“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.
Comments