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This week our world has been rocked by the senseless slaughter of movie-goers in Aurora, Colo., and the sexual abuse of children by a trusted coach at Penn State University. In the midst of such human tragedy, we all ask, “Why?” And those of us who believe in God maybe wonder deep down about God’s whereabouts while all of this was happening.
Christians have always struggled with these three irreconcilable propositions: God is all-powerful; God is all-good; yet, terrible things happen in God’s world. During World War II, Leslie Weatherhead, a Methodist pastor in the heart of fire-bombed London, preached a series of five sermons to help his people deal with their loss and sorrow. The messages were later published in a remarkable little book entitled, “The Will of God.”
Using the cross of Christ as a paradigm for understanding the will of God, Weatherhead suggests that Jesus' crucifixion was not God’s intentional will. The Father sent his Son so that people would believe him, not kill him. In spite of their rejection, God used Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection to achieve his ultimate goal - the redemption of the world.
Therefore, Weatherhead says, we should think of the will of God in three distinct ways. First, there is the intentional will of God - God’s original purpose was that his creation and our lives should be filled with good, not misery. Jesus said, “It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14). God has never been the author of evil.
But Weatherhead says we must also speak of the circumstantial will of God. Because of our freedom, we often choose to relate to God, each other, and nature in ways that create evil that cuts across God’s plans. Because we’re all part of the human family, what another does can even create circumstances that disturb God’s good intention for us. Therefore, God has a plan within his plan for dealing with those circumstances that he did not cause such as illness, suffering, and disaster. Paul declares, “God is at work in everything for good” — even the worst. Moreover, in the face of tragedy, God offers us the opportunity to join Him in helping to bring good out of evil.
Finally, Weatherhead asserts that we must look forward to the final realization of God’s purposes, the ultimate will of God. God’s intentional will may be temporarily thwarted but it cannot be finally defeated. Not only in spite of evil, but even by using evil for good, God will reach his original goal. In the midst of the fire we trust that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Weatherhead’s little book, which is still in print, doesn’t answer all our questions about evil and suffering, nor does it take our pain away. But the clearer our thinking, the better we’re able to bear our own load and to come to the aid of those in need.
Julian of Norwich observed long ago: “If there be anywhere on earth a lover of God is always safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in the same precious love.” God is with us in the dark valleys!
“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Amen.
Viewpoints
COLUMN: Aurora, Penn State and God
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CNHI EDITORIAL: Seizure of AP phone records an insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ‘What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate’
This famous quote addressing communication failure is a classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman. Strother Martin, who played the role of the warden in a southern prison, would use this phrase every time he gave Luke a good whack with his baton. The concept resonated so well with moviegoers that it was voted No. 11 of the 100 all-time favorite movie quotes according to the American Film Institute.
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Letters to the Editor – May 19, 2013
Do you remember the “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” sign that the personnel on the USS Abraham Lincoln displayed to greet President Bush when he went out to greet them?
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Guest opinion: Campaign with honor
All politics is local and personal! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer, filled with relationship building experiences and times of relaxation. As you do all the things that re-charge us for the next round at work and involvement in community and political activities, let’s reflect on the 2013 local elections for a moment.
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TISCIONE: Woe for calling evil good
You don’t often see “woe” used in an article. It’s a word that has fallen out of usage in our day. But it’s a word that ought to be understood and taken seriously.
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Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2013
As mercury pollution threatens our waterways and carbon pollution-fueled climate change worsens extreme weather, we need someone in Washington who knows how to get things done.
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Letters to the Editor – May 15, 2013
I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the slobs, idiots and inconsiderate people who continually decorate the beautiful Texas landscape with their trash. I guess it’s really a form of art with beer bottles and cans, boxes, plastic drink containers, food packaging and just about anything else you can think of. It just doesn’t appeal to me. Thank you.
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NOW HEAR THIS: Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin
I had never really considered this possibility, but every one of the Three Little Pigs was almost certainly a guy. I know that assumption is not particularly popular from an equal opportunity standpoint, but the fact is fairly certain. How do I know? They all three had hair on their chinny chin chins.
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ESTES: Securing a bright future for Texas
Texas businesses have created more than 500,000 jobs since November 2011. Our economy is growing nearly 50 percent faster than the rest of the country and our cost of living remains low.
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TISCIONE: ‘It’s not about me’
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.”
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