Crazy People

Job encountered a really bad day. He lost all his riches and all his children on the same day. His response? "YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken away; blessed be the name of YHWH" (Job 1:21). Not long thereafter he was struck with sores. Sitting on an ash heap scraping his sores, his wife told him to "Curse God and die." He told her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:9-10). Your average people would respond, "That's just crazy talk, Job. Yes, we will allow good from God and not bad. That's normal. You are crazy."

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" (Luke 9:23-24). The world is flabbergasted. "What?? Are you nuts?? 'Take up his cross'? 'Daily'?? Deny self???! What lunacy! We function in precisely the opposite mode. We take care of #1 -- self -- first. Don't be ridiculous!"

In a letter largely about the certainty of suffering in the Christian life, Peter wrote, "If you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:14-15) "Really? A reason for hope when you suffer for righteousness' sake? 'Blessed'? And you do it with gentleness and respect?" Crazy.

Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Php 4:11-13). "Really?? Content? In whatever situation? I mean, we get when you have a lot, but when you don't? You're telling us that 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me' is a sufficient answer?" Crazy as a loon.

My father died a couple of months ago. We, his family, believe that he is not just "in a better place," but is an enviable and glorious place without pain or sorrow, filled with joy. "Really? He's dead and you're happy for him? A 'better place'??" We're crazy. I worry, sometimes, for Christians that are not because walking with God is not intuitively obvious.