Where Is God?

[Thoughtful Monk]

A popular sermon topic is "Where Is God When (fill in crisis here)?". I haven't looked but I'll bet there are a lot of new sermons and teachings out there in the last month.

What does what I know of God tell me where He is?

• His omnipresence tells me He's in the midst of what is happening
• His omniscience tells me He knew it was coming; He knows it's happening; He knows how it will end
• His omnipotence tells me He is doing what He thinks is best
• His sovereignty tells me this is happening because He permits it
• His love tells me He cares about all who are involved in what is happening
• His mercy tells me it's not as bad as it could be

It seems pretty clear that God is in the midst of what's happening and He's doing good in it.

For me at least, I think the better question is "Why don't I perceive God in the midst of crisis?"

[Christianbookworm]

Funny thing is, I can choose to not consciously worry and instead trust God, but I still get the automatic stress. Stupid human physiology. Well, Jesus had to go through something much worse for our sake and He dealt with His "human physiology issues" without sin, so...

[mikewhitney]

I don't accept the ideas that Revelation's mark of the beast refers to some sort of marker or bar code. Actually, I see most of Revelation accomplished, except for the peek into the end of the thousand years. I think we are at that time or near that time, as described in Rev 20:7-10.

This is not a time characterized by uncontrolled mayhem. Instead it is a time of cleansing the earth of the evildoers seeking to defraud humanity -- who especially wish to deny the true Deity and all of Christianity -- hence, the surrounding of the camp of the saint. Satan has always had the task of attracting the scum, the evildoers. It may be that Satan believes he can undo all that is godly but the real effect is to attract and expose the evildoers.

Upon the exposure of the evildoers, God sends forth fire or destruction upon the evildoers and casts Satan into the lake of fire. The earth then is purged of this evil.

We see in the present situation how the nations can be led into a unity of action from the coronavirus cautions. This type of behavior represents the level of unity found in Rev 20:7-10 and may be a foretaste of what we see in these verses.

So, indeed there is something good being done by God.

[mikewhitney]

A popular sermon topic is "Where Is God When (fill in crisis here)?". I haven't looked but I'll bet there are a lot of new sermons and teachings out there in the last month.

What does what I know of God tell me where He is?

• His omnipresence tells me He's in the midst of what is happening
• His omniscience tells me He knew it was coming; He knows it's happening; He knows how it will end
• His omnipotence tells me He is doing what He thinks is best
• His sovereignty tells me this is happening because He permits it
• His love tells me He cares about all who are involved in what is happening
• His mercy tells me it's not as bad as it could be

It seems pretty clear that God is in the midst of what's happening and He's doing good in it.

For me at least, I think the better question is "Why don't I perceive God in the midst of crisis?"

I barely can tolerate the idea of a sermon tolerating what is happening. I would prefer the church groups (probably with some precautions) start having church meetings again. It is the last thing that should be stopped as the world blows up into oblivion.

[Thoughtful Monk]

I barely can tolerate the idea of a sermon tolerating what is happening. I would prefer the church groups (probably with some precautions) start having church meetings again. It is the last thing that should be stopped as the world blows up into oblivion.

Covid-19 isn't even close to the world blowing up into oblivion.

[mikewhitney]

Covid-19 isn't even close to the world blowing up into oblivion.

Indeed. So church meetings should continue unhindered. If I understand you right.