Orthodox and Muslim alike believe very strongly in this phrase “If God Will’s It” or as other say “In Gods time”. At it’s root this is basically to say that nothing happens be it by the Will of God. But is this just a cop out on claiming responsibility for our own actions? Because I hardly think that God wills that children and women get raped and molested, that God wishes that people get murdered in cold blood. I am sure that God does not will that people divide themselves on matters of faith. I am sure that Gods will is not divided to want one type of people to terrorize one type of people to have them terrorize them back, both claiming that it is God’s will. This sounds more like either a God who is masochistic, or a people refusing to accept responsibility for their own actions. Did God will Adam and Eve to fall at the Garden, or did He give them free will, as well as the consequences of their actions. For if everything was by the will of God we could not convict criminals, we should not shun rapists and child molesters. Could I be accountable for any of the wrongs I have done?
If all that happens is the will of God, then we are but puppets, so why bother even trying?
What say you?
My response is here
I’ve been thinking about this since I read it earlier in the week…and am still not sure how to say what I think. Give me a few more days.
In brief, I tend to not see it used that way, though that may be my not seeing it — it is used more as a comment that something may, or may not, happen: e.g. “God willing, ROCOR and Moscow will enter into full communion later today”. But more thoughts later…
I look forward to them. Anyone else, anyone. Bueller??
Good luck arguing this with a Calvinist. To them, God’s sovereignty takes precedence over all His other attributes (including Justice and Mercy), and the implication is that God wills everything that’s ever happened, whether it’s the death of Christ or the Holocaust. Of course, His reasons for willing it are supposedly “different” (which is supposed to be comforting I think).
Look here: http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/04/25/does-god-decree-sin/
Yet, they say man is “responsible”, even if God ordains how sin is acted out. It sounds confused to me.
A few days, a month…I still haven’t come up with a response that seems adequate. I liked what Huw had to say because it showed how easy it is to let fear run our spiritual life: we need to have holy fear, but God is a God of infinite and unbounded love, and we should (and I need to change my thoughts as much as anyone) primarily love God, not fear him. We will make mistakes, we may fall away even at times, like St Peter; but, by the grace of God, we can get back on track and turn to God once more.
To me, if anyone says, “It was God’s will that he blow himself up / shoot this person / stab a person etc…”, I’d tend to run away as fast as I can. We have got free will [so think I], otherwise we’d be useless automatons incapable of any real love or any real emotion or action at all, and this can be, and is constantly, abused by us. What God desires and what God allows, for the sake of our free will, are to be two very different things.
I have found some interesting text from both Christian and Islamic sources, and it seems to me it comes down to one word to explain the Will of God. Allowance. God allows things to take place. At anytime God can intervene and take control, but more often than not he allows it to happen, hence God gift of Free Will.