The following article, by Dr. John Todd, the author of this website, was published in The Tuscaloosa (Alabama) News, in December 1994. There are minor revisions for this Internet version. I am writing this in response to the recent article by Rev. Charles Durham, concerning the "ubiquity" of God. Rev. Durham is an effervescent individual, and a greatly admired Protestant minister. I had a lot of fun with his remarks about "Scrabble"; and I enjoyed contemplating his thesis on the "ubiquity" of God. I was pleased to be reminded by Rev. Durham that God is indeed "omnipresent" in Bosnia, and Somalia, and Gaza.... and even in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.A. -- and I have little doubt about this spiritual thesis. My purpose in writing this letter is to raise the following rhetorical question for Rev. Durham, and for readers of the Tuscaloosa News: In Bosnia, are the people of Sarajevo and Bihac currently aware of the "ubiquity" of God? While the maiming and killing and raping and pillaging go on, are the citizens of that area all worshipping the same "ubiquitous" God? Is God equally ubiquitous for the Roman Catholics, the Muslims, the Eastern Orthodox Church -- and for whatever Protestants and Jews are now in Bosnia? OR, is God ubiquitous only for those of a certain "faith", or doctrine; and, if so, which "faith" is the faith that God favors, and accepts? Who on Earth is qualified to give us an authoritative answer? (See link Is there a "God's Church"? (And see link Doctrinal Rigidity.) Is the God of the Bible indeed present also in Somalia; and, if so, is He currently protecting the ordinary people in Mogadishu from starvation, and from the murderous attacks by the war-lords -- especially now that we failing humans, under the auspices of the United Nations, are pulling out? In Gaza, is the God of all Creation defending the sons of Isaac -- OR the sons of Ishmael? I was playing Scrabble last night; and I found that the word "sovereignty" scores more points than "ubiquity". So, I felt better, when it occurred to me that the "sovereignty" of God may be an even more applicable characteristic of God, than "ubiquity" -- especailly when we humans consider the agony in Bosnia, and Somalia, and Gaza. I remembered what God says in Isaiah 55, "Your thoughts are not my thoughts, and your ways are not my ways"; and I recalled what God's Bible says in Job 42, "No purpose of God can be thwarted by man." I am delighted, living here in Tuscaloosa, that we are not plagued with the misery that has been imposed upon other parts of our world. I cannot explain why we are so blessed. Fortunately, you and I don't have to explain it. 12/13/06 |