...And Why Need to Stop Saying This

“God is in control.” This phrase is often frustrating for Generation Z, especially when they try to understand their role in the world, the Church's responsibility toward justice, and God's heart for people. Growing up in a society plagued by weekly mass shootings, inadequate healthcare for women, and increasing awareness of misconduct within religious leadership, they are facing a world in crisis. They are confronted with the realities of genocidal wars, technology used for both good and harm, and mounting evidence of the dangers of climate change. In this context, responding to their concerns with a simple “God is in control” feels insufficient—perhaps even dismissive. Here’s why we should reconsider this phrase:

1. It Distorts Our Responsibility

While it’s true that God’s sovereignty will ultimately prevail throughout history, we are still called to act in the here and now. God entrusts us with the responsibility to live out love, justice, and grace in the world today. Blaming God for injustice or the state of the world not only misrepresents His character, but it also shirks our collective responsibility. We are co-laborers with God, working to sow seeds of goodness, justice, and mercy, so that divine growth may occur. If we see little growth, perhaps we should ask ourselves: What kind of seeds are we sowing? Yes, God is in control—AND we are also responsible for how we care for creation, both people and the planet.

2. It Unjustly Blames God for Human Atrocities

“God is in control” can easily be misconstrued to suggest that God is responsible for the actions of tyrants and oppressors. Yes, God was sovereign during the reign of Hitler, during Stalin’s rule, and throughout the horrors of slavery. And, while it is true that God is in control, he is not a God OF control. God’s sovereignty is not about control in a coercive sense; it’s about a loving God who gives us the freedom to choose—freedom to love Him, and unfortunately, freedom to reject Him and cause harm to others. Tyrants, abusers, and oppressors are not the result of God’s will but the result of human choice. Yes, God is in control—AND His love allows for freedom, even at the cost of suffering.

3. It Oversimplifies the Role of God’s Power. 

The mere ability to do something doesn’t mean it is God’s will to act directly in every situation. From the very beginning, God created the world and entrusted humanity with the task of cultivating it. He freed Israel from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness, but they had to steward those resources. God’s power requires our participation. In 1 Chronicles 29:12, David recognizes that power and might are in God’s hands, yet God’s greatness is revealed when His people take responsibility. David didn’t just wait for God to act; he gave, gathered, and used his influence to inspire others. Yes, God is in control—AND His power is meant to work through us as we gather, cultivate, and grow our gifts.

As new generations of leaders—both spiritual and secular—emerge, it’s crucial that we rethink outdated and oversimplified language that portrays the Church as irrelevant, out of touch, or indifferent. Yes, God is eternally sovereign. He is in control. But we must be careful not to reduce the complexities of the world and our responsibilities to a catchy phrase. The problems we face are intricate and multifaceted, and we have both the power and the responsibility to engage with them—guided by God's sovereignty but acting with wisdom, courage, and compassion.

Palm Sunday: The Route of Influence and Interdependence

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week as we walk through some of the most significant events that led to the anchor of our faith, Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. But like most annual celebrations, it is easy to forget the significance of this historic date and its connection to our present reality. Palm Sunday is more than something Jesus did; it teaches us how we can posture ourselves today.

Jesus' influence was won through his impact, not forced through his authority. Jesus rides in on a donkey, but the people celebrate him as royalty. It's not the pomp and circumstance that draws the people's celebratory shouts and thankful acknowledgments. Instead, the people celebrate how Jesus impacted their lives. They are shouting "Hosanna," translated as "Please, save us," because they've witnessed God saving them through the work of Jesus. What the law and religious rites were powerless to do, Jesus did! Jesus didn't have to force the people to acknowledge who he was or what he'd done; they did that freely to respond to who he'd been to them. When we impact people's lives for the better, our authority becomes unnecessary because we've earned the trust that influences from a place of love.

Jesus' interdependence allowed for others to fulfill their purpose in the story. Independence is overrated. Jesus could've gone into Bethany and got his own colt. Untied it. And put a blanket over it. But think about it this way - a week later, the very ones who had to watch him die also had the memory of helping him be celebrated. The disciples went and got the donkey that Jesus rode on. They prepared it for his processional. They celebrated his work and had the opportunity to give him his flowers while he was with them. Palm Sunday became part of their story. Living in community is not just about what you do for others, it is also about what you allow others to do for you.

Jesus came to save us even if we misjudge the route He will take to do it. The disciples were not aware of what the next week would hold. They didn't know the allegations that would be hurled against their Rabbi. If anyone deserved to ride in on a horse, with all the majesty and authority that comes with that, it was Jesus. After all, raising dead children, healing lepers, and feeding thousands of people should come with some perks. Instead, he chose the route of great humility, a road that couldn't be used against him later. No one could accuse him of being arrogant, egotistical, or majestic- at least not justifiably. Jesus wasn't just without fault; he lived a life that made it impossible for others to fault him as well. Don't be disgruntled with the route Jesus is taking; he knows what is on the other side of this turn. The route you are on may be necessary to keep you from getting tripped up later.

Every year, Palm Sunday reminds us how quickly things can turn. This year, maybe we think about things that have to happen before we look to celebrate what might occur next week. This week, use your influence to make an impact before turning to your authority. Remember that interdependence is a blessing; let others in on your story. Lastly, trust God with your route; he knows what to help you avoid today that someone would like to use against you tomorrow.

I Didn't Listen to My First Mind

I didn’t listen to my first mind.

This morning I woke up

Knowing it was July 4th

And how triggering

This day could be for me

I thought about taking a

Break from social media today.

I didn’t listen to my first mind.

I came across a post

With the necessary

And reckoning words

From Frederick Douglass,

“What, to the Slave,

Is the 4th of July?’

As I read it, I thought,

how deranged

One must be

To feel their freedom

Can only be secured

By taking it away

From someone else?

Then I read a post

that said

“Liberty and Justice for All”

The caption asked me

To celebrate a country

That has spent more time

Taking away "liberty and justice"

From people like me

Then it has spent giving it.

I didn’t listen to my first mind.

Lastly, I ran across a post.

Praying for this country.

I thought, well, maybe this time.

Maybe this post.

The prayer talked about

This country losing sight of its first love

And for that, I am eternally grateful.

I'm so glad this country has

Lost sight of putting legalities

In place to dehumanize me.

Well, at least to the

Level that it once did.

I didn’t listen to my first mind.

Then I thought

"Paula, we're going with our first mind!"

Today I celebrate my ancestors

who bought my freedom,

with their blood,

and who were bold enough

to take the rights

others tried to deny us.

And remember the oppression

That is born out of fear

and a demented

sense of self

Always has an expiration date.

And in the meantime,

We're going to keep fighting

For those who continue to suffer

Before the time is up

So today,

Because I dared to look,

I focus not so much

On the ideals this country has yet to realize

But I choose to focus on Psalm 103: 6,

"The Lord works

righteousness and justice

for all the oppressed."

And I chose to look and

See the hurting of others,

The oppression that exists,

The injustice that still prevails

And join with God in that work.