Conversation Starter
I have a friend on Facebook who asked a question of the shootings in Colorado. "Where was the all knowing God during all this?" He raged at God for doing nothing while innocents were slaughtered. He cited childhood promises made to him of God's protection, and growled his verdict: FAIL!
My impulse was to respond as some of his friends did, with our usual Christian response of God's mercy, human free will, all things working together for good... Etc. A few even tossed some personal insults at him veiled in snarky humor. But I could almost hear God say to me, "remember that time...." And I do...the day many years ago when I raged at the injustices in my life and His failure to help me. I screamed in the pages of my journal and then demanded He deliver the answers by the following Tuesday morning at 10am "sharp!" (or some such arbitrary time) I put it in an envelop, sealed it, and then slammed it on my nightstand. There was an implied "or else!" in my demand that even then was ridiculous enough to make me laugh. I remember giggling at the absurdity of it.
I felt God say to me, "do you feel better now?" Yes, as a matter of fact. "Good. Now, you know I'm going to completely ignore that deadline, right?" Um, yeah I figured that. "Okay, good. I'm still here." I'd like to say that it was a real "conversation" like that, but it was more a realization on a spiritual level.
God can "take it". He's tough. His ego doesn't bruise. He can handle a good vent every now and then, especially when we need to work out pain on a really deep level. We sometimes get worked up over someone else's "heresy". We try to talk them down. Reason with them. Or, heaven help us, we try to lead them by the nose hairs to salvation. But one cannot be shoved into the arms of God.
I know the bigger answer to my friend's question. But it would do him no good. Not now. For the outrage he expressed was revealing a deeply rooted pain. The verdict he delivered was fair in the light of that pain. Somewhere along the line God failed him, at least from his point of view. He has the right, as a child of God, to be angry about it.
If you come across such a person, I say let them rage. Encourage them to get it out in the open. Tell them, "I understand completely how you feel. Tell God exactly what you think of Him. Let Him know how He let you down. Call Him names, accuse Him, let Him know why you don't trust Him. He is used to it. He died for such a one as you, at the hands of such a one as you, and yet still He declares His love for such a one as you. But when you have ranted until you are utterly spent, you must give Him a chance to answer. If you do not, you are a hypocrit. For you cannot condemn God as unjust and then unjustly deny Him the right to defend Himself. And you must let Him take as long as He needs to deliver His answer, for He has let you berate Him endlessly. Finally, you must be as willing to listen to Him as He was to you; and believe me He was listening very closely and with more compassion than you'll ever know."
Yes God, I do remember that time. That time I cursed You, cried out to You, demanded of You and judged You. And I remember Your reply... You blessed me, You sang over me, You offered Your heart to me and You forgave me. You are lovely. And I will not rob my friend of the chance to experience such profound grace and mercy.
Bless him, Lord, with the peace of Your presence and the joy of Your boundless hope. Heal him with a healing that brings wholeness of heart and perfect restoration. Bless him and all who ache as he does just as You have blessed me. For Your enormous heart knows what our small ones often forget...the heart that cries out You in bitter anger is nevertheless crying out to You. And for You that is as good a place as any to begin a conversation.
My impulse was to respond as some of his friends did, with our usual Christian response of God's mercy, human free will, all things working together for good... Etc. A few even tossed some personal insults at him veiled in snarky humor. But I could almost hear God say to me, "remember that time...." And I do...the day many years ago when I raged at the injustices in my life and His failure to help me. I screamed in the pages of my journal and then demanded He deliver the answers by the following Tuesday morning at 10am "sharp!" (or some such arbitrary time) I put it in an envelop, sealed it, and then slammed it on my nightstand. There was an implied "or else!" in my demand that even then was ridiculous enough to make me laugh. I remember giggling at the absurdity of it.
I felt God say to me, "do you feel better now?" Yes, as a matter of fact. "Good. Now, you know I'm going to completely ignore that deadline, right?" Um, yeah I figured that. "Okay, good. I'm still here." I'd like to say that it was a real "conversation" like that, but it was more a realization on a spiritual level.
I know the bigger answer to my friend's question. But it would do him no good. Not now. For the outrage he expressed was revealing a deeply rooted pain. The verdict he delivered was fair in the light of that pain. Somewhere along the line God failed him, at least from his point of view. He has the right, as a child of God, to be angry about it.
If you come across such a person, I say let them rage. Encourage them to get it out in the open. Tell them, "I understand completely how you feel. Tell God exactly what you think of Him. Let Him know how He let you down. Call Him names, accuse Him, let Him know why you don't trust Him. He is used to it. He died for such a one as you, at the hands of such a one as you, and yet still He declares His love for such a one as you. But when you have ranted until you are utterly spent, you must give Him a chance to answer. If you do not, you are a hypocrit. For you cannot condemn God as unjust and then unjustly deny Him the right to defend Himself. And you must let Him take as long as He needs to deliver His answer, for He has let you berate Him endlessly. Finally, you must be as willing to listen to Him as He was to you; and believe me He was listening very closely and with more compassion than you'll ever know."
Yes God, I do remember that time. That time I cursed You, cried out to You, demanded of You and judged You. And I remember Your reply... You blessed me, You sang over me, You offered Your heart to me and You forgave me. You are lovely. And I will not rob my friend of the chance to experience such profound grace and mercy.
Bless him, Lord, with the peace of Your presence and the joy of Your boundless hope. Heal him with a healing that brings wholeness of heart and perfect restoration. Bless him and all who ache as he does just as You have blessed me. For Your enormous heart knows what our small ones often forget...the heart that cries out You in bitter anger is nevertheless crying out to You. And for You that is as good a place as any to begin a conversation.
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