Friday, February 04, 2011

God On Trial

Riding the train from Delhi to Rajasthan, a delightful retired couple from London shared my cabin on the Golden Temple Mail. They were on holiday, their second trip to India. In the course of our time together the subject of God came up, which is often the case when people learn my subject as a teacher.

“A few months back,” the woman said to me, “my grandson had a lump on his arm which turned out to be a tumor. I was furious with God and told Him I would never speak to Him again if my grandson died. It turned out that the tumor was malignant and of course I was quite relieved.”

I leaned forward and replied, “Why is it we always blame God?”

As a gift for Christmas my eldest daughter bought me a CD, the audible version of God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis. Lewis rightly wonders why is that God is in the dock (on trial, standing as a war criminal at The Hague) and not man. Why must we prove He exists, why He allows wars, suffering and death? Ancient man never thought of putting God on trial, indeed, they understood that a Holy God had them in the dock. Only modern man, it seems, feels the need to accuse his Creator.

As it would happen, I am preparing for a class I will teach later in the year in Ukraine on religions of the world and the Christian response to those religions. Not only must I make a case for God, beyond that, the God of Christ as the only true and living God. It’s not God in the dock, but a defense to the claims that Jesus is unique, not comparable to the other faiths of Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism. As Christians we are allowed to ask questions and explore the mysteries of Christ, but not to put Him on trial.

Then, earlier this week, I was reading my Facebook page when I saw a note from a former colleague. His message was short but heart stopping as he informed us that he and his wife received a call that all parents fear; their 16 year-old son was tragically killed in an auto accident. Condolences are pouring in. I was bewildered by one note from someone who, for some reason, felt the need to let everyone know (it is an open forum after all), how devastated she was and how she cried and cried though many miles away on a trip. How is it that when grief comes, even when it does not touch us personally, that somehow we make it about ourselves?

My friend’s response to their tragedy reveals a spiritual foundation we all long for. “God gave us our son Andrew, for 16 years,” he said, “for which we are deeply grateful.” Is this parent in denial, placing a spiritual façade over his pain? Will he not ask the question to God, “Why”? Surely. However, those who have ever experienced His grace will resist putting God on trial. Like Job we must readily embrace the storms of life as we readily and joyfully accept His blessings. He is too good to do wrong; He is too wise to make a mistake.

God should not be placed in the dock when we feel loss or dismayed living in a world that groans daily. Rather than blame God for misfortune may we turn our anger to the one who is the author of confusion, sin and hopelessness. As for God, His ways are a mystery. Not understanding His ways does not give us the right to place Him on trial and answer to us.