THE POWERLESS GOD
    -An Examination of Alternatives resulting from an exercise in
    theological semantics
    
    by Doris E. Howie
    
    Does God send trouble into our lives?  or does He just allow it? 
    If he sends trouble as a means of testing our faith and
    strengthening our walk with Him, then He is all-powerful; but if,
    as some people contend - ardent Christians among them! - He
    only allows it, I have to wonder, "Why?!" 
    
    Does God stand by when we are threatened with disaster
    because He is unwilling to protect us?  Then where is His love,
    the love of John 3:16?  Where is the Keeper Who never slumbers,
    Who said, "Thy foot shall not be moved?"  Do we claim His
    promises in vain when we pray?  Perish the thought!  Then how
    can there be answered prayer?
    
    Does He allow trouble into our lives because He is unable to
    prevent Satan's darts from touching us?   Then when did He lose
    the power that parted the Red Sea, or resurrected His Son?  - or
    was Christ's resurrection necessary because Satan had managed
    to have Him crucified, contrary to the will of God?  Nonsense! -
    for Christ's life, death and resurrection were predicted centuries
    before His birth; God gave His Son to save us from the power of 
    Satan.  Would these quibblers say that Gift was vain?  What
    blasphemy!
    
    Does God stand by, shaking His head and saying, "Alas, poor
    Yorrick, I knew him well!" . . . when a Christian is run over by an
    express train? - and then comfort Himself by saying, ". . . but I ll
    welcome the poor chap at the pearly gates of Heaven, and then
    all will be well!"  What a bizarre concept!
    
    Does He no longer give Satan authority to trouble individuals, as
    He gave him permission to try Job?  Then when did He change
    His mind - He, Who is "the same today as yesterday, our great
    unchanging Lord?"
    
    If God has no power over the rebellious fallen forces of Satan
    that rule this troubled world, is His promised triumphant
    second coming just wishful thinking on His part?  Is the
    outcome of the battle of Armageddon in doubt?  Is He just
    whistling in the dark when He has His Son tell us to "fear not,
    for I am with you, even unto the ends of the world?"   Utter
    nonsense!
    
    What about "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the
    world?"  Is that just an idle boast?  
    
    What kind of  sophistry is this?  How can such an impotent
    caricature of a deity  possibly have created the world and
    ordered the planets in their courses?    Just how powerful is the
    Satan acknowledged by people who follow this impotent God,
    this Supreme Being  Who - they claim!! - watches sorrowfully
    from the sidelines?  Don't they realize that they are questioning
    the word of God when they attribute Satan with the power of life
    and death over the followers of Christ?   No doubt the forces of
    evil are potent and not to be underestimated - the Bible tells us
    that Satan is able to deceive the very elect (and obviously has!) -
    but let's not be like the Israelite spies, going forth to examine
    the terrain ahead and returning to tell our colleagues how
    indefeatable the opposition is!!  Let's arm ourselves with the full
    armour of God and go forward into the battle in certainty of the
    victory, for we are robed in a faith tested in the Great Refiner's
    fire - and Satan is only the Lord's blacksmith, manning the forge
    and inadvertently accomplishing the Lord's ends.  
    
    When my God allows me to be tried by Satan, He yet holds me in
    the palm of His hand, for I am "worth more than many sparrows," and
    "the very hairs of (my) head are numbered."   
    
    And when I emerge from the heat of Satan's blowtorch, I glow
    like blown glass, ready to be filled yet more with the Holy Spirit,
    and eager to do Christ's bidding. 
    
    Our daily skirmishes with Satan's armies are being used of God
    to ready His triumphant forces for the final battle.  Our God is
    NOT impotent, but all-powerful, all-mighty, all-knowing!   Only
    our faith is at fault - and He will correct that, praise His holy
    name, with whatever tools He chooses to use.                                

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Copyright 1994, 1996 by Doris E. Howie, Fullmeasure Farm, R. R. 1, Gorrie, Ontario N0G 1X0
E-mail dhowie@wcl.on.ca
URL: http://www.wcl.on.ca/~dhowie
First publication rights only