by Angie Allport.
“I don’t believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you”
So go the opening words to the song ‘Into My Arms’ by Nick Cave.[1]
The passive versus interventionist views of God are both valid viewpoints at either end of a spectrum for those who believe in God.
The Bible presents God as active. God is seen as shaping the lives of individuals, like Moses and the prophets, and nations, like Israel and Egypt. Saint Paul clearly believed in an interventionist God. He was absolutely convinced that God had intervened to raise Jesus from death and that he himself had met the risen Jesus.
A number of religious thinkers, however, have given up on the idea that God acts in particular ways to affect the course of events in the world. Some think that a God who takes sides, as sometimes portrayed in the Hebrew Scriptures, is unethical, and, therefore, reject the idea of God intervening in any way. Nations and empires seem to have their time. Is that God or just how statecraft works?
It is perhaps hard to believe in an interventionist God when we see a God who seems to answer some prayers and not others; a God who rescues some people and allows others to perish. In terms of God and nature, I don’t believe that God sends earthquakes and the like, but when a severe hurricane is forecast for the Caribbean, for example, I do pray that it might lose its force before making landfall. When that happens, is it answered prayer or just coincidence? If it is answered prayer, why aren’t similar prayers also answered? Does it have anything to do with how many are praying for the same thing?
We have all heard of large prayer gatherings where people claim they have been healed. I can be a bit sceptical about those. You have perhaps also heard of cases where, for example, people have been praying for a tumour to be shrunk and it has, in defiance of all medical explanation. On the other hand, and this may be your experience, I have prayed intensely for someone to be healed and it didn’t happen. That said, I don’t believe that unanswered prayer has anything to do with the faith or lack thereof of the person praying or the person being prayed for, and I do still pray for healing.
A few years ago, though, I was forced to reflect upon what it was I thought I was doing when I pray for healing. I had stopped to talk to someone begging and noticed that he had a large growth on one hand. I woke up during the night thinking that I should have prayed for healing for him when I’d said my prayers. That made me ponder on what would my healing prayer for the man look like. I concluded that it would be a prayer for him to receive the right medical attention, rather than for the growth miraculously to disappear. Was God intervening through the beggar to get me to reflect on my attitude to prayers for healing?
Today’s church is hopefully large enough and mature enough to hold in tension different views on issues. After all, we currently see in a mirror dimly[2], and no mortal has all the answers. God is immense and multi-faceted; beyond our comprehension as we often say. I think God is big enough to take our speculations and sometimes wonder if God is metaphorically slapping God’s forehead in exasperation or having a quiet chuckle at our antics, probably a bit of both.
Although it can be a struggle sometimes, I do believe in an interventionist God. I think God wants us to seek God’s guidance in our lives, but I don’t mean every little detail. God certainly isn’t interested in helping us decide whether to have toast or cereal for breakfast. Many Christians and people from some other faith traditions see themselves as having a role in helping God’s kingdom come here on earth. On that basis, there’s possibly a case to see God as passive because God’s agents have perhaps become passive. Maybe God has more faith in humankind than we have in God!
[1] Cave, N. (1997). Into My Arms. London: RTM.
[2] The Holy Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:12. New Revised Standard Version: Anglicized Edition (2007). London: Harper Collins.
Theology Everywhere 
An interesting summary of people’s perspectives. For myself, I see God acting through people, whether it be Jesus our Saviour or our kind (unbelieving???) neighbour. – Geoff.C.
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The question behind all this is ‘ What is prayer?’ For me it is often about being receptive, and actively listening. In our monthly contemplative prayer group we always begin our meetings in members’ homes with twenty minute of corporate silence.
Leading prayer in church is never easy – how can it be, when so many individuals are involved? I have used silent prayer in church sometimes, and people have often been grateful for the opportunity. Words, even the most beautiful and expressive, however hallowed by usage down the centuries, are never quite adequate, and silent prayer in the company of others can be a very positive experience.
Be still, and know that you are loved.
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I think God is intervening every time we get a nudge to reach out to someone, donate to a cause or work for justice. God is working through us, which is the usual way God works in the world.
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If we stop thinking of God as a being or Being, but think of God as the Love, the goodness, the creative Spirit of life, then the question as to whether God passively ignores human suffering or intervenes occasionally just does not arise. God is here, now, in human kindliness, the love in which we live move and have our being. “He” stands by us in our adversity, forgives us for our past errors, encourages us in our present difficulties and gives us hope for the future. This unconditional love, totally inclusive and non-judgmental, is absolutely amazing?
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