I promise this is the last time I will blog about Tim Tebow...in fact, I really didn't want to this time, but truthfully, the Tim Tebow phenomena has turned Sports Talk radio into some of the best radio regarding the issue of faith in God...seriously, it has! Last week Mr. Tebow and the Denver Broncos lost after six straight wins, and Max Kellerman, self-professed atheistic secular Jew, asked the question, "where was God?" Of course everyone giggled a bit, but as Mr. Kellerman went on, he added, "where was was God when over six million people were killed in the Holocaust?"
In a moment of touching, interpersonal candor, his co-caster asked, "is that question the basis of your atheism?" to which Kellerman replied, "absolutely."
I am not surprised. Honestly, Christianity has not recovered from the shock of the holocaust...specifically the question which asks how such a horrific thing could occur in nation which supposedly contained a population that was approx. 85% Christian and approx. 73% attended church regularly.
I hope people were listening. I hope people cared. I hope Christians understand, because the Christianity that will survive and fulfill God's purposes will be one that has a good response to that question. It won't rely on slogons or cliches; it will be heart-felt, confessional, and deeply reasoned responses to the age-old question of the theodicy, which states, "If God is all powerful and all good, then why do bad things happen to good people?"
How would you answer that question?
I have asked this question since I was a little girl at St. Isador Catholic School in Quakertown, PA!In the 4th grade, my friend lost her 2nd grade sister to cancer. It was horrible and I was mad at God to doing that to my friend. The nuns explained to us that God takes children to be angels on earth for other children who need help. They are chosen by God himself to help him.
ReplyDeleteDifficult and important questions...and complex to answer. But, if I can bring it down to the crux of the matter; God was not in the Holocaust. God was not in the evil. God was not in the destruction. God was not in the loss of life. God came in Jesus to be "with us," as a God of love and life and goodness and peace. God was in the preservation of life where it was possible. God was in the lessening of suffering and pain when it was possible. God was with each and every one that suffered and each and every one who died. And God suffered with them...as any parent would with their child. And for those who died... God was there, receiving them with peace and healing and love. God works in the midst of humanity's free will and prevented as much of the Holocaust's destruction as God could.
ReplyDeleteTebow aside (as imo that is an issue that has been blown way out of proportion by the talking head social warriors who want to distract us from real issues) As someone who does not subscribe to organized religion but attempts to live a faith inspired life I believe that this question comes down to the relationship between God's omniscience and man's free will.
ReplyDeleteFirst, God’s sovereignty is supposed to be a comfort to us, not an issue to be concerned about or debate over.
Second, God does not violate our wills by choosing us and redeeming us. Instead He shapes our hearts so that our wills choose Him if we are so inclined.
We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)
You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16).
So what should mankind do?
First, according to Proverbs 3:5-6, we should trust in the Lord, knowing that He is in control
Second, according to 2 Timothy 3:16 and James 1:5 we are to live our lives making wise decisions in accordance with God’s word.
To me it is simple, we can choose to live our lives according to the message of the Lord or we cannot. We can choose to believe in God or we cannot. God has given us that control over our lives. I think it is how we are truly created in his image.
But there is also a warning that goes along with these teachings and this gift.
There will be no excuses before God for why we chose to disobey Him. We will have no one to blame but ourselves for our sin.
Good post, had to think about my response for a while. - Tevis