Bill Hybels: Good Pastor, Not So Good Theologian
Well known pastor Bill Hybels begins his book The God You’re Looking For with a court room scene in which the prosecuting attorney presents a case for the non-existence of God because bad things happen to people. Now in theology and philosophy this is what is called a theodicy: the attempt to answer the problem of evil.
However, Hybels uses it as a basis to argue about God’s existence. Hybels does not directly answer the theodicy problem. He argues God exists regardless of these horrible problems. So for Hybels at this point you have a God that exists and horrible things happening. Then Hybels in perhaps one of the worst statements a Christian could make when theodicy is on the line writes:
He’s the God who has orchestrated every event of your life to give you the best chance to get to know Him, so that you can experience His love
Really?
Really, Bill?
Really, really?
Did you have the six year olds in your Sunday school class proof read the theology in this book or something?
You set up the problem of how can a good God allow bad things to happen and your response is, “He’s the God who has orchestrated every event of your life to give you the best chance to get to know Him, so that you can experience His love.”
OK Bill… Let’s roll with your “theology”
Do we need to maybe rethink that statement yet?
Let’s hear Bill one more time…
Isn’t the God who is responsible for everything awesome?
The problem of evil is a very old, and very real problem, that rejects any pat answers. When Christians give pat, uniformed, ill thought through answers we turn God into a cosmic rogue, which is ironic in Hybels’ case as he was attempting to talk about the amazing love of God, but instead made God responsible for every event in our lives… and not just responsible but orchestrating it!
Bill, the God that is orchestrating sin events and death in my life is not the God I’m looking for. Sorry.
However, the God that can redeem horrible sin events in my life, the God revealed in Jesus Christ, the God who can “give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit,” I might be interested in that God.
*Sigh*… the front of the book says “pastor of Willow Creek, the Largest Church in America.” I imagine they are getting better than this on a fairly regular basis but this conception of God is terrible. I have a book in the beginning stages that deals alot with how do we talk properly about God. I may have to kick up the schedule on that one.
Good post Scott. I almost wonder if there is not really much of an answer we can give that doesn’t fall short. The only comforting answer I have ever heard is that God on the cross identifies with all our suffering and like the cross can ultimately bring redemption out of an evil situation. But until God gives us more of an answer than He gave Job, at least we have the lament tradition so that we don’t just have to sit quietly and take it.
No Mike! According to Bill and Mr. Osteen, you WILL take it! And you will LIKE IT!!!
Well, if I have to…
Hmmm… Is Hybels the only famous ‘popularised’ preacher/teacher to pedal this? I think not…
Maybe not, but his book was in my library. So…
Imagine…a Christian Belief System that rejects pat answers and is robust enough to acknowledge very difficult issues without collapsing. Might be something to that!
“good pastor” may be a bit of a stretch… At least, among the “growth movement,” unlike his confrere Warren at
BrokebackSaddleback, Hybels is able to admit when he’s wrong. Turns out, contrary to his efforts over the last 20 years, bigger is not necessarily always better.Mike, your comment reminds me of an old adage we had in the Navy, to wit: “A bitching sailor is a happy sailor.”
Brian, you were in the Navy?
Dude, that joke just writes itself!
Not just in the Navy, but a submariner.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Don’t knock man-love ’til you’ve tried it.
Of course,you wouldn’t be speaking from a position of ignorance…
Obviously I’m coming a bit late to this conversation. I guess I have two points to add.
1. I personally don’t believe God orchestrates every event in our lives. I think he can redeem every event in our life. But I don’t think he always wants us to experience bad things.
2. As the old saying goes, never quote a bible verse. Context is king.
It must be difficult to say the right thing, when you have to always twist it to fit into logic and reason.
I’d rather believe in an incompetent God than an actively malicious one.
this is a world of chance God is here to help not hinder. god will use every event to steer and move us along towerds his son if we only let him. i dont agree with bill hybels even though i go to his church.
Bill Hybels means well, but in this case he is mistaken. God gave us free will, and as such rarely takes a hand in human events and/or actions. People do horrific things to other people, the planet, other creatures, etc. because they choose to do so, for whatever reasons. God stays out of it. But we will all be held to account for our actions on the Day of Judgment.