A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar Power, Love, and What God Can’t Do: More on Omnipotence With Tom Oord and Chris Lilley
Dec 12, 2025
Join theologian Tom Oord, known for his ideas on uncontrolling love and open theism, and Chris Lilley, a postulant in the Episcopal Church exploring pastoral theology, as they tackle the complexities of divine omnipotence. They discuss the moral implications of God's power in the face of suffering and critique classical understandings of omnipotence. Their candid conversation raises questions about faith, the nature of God, and how love might serve as a more compelling measure of divine power.
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Newborn Moment Changed Theologian's Mind
- Chris Lilley recounts holding his newborn and realizing he couldn't preach a God who might not save her if she were not elect.
- That moment led him to leave strict Reformed/doctrines that sanctioned unconditional election.
Open Relational Conception Of God
- Tom Oord defines God as an open, relational being who moves through time and is essentially loving.
- He rejects classical omnipotence and emphasizes creaturely freedom and mutual giving.
Three Senses Of Omnipotence
- Tom identifies three common senses of omnipotence: doing anything, literally exerting all power, and unilateral control over outcomes.
- He rejects all three as either incoherent or morally unacceptable given real-world evil.