When my mother was fighting breast cancer someone told me, "Well, at least we know this is God's will."
In other words, God ordained my mother's cancer.
I have trouble with a theology that says God ordains evil. I guess I just don't believe God works that way.
To me, it seems inconsistent with His nature.
Isn't it a better explanation to say that evil exists, period? Evil has been unleashed on this world and sometimes we are blindsided by it.
Evil happens. And there is no reason why. At least, there are no reasons that make sense to us now.
Perhaps what most terrifies us is the thought that we are not in control--that despite doing everything in our power to insure a successful outcome, bad things still happen.
Lots of Christians like to say that God doesn't make mistakes. I believe that insofar as we don't involve God in our own frightful amalgam of human stupidity, bad choices, sin and a host of variables outside our control.
I guess I just don't see the point of trying to fit every single tragedy into a nice, tidy little explanation. Sometimes there is grief and loss that defies any explanation whatsoever.
In the face of that kind of grief, the best kind of explanation is silence.
Isn't it more honest for us to say we don't know exactly why these things happen?
It's inexplicable. And so is the baffling, amazing grace of God that can break through even the darkest human tragedy and shine the light of Hope for all to see.
p.s. please join me tomorrow for the Saturday Evening Blog Post. I'm looking forward to reading your submissions.
