The Names Have Been Changed

I'm going to tell you a story. The names (and anything else that might identify someone) have been changed ... even though there are no innocents.

They were living together, the two of them, with his two teenage kids in a nice place in the suburbs. He was a Christian, but wasn't much for going to church ... or doing anything else that would indicate he was a Christian. He believed it was fine to live with and sleep with his girlfriend because, well, it was the only way he could pay the bills and, after all, they were engaged to be married, weren't they? So what's the big deal?

Well, one night when she went off to work, tragedy struck. He was in an automobile accident. Fault was irrelevant. She suffered fatal injuries and soon after died. It was all very sad. His family gathered around him and wept. Everyone tried to figure out how to help him out. And his response? Well, it was what you might expect. "Why would God do such a thing?" And it wasn't an innocent question. He was mad.

These things are always difficult. We have compassion for the loved ones who suffer through them. And you want to be able to answer their "whys", but, let's be reasonable -- who can say why God does anything? The most common answer, of course, is "God didn't do it; these are just things that happen. God can't be everywhere, you know." This ever-so-popular and well-meaning answer comes from people who obviously don't know God. The Bible is full of people whom God causes to suffer for a variety of reasons. Some are struck dead for judgment. We tend to think this is the only possibility, but it's only one and not the only one. One man was born blind "so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). Saul was struck blind to get his attention. Some people died so they could be raised again as a sign of authenticity for God's prophets. Job suffered specifically not because of sin, but because he served God. Does God cause pain and death as judgment? It would be foolish to deny it since there are so many biblical examples. On the other hand, it would be foolish to suggest that this event or that trial was an act of judgment without God's specific statement to that effect. Bottom line, then ... I cannot answer that question: "Why would God do such a thing?" I can say it was right. And I cannot but affirm that God ordained it. I just can't say what His reason was.

What is really bizarre in these circumstances is that these people who suffer these types of circumstances suddenly shift from practical atheist to learned theologian. They live their lives ignoring what God might have to say about it and then, when He intervenes, they're quite sure that He had no business intervening in their lives. It is the lie we all tend to tell ourselves. We are the most important thing and not even God has the right to interfere. None of us deserve that kind of suffering. That's a lie.

We are all human and we care and we are more comfortable with sinners than with God, so we feel the pain of a loved one in pain. Telling this one "You didn't care what God thought when you chose to live together; why do you care why He does what He does now?" wouldn't be of any service. That would be scant comfort. Jesus's reply in a similar situation wasn't very pleasant. They asked him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with the sacrifices. He replied, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-3). Maybe that's all we can do in times like these. Comfort the hurting and look to our own sinful condition. Maybe these kinds of events ought to serve as a call for us to repent. Couldn't hurt.