Gangsta Killa God vs Carrot Dangling God

Gangsta Killa God vs Carrot Dangling God

In my time in church I’ve witnessed and experienced various different views of God and the results on both sides have been very bad. I’ll describe them here and ask where or is there a balance between the two views.

Gangsta Killa God:

I don’t have as much experience with this view and I have to give credit for that label to my friend Chris Echols. This view of God ascribes every atrocity known to man to being a part of God’s Will and eternal decrees. You often hear things like it must have been God’s Will for him to be killed. Or it was God’s Will that I get fired and thrown out on the street. Humans have very little if any ability to affect change in their lives without God directly predetermining it. This view sees that the only way God can be assured that His Will ultimately comes to pass is for Him to directly orchestrate and predetermine every action and reaction from the clothes you put on today to the car accident you were either in or saved from. Yet and still we are held accountable for every event and decision that was already pre-planned for us that happens to us. The unfairness is usually chalked up to “He’s God and who are we to question Him.” Once that statement is made there’s really not much more discussion left. 

Carrot Dangling God:

Now this is the view that I have the most experience with. My background  is primarily Charismatic and Word of Faith. I was listening to clip from a young pastor in my city online and it brought back some ill feelings. In this view you constantly hear how God wants to bless you. God wants to heal you. Everything that you need has already been provided just claim it by faith. The Spirit is here and healing is here just reach out and claim your healing. God is waiting on you to sow your seed of faith so he can open the Windows of Heaven and pour out His blessing on you and on and on. In this scenario you’re constantly trying to get yourself in line with God so you can receive these things that he so desperately wants to give you or things He has already given you that haven’t manifested yet. I often felt like I was chasing a dangling carrot. You feel like it’s your fault that you haven’t received those things you need and you’re constantly making adjustments trying to get in line and find where God wants you to be to receive His provision. The process was almost equated with God’s will. "If it doesn't work it's not God's fault." So if it's not God's fault then whose fault is it because it can't be the formula right??? 

I believe there are truths in both camps but I also believe that a balance needs to be found because I’ve found that these are two of the main camps that have caused people to quit God altogether and reject Him. Any thoughts?