Many people view the God of the Old Testament as a vengeful and angry being who only softened after thousands of years to change his tune to one of "love thy neighbor as thyself."
I have already spoken somewhat on this topic, but I would like to explore another aspect of the question in this post.
A fundamental principle in Christianity is the omnipotence of God. God has the ability to portray himself in any way that he would like. Non-threatening features that made Baymax lovable in Big Hero 6, and an environment filled with rainbows, unicorns, and bacon might really demonstrate that God cares about us, and that he wants us to be comfortable, happy, and safe.
When there are accounts of encounters with God, even when they contain symbolic representations, comfort and bliss are rarely seen. Consider the experience of Isaiah:
"I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." (Isaiah 6:1-4)
Six winged angels flying around a smoke-filled room as God sat on a lofty throne probably did not convey the idea that it was time to relax and discuss happy things. By what Isaiah said, we know that he was worried about being so close to the Lord.
"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
Naturally, God could have provided consolation and shown his prophet a sign of his love, mercy, and affection in this moment of fear. Instead, he sent one of the seraphim to place a hot coal on Isaiah's mouth to purge him of sins. Of course, this was not the end of the frightening aspects of Isaiah's vision. After Isaiah volunteered to speak to the people, he was given the message the Lord wished to deliver.
"Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10)
God asked Isaiah to tell the people to stop listening to him so that he would not have to bless them. Of course, because we know that God is loving, and wants to heal us, we can infer that this must have been a temporary message to encourage people to return to him.
"Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land." (Isaiah 6:11-12)
So, maybe not just a short-term rebuke?
Even with knowledge of the fall of Judah to Babylon and the return to Judah under Persian rule, this situation still prompts a person to ask, "why was God so scary?"
There are several reasons for the manner of presentation that the Lord used:
1. God is trying to protect us from things that are actually scary. The idea of a devil is not just a metaphor representing negative aspects of human behavior... there are actual beings in the unseen world that seek to do us harm, and that are only vulnerable to divine power. (JSH 1:14-17) Pretending that everything is fine and that there are no problems is disingenuous.
2. Life requires dealing with difficult and painful issues. It is natural to seek comfort in times of difficulty, but the greatest heroes from humanity did not gain honor and respect by becoming comfortable in trying times, but by rising to meet the challenges that they faced. This is not to say that God wants people to be miserable, but that sometimes, it is more important to stand up for righteousness than to feel comfortable in wickedness. Dealing with frightening and uncomfortable truths can help people meet their potential.
3. Nobody is conceited when six-winged Seraphim put hot coals on their mouths. Jesus frequently encountered people who thought they were better than they actually were. Some of them were persuaded to be humble by gentle admonitions to repent, but some required harsher language. Jesus exposed the ignorance of those who tried to outsmart him, the weaknesses of those who pressed him for special guidance, and even to the leader of his chosen Apostles said "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23) A bit more humility is probably the most effective thing that God can help us acquire by presenting himself in ways that are confusing or frightening. At some point, each person should realize that it is OK if they don't understand everything, or have worries, concerns, or troubles. The person who sticks with God allies themselves with someone who does understand everything, and has power to overcome obstacles we do not yet even comprehend.
Ultimately, the idea that God is frightening or confusing disappears from the hearts of those who persist in following his guidance. Consider how Isaiah later declared:
"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (Isaiah 54:7-8)
In the end, God does love us, and wants what is best for us. Do not let anything sway you otherwise.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The point of pointless suffering
The story of Job is one of the most confusing stories in the Old Testament. God and Satan seem to make a bet on the faithfulness of a man being dependent upon his circumstances. In this seemingly cruel "experiment," Job was stripped of his possessions, many of his family were killed, and he was afflicted with terrible pain.
Modern Christians seem to be fond of platitudes such as "everything happens for a reason," or "he never said it would be easy, he only said it would be worth it."
These ideas initially seem to fall apart in the situation of Job. He just suffered for no apparent reason. His friends turned against him in accusation to add insult to injury. In the end, his problems all went away and he was blessed, but for what reason were these things done to begin with?
The same questions are frequently asked regarding modern tragedies. When children suffer from diseases beyond their control, or people are afflicted with poverty and hardship through no fault of their own, people wonder why God, who is supposed to love us, would allow these difficulties if he were truly omnipotent.
Toward the end of the story of Job, God asks him a set of rhetorical questions to illustrate the point that Job has relatively no power and but little understanding. In Job 38, the Lord asks the following:
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)
Instead of offering words of comfort and consolation, or reason and explanation, the Lord highlighted Job's ignorance. Why?
People get so involved in their current circumstances that they tend to forget the investment that God made when he forged the earth and sent humanity to live on its surface. He speaks with power because he is conveying the idea that the circumstances of life are not an accident, and there is no person whose birth or existence on this world is based on a whim. These questions allude to a truth that is fundamental to understanding the difficulties of mortality:
"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
Combined with the understanding that we have from other prophets, that humans are the offspring of God (Acts 17:26-29), this means that there was a time in which we sang together before the foundations of the world... and that we shouted for joy. Contemporary prophesy teaches the cause of our joy was our Heavenly Father's grand plan of happiness: a course that could lead his children to become "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:16-17)
As we were, it would have been impossible for us to inherit the gift of eternal life. We needed to become more... to undergo a physical and spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-5). The challenges of life are specifically designed to alter us, and purge us from the ungodly (Malachi 3:2-3).
The details of how circumstances can help us prepare for the kingdom of God are frequently beyond our immediate comprehension, but a complete understanding is not necessary (1 Corinthians 13:12). What is necessary is having enough faith and desire to do what is right regardless of the circumstances (Hebrews 11:6).
The difficulties that came upon Job were not without purpose. In his extremity, he learned that he could hold to what was right and true even when it was excruciatingly difficult. He trusted that, no matter what, God would make things right in the end:
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation" (Job 13:15-16)
Ultimately, the question for each Christian is "will I follow the Lord only when it is convenient?" If faith is conditional, it is not strong enough to bring the changing power of Jesus Christ. As he explained, only those who hear and do that which he taught will have a strong enough foundation to weather the tempests of life (Matthew 7:24-27).
In the end, the purposes of all things will be understood, and those who, like Job, keep faith regardless of circumstances, will be as they were before the foundations of the earth... they will sing together and shout for joy!
Modern Christians seem to be fond of platitudes such as "everything happens for a reason," or "he never said it would be easy, he only said it would be worth it."
These ideas initially seem to fall apart in the situation of Job. He just suffered for no apparent reason. His friends turned against him in accusation to add insult to injury. In the end, his problems all went away and he was blessed, but for what reason were these things done to begin with?
The same questions are frequently asked regarding modern tragedies. When children suffer from diseases beyond their control, or people are afflicted with poverty and hardship through no fault of their own, people wonder why God, who is supposed to love us, would allow these difficulties if he were truly omnipotent.
Toward the end of the story of Job, God asks him a set of rhetorical questions to illustrate the point that Job has relatively no power and but little understanding. In Job 38, the Lord asks the following:
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)
Instead of offering words of comfort and consolation, or reason and explanation, the Lord highlighted Job's ignorance. Why?
People get so involved in their current circumstances that they tend to forget the investment that God made when he forged the earth and sent humanity to live on its surface. He speaks with power because he is conveying the idea that the circumstances of life are not an accident, and there is no person whose birth or existence on this world is based on a whim. These questions allude to a truth that is fundamental to understanding the difficulties of mortality:
"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
Combined with the understanding that we have from other prophets, that humans are the offspring of God (Acts 17:26-29), this means that there was a time in which we sang together before the foundations of the world... and that we shouted for joy. Contemporary prophesy teaches the cause of our joy was our Heavenly Father's grand plan of happiness: a course that could lead his children to become "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:16-17)
As we were, it would have been impossible for us to inherit the gift of eternal life. We needed to become more... to undergo a physical and spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-5). The challenges of life are specifically designed to alter us, and purge us from the ungodly (Malachi 3:2-3).
The details of how circumstances can help us prepare for the kingdom of God are frequently beyond our immediate comprehension, but a complete understanding is not necessary (1 Corinthians 13:12). What is necessary is having enough faith and desire to do what is right regardless of the circumstances (Hebrews 11:6).
The difficulties that came upon Job were not without purpose. In his extremity, he learned that he could hold to what was right and true even when it was excruciatingly difficult. He trusted that, no matter what, God would make things right in the end:
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation" (Job 13:15-16)
Ultimately, the question for each Christian is "will I follow the Lord only when it is convenient?" If faith is conditional, it is not strong enough to bring the changing power of Jesus Christ. As he explained, only those who hear and do that which he taught will have a strong enough foundation to weather the tempests of life (Matthew 7:24-27).
In the end, the purposes of all things will be understood, and those who, like Job, keep faith regardless of circumstances, will be as they were before the foundations of the earth... they will sing together and shout for joy!
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