If GOD is all knowing, all powerful, and truly sovereign, why would he need anybody to take responsibility to “watch the world”? God is clearly in control of the universe, and he will do whatsoever he wants. He does not need anybody to do anything. This mode of thinking that shifts total responsibility to God is a major cause of slothful behaviour amongst people of faith. If God knows everything and can do everything, then we don’t matter, our work doesn’t matter… and why do we even pray? However, we know for a fact that reality is different. Our work matters. What we do matters.
If God knows everything and everything is all predetermined, then we would have no choice. There would be no stakes and nothing would matter. You do not need to study the bible too deeply to see the many flaws with this mindset. The Bible is full of stories and circumstances about things changing in response to people’s prayers and action. Adam and Eve chose to sin. Gideon was summoned and commissioned to raise an army. Jesus charged his disciples to preach (angels can not get people born-again!). The Bible contains stories of how people’s actions caused a setback to divine plans. Think about Genesis 6:5 – 8 or Tower of Babel or even King Saul.
If what we do doesn’t matter, then what is going on at:
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:30 ESV
God would not steer the world without being in partnership with someone. God would not heal the world without being in partnership with someone. It is a partnership of the divine working through human agents. Your actions matter, you have to take responsibility.
