As a result of the past assassination attempt on former President Trump, there has arisen some criticism directed toward the media and some politicians that suggested the event was an intervention by the hand of God to save the former President. This criticism is fueled by the fact the former President was surely spared in a remarkable way, however, two other innocent bystanders were seriously injured and one fine man was killed shielding his family from the onslaught of gunfire. Therefore, it has been asked if God intervened on behalf of the former President, why allow others to be hurt? Some have even suggested God directed the bullet away from the former President and into an innocent man trying to protect his wife and children.
These comments, both those of the critics and the divine intervention comments, are produced by the misunderstanding of two doctrines of the Christian faith. The doctrine of God and the doctrine of Providence. Volumes have been written on these two doctrines which can guide you through the scriptures developing them with more clarity. One excellent resource would be "The Existence and Attributes of God" by 17th-century author Stephen Charnock. The Existence and Attributes of God It is a 5-volume set if you are inclined to a much deeper study.
When hearing the comments concerning God's intervention I really didn't take issue with it, I understand most religious people simply respond similarly to such unexplainable circumstances. One image that has been put forth is a picture of the Virgin Mary pushing the bullet slightly to the side with her finger as it passes the former President.
Since this criticism has arisen it seems proper to address it. Obviously, the full context of these two doctrines cannot be reached in a short blog post. However, we will strive to clarify how Christians should view these past events. First, American TV preachers have done a great deal of harm to the Doctrine of God. They have created an image of a sugar daddy god whose sole purpose is to make your life better and give you success. All these things indirectly lead us to where we are today in our misunderstanding of God's involvement in these events.
To the question, "Did God intervene and save the life of the former President?" I understand the statement but intervene is not the best word for what happened. The explanation my friend gave suggesting the shooter simply missed, or at least missed by enough margin to avoid a tragedy in the life of the former President is closer to the truth than the term "God intervened". To say God intervened is to suggest certain events were going to take place in history and God miraculously intervened and changed those events to a different outcome. However, He only changed history for one, namely the former President, He did not change history for Corey Comperatore and the other two victims. Unless you want to suggest God directed the bullets in such a way as to kill and injure other innocent people.
Luke 13:1-5 ESV
(1) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
(3) No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
(4) Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
(5) No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
We can discover some insight in this passage of scripture. There is the concept in the minds of some that God is intervening in this world on behalf of good people and opposing the lawbreakers and the corrupt. Therefore, if there was a good God, He certainly would have saved Corey Comperatore. However, Jesus instructs us in His answer concerning these two events, that is simply not the case. God's purpose throughout the history of the world is not to make our lives better and protect us from tragedies. This is a fallen world going the way of a fallen world, we live and exist in this world and suffer along with it.
Job 14:1-2 ESV
(1) “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
(2) He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
However, that does not mean the world is running itself, all of human history is indeed governed by the omnipotent hand of God. It is stated in West Minister Confession of Faith, "God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy"
HEB 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews tells us all things throughout time are constantly being upheld by his power.
DAN 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? All the events of time are directed by God, we cannot change them or question why He does as He does.
ACT 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. You see, God did not intervene in the life of the former President, the event was established from eternity, and so was the tragedy of Corey Comperatore.
Job 14:5 ESV
(5) Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
Job 14:5 tells us man's days are determined, there is an appointed time on this earth for each of us, and when that time has expired our days will end. The means that bring about this expiration are as set and appointed as the day. God's purpose is to save sinners to the Glory of His name. Therefore, Jesus told us concerning the tragedies in Luke 13, that if we do not repent, we will likewise perish. We may die from an assassin's bullet, like Corey Comperatore, or die in falling towers, be killed in a car wreck, die from a long debilitating disease, or a thousand other things. All these are consequences of living in a fallen world. Had Corey been killed in a car wreck going home that day the nation would have never heard about him and his heroic nature. The events of history are established as God has determined, we live and experience life and learn from these events of history. Knowing and understanding a heroic act such as that of Corey determines someone must die. For us to know and understand the depravity of a sick mind there must be an assassin.
Matthew 18:7 ESV
(7) “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
We know from Scripture that God does not tempt any man, yet we also know from the Scripture above that he will's temptations to come.
It is the way we understand our fallen condition and the world we live in as a result. Corey is said to be a Christian, if that was so, he achieved his greatest desire and became a hero for his family.
Philippians 1:21-23 ESV
(21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(22) If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
(23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Some would call this determinism, and it would be if it were not for the free volition of men. The West Minister Confession would further explain, "God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeable ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the
liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established." All those involved in the tragedy could have freely chosen to have done otherwise than they did, however, all their free choices were upheld and yet brought within the divine decree of God's governing Providence established from eternity.
These doctrines of God and Providence were once prominent in the Christian faith. General Jackson was known for his devout Christian faith during the American Civil War. His courage on the battlefield earned him his nickname, "Stonewall". He was said to stand like a stone wall on the battlefield facing the opposing army fearlessly leading his men in open combat. A bullet once pierced through his hand as he was leading his men riding atop his horse. When asked how he could enter into battle with such courage Jackson replied,
“My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave.” - Stonewall Jackson
General Jackson did indeed escape numerous close calls where his life was astoundingly spared. Yet, he was spared only to be fatally injured accidentally, being shot by his own men. That providential moment was one of the major turning points that would determine the outcome of the Civil War. Jackson fully understood the teaching of Christ in Luke 13 and lived his life accordingly. There are many objections when considering these doctrines. They mostly arise in defense of human free will and to protect God from being the cause of tragedy. Some would call such events a senseless loss of life. However, with the loss of General Jackson and Corey Comperatore, and all events in history where there is a loss of life, not one is lost without purpose or significance.
Some would say it could not have been God's will or decree for General Jackson to be killed in such a manner. That is like saying it is not God's will for General Jackson to die at all, but die he must. If he were to just die of old age few Christians would suggest it wasn't God's will for him to die. But to die in battle, it would be wrong for God to will that. For God to decree such events, it must be in a manner acceptable to us. Biblically, we have not been handed the determining factor.
Some will concede that God has knowledge of such events, but he does not decree them to be. He simply knows what free creatures will do, he is not in control of human affairs. However, that would make the Bible not God's will but a collection of historical events that happened to happen the way they did. The characters that lived and died in the historical narrative were not ordained or decreed to be, they only lived and died of their own volition and determined the outcome that produced our Bible. The Scriptures completely reject that scheme of thought and specifically attribute all events to the sovereign decree of God's wisdom and purpose.
My friend does not believe in God, so none of this makes sense to him. All that is within his reach is found in this world, therefore, anything that takes that away is a tragedy. For the Christian, life is only a journey through a world of suffering and a brief one at that, their affections is set upon the rewards of a gracious God once we pass through. The Christian understands the suffering, the reasons for it, and therefore the goodness of God for his redemption through Christ Jesus our Lord. The world has experienced moments of reprieve from extreme suffering, the rise of the Christian West is one of those moments. Most of world history is much worse than we have in our current American experience. But even in this great experience of freedom man's depravity breaks out often. This world will have its ebbs of reprieve, but it will always revert back to its fallen condition. The human hope of living in a world without tragedy, misery, and suffering will never be achieved until this world has been judged. After that God has promised a New Heaven and Earth where all righteousness will finally be achieved. That is the Gospel and the Christian Hope.
Revelation 21:1-8 ESV
(1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
(2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
(4) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
(5) And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(6) And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
(7) The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
(8) But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
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