To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition.
- Woody Allen
There are two kinds of people in our fallen world. Those who are angry at, and those who are angry with, God. Interestingly, even such a subtle distinction can make a world of difference. Within these two groups are those choosing to remain in denial or resentment and those willing to face and work through their issues. The latter are few and far between for a variety of reasons.
Billions, on some level, blame God for their impoverished and hopeless lives. Billions of others are too busy pursuing pleasure and wealth to seriously give it much thought. Others, in deference to God and/or unwilling to scrutinize their subjective relations with Him find the subject offensive. Yet in the end, who better to honestly address the great religious questions festering in the heart of humanity than those seeking to love and serve mankind's Creator and Savior?
Life's challenging. Born crying and screaming, from our first to last breath, every man and woman faces an uphill battle. Some problems are easy to conquer, providing opportunities for growth and a sense of accomplishment. Others loom foreboding as vast mountain ranges, seeming difficult or even impossible to climb. Thankfully, with diligence and over time many of life's summits prove surmountable, particularly with the help of family and friends.
Often challenges become trials that can serve to strengthen our character and resolve as well as our commitment to God and our relationships to one another. Other times relentless hardships grow into sources of continual sorrow and regret, pain and frustration. Sadly, the grief of misfortune can be heightened by the actions or inactions of others, even those we trust and love. So too, our experience with the apparent distance and silence of God can create similar feelings.
Humanity faces a variety of disappointments. Many seem arbitrary, arising from circumstances beyond our control. The realities of when, where and to whom we are born can set in motion a lifetime of events not of our choosing. Innumerable multitudes from the past, present and future have lived haunted by the specters of famine and disease, war and violence through little or no fault of their own. Terrible and sobering statistics reveal today's struggles of the impoverished Third World. While their hardships dwarf those of the affluent First World, we too have daunting challenges.
Tragically, poor corporate and individual choices can seriously exacerbate our problems. The original sin of entitlement is alive and thriving within modern culture. As "a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough" so too, for better or worse, our attitudes and actions greatly effect our lives and those of others. Sometimes the effects are obvious, as in the case of those addicted to drugs or violence. Their ruined lives devastate the hearts of family and friends as well as those they use and abuse. In mass, such foolish behavior sets off a chain of events that "destroys much good." As Scripture warns:
- "Remember, it only takes a spark to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell." James 3:5-6 MSG
Angry At or With God
God's often blamed for the pain we encounter when experiencing any or all of life's three kinds of difficulties. Whether dealing with suffering inherent in being human and mortal, that imposed on us by others or that which we unwittingly inflict on ourselves, we share the suspicion life could be much better were Omnity paying closer attention. Many seek answers in various religions, hoping to understand, love or at least placate Divinity. Others choose the path of least resistance, drowning their sorrow and fear in any of an endless variety of distractions. Afraid of the risk of faith, rather than seriously seeking God they seek a-muse-ment literally meaning "not to think." While simple and compelling proof of God's existence abounds and scientific evidence for intelligent design is overwhelming, many otherwise brilliant and even scientific minds are so disappointed or angry with the Creator they eagerly write Him off as non existent, unknowable or worse.
Myriads today, and throughout the ages, are less combative. For reasons from apathy to a pseudo respect for God simply turn a blind eye towards eternity and the ultimate concerns of life. Living for the moment, these join the prevailing worldly wisdom that the best we can hope to do with our mortal lives is "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die."
More often than not, these two descriptions apply all too well to modern Christianity. While our wonderful words and beautiful churches attest to robust relationship with God, in reality the pitiful little time and energy Churchianity invests seeking God tells a different tale. Largely unwilling and/or ill equipped to confront the challenge presented by the apparent absence of God in the presence of individual and corporate pain and suffering, the average believer relies on platitudes and a handful of scriptures to drive back doubt and temptation. Ironically, while composing and singing the most intimate worship choruses ever sung in Church history, Christians often devote less than 10 minutes a day in personal Bible study and prayer combined. Such biblical illiteracy reinforces hesitancy to live out our faith. Ignorant of the majority of Christ's directives, the spiritual vacuum produced by sins of omission are quickly filled with those of commission.
This downward cycle explains the unprecedented level of gross immorality commonplace in society and even the church today. From sexual sin to pornography, abortion and divorce, ubiquitous temptation has largely reversed millennia of religious and ethical standards in a single generation. Rather than rise to the occasion, the vast majority of First World Christianity has chosen to filter and even distort the gospel in hopes of becoming increasingly seeker friendly. Yet rather than bridging the gap between a holy God and fallen humanity, the dimming or even absence of light has only increased the darkness.
Recognizing the shrinking difference between the church and the world, fewer and fewer believers are willing to invest more than a token of their time. Unaware of scripture's admonition that those who would approach God must "believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" most quit before putting in serious effort. Failing to appreciate the importance of commitment, the cost of pursuing and following Christ seems too high. Add to this the continual influence of spiritual resistance orchestrated by our Adversary from above and the daily impact of original sin from within and our perilous predicament becomes clear.
If a picture's worth a thousand words, a well thought out and directed ten minute video's worth far more. The mega church Willow Creek's production, "A Thousand Questions" is such a work. Passionately pondering such raging global need, it nicely justifies God while pinpointing an important resource He's provided. Yet, like so many attempts to rationalize the great question of "Why?" the most obvious and important piece of the puzzle is left out of the equation.
Source of Suffering
A favorite author published the book, "Disappointment with God." While humanity millennia ago moved beyond disappointment into anger, the work did tactfully address the premise. They idea came about after Philip Yancey, having read a doctrinal students thesis on Job, had uncharacteristically agreed to write the forward to a book being published from the paper. Ironically, just days prior to the release the young author experienced his own minor Jobian crises. Far less intense than that of the Bible's great icon of patience, nevertheless sorrow and anger shipwrecked the young man's faith.
In response to this crucial topic, Yancey did a fair job in admitting the extent of human need and provided an excellent glimpse of the situation from God's point of view. Ironically, both the disillusioned young author, the seasoned Christian writer as well as the producer of "A Thousand Questions" video mentioned above seemed to miss the major point of the Book of Job. A whodunnit play with the Villain clearly revealed, the oldest book of the Bible plainly casts Satan as the chief architect and instigator of Job's terrible woes. Yet from that day to this, how few even among the community of believers believe what scripture reveals about Heaven and Earth's ancient foe.
lts been noted the Bible contains nearly 500 passages dealing directly or indirectly with Satan. The devilish role in eternity's history scripture attributes to the great Adversary is nothing short of astounding. The Bible explains sin originated long before Adam and Eve, in of all places, Heaven itself. While the apparent age of our universe is 14 billion years, scripture strongly suggests that an angelic rebellion, lead by perhaps the most powerful and glorious of the Archangels, Lucifer, may well predate the Big Bang by eons!
Particulars are somewhat sketchy but it would seem that while the unprecedented uprising was in many ways suppressed, the rebels were not summarily judged and sentenced. Instead, it appears God chose to allow a Trial in Heaven's Supreme Court were the fallen Lucifer became Satan (Adversary) and the Devil (Accuser). Scripture reveals that in his role of Prosecutor he currently accuses mankind in general, and Christians in particular, "day and night."
Tragically, the influence of the arch Deceiver has played a prominent role in shaping the course of human history. For a being capable of inciting perhaps billions of ancient, glorious and holy angels within the very gates of Heaven, deluding mankind down through the millennia's offered little challenge. Compared to such a race, the whole of humanity taken together was born yesterday only to die tomorrow. To answer this challenge, God placed Adam in a Garden of Eden with instructions to keep and guard it. When the Serpent beguiled Eve, paradise was lost.
From that then to now the Tempter and his hoard have instigated and unleashed a flood of global misery and woe against mankind. His malevolent campaign of terror has been so brilliantly planned and executed that few, even among Christians, fully appreciate the source. So few in fact that most American Christians no longer believe in the Satan at all.
This being the case, the world is left to attribute all suffering and evil, not to an Evil One but to one another and/or God Himself. Too sophisticated today for religious myth, the current trend is to remove the chief Architect of creation's tragic rebellion from the equation. Given the devastating effects and increasing consequences for Earths of the cosmic war raging throughout the Three Heavens, this is the height of foolishness.
Imagine, if during WWII the civilians and even resistance movement of occupied France decided Hitler, his officers and army either didn't exist or were of no significant threat. How different the outcome for Europe and the entire world should they Allies have completely disregarded or seriously underestimated the Nazis!
Ask, Seek and Knock
Even with all our advancement, modern life is filled with difficulties. Challenges and struggles, particularly those proving too much for us reveal our need of God. Fears, failures and grappling with ultimate concerns inevitably lead to mankind's greatest question of "why?" At this point Omnity responds through the silence with a question of its own. Most miss it. Whispered by the Wind, God breathes a single, simple yet revealing inquiry, "How much do you care?"
Each of us answers this question in numerous ways. From the moment we wake to surrendering to sleep, tens of thousands of thoughts and emotions vie for our attention. From these we choose which impressions, images and feelings to entertain, examine and act upon. Over time daily decisions as to what is and isn't worthy of our best time and effort form our habits which in turn determine our lifestyles.
While scripture assures God is love, the Bible's also clear that to come to know and please Him we must, "believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." This is where the rubber meets the road. Do we, God's creation, care enough about our earthly and eternal existence to make a serious effort to discover what can be known about our Creator? Will we reinvest even a tithe of the time we spend entertaining ourselves to decide if the Bible is authoritative? Are we willing to do a little homework and review the scholarly research of experts at our fingertips to determine if scripture is scientifically and prophetically accurate?
Our willingness to pursue Omnity defines us. Those who are angry at God, prematurely writing Him off our choosing to ignore His existence and our purpose as his creation can never hope to find answers to life's ultimate questions. Those willing to pay the price of uncertainty, taking the risk of faith inherent in honest inquiry begin the greatest and most vital journey mortals can make. To these, God offers "great and exceeding precious promises." Through the guidance of Holy Spirit scripture encourages, "draw near to God and He will draw near to you... humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Steps Along the Way
The longest journey begins, and continues, with a single step. For those of us desiring to understand our place in this world and how best to learn to know and love, serve and enjoy our Creator God Blog suggests the following series and/or resources
- Is Faith Reasonable? Articles in this series cover such topics as Faith and Modern Life, Ten Reasons to Believe, Seven Ultimate Questions and overwhelming proof of Intelligent Design.
- The Bible: Is the Bible the authentic word of God? Is scripture worth studying? If so, how? What does the Bible reveal about the love, faithfulness and mercy of God? What does it say God requires of us? What must we do to be saved? What constitutes genuine faith?
- Modern Psalms: This sections contain two series with dozen of individual 21st century expressions of living faith in a dying world. Psalms of Delight majors on the wonder and awe of the Creator and His creation. Psalms in the Night wrestles with issues such as sorrow and pain, fear and doubt so prevalent in human life. Both series endeavor to express our great need and desire to see ourselves, our situation and the path to God more clearly.
More information
In the Red Dropdown Icon you'll find resources that we hope will both stimulate and facilitate your pursuit of and understanding of the God of the Bible. To get started simply place your cursor on a category of interest and see where it leads. You can also join the discussion in a variety of ways including posting comments to God Blogs as well as making comments or asking questions by email or text.
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