How involved is God?

[Dante]

There are two views that are prominent among people regarding God's involvement in humanity as a whole. If there are more than these two then I beg of you to post them, but essentially the ones I want to bring to your attention are:

1. God is actively involved in every aspect of His creation - He built it and is in control of moving all the mechanics of it to make sure it moves smoothly. Also, He is personally involved in every single person's life who is alive today.

2. God created the universe but has taken a "hands off" approach to it. In other words, He set it up so that it runs on its own, and has now stepped back away from it for things to operate how ever things turn out. He has tuned the universe to operate according to certain laws so that certain actions trigger a reaction, and He has no need to be personally involved in people's lives because He has set up the rules of the universe to take care of themselves.

Which view do you take, and why?

[Amanah]

Since the Bible says those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God, I'm thinking he's got to be pretty involved.

And since the Church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is the head of the Church, he's got to be pretty involved.

[Dante]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Since the Bible says those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God, I'm thinking he's got to be pretty involved.

And since the Church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is the head of the Church, he's got to be pretty involved.

How involved is God in the case of a young slave girl who has been sold in to prostitution?

[Amanah]

I don't have the answers. But I do know that Jesus put man in the garden to tend it and keep it. And He did give men freedom of choice to sin or live for him. So, why are we (mankind) allowing young slave girls to be sold into prostitution? because we are rejecting God.

[Dante]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I don't have the answers. But I do know that Jesus put man in the garden to tend it and keep it. And He did give men freedom of choice to sin or live for him. So, why are we (mankind) allowing young slave girls to be sold into prostitution? because we are rejecting God.

But if you argue that God is involved in the life of the Church, since He is the head of it, why is He not as involved in the lives of unbelievers?

That makes your argument to say that God is only active in a select few, which albeit He is still active, but that limits God in the grand scheme of being involved in all of His creation.

[Dedicated Mind]

i agree with amanah that god is involved in the destiny of the church and the destiny of individuals that can bring about god's prophetic plan. cyrus, jeremiah, moses, esther are ot examples. i don't think that every experience is predestined. god can make evil work for our good. so i'm in the middle. god is not involved in every detail, but is involved in bringing about a masterplan that is prophesied.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Dante

But if you argue that God is involved in the life of the Church, since He is the head of it, why is He not as involved in the lives of unbelievers?

That makes your argument to say that God is only active in a select few, which albeit He is still active, but that limits God in the grand scheme of being involved in all of His creation.

there is freewill. god is not involved in allowing child abuse in order to form character. that is an example where god is not involved. moses being raised and educated in the house of pharoah, he is involved. there must be a balance between sovereignty and free will.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I'll have to think on this one.

[Orthodoxy]

“There is no maverick molecule if God is sovereign.” - R.C. Sproul

Check out this short devotional. You may not agree, but it makes you think:

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devoti...s-sovereignty/

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Dante

There are two views that are prominent among people regarding God's involvement in humanity as a whole. If there are more than these two then I beg of you to post them, but essentially the ones I want to bring to your attention are:

1. God is actively involved in every aspect of His creation - He built it and is in control of moving all the mechanics of it to make sure it moves smoothly. Also, He is personally involved in every single person's life who is alive today.

2. God created the universe but has taken a "hands off" approach to it. In other words, He set it up so that it runs on its own, and has now stepped back away from it for things to operate how ever things turn out. He has tuned the universe to operate according to certain laws so that certain actions trigger a reaction, and He has no need to be personally involved in people's lives because He has set up the rules of the universe to take care of themselves.

Which view do you take, and why?

My view changes depending on the position the sun appears to be in the sky... (On a side note I about worded that "the position of the sun is in the sky"... While not technically true it is an often used way of saying what I wanted to say. I think a persons reading of the bible often suffers from a similar phenomenon... As such we should be careful about drawing conclusions and inferences from passages in the bible when those conclusions and inferences have nothing to do with the actual topic the bible is addressing in a particular passage.)