. Being in God's Presence on the other hand often causes us to see
our sin. It's not unusual to weep when the Presence of God falls heavily in a meeting
or during our personal time with Him. We opt for what makes us more comfortable
- distance, doctrine and debate. However, the doctrinal arrows we shoot reveal
the hidden secrets in our hearts.
An avoidance of the true Presence of God will surely lead to a moral or ethical
failure sooner or later. We can be encouraged that the reverse is also true - no matter
how much we have been hurt or have hurt others, there is opportunity for healing
in that same Presence. God has desired fellowship with man since creation.
He hasn't changed His mind, and He sent His Son, Yeshua, to prove it.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through Him might be saved.
John 15:4-5
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in Me, and I in him,
the same bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
February 24, 2002