- Mar 4, 2005
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Ok, I wasn’t going to come back here just yet – and certainly not to post anything. But I have been thinking about the following and feel I should write something.
First of all let me say that there are a lot of occasions recorded in Scripture where people were promised things by God but had to wait for that promise to be fulfilled. Some never even saw it in their lifetimes. Abraham had to wait 90 odd years before God promised him that he would have many descendants, he tried to hurry things along but was told that the Lord would give him another child through whom the promise would be fulfilled. David was told that God wanted him to be king and was anointed by Samuel. But Saul was still alive, and David chose to wait for God’s timing rather than fulfil the promise by his own means. Jesus may have known who he was at the age of 12; he had to wait another 18 odd years before he could begin his public ministry. Hebrews 11 lists many others, people who prophesied about the Messiah, foresaw a time when God would make a new covenant with his people, but went to their graves with that promise unfulfilled. They were commended for their faith because they proclaimed what God had said and rejoiced that it would happen even though they did not see evidence of it. We also believe the promise that Jesus will return one day, but we have not seen it yet.
Why is it so different when it comes to healing? In my own case, I have said that the Lord has told me he will make me whole, but I haven’t yet been granted physical healing. I have said that the Lord will give this in his own time, and that he has a purpose in not doing so immediately.
This apparently is unacceptable, and the words “torturer” and “child abuser” have been used in response to such a statement, as though that’s what we who say such things are accusing God of being. So let’s consider both.
Why do people torture, either each other or animals? I would say for one or more of the following reasons:
- The torturee has some information that they refuse to divulge or has committed a crime they refuse to confess to.
- The torturer is cruel and enjoys inflicting pain.
- The torturer is insecure and needs to feel he, or she, has power over others, which they do by inducing fear.
- The torture has a foul temper, possibly fuelled by drink or drugs, but tends to blame others for his/her inadequacies or lack of restraint.
Similarly, why do people abuse children?
- Because they hate them.
- Because the children are not their own, they see them as inconveniences and have no love or responsibility for them.
- Because they see children as weak and insignificant with no rights or feelings.
- Because they believe that the child only exists as an object for sexual pleasure, a focus for their own hang ups, or as someone who will fetch and carry for the adult.
In both cases the motives are hatred, fear, inadequacy, a desire to hurt or gratify their own desires.
Which of these applies to God? The answer – obviously – is none of them. God’s motives are only good, God is love, God wants to build up, not destroy. And even if really bad things happen to us which he has not prevented, and does not remove, he’s not rubbing his hands with glee and thinking “that’ll show them, they have to worship me now”, or “I’ll teach the wretched creatures to disobey me.” He gives us his Spirit, his strength, his peace, his comfort to be able to bear the situation and promises that it will never separate us from his love. Doesn’t sound like torture to me.
I’m not going to stick around to debate this, though I might pop in to read some of the replies. It may be rejected, disintegrate into another slanging match and be closed. It may help some people who are waiting for the promise of physical healing to be fulfilled and are hurting in the meantime. It may be dismissed as an attempt to justify my non healing and the charge of being “faithless”. So be it. I wanted to post this for the sake of those who are concerned at the terms “torturer” and “child abuser” being aimed at God, and because I feel that waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled is a valid concept. I know some of you are convinced it was fulfilled on the cross and therefore I am talking nonsense. But not all Christians are healed, and those who say that God is “allowing” something to remain or is delaying his actions, are not blasphemers and should not be accused as such.
First of all let me say that there are a lot of occasions recorded in Scripture where people were promised things by God but had to wait for that promise to be fulfilled. Some never even saw it in their lifetimes. Abraham had to wait 90 odd years before God promised him that he would have many descendants, he tried to hurry things along but was told that the Lord would give him another child through whom the promise would be fulfilled. David was told that God wanted him to be king and was anointed by Samuel. But Saul was still alive, and David chose to wait for God’s timing rather than fulfil the promise by his own means. Jesus may have known who he was at the age of 12; he had to wait another 18 odd years before he could begin his public ministry. Hebrews 11 lists many others, people who prophesied about the Messiah, foresaw a time when God would make a new covenant with his people, but went to their graves with that promise unfulfilled. They were commended for their faith because they proclaimed what God had said and rejoiced that it would happen even though they did not see evidence of it. We also believe the promise that Jesus will return one day, but we have not seen it yet.
Why is it so different when it comes to healing? In my own case, I have said that the Lord has told me he will make me whole, but I haven’t yet been granted physical healing. I have said that the Lord will give this in his own time, and that he has a purpose in not doing so immediately.
This apparently is unacceptable, and the words “torturer” and “child abuser” have been used in response to such a statement, as though that’s what we who say such things are accusing God of being. So let’s consider both.
Why do people torture, either each other or animals? I would say for one or more of the following reasons:
- The torturee has some information that they refuse to divulge or has committed a crime they refuse to confess to.
- The torturer is cruel and enjoys inflicting pain.
- The torturer is insecure and needs to feel he, or she, has power over others, which they do by inducing fear.
- The torture has a foul temper, possibly fuelled by drink or drugs, but tends to blame others for his/her inadequacies or lack of restraint.
Similarly, why do people abuse children?
- Because they hate them.
- Because the children are not their own, they see them as inconveniences and have no love or responsibility for them.
- Because they see children as weak and insignificant with no rights or feelings.
- Because they believe that the child only exists as an object for sexual pleasure, a focus for their own hang ups, or as someone who will fetch and carry for the adult.
In both cases the motives are hatred, fear, inadequacy, a desire to hurt or gratify their own desires.
Which of these applies to God? The answer – obviously – is none of them. God’s motives are only good, God is love, God wants to build up, not destroy. And even if really bad things happen to us which he has not prevented, and does not remove, he’s not rubbing his hands with glee and thinking “that’ll show them, they have to worship me now”, or “I’ll teach the wretched creatures to disobey me.” He gives us his Spirit, his strength, his peace, his comfort to be able to bear the situation and promises that it will never separate us from his love. Doesn’t sound like torture to me.
I’m not going to stick around to debate this, though I might pop in to read some of the replies. It may be rejected, disintegrate into another slanging match and be closed. It may help some people who are waiting for the promise of physical healing to be fulfilled and are hurting in the meantime. It may be dismissed as an attempt to justify my non healing and the charge of being “faithless”. So be it. I wanted to post this for the sake of those who are concerned at the terms “torturer” and “child abuser” being aimed at God, and because I feel that waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled is a valid concept. I know some of you are convinced it was fulfilled on the cross and therefore I am talking nonsense. But not all Christians are healed, and those who say that God is “allowing” something to remain or is delaying his actions, are not blasphemers and should not be accused as such.
