Theology Thursday #1: Sovereignty

Introduction To This Series

As the first Thursday of the new year, I decided this would be a good week to launch a new series for this year. As I prayed and pondered about what to cover, I found that a lot of people didn't have a firm understanding of the theological framework that shapes the beliefs of the modern church. So I decided to start a one year series looking at common theological concepts so you can understand the foundations of your church's beliefs, but I will also look at theological beliefs of other denominations I don't belong to. This is so that you can have a thorough understanding of all different schools of thought in Christianity and understand where other denominations derive their beliefs and customs. 

Some of the topics I intend to cover include sovereignty, reformed theology, Calvinism, Zionism, eschatology and baptism. The intention is to release a new lesson each month. 

Disclaimer: I will be at times discussing theological concepts that I don't agree with and by extension, you may not either. If you don't agree with the topic, please be civil and polite. Thanks!

Sovereignty

Introduction

As humans, we are prone to fear and despair throughout our lives. Perhaps you felt despair yesterday as the US Capitol was sieged by a mob of angry insurrectionists. Or maybe you've been fearful of COVID-19 and how deadly it could be to you or a family member. You may feel hopeless due to the outcome of the 2020 election. Dread may enter your mind when you have to face institutions that you know will judge you based on the color of your skin. The increasingly common ostracizing of conservative values in this country may have you on edge. Your fear may even be based in your personal relationships or your standing in your personal communities. 

We all know the answer to fear: JESUS! But why do we have comfort in times of despair by knowing Jesus? This is where the doctrine of God's sovereignty comes in. 

God's sovereignty can be described in simple terms using the lyrics of a children's song: "He holds the whole world in his hands." Merriam-Webster defines sovereign as "one possessing or held to possess supreme power." Acknowledging God's sovereignty is the realization that no thing or person is beyond the reach of His almighty hands. Having professed that Jesus is the son of God who has been miraculously resurrected, we acknowledge that together, they have conquered the one thing we all fear most: death. Since our greatest fear has already been conquered, we can trust that God, in all His power and glory, can likewise conquer all things that we fear in life. 

This all sounds good until we realize that bad things happen, even to good people. Children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Hundreds of people die yearly in natural disasters labeled as "acts of God." Depression and suicide penetrate all parts of society, including the church. So why does this happen? This is the side of sovereignty that is hard to accept and many still struggle with grasping it. Unfortunately, the Bible and theologians can offer little to make it easier to follow. Essentially, we must accept that God has a purpose for these tragedies, though we may never know or understand what that purpose is (Isaiah 55:8-9). Once we approach the chaos and tragic situations in our lives with this trust in God's deliverance from sin, it will be easier to accept why God lets them happen. 

Who Believes in God's Sovereignty?

All churches teach the doctrine of sovereignty to different extents. Churches that ascribe to Reformed Theology (i.e. Presbyterian Church of America, Reformed Baptists, etc.) often remind themselves of God's sovereignty through church liturgy, such as the Westminster Confession of Faith, which states:

"God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatever comes to pass."

The 3 main protestant denominations (Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals) still teach about God's sovereignty, though many churches have often shied away from directly addressing the question "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" That being said, some churches within these denominations have formulated responses for that question in their church tenets and some sub-denominations (i.e. Southern Baptists) are slowly trending more toward the Reformed view of things, including sovereignty. 

Finally, there are some churches that don't teach God's sovereignty. This manifests in a few different ways. There is a small group of churches that teach God's power is dependent on who controls the country's government. This is exceedingly rare, but they do exist. If you believe that God has less control if the Democrats control this country, then you do not believe God is sovereign and thus reject it as you are admitting God's power is not supreme, but dependent on others. 

Additionally, some churches teach that prayer is not necessary in the life of Christians. To be clear, prayer is the ultimate expression of God's sovereignty, as you are submitting pleas to Him with the understanding that all of it is in His power to grant, but He has the authority to refuse. These teachings often suggest that as long as they "walk the path," God will protect them from all evil and they will prosper (i.e. Prosperity Gospel). Prayer is often optional in these congregations and is only ever needed if something really bad happens. However, prayer is often not practiced by the individual, but rather by church leaders after a monetary donation (SCAM ALERT). 

On a side note, not all doctrines of sovereignty are the same. For example, Calvinists and Arminianists have opposing views on the compatibility of sovereignty and free will. To summarize, Calvinists believe that God sovereignly chose individuals before the Earth was even formed to become Christians and when they are presented with the Gospel, they will not be able to resist it. Those that follow the Arminian view of sovereignty don't believe that the Gospel is irresistible to some, but rather each individual has the ability to decline the Gospel. Essentially, God is not sovereign in this realm and the control over faith is in the hands of the individual (i.e. free will). However, I am going to cover this nearly 450 year old debate in a separate article later this year as I can't do it justice in a paragraph or two. 

Scriptural Evidence

There are over 100 verses in the Bible relating to God's sovereignty. One could say that the entire Bible points to the truth that God is sovereign. Here are some of my favorite verses:

Ephesians 1:4: Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Acts 4:27–28: For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Proverbs 16:33: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Colossians 1:16–17: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Matthew 10:29–31: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Ephesians 1:11: In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will . . .

Conclusions and Applications

The conclusion is simple: God is all powerful and holds all authority. R.C. Sproul, an outstanding pastor and theologian, said "There is not one piece of cosmic dust that is outside the scope of God's sovereign providence."

So how can we apply this to our lives? First, we should rely on God's sovereignty during our worries and woes. Can Christians worry? Yes! But the cause of worry is uncertainty and remembering that God acts with benevolent intent, we can be certain in the outcome, whether immediate or eternal. Our uncertainty can then dissipate and the worry will resolve as the cause has been removed.

Second, we should keep this truth close to our hearts when life is good as well. Realizing that all we have is not our own, but simply loaned to us and could be taken away at any moment will help us grow in humility and allow us to serve others better. 

Finally, we should familiarize ourselves with the doctrine of sovereignty so that we can reassure people who waver in the face of tragedy. The Gospel gives comfort in these moments and those who do not profess Jesus as messiah won't be able to find this true peace. In fact, they will question the existence or benevolence of God. It is our duty to subside those doubts and use it as an opportunity to spread the Gospel. 

    Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your        Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value      than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31).