This is what I have been asked and NPR has been addressing all week. I have been thinking of how to answer this, and have finally formulated my answer.
It is troubling to me that when something horrible like the Indonesian catastrophe happens that non-Christians use this as proof to say that there is no God, or that He is not benevolent and there will be no allegiance given to Him because of the suffering "He caused". I, however, see it much differently.
First, the real question should be, "why is there death"? Orthodox theologians much more prayerful than me have addressed this issue many times, not to mention the scriptures. In my simple way of putting it, sin is to blame for death. When sin entered the world, death followed right on its heels. We are all sick with sin and have become susceptible to things that can kill us, such as tsunamis. None of us can escape it. Whether it be a tsunami, cancer, a run-away garbage truck or murder, we will all die. Now, is that God's fault, or man's? This brings me to my next point.
Why did God give us the choice to sin or not to sin i.e. why did God allow Adam and Eve to choose? Because He wanted them to have a free will. They could choose Him or reject Him. Since they, and we, are made in the image of God, we need God to survive. But instead of creating Adam and Eve without a will, He gave them a will. They could choose to live "on" God, or find their own way. They sinned, choosing death. As a result, our bodies have become mortal, to eventually return to the dust they were formed from. But even though we live under the curse of death, our souls can be forever preserved, in the presence of God and His love through His cross, and ultimately, His resurection.
What does this have to do with suffering? WE chose suffering for ourselves; not God. Does that mean that God doesn't care about the suffering we will go through? No, of course not! He does divinely help us to endure our suffering. There are countless accounts of this in the Orthodox tradition and scriptures. Not only does God care, He came as a man to this earth to experience everything that we suffer, ultimately crucifixion. But was death the end for Him? No! He rose from the dead, conquering death and enabling us to do the same. So even if we are killed in a tsunami, we will be raised up to be with Him!
But to those of us that remain, we can comfort those that suffer, just as Christ has commanded. We can, God willing, help shoulder the burdens of other's suffering. For those unfortunate to have died and their families, we can pray for them or send money to help with the disaster relief. We can also share the Good News that God has commanded us to share, not merely through words, but in action and in Faith.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Advent: Trully a time of preparation.
We have experienced pretty much all life has to offer this Advent season: new life, death, joy, sorrow, the narrow vs the wide way to God...I'm sure I am leaving a few things out.
First, new life. Our soon to be, precious daughter! My heart is full of many things when I think about her. Expectation, love, joy, excitement, fear. Just to name a few. Every day is a new experience with parenthood. Even though she isn't born yet. Right now, my wife; as mother. Oh, what strange wonder. Her belly is getting soooo big. And to think that our daughter is just a few inches from me when I touch her stomach and stranger still when I feel her. She is indeed a great gift!
Death. My friend and co-worker and his wife lose their baby. She was only six weeks along. I feel such loss for them. They had been trying longer than we had.
Joy. The anticipation of Christ's Nativity! God the Creator, becomes the Created! Wait, my words can't explain the joy I feel. But this does:
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, proclaiming the present mystery; for he hath broken the middle wall of partition, and the flaming spear shall turn about, and the cherubim shall admit all to the tree of life. As for me, I shall return to enjoy the bliss of paradise from which I was driven away before, by reason of iniquity; for the likeness of the Father, and the Person of his eternity, which it is impossible to change hath taken the likeness of a servant, coming from a Mother who has not known wedlock; free from transubstantiation, since he remained as he was, true God, and took what had not been, having become Man for his love of mankind. Wherefore, let us lift our voices unto him crying, O thou who wast born of the Virgin, O God, have mercy upon us.
Yep, that sums it up just fine! We are free to return to the Garden!
The narrow vs the wide way. I was on that narrow path, albeit, mostly by hanging on the edge with bloody hands. I fell many times. But you know, God's grace abounded all the more. My spiritual eyes were opened. Mostly to my unworthiness before God. But, the promise, "a broken and contrite heart, oh God, these you will not despise." Now the challenge remains, to continue on that narrow path. The path that leads to Lent.
