There is a story about an apartment landlord who had no regard for God and despised those who did, including the sweet, Christian lady who lived alone in the next apartment.

He could often overhear her praying and thanking God for taking care of her.

One day she was laying out her needs before the Lord because she was out of food.

Then she peacefully went out for awhile, trusting that He would take care of her.

When she returned, there were bags of groceries on her table.

She started really thanking and praising God, out loud, for His provision, as she had prayed.

Just then the landlord came to her door, very smug, and with superiority said, “Lady, gotcha this time. God didn’t provide that food—I did. So much for your prayers.”

The lady didn’t miss a beat and replied, “Oh, no, not so. God always provides for me, even if He has to use the devil to do so.”

So, really, just how many things can work for good, even in the midst of hostility?

“All things” ?

Good things—Bad things ?

Not all things are good.

“All things work together . . . ”

I can’t make everything work together, no matter how hard I try.

So, Somebody bigger has to be in charge, capable of working all things together.

” . . . for good . . . ” ?

You say, “God, I hope so.”

There’s more—more than “hope so”:

” . . . all things work together for good to them that love God . . . ?

Oh, so there is a catch—it does depend on me after all.

No way—loving God makes me totally depend on Him.

I trust Him, that He has a plan, and that He is working out His plan in my life.

He has called me for a purpose, His purpose.

And that makes everything in my life have meaning, whether I understand it all now—or later.

How sure about “all” this?

“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God—to them who are called according to His purpose.”     —–His Book

Added note:

Jesus “went about doing good.”

Any of my feeble efforts to do good to others will also come under the promise that He will work them together for good—“making a difference in their lives in the parts that are for keeps.”

(please read these Reformation articles in numbered order)

Here is an analogy of vocabulary between math and theology.

Adding and subtracting are based on counting real objects, which everyone can understand from a very early age.

Somewhere, someone introduced two intangible terms to “explain” adding and subtracting larger numbers.

And ever since, teachers (myself included) have perpetually created unique gymnastics to explain “borrowing” and “carrying” and somehow bring adding and subtracting back to the real world (where it all started in the first place).

(Available soon:  This problem is solved by SIBA—“SImple BAsics revolutionize education.)

Now, the comparable term in theology.

God is real, and the Bible tells us everything we need to know about Him, and how to have a wonderful, personal relationship with His Son, Jesus.

And then we can spend a lifetime reading and studying the Bible to get ever closer to the King of the universe.

But early on, someone, somewhere, decided to invent an intangible word to explain God, and it has been a disaster ever since.

“the trinity”

And, just like “borrowing” and “carrying” in math, theologians and Bible teachers have been standing on their heads, trying to explain “the trinity.”

That word is a mistake, with extensive damage and no benefit at all to bring people to Jesus and closer to Jesus.

Why was “the trinity” invented?

Basically to put God in a box—a three-sided box—and to put people in a box, to control them.

Theologians created “the trinity” (not in the Bible)—in a sense they created God, with exclusive claims to explain Him, and to show common people that only theologians understand God, because they know more.

Any organization that develops an exclusive terminology creates an exclusive club.

And for some weird reason, that develops an irresistible attraction for people who want to belong.

It’s sort of like the strange rituals of initiation into gangs.

The ritual, the language, makes no sense, but it’s cool to belong.

And so, the church goes on, repeating history, repeating control of people in the place of God.

Of course no one thinks they are doing that at the time (3rd century to 15th century to 21st century).

There is much more to be said for theology and evangelism without ever using “the trinity.”

Just one specific example:

Witnessing to Muslims would be simplified if the obstacle of “the trinity” never existed.

(please read these Reformation articles in numbered order)

Man creates doctrines to divide, and labels to solidify debate.

Then church leaders and church followers feel obligated and compelled to take either/or positions on numerous issues.

Certain Bible verses have to be used and emphasized on one side of an issue, while others have to be avoided and minimized.

This is totally unnecessary and very harmful.

Churches would do far better to avoid “division by position”, on things not vital to salvation and discipleship.

Instead, just encourage open study of all Bible verses on any topic, with the people, without conclusions in advance.

The biggest pitfall is telling people what to believe, and then telling them to look up selected Bible verses to back it up.

That works fine for each church group as long as leaders maintain control of the church membership—like those belonging to a club—which becomes most important.

It is a life-giving breath of fresh air when God’s people get excited about studying their Bible and applying it to their personal lives.

We need to rediscover the challenge of obeying the parts of the Bible we clearly understand, and waiting for understanding on other parts.

The Bible has helpful words of comfort, as well as words of warning, on both sides of most issues.

Apply the truth, “All Scripture is given for  .  .  .”