Again, a tremendously enjoyable article in Internetmonk. It is actually a reprint from another blog (with permission) about God and how he works with us as a parent. It uses the popular phrase about parents today being “helicopter parents” and compares that to how God works with us in Scripture. Go here to read the article.
There is an extremely good point being made by the author of the original blog post, and that is that God acts like anything but a helicopter parent with us. His whole approach to parenting appears to be to say that these are the rules, and I expect you to abide by them. If you abide by them things will generally go well in your life; if you do not abide by them, be prepared for shock and awe. It somewhat reminds me of some of the old-fashioned parents we hear about. You know, the ones of which it is said that you would rather have the vice-principal of the school discipline you than have your parents know that you messed up in school?
But, this does not match some of the modern preaching that does make God into a helicopter parent. And, by modern, I mean even dating back to when I was younger and a Charismatic. At times the conception seems to be that God is watching closely and immediately involved over everything we do. Before someone objects, there is a difference between knowing everything (omnipotence) and watching over everything to the point of constant interaction (helicopter). I can remember some pastors even having to finally record talks in which they pointed out that God may not really care what color of tie you put on in the morning before you go to work.
(Of course, then we had people on the other extreme that thought that this meant that God could care less what you wore to worship. We human beings have tremendous problems in finding a balanced God-honoring approach. This could be why Scripture and Tradition both point out that we are fallen and damaged.)
But, to go back to our God not being a helicopter God … . We have often spoken of God as though he is just waiting for us to call him into a situation so that he can act. While that may be true at times, I am more mindful now that, like a very good parent, God watches to see whether we are making the right decision and may even just watch us make the wrong decision in order to allow us to learn about consequences. In fact, what frightens me at times is that God appears to have a severe mercy, as has been documented by a book of that title. God’s conception of mercy is so outside our thought that his actions in response to that are often incomprehensible.
Yet, even farther than that, there are many situations in which God appears to be quite prepared to not intervene so that we may grow into his likeness. Thus, even the reluctant martyr is changed by his/her experience and dies having made a transition which I cannot even come close to understanding. The soldier who makes the brave charge may need to make that possible life or death decision in order to grow more into the likeness of Christ. This is so far from being a helicopter parent that it makes me gasp. But, it goes with the idea that, “if they hated me, so will they hate you.”
I think this is why I like the Orthodox doctrine of synergy. It recognizes that growing into the likeness of Christ is not simple or easy. It recognizes that God often waits and allows us to make the first move before he will become involved. It recognizes that his involvement may not even be obvious, but may be the quiet inner working of the Holy Spirit that affirms our choices and uses them to change our souls and spirits more and more as we form the habit of faithful obedience. It also reminds us that it is God’s choice as to when and how to respond. It keeps God as the Sovereign and resists making him into a helicopter parent who is at our beck and call, if only we quote the right Scripture or say the right prayer.
There is a tremendous mystery as to how God interacts with us. I find it an awesomely terrifying mystery. It says to me that God is clearly on my side, and committed to having me change into his likeness, … even if it kills me.
Leave a Reply