God Is In Control - What Meanest Thou?

[victoryword]

We have a lot of Christian "catch phrases" that we toss around without even thinking. While I can list several of them, one of them has some very strong theological implications. The one that I am talking about is the statement "God is in control." I hear Christians, and preachers of almost all theological persuasions make this statement.

If some tragedy comes into a person's life, people attempt to comfort them with the words, "God is in control." If a person is facing trying circumstances, they are told, "Don't worry, God is in control." If a person receives a blessing, they are told, "God is in control."

I am interested in what that statement means to those of you who like to use it. What Scriptures do you see supports this statement? How do you feel that God is in control in spite of the rampant sin, misery, poverty, tragedy, murder, rape, and other heartbreaking things happening in our world today?

Just interested in your thoughts.

 

[Iddie4him]

What we mean is that GOD IS IN CONTROL of our lives 24/7/365. He gave us a brain to think with, A heart to feel with, and a body to make us mobile. He is in control, We are his divine creations and we have all the gifts that he gave to us. If you don't want to believe that God is in control, Thats up to you. I have had surgery on my back recently and am facing another in the end of january, I know that God is in control, cause he allowed me to function almost normally for 5 weeks before another disk decided to pop outta place. That was the first time in almost a year that I could walk and move with no pain. Now, IS GOD IN CONTROL ? I say emphaticlly YES!!! This is His way of telling me that I need to take a break and spend more quality family time, Instead of working 70- 80 hours a week like I did. I have had the opportunity to be with my son everyday for 11 months now and watch him grow. He is now almost 18 months old and I sure wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

 

[victoryword]

If you don't want to believe that God is in control, Thats up to you.

Perhaps some of us have the constitutional right to develop a certain philosophy or catch phrase. Often we may do this based on certain experiences as described in your post. Nevertheless, I personally try to develop any personal theology base solely on SCRIPTURE vice experience.

The experience factor can go both ways. The atheist or the agnostic disputes the "God is in control" phrase based on their experience. When they have seen young men die horrible deaths as a result of war, or some of them have seen their children die a tragic death as the result of a drunk driver or a pedophiler, they may ask, "How is this God in control?" When people see the horror in this world they are told that God is in control, they want nothing to do with a God whose control seems to be out of control.

Even if we limit the application to our individual lives there are still questions that raises some doubts. For example, is God in control when I sin? Is God in control when I fail to pray? Is God in control when I am not trusting Him to keep His promises?

What I am interested in is HOW is God in control when things go contrary to His revealed will and what part of the Bible sufficiently advocates this statement?

 

[Iddie4him]

Just because all these bad things happen, What makes you think that God is allowing it to happen ? God is in a neverending war with Satan trying to stop all the disease, strife, death, and whatever is not Pure and Holy and Just, Of any virtue or any Praise. Basiclly saying "Garbage in, Garbage Out". We bring on alot of our own misery, When we doubt what God can do for us. He can heal us of anything, All we have to do is ask for his healing touch. Satan has such a stronghold in todays day and age, Only because we allow him to get a fingerhold or toehold and it wreaks havoc with everything. We as christains need to be more resistent to his tricks and subtle deceitful ways. This is the only way to keep him at bay and prevent him from ruining our lives.


Philippians 4:8-9 says : Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you always.

 

[Duggie]

When I hear the phrase God is in control, if I'm being honest, it's generally been at a time in my life when it seemed that God wasn't in control. For example a serious illness. Now let me just say right off the bat that yes, ultimately, God is in control of our lives, but to what extent? When I was ill I knew that the onus was on me to stir up my faith and get into that place of believing God for my healing. For me to say that God was in control at a specific time in my life when I battled with pain and underwent numerous operations etc... is implying that God is the author of my condition and is somehow controlling my sickness as if it were part of His will for my life.
I really can't see it like that.
I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.(phil 4:13) God has allowed us control over every aspect of our lives. If I walk out of God's will, is He in control? I know God's desire for my life based upon what His Word says. God is in control of my life when I am walking in His will and stepping in faith.
I'm not for a moment implying that when I was ill God wasn't there bringing me through it. He gave me the strength to believe that I would be healed and encouraged me and sustained me. In faith I have to take control, whilst still submitting to God's authority. Peace!!!

 

[Big Mouth Nana]

We have a lot of Christian "catch phrases" that we toss around without even thinking. While I can list several of them, one of them has some very strong theological implications. The one that I am talking about is the statement "God is in control." I hear Christians, and preachers of almost all theological persuasions make this statement.

If some tragedy comes into a person's life, people attempt to comfort them with the words, "God is in control." If a person is facing trying circumstances, they are told, "Don't worry, God is in control." If a person receives a blessing, they are told, "God is in control."

I am interested in what that statement means to those of you who like to use it. What Scriptures do you see supports this statement? How do you feel that God is in control in spite of the rampant sin, misery, poverty, tragedy, murder, rape, and other heartbreaking things happening in our world today?

Just interested in your thoughts.

It is probably about the same thing as the comment that I use, "God is still on the throne". As long as He is still on the throne, He is is in control. If he wasn't in control, then this world would be in worse shape then it already is, and the devil would be controlling everything.
God is in control over the devil also. Like in the case of Job. God told satan, all that he hath is in they power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand ~ Job 1:12....so satan just about wiped out everything near and dear to Job. In Job 3:6 And the Lord said unto satan, behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life...so satan gave him boils, but didn't kill him. Satan can try to do whatever to us, but God still calls the shots.
It is up to us as a believer to call the shots over the devil also. We have been given that power also through the blood of Jesus, Luke 10:19. If God wasn't in control, none of us Christians would be saved. If God wasn't in control, there would be no earth, no people, ....NO NOTHING. God and Control are synonamous.

 

[Photini]

I take it to mean that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle (1 Cor 10:13), and that all things work out for the good for those who seek the Lord, and trust in His divine Providence ( I like Ps. 34). Remembering that God is not limited by time can be a great comfort.

 

[Big Mouth Nana]

I take it to mean that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle (1 Cor 10:13), and that all things work out for the good for those who seek the Lord, and trust in His divine Providence ( I like Ps. 34). Remembering that God is not limited by time can be a great comfort.

That is correct. Short and to the point!!! .

 

[victoryword]

Just because all these bad things happen, What makes you think that God is allowing it to happen ? God is in a neverending war with Satan trying to stop all the disease, strife, death, and whatever is not Pure and Holy and Just, Of any virtue or any Praise. Basiclly saying "Garbage in, Garbage Out". We bring on alot of our own misery, When we doubt what God can do for us. He can heal us of anything, All we have to do is ask for his healing touch. Satan has such a stronghold in todays day and age, Only because we allow him to get a fingerhold or toehold and it wreaks havoc with everything. We as christains need to be more resistent to his tricks and subtle deceitful ways. This is the only way to keep him at bay and prevent him from ruining our lives.


Philippians 4:8-9 says : Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you always.

First of all, you are preaching to the choir. I advocate a strong faith message and I believe that man can volitionally exercise faith in God's promises and expect God to move on his behalf in every situation.

However, if you believe as you state in your post above (and I am in 100% agreement with what you wrote) then for you to use the phrase, "God is in control" is somewhat contradictory.

By His Grace used a phrase that I think sounds so much better, which is "God is still on the throne." Now this phrase I can agree with because it is more in libne with Scripture. While God, who is omnipotent, could quite easily exercise unilateral control over every situation, He does not do that. God has given man, angels, and devils free moral agency. We can choose to do His will or rebel. To say that He is in control would be to contradict this very belief.

God is in AUTHORITY. He COMMANDS but He doesn't CONTROL. I have control over my car. My car has no ability to rebel against me. I can make my car take me wherever I want it to go and it cannot protest. I have authority over my children. I do NOT control them. I can tell my children what to do. They have the ability to obey or rebel. Rebellion of course comes with consequences, but that does not take away the ability.

In my opinion, control and authority are two different things. While I do NOT by any means agree with By His Grace's conclusions, I do like the one phrase that was given in this person's post, which is "God is still on the throne."

 

[victoryword]

It is probably about the same thing as the comment that I use, "God is still on the throne". As long as He is still on the throne, He is is in control. If he wasn't in control, then this world would be in worse shape then it already is, and the devil would be controlling everything.
God is in control over the devil also. Like in the case of Job. God told satan, all that he hath is in they power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand ~ Job 1:12....so satan just about wiped out everything near and dear to Job. In Job 3:6 And the Lord said unto satan, behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life...so satan gave him boils, but didn't kill him. Satan can try to do whatever to us, but God still calls the shots.
It is up to us as a believer to call the shots over the devil also. We have been given that power also through the blood of Jesus, Luke 10:19. If God wasn't in control, none of us Christians would be saved. If God wasn't in control, there would be no earth, no people, ....NO NOTHING. God and Control are synonamous.

Wow, I types a whole response to you and when I submitted it, I lost it. Don't feel like typing it again right now. Perhaps I'll get back to you later.

 

[RevKidd]

"God is in Control"
"God is on the Throne"

Excellent topic VW. This brings about some intresting thinking.

I like both phrases. To me, and IMO, to say that God is not in control of everything takes away his divine attributes (Omniscience, etc...).

Things happen in this world that appear to be in contradiction to God's will, but I don't believe that it is happening outside of his will. God's will ultimately involves the spiritual and not the physical.

 

[Anthony]

God's in control?

Does God choose to be in control of everything 24/7?

Just as a parent controls the life of an infant, they eventually let the child loose.


I don't think God is a control freak

 

[Iddie4him]

VW, You are so misinformed and your sight is so jaded by believing what you want to believe. God is in Control of my life, He choose to have me deal with back problems. He has a greater purpose for me and it obviously isn't working as a Structural Steel Inspector or as a Structural Steel Fabricator. 23 years combined in these fields has trashed my back. I KNOW and believe that there is something else for me and God hasn't chosen to reveal to me what that purpose is just yet.
So, If you want to debate the issue, I'm not gonna fall for it, I post what I feel in my heart is the truth.

 

[RevKidd]

VW, You are so misinformed and your sight is so jaded by believing what you want to believe. God is in Control of my life, He choose to have me deal with back problems. He has a greater purpose for me and it obviously isn't working as a Structural Steel Inspector or as a Structural Steel Fabricator. 23 years combined in these fields has trashed my back. I KNOW and believe that there is something else for me and God hasn't chosen to reveal to me what that purpose is just yet.
So, If you want to debate the issue, I'm not gonna fall for it, I post what I feel in my heart is the truth.

Iddie, God has chosen for you to spend eternity in heaven with Him. That's what he wants from all of us. Your back will be healed. Maybe not here, but in Heaven you will experience that healing, PRAISE HIS NAME.

When God calls us home to be with him, then we will know what his "Will" is. IMO we worry way to much about what His "will" on earth is. We will know that God has been and always will be in control.

This earth is finite, I choose to lay up my treasure in the infinite. So why worry about things in this world? They are going to happen. That's the bottom line. Hurt, pain, stress, it all happens to us. But the one thing that I have hope for is that I have an eternal existance with the almighty creator, who, through his word and His Son, has granted me that gift of eternal life. And when that happens, all those things that happened here on earth will be forgotten..

 

[Iddie4him]

Nice Post there, Very Insightful.
I believe that I will spend eternity in heaven, But, I need to keep this tired, old, broken down body to keep going till the day that I die, and can hear my Lord and Saviour say, Come home my Child, It is Time.

 

[victoryword]

VW, You are so misinformed and your sight is so jaded by believing what you want to believe. God is in Control of my life, He choose to have me deal with back problems. He has a greater purpose for me and it obviously isn't working as a Structural Steel Inspector or as a Structural Steel Fabricator. 23 years combined in these fields has trashed my back. I KNOW and believe that there is something else for me and God hasn't chosen to reveal to me what that purpose is just yet.
So, If you want to debate the issue, I'm not gonna fall for it, I post what I feel in my heart is the truth.

I believe what Scripture says Iddie. If you want to believe that God has chosen you to deal with back pains then...

I'll choose to claim God's promises for healing.

Ciaio

 

[Duggie]

Nice Post there, Very Insightful.
I believe that I will spend eternity in heaven, But, I need to keep this tired, old, broken down body to keep going till the day that I die, and can hear my Lord and Saviour say, Come home my Child, It is Time.

I have total empathy with what your saying Iddie, but I guess I have a question for you. It's actually two questions. 1) Do you think it's God's will that you remain in pain physically? and 2) Do you pray for your healing? For some christians seeking healing is not a priority. Interested to hear what you think. Peace!!!

 

[Anthony]

For some christians seeking healing is not a priority.

I guess that would apply to the Apostle Paul, who dealt with his illness throughout the New Testament until his death.

 

[Photini]

I attend a Greek Orthodox Church (BTW, thanks for always being so welcoming to me in your forum area )....One of the "names" we have for Christ is the Pantokrator, or He Who holds it all. He is the Creator and Sustainer of life. The air that moves in and out of my lungs, every beat of my heart, no leaf falls to the ground without His knowledge of it. His knowledge is perfect in every way, and beyond what I can understand. To me, that is being in control when we talk about God. I don't see it in the same way as I am in control of a puppet or something.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

I guess that would apply to the Apostle Paul, who dealt with his illness throughout the New Testament until his death.

I'm curious Anthony. . .where does it say it was a sickness and where does it say it was there until his death?