Proximate causes and the Deistic error

If you have ever spoken to a child who has just discovered the potency of responding to everything you say with ‘why?’, then you are already well familiar with the issue of ultimate and proximate causes.

Picture this.

“Get in the car.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re driving to the beach.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a lovely day and your mother and I thought it would be nice.”

“Why?”

“Well remember it was illegal to go to the beach only a matter of months ago.”

“Why?”

“Well,” says the parent with a chuckle, “that’s due to a nasty thing we call politics.”

It would be accurate to say that the nice weather caused the child to have to get in the car, and it would also be accurate to say that the parent’s instruction was the cause of the child being required to get in the car. They were both events along the critical path, simply at different points.

Another example of an ultimate and proximate cause is found on the first page of the Bible. The text says that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen 1:1) Genesis goes on to indicate that the Word (Jesus, the pre-incarnate second person of the Trinity) was God’s agent of creation since “God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light” (Gen 1:3). Additionally, God’s Spirit was present and active, we see him “hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2) as we behold the pre-creation state of chaos and disorder. Paul makes it clear:

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities‒all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 1:16-17

What we have seen here is by no means controversial, though very important for understanding the following. God always acts justly, even when he is the ultimate cause of righteous outcomes being achieved by unrighteous actors. Consider Jeremiah 50, in which God judges the wicked Babylonians for mistreating his people.

“For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 50:9-10

The passage breaks into poetry to illuminate the ferocity of the judgement Babylon was to receive. Jeremiah then says:

“Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria.”

Jeremiah 50:17-18, emphasis mine

See how God judges this nation for their wickedness.

“I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,

    and you did not know it;

you were found and caught,

    because you opposed the Lord.

The Lord has opened his armory

    and brought out the weapons of his wrath,

for the Lord God of hosts has a work to do

    in the land of the Chaldeans.

Come against her from every quarter;

    open her granaries;

pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;

    let nothing be left of her.

Kill all her bulls;

    let them go down to the slaughter.

Woe to them, for their day has come,

    the time of their punishment.”

Jeremiah 50:24-27

By this point it should be clear that the actions of the Babylonians were evil and worthy of God’s wrath. However, it is plain to see that their actions were the proximate cause of God’s ultimate cause: sending his people into exile for their covenant unfaithfulness: See Ezekiel 21, in which the Lord raises up a sword, the sword of the King of Babylon, against his people Israel, and see Habakkuk 1 especially verse 6, from which it is clear that God intentionally raised up the Chaldeans as his sword to give Israel the punishment they deserve.

God was the ultimate cause behind the judgement that his people received in Babylon, but due to the unrighteousness of Babylon, he was justified in punishing them for those very actions. The unrighteous Babylonians were the proximate cause.

The astute reader may have noticed that we have, as of yet, made no effort to explain what is meant by ‘the Deistic error’ in the title. We shall do that now. Many today falsely assume that God is far off, that he set the world in motion and now sits back and watches, apart from certain points where he needs to jump in and intervene, but is mostly a spectator (a Deistic concept). This is so plainly not the case. As it is written above, “[Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col 1:17b, emphasis mine).

Consider your surroundings. As this is written, the author is surrounded by the fine company of such types as Jasmine, Grevillea and Rosemary. These are not simply plants that God once created. He holds them together at this present moment, and jostles them around along with the music of the birds and the shifting of the breeze, to declare his glorious creativity and attention, and to bless his children. Just the same, your favourite slippers or coat are as much the work of a textiles factory as they are a handcrafted gift from your heavenly father, and the comfort they bring is his affection towards you.

Consider your prayers. Do you only consider a prayer ‘answered’ if you cannot come up with an explanation that does not involve God’s intervention? That is the problem. God doesn’t need to intervene, he’s already there. When you hold fast to the promise of 1 John 1:9, confessing your sins, knowing that he is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, he will be faithful to answer that prayer. When you pray that you might greatly enjoy gathering with God’s people for Sunday worship, and then make every effort and action to affect that enjoyment, you are not getting in the way of God answering prayer, but merely offering yourself as the proximate cause of his answer. Here’s a prayer God will always answer with a yes: “Heavenly father, please wield the course of history and the days of my life as instruments to ultimately bring you glory.”

I urge you, please do not see all this as just philosophy and technicalities. One of the realities that God has used mightily to increase the joy and confidence of this author is the fact of his constant presence and his deep level of engagement in the world he created. Learn to receive all that happens as the providence of your Father who loves you better than you know, and who is working all things together for the good of his children. Pray for things you are going to make happen, as well as things you have no hope of making happen. The Christian has starved herself of her Father’s affection because she ignores his gifts, not believing they are from him lest she sees his very hand delivering them. God is not ignoring you, and he is not only sometimes involved.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Boberg and others, ‘How Great Thou Art’