Occasionally I stop by Focus on the Family's entertainment review website, Plugged In Online. On the bar on the right side of the home page, there's always a quirky little poll that PIO takes. These polls usually have something to do with entertainment. For example, one question in the past was, "Who was the most controversial star to be on The Muppets," and a list was given. Sometimes I find these polls quite interesting because they are designed for evangelical Christians and give an insight into North Americans' minds. Yet when I looked at the poll yesterday, I was shocked by what I saw.
The question was this:
To me the question seemed silly. If God is sovereign, if we believe in His providence, He determines the outcome of everything, be it sporting event or election. Yet the results were much different. 841 people voted.
Only 15.34% said yes.
23.19% said no.
20.69% said maybe (but only through His help of individual participants who ask Him for strength, wisdom, guidance, etc.)
20.1% said maybe (but only if the outcome will then somehow bring glory to Himself.)
21% said maybe (but I really have no idea.)
Why is this poll so divided? What is obvious to me that is clearly not to so many others? I think it boils down to sovereignty and chance. People are afraid to attribute unlimited sovereignty to God. It scares them and confuses them. Believing in just a little bit of chance alleviates them. Now they have an explanation for world disasters, for sick loved ones, for their team losing the Super Bowl. They can sleep just a little easier.
But I don't know how. Believing in chance, believing that the random is possible, is one of the scariest things I can think of. So God doesn't have control of everything. How does the world keep spinning? God doesn't have unlimited power then. He can't always save you. He can't always deliver what He's promised. What a horrifying thought! God's total sovereignty is the safest, happiest, most beautiful place to be. It is the most peaceful and confident. Every circumstance He ordains is to fulfill His plan. Every sporting event, Super Bowl, or Olympics, is for His glory. That's what allows me to sleep easy - that alone.
There is no such thing as chance. God is divinely sovereign over all. I'm sorry, Plugged In Online, but that was a silly poll. For, "our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases." (Psalm 115:3)
The question was this:
Do you think God divinely helps determine the outcome of sporting events (like the Super Bowl or Olympic competition)?
To me the question seemed silly. If God is sovereign, if we believe in His providence, He determines the outcome of everything, be it sporting event or election. Yet the results were much different. 841 people voted.
Only 15.34% said yes.
23.19% said no.
20.69% said maybe (but only through His help of individual participants who ask Him for strength, wisdom, guidance, etc.)
20.1% said maybe (but only if the outcome will then somehow bring glory to Himself.)
21% said maybe (but I really have no idea.)
Why is this poll so divided? What is obvious to me that is clearly not to so many others? I think it boils down to sovereignty and chance. People are afraid to attribute unlimited sovereignty to God. It scares them and confuses them. Believing in just a little bit of chance alleviates them. Now they have an explanation for world disasters, for sick loved ones, for their team losing the Super Bowl. They can sleep just a little easier.
But I don't know how. Believing in chance, believing that the random is possible, is one of the scariest things I can think of. So God doesn't have control of everything. How does the world keep spinning? God doesn't have unlimited power then. He can't always save you. He can't always deliver what He's promised. What a horrifying thought! God's total sovereignty is the safest, happiest, most beautiful place to be. It is the most peaceful and confident. Every circumstance He ordains is to fulfill His plan. Every sporting event, Super Bowl, or Olympics, is for His glory. That's what allows me to sleep easy - that alone.
There is no such thing as chance. God is divinely sovereign over all. I'm sorry, Plugged In Online, but that was a silly poll. For, "our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases." (Psalm 115:3)