We’ve heard certain phrases all of our lives, but in Adam Hamilton’s book, Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say, we learn that although they capture some element of truth, when compared to the wisdom found in Scripture, they’re really just popular saying. What is the truth? How can we discover truth through context and close reading? What does that tell us about the nature of God? What happens when we view the world through the lens of Jesus.
Half Truth #1: Everything happens for a reason (or God works in mysterious ways).
Flip the Script: Whatever happens, God is able to work through it, to redeem it, and to bring good from it.
Our lives are not products of simple chance or predetermined fate. A mix of cause and effect, our actions and the consequences of them, and our choices and the results all play a part in how things turn out. Saying “everything happens for a reason” is too simplistic – downplaying the importance of personal responsibility and putting too much responsibility on God.
The worship series opened with an introductory video. Pastor Mary’s message is based on Deuteronomy 30: 11-20, Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, and Romans 8: 31-39. To read it, click here.
The 10:00 am worship service is available in its entirety on YouTube.