Pastor's Corner: The questions we ask

Have you every been around a 3- or 4-year-old who persists in asking you, over and over, "Why?" "How come?" You can answer them, but they will ask again, "But, why?" As far as we can tell, humans are the only species that considers "Why?" or "How did that happen?" Through the ages, we place our wonderings into our stories. First, stories told by firelight and passed down to children sitting at the knees of an elder. At some point, humanity also began to record our stories as images - paintings on cave walls, pyramid walls, in sculptures and on pottery. Symbols became letters, letters became words. Words become volumes of books, movies, podcasts, and more that contain our thoughts and ideas and beliefs about the world and how it works.

Human ideas about a Supreme Being, the origins of life, and an afterlife were recorded as stories as far back as we can find evidence of human community.

The question of "Why?" expanded into human reasoning and pervades religious thinking. The many stories in sacred texts reflect ancient thoughts about the divine One. Our understanding of God's character and nature influences our questions, too. For example, believing that God is good and all-powerful and all-knowing can bring questions that have perplexed ancient and modern people alike:

"Why do bad things happen to good people?"

"Why do good things happen to bad people?"

In our Bible, debate of these questions can be found in many places. In the Hebrew Scriptures, they are the Wisdom literature: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, some of the Psalms, and the Book of Job. It is the story of a man named Job, whose personal name meant, "Where is God?" from texts around 2000 years B.C. Job's story is about a man who struggles to understand "why?" and keep faith after the tragic loss of his children, his health and his wealth.

Popular thinking about God at that time, is reflected in the words of Job's wife and three friends. Each offers comfort, advice and their opinions about why these bad things have happened to Job.

Job's wife is angry and enraged in her grief and sorrow. "God did this!" she believes. In classical "eye-for-an-eye" thinking, she rages that Job should curse God. Job should chuck his faithfulness to this God who allowed this to happen! She blames God.

On the other hand, Job's friends blame Job for what has happened. They have the same "eye-for-an-eye" thinking about God and a big dose of judgement upon Job. They persist in their suspicions that Job had done something wrong to "deserve" this terrible tragedy. In their minds, there must have been some secret sin or wrongdoing. Job can't be as upright, honest or righteous as he claims, or these things wouldn't be happening to him. They think God is justly punishing Job and his wife.

Unfortunately, this ancient image of God as judge, jury and executor is one that still persists today. Sometimes in jest, sometimes in all seriousness, we respond to our misfortunes or accidents, "What did I do to deserve this?" "Well, that's what I get for____!" People who are really hurting will ask, "Is God punishing me or my family because of something I did?" "Why is God doing this?"

Jesus of Nazareth had a different image of God to offer - loving, providing, offering grace and mercy - a parent like mommies and daddies are meant to be! He called God "abba", which might be translated "daddy." God love is with us always. Moreover, God cares and suffers when we suffer. "Why?" may not always be a helpful question, but "How will I get through this? How can I make this better? God, will you help me!?"

When our primary image of God is a Supreme Judge, Jury and Avenger rolled into one, we may experience "fear", "dread" or "anger and resentment" at this God. We might try to cut a deal with God or try to appease God by giving up something we love ... sacrificing something of value. For along time in human history, that's exactly what religions looked like ... people sacrificing food, oils, animals, even other humans to pacify or win favor of their gods.

Jesus' disciples came to him one day (John 9:1-7) asking why a man was born blind - was it because of something that he or his parents had done wrong? To them, God was Judge and Avenger, reflecting that old way of thinking. Jesus is quick to refute that thinking - neither no one's sin caused his blindness! But, it provided an opportunity for healing, which glorified God.

Likewise in Luke 13:1-5, we hear Jesus correct this harmful theological thinking:

Some who were present on that occasion told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices. He replied, "Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans? No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did" (Common English Bible).

First, we ought not to judge others by their misfortunes.

Second, Jesus cautions disciples if they don't change their hearts and minds about God, they, too, will die never having known God's mercy and love ... without being fully alive in knowing God.

Jesus said, "No!" to God as violent Avenger.

Jesus said, "Yes!" to God as life-giving healer.

Jesus said, "No!" to judging other's misfortunes.

He said "Yes!" to turning toward God, amidst life's tragedy.

Jesus then invited his disciples to be about the glorifying works of God.

The recent derailment of the Amtrak train was a tragic accident. It is appropriate for BNSF to investigate and ask the question, "Why did this happen? What factors contributed, so we can fix them?"

But to the question "Where was God?"... let us ask other questions instead:

Didn't we see the works of God as people in Liberty County and other counties and communities along the Hi-Line responded?

Didn't survivors experience emotional and physical healing in the tangible acts of caring and compassion by volunteers? Wasn't God present as First responders and volunteers spontaneously arrived and transported people to medical care and shelter at the senior center and the high school?

Was God not there in the offers of housing, deliveries of quilts and blankets, free prescriptions from the pharmacy, in the donations of water and food, all that made a real positive difference to those waiting in the senior center and high school.

Irenaeus, a Christian Bishop in the second century, is quoted saying,

"The glory of God is man fully alive."

We all recognize that people showed up fully to help others that night when the train derailed. "Why?" Because God is love, and that's God's story.

The End.

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The Rev. Dr. Susan King, Van Orsdel United Methodist Church.