In the midst of desolation and destruction, personal or widespread –
I am in western NC where Hurricane Helene caused much devastation – God is not
to be found in responses to our questions of “Why?” It is poor theology to seek to
provide the answer. God is found when we ask God, "Where are you?"
Doctrines of the sovereignty of God frequently miss the biblical teaching behind the human images of God as King and Sovereign. In the culture of the ancient Near East, a king was never responsible FOR everything that happened in his domain. Rather, a king was responsible to respond TO what happened in his domain. The ideal king would work for righteousness and justness within his domain. That is what biblical authors would have had in mind when using kingship images for God.
Theological traditions that define “sovereignty” abstractly have missed the intention in the biblical texts. They end up with a God who is responsible FOR everything that happens. They fail to recognize the interplay between order and chaos that exists within all humans and within our natural world.* Given that false assumption of abstract “sovereignty” wrongly puts Christians in the position of trying to answer “Why?” The answers are always shallow and facile, even when they merely say, “It is for the greater good” or “It is part of God’s plan.”
Perhaps it would help to address a much-misunderstood text that people attempt to use to answer the why question, Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NET). There, Paul is speaking of the call of all Israel – and for him, including all Gentiles in fulfillment of the promises to Abraham – who have actually responded by “loving God,” a statement of true seeking and relational dependence on God. Such people now belong to the new era of life in the Spirit. Paul can look teleologically on the scope of creation in bondage toward the eschatological (end-time) hope in the newness of all things, including the people of faith who are being conformed to the image of the Son (v. 29). As such, Rom 8:28 never answers the “why?” of the moment. It expresses confidence in God who is transforming lives and who will ultimately redeem all of creation.
Moreover, when we ask the where question, we are not to ask our neighbors, “Where was God in this?” That is really another form of the why question. Rather, we are to ask God directly, “Where are you?” That is when we begin to seek God. Even when we are angry. That is when we existentially, experientially begin to open ourselves to God. That is when God begins to conform us to the image of the Son. I firmly believe Jesus’ words:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt. 7:7-8, NET)
Even in the midst of panic attacks, when I felt abandoned by God, God’s
Presence was there. I testify to that. As part of this testimony, I share the
following song as a prayer.
"In the Night Your Song is with Me"#
(Based on Psalm 42)
In the night your song is with me.
When the darkness engulfs my soul.
As the waves crash down upon me.
I will believe that I am not alone.
These are the things I will remember.
When it seems me you have forgotten.
When my soul knows not where you are.
I will believe that I am not alone.
When my heart is downcast in me.
And I want to meet with my God.
As my soul pants for the Water.
I will believe that I am not alone.
In the night your song is with me.
Faintly through roar of the waves.
I hear it dimly through the terror.
And I know that I am not alone.
-------
*Answers to theodicy (why there is human and physical “evil”) are complex. Let it suffice to say that Genesis presents
from the beginning a state of humanity and nature that exists within an
interplay of order and chaos. In this
state, we are to learn to depend on our Creator.
#A friend recorded for this for me.
(My friend, Mike Rayson, a gifted musician, died recently.) If interested, here is a link to the music on
SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/mpcRn1BNyePggiJz6
Helpful thoughts, Rod. Your urging that we seek God ( where are you?) rather than seek abstract philosophical answers (why?) is a good pastoral word. However, are you implying humans should not pursue this ""
ReplyDeleteMy concern was pastoral and my focus on surd evil (chaos in nature), which we all encounter throughout life, and not meant to address theodicy thoroughly. I understand that the presence of chaos temporarily is the will of God, however, I object to making philosophical abstractions out of biblical images of God. The result is they define God as so Other that they tend to lead us away from God who condescends to be known existentially; and, in the case of surd evil, lead us to seeking “the answer” instead of God. Moral evil is different. Rebellion toward God results in the encroachment of chaos that may be directed by God as a disciplinary measure to move people to repentance. So, in that case, understanding why is important and something God desires us to understand. (We could pursue an overlap between surd and moral evil within the realm of sin and death, but that would be off the main point.)
Delete"why" question, or not pose it in philosophical/metaphysical terms? This would be quite a blow to all systematic or philosophical theology.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Please see my reply to the comment above. (For me, systematic theology should be firmly grounded on biblical theology and should guide us in the application of biblical theology in contemporary life to entrusting ourselves to God. Sometimes systematic theology creates self-enclosed logical constructs that do not lead one closer to God.)
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