1-
There is too much injustice, abuse, violence,… in the world, and therefore one
can’t say that “silly” statement that "God is King of the world". The reason of this
kind of “absence of God” is our ignorance of the sense of creation and the
order He put in everything and the freedom He left us.
2- We know that God can interfere in the world and act, but it is so
unknown that His “power” (the power of real change) remains hidden,
undisclosed, not outpoured. The reason is our ignorance of the exact
relationship between the Holy Spirit and the human being (our exact role to disclose it).
In order to clarify these points, I will remain in Spiritual Theology,
because our simplistic knowledge of the “Theology of Grace” (see the “De
Gratiae”) is not enough to help us cope with such absurd thing as saying: "say
the Lord is King".
1- The order of
creation:
The "order of creation" means that God set up for instance the human being free, to
think, to act, to choose. God will not interfere in that order of nature, the
order of creation. This order is not a supernatural order, in the sense that
the Holy Spirit given by Jesus doesn’t interfere with these things. In this
sense, while creating the World and each human being (his spirit, his soul and
his body), while maintaining the World in the being, God doesn’t interfere in
the mechanisms He established. In that sense, He doesn’t intend to interfere
and won’t interfere in an extra-ordinary way.
We might consider these aspects and complain and say: why God doesn’t
interfere? Well He wanted us free, He respects our freedom, and even the
long-lasting consequences of certain acts (sometimes from generations to generations).
He then chose to leave a great deal of space out of His control (it remains in the boundaries of creation). I don’t
think this is difficult to accept. So it is a contradiction, if, while
remaining at this level, we complain about the fact that he is not king in this
sense. He created a free being (each one of us) and chose not to interfere. He
wants us free. Whether we use this freedom for good or for bad. We can’t come
and say: but the freedom was used badly. Then this is our fault, not His.
So all the sad things we see are work of our own hands. He is not king of these bad things.
But this is not the end, and all the bad things don’t have the last word. In
which sense? Let us see.
2- The order of
the direct relationship with God
Still, God doesn’t interfere in the order He put in creation.
But an "ordinary help of the grace of God" is given to each human being in
order to allow him to seek God, to find God, to enter in a personal direct relationship.
God didn’t want all the bad things to have the last word.
He entered in our world by taking our condition: Jesus, His Words, His
Transformative Work on the Cross.
This work on the Cross is fundamentally: transforming evil into a higher
good.
But this unique power of transformation that lies in Jesus Crucified, and offered for
each human being doesn’t either interfere in the World (see 1) without us
asking for it (using "the ordinary help of the Grace of God"). If we do so, then
yes, we may speak about “Power”, and “Kingdom” and consider them capable of
entering in our life on earth, then change can happen, then history can be
transformed, then we may say that God is King. But, as you see, He is King only
through us, his Kingdom is never imposed, and this is His Choice to have it like that.
If we want to take our responsibility in allowing God to enter in this World and be an influential King then yes, He might be considered as King. Otherwise... this verse of the Psalm is laughable...
Spiritual Theology
The grace of God acts and interferes in the world in two ways:
1- by the general help of the Grace of God, and
2- by the Specific, particular help of the Grace of God. The Action of the Holy Spirit as such.
We use the first one to beg and ask for the second one.
The first one is always given to us. The second one not because we need to use our freedom (using the first one) in order to express our choice clearly. The second one is the pure Gift of His Salvation (the Cross).
The GREAT difficulty (that stops God from really entering our World with Hi Transformative Power) is that we don't know that God is waiting for us to express our choice, to say it, with all our heart, with full commitment. And not knowing we don't do it, or if we do it, it comes "by luck", not on a regular daily basis.
God, with His particular help can't walk on moving sands: unstable, undefined, unexpressed will.
We don't know that God is waiting for our commitment, so, we "play with Him", by asking for crumbs and then complain that He doesn't move, He doesn't listen.
We do not know the extent of His respect to our freedom and choices, clearly expressed and commitment. So he seems to remain silent, but in fact He doesn't interfere, because he respects the order He put in creation: our freedom, our brain, our effort to discern and choose.
Theresa of Avila says in the book of her Life (see this link) that if we do not know the difference between the two modalities of action of the Grace of God (1- general help 2- specific help) then we loose a lot in Spiritual Life.
It is in our hands and only in our hands to allow God to be an influential King, capable of not only governing Nature/Creation, but of transforming the world.
Now the Psalm has another taste: “Say among the nations: The LORD is King.” (Ps 96,10)
Cheers
Jean
Although you say that God will not interfere in the order of creation, it is still hard for people to understand the kingship of God when there are natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods,disease etc. So one may understand that we have this freedom and that God respects it but his kingship can be a little harder to understand when there are terrible things that happen which are outside humans ability to choose with their freedom. What are you thoughts on this?
ReplyDeleteRufaro
Hi Rufaro,
ReplyDeleteYou are right in mentioning the "natural disasters". I won't philosophise too much by saying that they might be the result of the disorder introduced by the original disobedience (Adam and Eve) and its numerous consequences. It is tempting though, and that was my thought when I was younger.
Today I would be more cautious, without dismissing it though.
I like Jesus' angle when He comments on natural disasters:
"Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them - do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’" (Luke 13:4-5)
He doesn't address the origin of the disaster. Or better: He says that it is not a punishment from God. He points out the general disorder (not being tuned in with God (sin) and the necessity to change).
You may notice that His reply bares at least two "truths":
1- There is a disorder in our life, or better said: there is a need to search God and find Him in order to be "saved".
2- In this precise area of action: we are Free... (If we can't avoid the disaster, we can still act)
So let us not wait for an absurd fate (a natural disaster) and, from now, let us use our freedom (this way God becomes King, through us).
Now: why God doesn't control the natural disasters and leaves them to follow their own course? As I said, I am tempted to reply as I used to do when I was younger: they are the result of an accumulation of disorders. So God doesn't interfere. Nature is not tied to God. Nature is not separated from us. We influence Nature as well.
I like very much this deep conviction of many monks and spiritual people in many places in the world: they pray God, so that the Sun rises everyday. And they are convinced that their prayers make the Sun rise.
This is not a natural disaster.
This is a new notion that I didn't address in this post. Nonetheless, it is deep, and deserves a widening of my reflection on the use of our freedom in order to influence positively Nature.
We are one with Nature.
Saint John of the Cross says that the Incarnation of God covered all Nature by a New Beauty, the Beauty of Christ.
Saint Paul says that the world is suffering like a woman giving birth.
Hummmm, He didn't say: we don't have any grasp over nature.
What saint Francis would say? He would thank God for Nature, for the Sun, the Moon, the Water, ... Is that Prayer of Praise important? Does it influence Creation? Nature? I should think so.
Thanks Rufaro for inviting me to clarify that point.
Let us pray and thank God.