Chapter Five: Is Anybody Up There? (Chapter Six, too)
by Elizabeth de Barros
“We cannot climb up to God, but He has descended to us.”
— Michael Horton
WEEK 4
Lots of ice, a decent amount of half & half, and some turbinado sugar to let sink down to the bottom…that’s how I roll when it’s hot! OK…yes, the book. Well, if there’s one thing Michael Horton is good at, it’s taking a profound subject and blasting home a layered point as he spins several plates while hopping on one foot. In these next two chapters, he pulls out the BIG guns and fires away at the BIG questions: Where is God? and Why, God? There’s much to consider and discuss; I won’t even try to cover it all. But hopefully, we’ll tap a vein that brings some life and builds faith. Remember, next week we start Part Two: “God of the Empty Tomb” in which we have left only two more discussions. Then what we’ve learned will be, as the author says, “put to the test of real life.” Now, once I plunk in my trusty pink straw, I’ll be good to go…
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 5
In “Is Anybody Up There?” Horton answers the universal question, “Where is God when we need Him most?” by first stating that God condescends to us through His ordained means of grace and the many “masks” He wears through the neighbors and saints in our community. He then proceeds to take the reader on a long meandering tour to explain our inherited godless culture, where the existence of God isn’t taken for granted anymore as much as it has been exchanged for despair (p.72). Horton credits the Nietzsches, the Feuerbachs, the Marxes and the Freuds of this world for having systematically sown unbelief by reducing God to a void, a dream, a drug and a coping mechanism — the fruit of which has come to bear in William James’ pragmatism. As it flourishes in society and in the Church, its dictates of “God is whatever works” and “what we think we need” undermine the high and holy place of God, without anyone batting an eyelash.
But Horton does not abandon us to despair. He finishes the tour by announcing that this not the gospel, and warns us to not buy their trinkets. Using the literary technique of contrast, he reveals their theology of glory as the mythical tales of supermen — religion of the worst kind — and tells of a better way. To the one crying, “Where is God for me, for us, given the mess we’re in right now?” Horton offers not the general revelation of God as displayed in the glory of a magnificent sunset, but the special revelation of His saving will, a particular promise that says: “I have forgiven your sins, so come to Me. Do not be afraid.”
The author knew where he was going the entire time — and guides us back to where he started, reminding us of a Savior who condescends to us.
SUMMARY of CHAPTER 6
In “If We Just Knew Why God Let It Happen,” Horton attempts to recover what’s largely been lost — an appreciation for God’s ordinary providence in society. He advocates for theological sanity by asking: Can we let God be God? Can we live with mystery and still trust Him, in His goodness? as he introduces the ideas of providence vs. miracle, common grace vs. saving grace, direct vs. indirect government — showing how they work together in all of life throughout the whole of God’s sovereignty, seen and unseen. He suggests a faith that allows for tension in truth where these distinctions play out:
“Just as God rules the affairs of his creation no less through providence than miracle,
or common grace than saving grace,
he is just as active when he works through creatures
as when he directly brings about his designs apart from them.”
(pp. 105-106)
Single-handedly, the author lifts our vision to behold God “even where we do not usually expect to find him, and to trust that even when we do not find him, he is already there.” Nobly and with expertise, he gently cautions us away from yielding to unbelief cloaked in gnosis, or in other words, a “need to know.” Which begs another question: Would “knowing why” change anything?
In answer to that, he quotes Calvin: “It would not even be useful for us to know what God himself…willed to be hidden.” (p. 98)
MY TAKE
I’m grateful for the way Michael Horton educates while warning and protecting the flock of God. In Chapter 5, he may have gone off on a tangent or two and repeated himself a lot, but he didn’t waste a drop of ink — or my time — in doing so. I appreciate his gift of persuasion. He soundly reasons that we put away religious thinking and the fleshly, cultural temptation to succumb to a theology of glory. I need reminding over and over that I have a Savior, as I tend to forget that this mighty God is nearer than I dare trust in my hour of need.
Chapter 6 had my wheels turning! I loved how he put this one together, explaining in detail the distinctions of providence and miracle, common and saving grace, direct and indirect government, etc. Like a true reformer, he carries the torch for a faith that is Biblically balanced, one that wards against worldly principles and the lesser goals of gnosis and hyper-spirituality, the pretense of knowing what God is up to at all times. And he points to a God who is gracious, to the One who heals either by way of the surgeon’s hands or the immediate miracle, to the One who rains on the just and the unjust. Horton does not apologize for God, nor does he seek to explain Him away. Instead, like a faithful steward, he humbly regards the majesty of the Lord and invites us to do the same.
I found this chapter to be not only encouraging, but refreshing!
WORTH REPEATING
“Religion actually is a projection of our own felt needs, fig leaves of our inner lives to cloak our guilt, a golden calf of our own imaginations to hide us from the God of blinding glory. But religion is not revelation. Religion expresses our longings. Revelation communicates God’s.” (p. 75)
“The sheer presence or existence of God is not itself good news to us in our sin.” (p. 77)
“One moment we may be lost in the grandeur and sheer force of the ocean’s waves; the next we are just as lost in their dread as they burst their bonds, causing havoc and destruction.” (p. 80)
“Things are not as they seem.”
“We do not know what God has decided in his deep and mysterious hiddenness, and we can only know what God condescends to reveal to us as he cloaks his unapproachable light in humility and weakness. (p. 83)
“He has still not revealed everything.”
“He remains Lord over his counsels.” (p. 96)
“God’s wisdom reorients us to see everything differently.” (p. 104)
“Our times are in His hands…”
“God’s providence cannot really be discerned apart from the gospel, apart from the knowledge that God is up to something here that will turn Good Friday into Easter morning.” (p. 110)
GROUP CHAT
OK, that was a lot to swallow. What resonated with you? What did you like/dislike? Reflect on? Agree/disagree with?
Please share your thoughts, insights, questions, or favorite excerpts in ftm’s comment section. Of course, if you’d rather simply listen, that’s fine, too.
FOR NEXT WEEK
We begin Part Two: “God of the Empty Tomb”
Read Chapters 7 & 8: “Out of the Whirlwind” and “A New Creation”
finding the motherlode 
I really appreciate that Horton asks the tough questions, then doesn’t back off from answering them. He hits on things we all wonder: how is God helping ME? Where is he NOW? Why is this happening?
And he leads us back to Christ in all of it. We find ourselves at the foot of the cross, over and over.
I still wrestle with the sovereignty issues in chapter 6. Does God actually “ordain” or just “allow” the bad things? This chapter gives me more food for thought. And I hope some of the comments here will also help.
I posted more thoughts here:
Is God with you?
Thanks for the great synopsis again, Elizabeth. If I hadn’t already read the chapters, I would surely want to go do so. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa. I agree, there’s much food for thought in chapter 6.
This life, living in this world, it’s all so wonderful and, at times, can be so frightening and tragic–it’s the great drama played out on God’s stage. While I don’t want to cop out by not attempting to fathom His ways, I find myself speechless sometimes.
The sovereignty of God is a doctrine that seems to make my brain “go tilt” and one that leaves me in a heap–that place of humble awe. I don’t expect to completely understand it.
Yes, He is too big for me, but I will ponder His statutes…(Psalm 119:95)
God bless,
-E
Elizabeth…you do a marvelous job of summarizing the chapters and that is hard to do as Dr. Horton writes long ones! However, this book is proving to be a great blessing in my life. Such great reformed theology being discussed. I feel as though I have taken a refreshing shower after reading each week. The dust of the world, as crusty as it is, is coming off layer by layer as I read.
Several points have had a great liberating effect on me. First, the idea that God can perform miracles or use medical doctors to bring about healing and miracles is wonderful to my ears. My husband is an optometric physician. God called him to this profession. He and I prayed about whether to go into ministry after our conversion or continue pursuing his professional degree. After a time of prayer and study, we determined that this was his ministry. However, through the years, we have been subjected to many well-meaning Christians who put down medicine as though it is a crutch. These are the folks that believe in growing out a shorter leg and smashing eye glasses because God miraculously healed them. They don’t need physicians of any sort or medicine to aid in a cure.
Not only did their criticism of the healing professions sting us, but we saw many people throw away their opportunity to find a cure. Truly a sad misunderstanding of God’s grace.
God does perform miracles, though. I am a recipient of one. When I had polio, the doctors did do all they could for me. They told my parents they were not certain if I would survive due to the type I had. They indicated that it was in God’s hands. At seven, you are unaware of anything except the desire to go home and get well. I simply asked God to heal me and let me go home again. After six weeks in the hospital, I was able to return home, and God did grant me recovery. It was a miracle because medicine could not do any more for me. Yet, in another room nearby lay a man whose son was a classmate of mine. He was in his thirties and totally paralyzed with polio. When he was able to go home again, he lived by assistance of a respirator. He was totally paralyzed and unable to do anything for himself. I visited him with my parents. He lived a number of years before ultimately succumbing to complications that came from his paralysis. Why did God spare me and not this man? I do not know. God knows.
I loved that Dr. Horton says there are some things which are mysteries that will remain mysteries…the hidden knowledge of God. It is not for us to know. However, we do have the revealed will of God in His Word and we are to trust in that.
I also appreciated what the author said about the common grace we find in the lives of people around us who may not be Christians. They have good ideas and thoughts that can bless us and contribute to others. So many people have this notion that we are not to be involved in this world at all. Yet, Christ tells us we are in this world but not of this world. We are to be salt and light. We cannot do that unless we rub shoulders with others and appreciate the gifts they have as well.
Finally, the idea that God is closest to us when we are in the depths of difficulties and suffering is such a blessing to me. I remember very well when we found out that our first grandson had something wrong with him how I felt. He had a rare brain abnormality. Only 100 children in the world have this ever happen. I went through questioning “why?” Was it a genetic problem we passed on to our son that led to this? What was the answer?
As I was driving along one day, the song by Casting Crowns came on the radio “Praise You Through the Storm”. I remembered the story that Mark Hall told at the concert as to why he wrote the song. There was a child suffering with cancer, and the parents were praying for a miracle to save this child. Ultimately, the child died. He said he will never forget the grace he saw as he watched the parents praising God and being faithful despite this loss in their lives. That is why he wrote the song. As I thought about our little grandson while listening to this song, I cried and cried. But in those tears, I also praised God for his life. I knew then that God was nearer than my next breath.
God has graced both our son and daughter-in-law in caring for this special needs boy. He is about 3 and 1/2 now. He is very bright with the sweetest smile this side of heaven. We don’t know if he will ever be able to talk. He says a few words…but don’t know what will happen in the future. He is still not walking yet…but making progress. Would I trade him? Not on your life!!! He is teaching me about God’s wonderful grace, truth and love every day. My prayer is not…God heal him….my prayer is now God teach us how we can minister to him each day and meet his needs. He is like a little gift that God is opening a little at a time each day. My desire is to serve him and teach Him about the God who is faithful. I cherish this little boy. What a gift from God! Even in those moments of despair, fear and worry….God is there…holding us up.
These are the thoughts that came as I read these chapters. I am so thankful to look at suffering from a new perspective. I have had my share of difficulties….but the blessing has been God’s presence through it all. Thank you again for hosting this discussion. May we all encourage one another daily and all the more as we see the day drawing near!
Hi Barbara,
I’m so glad the book is proving to be a blessing to you. I appreciate your kind words about the summaries–Michael Horton certainly doesn’t skimp on words!
You have such a rich testimony of God’s faithfulness to you. Thank you so much for sharing all the ways these chapters have affirmed your faith and given you fresh perspective. I agree with you that God’s grace runs through medicine as well as miracles. He is so much bigger than we allow!
I praise God for healing you of polio. I do not profess to know God’s secret will, but I imagine the fact that He knew you would give him glory for having done so was part of it:)
-E
Elizabeth, you said in your opening “But hopefully, we’ll tap a vein that brings some life and builds faith.”
You then went on to say this: “To the one crying, “Where is God for me, for us, given the mess we’re in right now?” Horton offers not the general revelation of God as displayed in the glory of a magnificent sunset, but the special revelation of His saving will, a particular promise that says: “I have forgiven your sins, so come to Me. Do not be afraid.”
And also this: “I need reminding over and over that I have a Savior, as I tend to forget that this mighty God is nearer than I dare trust in my hour of need.”
The vein has been tapped!
Dearest Diana,
Amen. The gospel never fails to comfort those of us who believe. When all the props are taken away, we still hold the promise of life in Christ.
-E
Those were two thought provoking chapters! Elizabeth, I am so happy that you are summarizing the chapters, for I need the added input. Thank you.
I too am very thankful that the Lord healed you, Barbara. Your testimony is wonderful to hear! I also love it that you are a loving grandmother to your grandson. I am sure that that little boy rises up with joy whenever he sees your beautiful face; especially one that loves the Lord! What a blessing it is to leave a legacy of love for your children and grandchildren. Not everyone has that blessing. By the Lord’s mercy and grace we will be able to have that same honor.
Many blessings to you all! Thank you for your input.
-christina
The note I made on Chapter Six: Salvation is the seed sown in a ground made rich by the fertilizer of gifts and blessings and plowed by sorrow and suffering.
Yes, Tammy, I agree. It’s all necessary. And when God comes to plow up our ground, He often uses our enemies to do so. But they don’t gain the victory over us!
-E
Psalm 129
1 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth—
let Israel say—
2 they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the LORD is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
7 with it the reaper cannot fill his hands,
nor the one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD.”