Below is a very interesting video by GodIsImaginary about the erroneous belief that anything and everything is a part of God’s plan. The video asserts that God’s plan is impossible and even ridiculous. Well, there is one correct point. If we claim that everything is God’s plan, we are essentially saying that abortion, child molestation, murder, and all sin is God ordained. Of course that’s crazy, but so is calling everything a part of the plan of God.
Human beings always have and always will continue to do as they please whether a deity likes it or not. Unfortunately, that includes the evil we commit. So if we have cancer, become rich, obese, educated, or are stuck in an elevator, it is simply life happening rather than a divine plan. How we conduct ourselves during life has more to do with God than life’s various events.
On a sidenote, the video claims that it is meant to help believers. Which believers? Born-agains or your average everyday theist? If it’s the former, the creators of the clip are chasing a wild goose.
Filed under: Christianity, Life, Religion | Tagged: Atheism, God, God Is Imaginary, God's Perfect Plan, God's Plan, LorMarie, Sin, Theism
“How we conduct ourselves during life has more to do with God than life’s various events.” Very well said.
We all play a part in the craziness of the world and we’ve done a number to it. Hopefully we can begin playing an even bigger part—together—trying to heal and restore it.
Thanks fro sharing!
very very interesting, nice attacks. Please see what I have to say in response once I post it.
[...] to put down the idea of a God, but merely come off as uninformed and condescending. The blog: http://lormarie.com/2008/03/10/what-do-you-mean-its-a-part-of-gods-plan/#comment-138 presents a truly unique way of discrediting the so called“impossible” plan of God by way of a [...]
Hi,
I didn’t watch the video but want to reply to your post.
I’m Christian and believe that God is (at least indirectly) behind *everything.* How can I then reconcile the evil things that happen?
Well… the Bible shows us that sin can turn a good thing (such as the commandments of the law) into a bad thing by taking advantage of it.
In the same way, God can turn bad things into good things. For example, Satan gave Paul a thorn in the flesh. But God allowed it. God then turned it into a good thing; something to help Paul stay humble because of the exceeding revelations that he had been given.
I have come to realize that God has used the greatest things I have suffered in this life to actually bless me. Remember that this life is carnal. We (all) suffer from “evil” things. But God can use those experiences to benefit us spiritually!
God bless,
Paul
Hi Pauljub,
I believe that there is a difference between God turning what’s meant for evil into good and God ordaining sin or the horrible things in life (making bad things happen). Some things are brought on by human beings, other things happen because we live in a fallen world. God may allow child molestation, but He didn’t make it happen. Thus, child abuse is not a part of God’s plan (nor is sex outside of marriage, abortion, etc). One part of the video examines a claim made by a well-known christian (not the bible) that everything is predetermined, including time and method of death. If that’s the case, then christians shouldn’t fight against abortion since it would be considered a part of God’s plan. After all, God ordained the time and method of death according to this christian.
What’s the difference between it being a part of God’s plan, versus God giving us choice that can lead to the same evils?
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/
P.S. God destined me to fight against abortion!
Hi Paul,
It’s wonderful that God has destined you to fight against abortion. But He would not call you to fight something he planned right?
“What’s the difference between it being a part of God’s plan, versus God giving us choice that can lead to the same evils?”
The difference is that evil does not come from God, but from the devil or man himself. God could stop evil if He wanted to but He doesn’t. If someone makes it clear that they want to follow evil/sin rather than God, He will let them:
Romans 1:24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts
The passage doesn’t state that God planned their sin, but he gave them over to a reprobate mind because they sinned (obviously without repentance).
See also verse 21:
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened
Eventually, one can reject God’s truth to such a point, that their heart is hard and God gives them over to their sin.
Do you honestly believe that our evil acts are God’s plan?