Q&A from Sunday’s Message on Habakkuk
Going to three services meant that we had to shorten our service by 10 minutes. So, we decided not to do Q&A on week 1 of Habakkuk: When God Seems Unfair during the service. We’ll be back this week. In the meantime, here are some of the best questions from Sunday morning:
Q: “I believe God never puts you in a situation you can’t get out of.”
A: I’d say “yes” and “no.” Eventually, we will find ourselves in a situation we can’t get out of…death and taxes come to mind. Sometimes, things go bad to the point that wishing the situation away won’t do much of anything. However, the Bible tells us that God will not allow us to be tempted to the point that we are unable to stand up against it. Check out 1 Corinthians 10:12-14, especially verse 13:
12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. 13 But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
Q: I want to forgive God. But, why does that phrase seem wrong to me?
A: For any number of reasons, we can feel wronged by God. I must have had a half dozen people talk to me on Sunday about how they had been in “the dip” because of the premature loss of a spouse, child, or close friend. I would say that in those times, it would be absolutely natural to question God.
Why does the phrase seem wrong? Because He is God, our creator who is perfect and who never makes a mistake. That doesn’t prohibit us from questioning. But, that may be one of the reasons you feel odd. You may have also been taught that it is never appropriate to question God or any authority figure. Entire books on the Christian market are dedicated to tell you NOT to question authority. I don’t see that modeled by Jesus, Thomas, Job, the Lamentations, a third of the Book of Psalms, and the Dsiciples.
Sometimes, they got in trouble for questioning with a wrong heart. But, I simply don’t see a philosophy of blind followership in the Scriptures.
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What if you question GOD but there is no response? To this day I question HIM about my life and everything that has happened. Still I do forgive HIM even when I get mad.
Comment by Ela | September 17, 2008 |
When I have deep talks with pastors that are close to me, one of the things I share is that sometimes, I feel like I’m spiritually tone deaf. My two thoughts are:
A: I can be a better listener. God is probably speaking to me more than I realize and through people and circumstance. I’m busy, closed minded, and hard headed. I’m trying to practice listening to God better in my prayer time. I shouldn’t be doing all the talking.
B. I think sometimes God is silent. During those times, I am forced to lean on what He has taught me in the past and is actively teaching me in that moment. I’m stretched when I come to decision points without significant direction and make a choice based on the information I have.
There might be a third response concerning God’s seeming lack of response…the same as God’s response to Habakkuk. In a moment where everything was going wrong and Habakkuk was question, God basically said, “be amazed…I’d tell you why you should be amazed. But, if I did, you wouldn’t believe me.”
This would be a good moment to insert some trite comment about Ivan or your lungs. But, it would just be some pat answer that is dished out by well meaning friends who pat you on the back and tell you “God must have needed him more than us.” That’s silly and more hurtful than helpful
At the end of the day, we just don’t know why God does or allows some things. In those moments, we have to trust that as our Heavenly Father, He knows where He s taking us.
In the meantime, allow that conflict drive you to conversations with Him…even if they involve you being mad.
Much love!
Comment by travjohnson | September 17, 2008 |
It’s pretty easy to see Ela Bella… you accomplish more kingdom work with a limted capacity by 9:00am than most of us able bodied saints ever “intend” to do. If we aren’t seeing your lead and inspired by it then we’re truly the ones with the disability.
“You were appointed for such a time as this”.
~Billy
Comment by Bill Finch | September 17, 2008 |
My thoughts on “forgiving God”? To forgive implies that the one being forgiven-in this case, God-needs forgiveness because they have erred. God does not err, hence, He needs no forgiveness. We must accept that He works in ways beyond our understanding and many times we must come to a point of accepting that we may never understand what He is doing in our lives until we stand in eternity. But to forgive Him? i do not think my perfect God needs forgiveness from this imperfect mortal with such limited understanding.
I think of the time my little girl told me she forgave me for correcting her, when she was clearly in need of discipline. She didn’t understand that I had to stop her in her tracks to keep her from harm. She just knew that I hurt her feelings, and assumed that it was I who was in the wrong so she “forgave” me. She didn’t realize that I was wiser, I was working for her good and I was not in error, but she was. I think we operate the same way. To forgive God, perhaps unconsciously assuming He is in the wrong, lifts the burden of guilt from our shoulders and places it on His, then tells Him you will not hold Him accountable for His wrong. I truly believe there is no place for forgiving God. However, I do believe, wholeheartedly, there is a lifetime of opportunity to pour your heart out to God to seek His face, His will, even in times when you cannot understand His workings in your life.
Comment by sarahslaughter | September 17, 2008 |
Sarah,
God is indeed perfect. He makes no mistakes. But, if everything in your life was taken from you, as it was taken from Job or others, you may be in the position to forgive God.
Comment by Travis Johnson | September 17, 2008 |
I still disagree. Question God? Yes. Wonder if He loved me? Definitely. But forgive Him? I’ll never be in a position where I am able to grant Him my forgiveness. What is your Scriptural basis for offering God my forgiveness?
Comment by sarahslaughter | September 18, 2008 |
Sarah,
God has never failed me…or any of us. We, on the other hand have failed Him many times. The purpose of Jesus dying is to make a way for us to find forgiveness FROM Him.
While God is perfect and in need of no forgiveness from us. We are not perfect, cannot see perfectly, do not understand fully, and are certainly not God. As a result, we do not understand the “whys” of life and may find ourselves in a position where we have a need to forgive God.
There is no Scriptural support for God needing forgiveness. And, I’ve not asserted that. But, there may be an emotional need for someone to forgive God. If I’d have ever lost a child or my spouse through the unjust actions of someone else, that emotional reality would certainly be mine.
Comment by Travis Johnson | September 18, 2008 |
Oh….and thanks, Sarah for the good discussion.
Comment by Travis Johnson | September 18, 2008 |
Very good discussion ..I would like to add that after reading all of this it was like wow forgive God for what what Has He done..my conclusion is He has not done anything that we need to forgive him nevertheless,
asking God for forgiveness for whatever reason we do is not because He did or didnt do something I believe that it is a step for us as individuals due to whatever situation we are in..for instance have you ever had unforgiveness in your heart I know I have and at times that unforgivess was put there because of something or someone I felt was to blame and this unforgivess when not dealt with begins to built walls and destroys you not the one you are blaming so when you come to a place that it is you that must take action and say i forgive you I am allowing this wall to be broken and be set free that when i agree to voice it if you in yourself feel that God needs forgiveness then do it spend time with God and allow those feelings to be released and feast on the embrace and presence of God for it is us that bind ourselves when we let unforgiveness dwell in us and alot of times we have unforgiveness towards someone that actually did not intent to do things they did we must look at thewhole picture before we begin to or allow unforgiveness an opportunity to come in …in the Lords prayer we ask God to help us to forgive and ask Him to forgive us…nevertheless what I am saying is that to heal from any hurt we must take that step regardless if the one we seek forgivenness from needs it or not for ultimately it is us that need to be set free…
I chose to forgive the man that tried to rape me I chose to forgive the drunk driver that hurt my family i told God I forgive you for my dads death at a young age (I was seven) and I forgive you for this or that it wasnt that He did anything it that I was so caught up in the circumstances and hurting that I put the blame where it was not to be at and when you begin speaking to HIm and He hears you and sees that you are sincere and knows your pain He begins to break down the walls youve put there and sets you free
asking God for forgiveness is not for anything He has done its for us to allow HIm in because it is us that put the wall there in the first place…do you agree pastor
Be blessed
Comment by amigainchrist | September 18, 2008 |