God's power …

Christian Century, May 31, 2005 by Brent Reynolds, Terry Muck

TERRY C. MUCK ("Karmie event," Feb. 22) argues that Christianity "asserts a single, all-powerful God who determines the destiny of the world." This may be true for some Christian traditions, but certainly not all. Most of my own congregants believe in at least some degree of free will, so that we could never say that God determines the destiny of the world. And I personally hold the process position that God's power, though persuasive, is not total.

Rethinking "all-powerful" and "deterministic" God concepts goes a long way toward resolving classical theodicy issues. In the face of tsunamis, cancer, famine and so on we must conclude that if God is all-powerful and controls destiny, then God can and would prevent these "evils." Therefore, in my view, only a God whose power and control is limited (or self-limited) can be good.

Brent Reynolds

Watkinsville First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ), Watkinsville, Ga.

Terry Muck replies:

Brent Reynolds is right in noting that most Christians believe in human free will. I am one of them. But I am also one who believes human agency does not dilute or limit the power residing in God.