Dear People Whom God Loves,
GOD’S INTERACTION WITH THE WORLD – X
We have discussed that our world is not set up as a machine. Everything is not determined. Part of the law of nature is that-along with the stable and unchangeable-there is the unpredictability of the free process of the non-human nature and the free will of humans.
This means that the free process and free will are part of what the outcome is going to be. John Polkinghorne calls this the spaces in the universe which are not determined. God is free also.
In creating a world with these spaces, God has left room for himself to act. God then acts not by interfering with the law of nature but within the natural order. This means that God cannot act against the stable part; but in the flexible and free parts, he can.
Again, we might ask why some people pray and are healed and others pray and are not healed. God must be very arbitrary and play favorites. In response, I would say that what seems to be identical situations probably are not. There is no way that we can know all the variables that go into each situation. From our limited vantage point, they may seem similar; whereas in the big picture, they are not. Our faith includes trust in the love of God for everyone and everything.
One final note. God is not a bystander in this painful process. God is a fellow sufferer. This is what is revealed to us in Jesus, Son of God, nailed to the cross.
This infinite Love suffers with us, cries with us, stands beside us, supports us, and will not rest until, as Julian of Norwich says, “All will be well. All manner of things will be well.”
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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