The Problem of Evil

Note from Ben: Throughout Lent I am teaching a course on evil. I will provide weekly posts connected to the class in addition to the regular blogging. Enjoy!

The first two chapters of the book of Job have always been difficult for me. The pain, suffering, and loss that the righteous character Job endures are troubling. Job is said to have been “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1) Yet Job endures a great deal of suffering and pain as he sees his family die, his livestock killed, his house burned down, and extensive physical ailments inflicted upon him. Perhaps most disturbing is the role God plays in the story of Job’s suffering. The theological implications of Job suffering at the hand of Satan are quite problematic. The title “Satan” in Job is not the Satan we hear about in the New Testament, or in popular culture.

The title Satan (ha-satan in Hebrew) literally means “the adversary” or the “accuser” and can perhaps be best understood as the prosecuting attorney of God. The Satan is not the adversary of God, but of humanity. The Satan is one of the “heavenly beings” (literally “sons of God”) and a member of the royal court of God. He has the unique responsibility to bring forth God’s justice in the world, often in creative ways. The Satan must however first receive permission for “testing” Job. The interaction that takes place between God and Satan is not the cosmic duel for the souls of humanity and control of the world. Rather, Satan is the agent of God and the adversary of humanity. God allows Satan to act in his own best judgment, only placing certain restrictions on how Job could be tested. The question the story of Job poses is this: who is God in this story? Is this the same God that we know? Who is Satan? How does this story affect our understanding of a loving and merciful God?

The story of Job brings forth the classical theological issue of evil, or more precisely The Problem of Evil. The problem of evil leads us to struggle with questions that challenge our fundamental beliefs about who God is and how God acts in the world. Most, if not all, definitions of God include the following: God is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and wholly benevolent. If this is the case, how do we explain the evil and suffering in our world? If God is the source of all things and evil exists, doesn’t it follow that God is the source of evil and therefore no longer good? If God somehow isn’t “the author” of evil does this mean God is not all-powerful? If God and the Devil are engaged in a war for our souls, does this mean God could lose?

There are many creative ways that theologians and scholars have attempted to diminish or solve the problem of evil, although none have done so with any success. The problem of evil is real and one each of us must confront and be honest about, for if we deny evil and sin in our world we deny reality. On the other hand, if we conclude that God is responsible for suffering and evil, we are left with a God who cannot be described as loving and merciful. Instead the image of God as sadistic “tester” we see in Job who feels the need to punish those who are faithful as well as the unfaithful. If God were truly benevolent why didn’t God give us the ability to live righteously? If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, then God knew we would turn out this way and allowed it to happen anyway. What kind of God is this?

I ask you to consider this issue in light of your experience with suffering, death, and evil.

-Have you seen God at work in these situations?
-Have you ever felt abandoned by God?
-How do deal with the “problem of evil”?

Ashes to Ashes

As I reflect upon Ash Wednesday, when many of us participated in the imposition of ashes upon our heads as a sign of repentance, I cannot help to feel both humbled and blessed. I have always found this service to be deeply powerful and humbling. It is a reminder that we have sinned and fallen short, that our lives are not what God intended, that we have more to learn and room to grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. The ashes upon our foreheads represent our repentance and our mortality, as we remember "that we are dust and to dust we shall return."

I do however, remember a distinct time growing up when ashes played a key role in my life (other than once a year at church). I grew up in old house built around 1880. It was a large house (think mock-Victorian) that was exceptionally drafty in the winter and thus exceptionally expensive to heat. My dad installed a wood-burning furnace to supplement the gas furnace in order to keep costs down. At an early age I learned how to split and stack wood through much practice. One of the by-products of burning large quantities of wood is accumulating large quantities of ashes. I will never forget the moment those ashes came to my rescue. I had gotten myself stuck in the ice and snow of our back alley. My '76 Buick Skylark was no match for 12 inches of snow and ice. My car was hopelessly stuck and all the pushing, pulling, pleading, and praying I could muster did nothing to alleviate my dilemma. I then remembered how my dad had once used ashes for traction in just such a situation. I raced to the basement, filled up a bucket of ashes, placed them under the car and I was soon unstuck. The ashes I thought were waste and of no value saved the day!

I wonder now if our lives in some ways are a lot like ashes. We go through times of great turmoil, stress, trauma, and pain. Many of us have been burned by broken relationships, betrayal, deception and deceit that our lives resemble a bucket of full of ash--used up, burned out, and left in a heap. What happens when we overcome and clogged up with the ashes of life? How can we be cleansed?

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. -Psalm 51

Psalm 51 is a favorite of mine and at times has functioned like a mantra. Whenever I feel overcome with negativity, filled with doubt and uncertainty, the words of the psalmist bring comfort and solace. Life is dirty, messy and painful. There is no way to avoid pain, disappointment, agony and suffering. What we need to be reminded of is our deep need to trust God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives. Christ is our rescue, our strength, our healer. God can clean the mess up, can restore our lives, and bring joy.

May the ashes of your life not hold you captive, but may they propel you to a new place of healing, wholeness, and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Contagious Energy

Have you ever known someone with contagious positive energy? The kind of person when you spend time with them you feel better? There are those whose mere presence has a way of lifting the spirits of all they meet. Such people are a true gift from God and we need more of them in our lives! My friend Tom Martin is one of these people in my life. He is always filled with energy and enthusiasm for life and has always lifted my spirit and mood. It is not really what Tom says or does that makes a difference, it is just...his presence.

I have thought about this idea of contagious positive a lot recently. I have been looking at the call stories of the early disciples. Jesus simply walks up to Peter, Andrew, John, James, Philip and simply says "follow me." (Mark 1:17; John 1:43) What I simply cannot get over is how basic and simple Jesus' words are, and yet how incredibly effective, as they all immediately leave their lives to follow Jesus. In fact, sometimes when Jesus calls a disciple to follow he not only says simple things he sometimes says truly bizarre things.

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ (John 1:47-49)

The story of Nathaniel is quite interesting on a number of levels, but his encounter with Jesus is particularly interesting. Nathaniel is brought to Jesus by a super-pumped and enthusiastic Philip (a key behavior of disciples--helping people encounter Jesus) and is initially quite skeptical of Jesus. When Jesus tells Nathaniel that he "saw him under the fig tree" Nathaniel confesses his faith in Jesus. Nathaniel becomes a believer/disciple because Jesus tells him he saw him under a fig tree? what? Why would this convince a skeptical Nathaniel? Wouldn't you want a bit more explanation and convincing?

The more I have thought about these stories the more I am convinced that it is really not what Jesus said that was important. There is something about an authentic experience of God that is beyond words, beyond description. I believe the first disciples knew who Jesus was not by the power of his words, but through the power of his presence. Jesus had supernatural spiritual energy that was contagious to all whom he encountered. When people met Jesus, and felt the presence of God, they knew everything they needed to know.

Many of us have had "God moments" that are integral to our faith, moments which define our relationship with God, moments which define our lives. These moments are encounters with the crucified and risen Christ, encounters that transform lives, encounters which are beyond words. I have had these God moments and been so filled up with God's love, grace, and presence that I could not help but to share it. When I share my God moments with others, my words often fall short and fail to convey the energy and enthusiasm I intended.

All this brings me back to Philip and Tom Martin. We know that God has freely poured out love and grace and hope in our lives. We know God has given us this gift to share with the world. We also know that it is not the power of our words which will be compelling, but the power of our presence. If we could have a contagious spirit of God, and help people encounter Jesus we could make a huge impact in our world.

The question of the day is: how do we get contagious positive energy? And once we get it, how do we keep it?

For me, my spiritual energy comes from being connected to God. When I feel connected to God, my energy and enthusiasm for sharing Jesus goes way up. When I feel disconnected to God, spiritually dry and used up I have no energy at all. I have found when I take regular time to have deep discussions about faith, mission, church, and what God is up to I am re-energized and excited to share myself as Philip does.

Do you have a contagious positive energy for God?

What feeds your spirit? What re-energizes you spiritually?
Do you take regular time to get energized?

Winter of Discontent

“Now is the winter of our discontent”
-opening line from Henry III; William Shakespeare

Let’s be honest: the weather has been truly awful this winter. It has been cold, snowy, and unrelenting. Even for me, a veteran of long depressing winters, this has been no fun and I am longing for days of spring, sunshine, and warmth. I know there are many who feel similarly, and some who truly suffer in this season.

In winter, we are restricted and confined, kept indoors by snow and ice. In winter, we struggle to keep warm and keep our spirits up. Compounding this is the current international financial crisis. We are worried about our jobs, our homes, our retirement, and our way of life. Anxiety, doubt, fear, and winter, what a glorious combination! In the midst of all these dis-ease, unhappiness, and discontentment, is there any good news to share?

As Christians, whether we know it or not, we have a deep storehouse of resources to combat difficult and challenging times. Scripture is filled with the story of God’s faithful action, intervention, and deliverance on behalf of God’s people. The stories of the exodus from Egypt, exile from Babylonia, and of course Jesus’ sacrificial death remind us of God’s deep love and compassion for us. God is neither absent nor unconcerned with our pain and suffering. God’s compassion and love for us is infinite and absolute.

It is also true however, that God does not shield us from unpleasant and difficult circumstances. God gives us strength to endure and the reminder of his presence, but the human experience is often filled with times of discomfort, pain, suffering, and hardship. God does not cause these things to happen, but they are allowed. For us then, times like these become opportunities for growth and development. What can we learn about ourselves in the midst of difficulty? How is this time in life preparing me for something later? How can I use this time to give God glory?

Times like these are never easy and require strong faith and confidence in the enduring presence, goodness, and love of God. Yet, we also know how this story will end. In Christ, we have our clearest picture of God’s heart. In Christ, we have a God of resurrection and redemption. In Christ, we experience the complete and total transformation of our lives and our world. In Christ, God transforms life from death, hope from despair, faith from fear, grace from guilt, victory from defeat. With full and certain knowledge we proclaim to the world, by the death and resurrection of Christ, confidence that despite a long and dreary winter, spring is on the way.

“I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

Following Jesus

What does it take to be a follower of Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple of the crucified and risen Jesus?

I have been thinking about these questions deeply over the past several years. As a pastor, it is my job, my calling, to empower and enable people to become followers of Jesus. So what is a disciple and how do you know if you meet one? Put another way, would a stranger be able to tell, by looking at your life, that you were a Jesus follower?

This is a tough question which causes us to deeply examine our lives and most likely repent and seek forgiveness. Lutherans in particular, have difficulty understanding discipleship. We know that being a good person and making Godly decisions are not what achieves and maintains our relationship with God. It is only through God’s amazing gift of grace and love, and not by our own doing, that we can be in relationship with God. Yet being convinced of our inherent sinfulness does not excuse us from the path of discipleship.

It is not enough for us simply to accept the gift of grace and believe the right things about Jesus. (Well in a sense this is enough, at least in regards to our salvation.) God expects us and needs us to be agents of grace and peace in the world, to be God’s hands and feet, to share the love of Christ with a hurting and suffering world. We cannot make this kind of impact unless our lives become transformed, sanctified, and prepared by God’s love and grace. We cannot become these kinds of people without growth, change, and disciple.

Being a disciple is an important and most necessary calling. Being a disciple of Jesus requires work and effort. Being a disciple of Jesus requires us to make sacrifices and live lives that are different from those around us. Jesus was constantly challenging his would-be followers to change their lives, to allow God to transform them to whom they were created to be.

‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the moneyto the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.” Mark 10:20-22

In the story of the rich young man, Jesus discusses the transformation a person of wealth must undergo. The young man had been faithfully following the law his entire life and yet Jesus asked for more. It was not enough simply to follow the law, the young man had to give up what he held most dear, his wealth. It isn’t being wealthy that is the problem for him, but it is the elevated status wealth played in his life which required change. It was a challenge to give up what he held most dear in order to fully follow Jesus. Being a disciple means more than following the law and having the right beliefs, being a disciple means submitting our lives to God. Being a disciple means putting God first. The young man was happy to follow God when it was easy, but when it required sacrifice he fell apart.

To become a disciple we must give our heart and our lives to God, without holding back. It is a difficult, sacrificial, arduous road. But it is a road which leads to our transformation, growth and liberation. A road which leads to the life God intended for you, and life which positively impacts the world. I pray that God might grant you the strength and courage to follow Christ with your entire heart and life, knowing that neither your ability nor inability to become a true disciple will change your salvation, but through God’s grace you have been afforded the opportunity to live a life of significance and meaning.

What is keeping you from being a true disciple? What are you holding back?

Go, See, Share!

Do you expect to see God at work in your daily life? Are looking for the signs that God is active? Are you sharing with others what you see?

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret…For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:26-32)

Paul was a wonderful teacher and pastor of the early church and was extremely concerned that the budding Christian communities he helped establish would be hospitable to all people. Paul goes out his way, time and time again, to address the real and present needs of the people, and encourages them to find ways to live together in community.

In his letter to the Corinthians, and in particular in chapter 14, Paul is trying to bring order to a chaotic and unruly worship experience. It seems as though the people are so excited to share their “God stories” in worship that they are not taking turns. Everyone wants to speak at once and the unstructured nature of worship is causing problems for the church. Can you imagine what it would be like to have this problem? What would our church be like if people came together and eagerly shared their stories, so eagerly in fact that they tripped all over themselves trying to share?

It seems that Paul’s exhortation to bring order to worship has been taken extremely seriously in the history of the church. We like order and tradition and predictability—this is human nature. Chaos and disorder are disturbing and threatening. But are we missing something? Could we use a bit more disorder in our lives? Are we making room for the Spirit of God to intercede and show us something new? Are we making time to listen to God and one another?

In our life together as church, I would love to have the problem of the people of Corinth. I would love to have so many powerful stories of what God is doing in our lives that we have to be reminded to take turns.

An even bigger issue for us isn’t order or disorder in worship. I believe many haven’t yet opened their eyes to see what God is up to in the world. God is alive and moving in our lives and in the world. Are you looking? We can easily get so caught up in our own busy lives that we don’t even look for God. Or perhaps even worse, we believe that God is not present in our everyday lives. But God is present in all of life: at home, at work, at the grocery store, on the street, and even in the church.

So start looking for God and you will see. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9) Then come and share with the rest of us, I promise we will all get a turn.