Lessons From A Lawsuit Against God
By Allan E. McNabb

People have sued God in the past, but haven’t been successful.  There’s even an Australian movie you probably never heard of, titled, “The Man Who Sued God.”

Last week, God was sued again, on September 14, 2007, by Ernie Chambers, a Nebraska Democratic State Senator.

To sum it up, Chambers accuses God of deleterious acts and terroristic threats, asking the court to issue a permanent injunction against Him.  Here is a quote from the lawsuit that nearly summarizes the entire petition, wherein God is referred to as “Defendant”:
To enter a permanent injunction enjoining Defendant from engaging in the types of deleterious actions and the making of terroristic threats as identified and described herein.

Even though the petition is blasphemous, I want to uncover valuable lessons we’re reminded of in the lawsuit.

God Is Omnipresent
In the suit, Mr. Chambers refers to God as:
Defendant . . . is present in all places at the same time (“Omnipresent”). . . .

“Omnipresent”   means   the   state  of  being everywhere.

The Bible teaches us that God is everywhere — He’s omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-12).  No creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to His eyes (Heb. 4:13).

God Is Omniscient
In the suit, Mr. Chambers asks the court to waive his responsibility to notify the Defendant (God), in part, due to His Omniscience.  The thinking is:  since God is Omniscient, He already knows about the legal action; therefore, papers do not have to be served on Him personally.

The lawsuit states:
. . . Plaintiff respectively requests this Honorable Court to find that lawful personal/constructive service has been effectuated by virtue of the fact that Defendant, being Omniscient, shall be deemed to have actual knowledge of this action, sufficient to satisfy all requirements of law regarding notice.

“Omniscient” means the state of knowing everything.

The Bible tells us that God is the God of knowledge — He’s omniscient (1 Sam. 2:3).  God knows and sees everything (1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Ch. 28:9; Matt. 6:4, 18, 32; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor.
3:20; Heb. 4:12-130).

God Is Omnipotent
The lawsuit doesn’t use the word “Omnipotent,” but it acknowledges God’s great and magnificent power.
Defendant directly and proximately has caused, inter alia, fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocide wars, birth defects, and the like.

“Omnipotent” means the state of having unlimited power, which Chambers’ lawsuit certainly alludes to by listing a few of God’s mighty deeds.

The Bible tells us God can do everything (Job 42:2).  Nothing is too hard for Him (Gen. 18:14; Lk: 1:37) — all things are possible with Him (Matt. 19:26).

God Warns And Punishes
Chambers accuses God of inspiring fear and coercing obedience, and even laughing at people who are suffering according to His will.

Defendant has directed said chroniclers to assemble and disseminate in written form, said admission, throughout the Earth in order to inspire fear, dread, anxiety, terror and uncertainty, in order to coerce obedience to Defendant’s will.

Defendant has manifested neither compassion nor remorse, proclaiming that Defendant “will laugh” when calamity comes.

Technically, it’s true God inspires fear and coerces obedience through threats and corporal punishment (Col. 3:6; 2 Th. 1:6-10; Heb. 12), just like any good parent or teacher.  And it’s true God said He would laugh at the calamity of sinners who scoffed at Him (Pr. 1:26).

Chambers neglects to innumerate the kind and loving deeds of God, even in sending His Son to die for our sins (Jn. 3:16).  He doesn’t put God’s harmful acts into the context of punishment and chastisement of a loving Father, which would hurt his case.

Fearful Thoughts
Men should fear God and keep His commandments (Ec. 12:13-14).  He is a vengeful God, described as a consuming fire, who will repay men for their sins with eternal punishment (Heb. 10:30; 12:29; 2 Th. 1:6-9).  “It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

Men should be afraid to bring reviling accusations against God, like the ones in Chambers’ lawsuit.  Angels don’t even bring such railing judgment against Satan, much less God (Jude 1:9).

Man Can’t Make God Change
Near the end of the lawsuit, there is a section titled “Prayer For Relief,” which is typical legal jargon.  This section of the petition describes what the plaintiff is asking for.  In this case, Chambers asks the court for a permanent injunction, forcing God to stop engaging in deleterious actions and the making of terroristic threats.

It’s interesting the plaintiff prays to a human court that can’t stop God.  As already admitted in the lawsuit, God is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent, which makes me wonder why someone would ask a court to do something that’s impossible – force God to change.