Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/68

Contributor - John J. Opmeer

Title - "I Believe in God The Father Almighty"

Topic - Confession Of Faith

There are times in the life of a congregation, when everything you have believed in so far is put to the test. When you are forced to re-think everything, when your faith is purified from all foreign elements, sentimental values and cheap ways out. Such a time comes for any congregation. It is a time of stress, which no -one can escape. We are all going through the same experience, because of the Job's tidings that have reached us one after the other. Now, more than ever before, we are coming to, the house of worship with anxious hearts, longing for the answers of faith, for guidance that is real, for comfort that is true.

Let us go strait to the heart of the matter. Each Sunday morning, when we respond to the reading of God's Word, and gladly rise for the confession of our faith, we repeat those strong words: "I believe in God the Father Almighty." We want to continue to say those words with a full heart. But then we certainly must re-think what we mean by them. For otherwise many of us here may feel empty inside, or confused, or perhaps even rebellious when they say those words, So, we will look at the first few words of our confession, and in particular at the word "Almighty".

THE WORD "ALMIGHTY"

Very often, this word lies undigested somewhere in the basement of faith. If one is asked what is meant by, it, most likely the answer will be something like: the power to -do everything you want to. Baker's Dictionary of Theology says, "omnipotence means that God can do all things". This kind of omnipotence can be seen only on T.V., in the children's cartoons The "good guys" are usually in control, they are almighty, or close to it, and therefore everything ends well.

This is the kind of idea many Christians apply to God. For them it is beyond debate that God is almighty. They believe this, even before they believe in His love, of course, this means trouble. For, unlike on T.V., not everything ends well, the way we like it. Let me put it sharply: when you start with believing in the "Almighty", as defined, you end up believing ... not in a loving God, but in the very opposite of God, in an idol. Many Christians, unknowingly, are very close to this idol worship. They think: to be almighty is to be able to do everything you want, to prevent anything you don't want. Therefore: God could stop all war, all cancer, all suffering and evil. Why then doesn't He do it?

RESULTS

What are the consequences of believing in God the Almighty, whom you don't know already as your heavenly Father? Usually one out of three:

"I have given up belief"

"I don't believe in God as a loving Father." (Often such people do believe In "The Almighty". Beware of them; Hitler was one of them!)

"I don't know what to believe anymore, I don't understand God."

This last category counts its members by the millions in the churches. Here we meet the agony of the confused believer, with his anxious "why's" which take the breath out of the life of faith. Why didn't God stop the Nazis from killing the Jews? He could have done it. Therefore: He must not have wanted to do it. What He wants is best for us. But how? Is war better for us? Is suffering unbearable pain best for a person? Why do some young people die, while some very old people go on living? These questions are the bread and butter of the pastoral work of a minister. They reveal the agony in which many Christians live.

Some find comfort in the solution that God only permits evil things to take place. He doesn't want war, or cancer. He only allows it. But this doesn't really offer help either. It only serves to shift the problem. No wonder that many Christians and outsiders don't buy this "solution". Luther and Calvin rejected it already over 400 years ago. And today the most cutting rejection of such a way out probably lies in the words: "Pardon me, I was in Auschwitz."

What does all this lead to? The God who can do everything if He only wants it is a nightmare for us, but not a heavenly Father. If we believe that the Almighty is God, we will probably never get beyond fear and respect, never earn to love God and praise Him. This way, indescribable damage is done to our faith in Jesus Christ. It is not the Almighty who is God. How long will the church yet groan under 'this confusion? When will she gladly and honestly confess: I believe in God the Father almighty?

THEN WHAT DO WE BELIEVE IN ?

If belief in the Almighty is a denial of the first statement of the creed, then what do we believe when we say: "God the Father almighty"? If God is not almighty in this way, then how is God almighty,? Must we be philosophers to understand something so difficult and baffling? Please, no. We don't have to be educated at all in order to believe in God the Father almighty. The "poor in spirit" are not doomed to live in confusion. They are called blessed by Jesus.

No, where we go wrong is not that we don't know enough. Rather, we know too much! We have our mind made up too early! We say: if God is almighty it must mean this and that. Where did we learn to speak like that? We were taught by the world! Now, let us be taught by God! God is almighty as He defines it, not as we define it. God teaches us everywhere in the Bible, but most clearly of all in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ reveals God to us. He reveals how God is almighty.

The power of God is the power of His love and righteous judgment made known in Jesus Christ. It is a saving and righteous power. God indeed rules the world: as servant, as redeemer, as judge. God indeed loves this world. Not in such a way that all evil is prevented, but in such a way that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not be lost but have life in Him.

Yes, look to Jesus Christ if you want to know how God is almighty as our Father. Jesus was despised, rejected by men. He came to serve, not to be served. He ended his earthly life on the cross. And remember: the cross is just as much revelation of God's power as the resurrection. Before his ascension, Jesus told the disciples: "all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me." In other words: Jesus Christ is almighty. And what follows: the new earth? No: baptism! "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . ."

Yes, I know that the glory of the new earth breaks through now and then on this old earth, but the new earth itself is not here yet. And until then, we must go, and make disciples on this earth which is groaning for redemption, in the midst of suffering and evil. And we must baptize. Not in the name of the Almighty, but in the name of the 'God who gave Himself that we might live; in the name of the Lamb of God whose blood purchased people for God that they might be adopted as children and may call Him Father'; in the name of Him Who testifies in our hearts that we are children of God. Here and now! '

What do you believe? I do not ask: Who do you feel, or what is your view of the universe? But what do you cling to when you cling completely to the 'Word of God? What makes you see God's Fatherly hand, a hand strong to save in the midst of trials? Yes, what do YOU believe?

The answer may come, with patience, gratitude and trust: "I believe in God the Father Almighty". His strength has been tried, and not found wanting.

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