C.S. Lewis wrote a book titled, “God in the Dock”. A quote from that book:
“The ancient man approached God (or even the gods) as the
accused person approaches his judge. For the modern man, the roles are quite
reversed. He is the judge: God is in the dock. He is quite a kindly judge; if
God should have a reasonable defense for being the god who permits war,
poverty, and disease, he is ready to listen to it. The trial may even end in
God’s acquittal. But the important thing is that man is on the bench and God is
in the dock.”
― C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics
Today it is true.
Many Christians have put God in the dock and have become the judge of
God Himself. When the Christian cannot
resolve: poverty, disease, death, war, famine, sexual unions or any other
“controversial” topic in the Bible, God gets put on trial. If a person’s view on these matters does not
fit what they think it should be they inadvertently or on purpose become the
judge and enter into the realm where only God belongs.
There is a disturbing trend today in the church to
re-interpret the Word of God. This
re-interpretation is present because people cannot resolve how a “God of Love”
could allow war, poverty, famine, etc. to exist. The question then becomes “How can a Loving
God allow: (fill in the blank)”. Or how
can a God of Love be against a certain behavior: (again, fill in the
blank)”.
So since they cannot resolve these issues they simply begin
to re-interpret and basically re-write Scripture so that it fits into their
world view. Then God is parked in the
dock and they have become the judge of God.
After all, God won’t mind. He is
a God of love. He will say, it’s ok, I
still love you. It’s all about love
right???
I think believers (if they are believers in the first place)
need to remember some facts:
1. There is a God in Heaven separate from His Creation and
you or I are not Him.
2. There is a conflict between good and evil and it’s WAY
bigger than you and me.
3. There is more to God’s character than just love, there is
also: Sovereignty, Eternal Life, Justice, Absolute Righteousness, Omnipotence,
Omnipresence, Omniscience, Immutability, and Veracity.
4. If a believer does not like or agree with these other
aspect’s of God’s character it does not change the face that they exist.
5. If person #1 believes what the Word of God states and
then is accused by person #2 of being a bigot or old fashioned or unloving;
consider that God, not person #1, is the One being accused of being a bigot or
old fashioned or unloving.
6. God’s attributes are always perfect and fair and always
have been.
7. If at any time His attributes are not perfect and fair He
would not be God.
8. His attributes of Justice and Righteousness work in
conjunction with one another. What the
Righteousness of God demands His Justice executes.
9. All of His attributes are based on His Divine will which
is revealed in His Divine written Word.
10. Therefore those who go against His Divine Word have
violated His Righteousness. They will
fall under His judgment, His justice will execute it.
11. Likewise, those who go with His Divine Word are in line
with His Righteousness. They will come
under His blessing, His justice will execute it.
So if people do not like or agree with what God states in
His Word about sexual unions or war or poverty or disease etc. they are in danger of condemnation from His
justice. Romans 1.18-32 makes this
abundantly clear.
We would all do well
to let God be God and trust His plan.
