“How Can You Say that God is Good?”
John 14:25-27; Rev. 1:4-8
Sandy Hook – Newton Connecticut. That’s all I need to say to get your attention. If I had said those words last Sunday, most, if not all, of you would have had no clue what I was talking about. But now you do. The unexplainable massacre, the horrific nightmare has broken into all our lives. Once again, we’re aghast at the evil, sickness, and pain in our world. Once again, questions abound – either we’re asking them or we hear others asking them. And, if we’re honest, we know the answers are hard to come by. I say ‘we’, because I, too, hear them – I, too, ask them. And as a Pastor I’m supposed to have answers – if anyone can make any sense of it all, we pastor-preachers should be able to.
Well, let me make a confession – I don’t have all the answers. And I’m not sure the answers I do have are the right, or even the only answers. What I do know is that this overwhelming tragedy gives us, as the people of God, a golden opportunity to reflect on God, to examine our understanding of God, and perhaps to strengthen our faith.
So this morning I simply want to reflect with you on some of the questions that Sandy Hook has raised. My answers/reflections are certainly not theological treatises; they’re not even complete thoughts. They are just reflections of a preacher who is supposed to preach today on the peace that Jesus Christ brought and brings into the world. I am trusting God’s Word to accomplish God’s purpose in our hearts and minds.
QUESTION #1: DOESN’T GOD CARE? ISN’T HE SUPPOSED TO BE A GOD OF LOVE? Yes He cares. Yes He is a God of love. In fact God loves and cares enough to let people be free. When God created Adam and Eve He gave them the opportunity to love Him, to obey and respect Him. God knew that to force them to do so would not be true love – love cannot be forced. God could have stopped Eve from taking the apple and Adam from eating with her. But that would have made them prisoners to God’s desires rather than willing responders to God’s love. God knew full well the risk of granting freedom – that He might be rejected and that people might suffer harm and pain. But because He loved humankind, God let them freely choose.
Think about parenthood. As badly as we may want to hang onto our children forever, as desperately as we may want to make decisions for them throughout their entire lives, there is a point when we set them free. The tight reigns we placed upon them when they were infants are slowly loosened until one day we take them off. Then they’re on their own, free to choose, to become who they think they want to be and do what they think they want to do. It’s hard, sometimes, to stand by and watch what happens. But love demands we do so. Our lack of control does not indicate an absence of love – rather it communicates the presence of a deep, powerful love. We know they will grow through taking responsibility for their choices and, sometimes, suffering for the consequences of those choices. We know they will better understand the presence and power of evil and therefore have a better opportunity to know the love and salvation in God. We know that only when they chose to love us freely for their freedom do they truly love us. We care enough to let them be free.
So God lets people be free. So people sin. So evil keeps breaking into life. Sickness keeps penetrating bodies, hearts, and minds. God could have intervened at Sandy Hook and stopped it. But if He intervened there, we’d then ask why He didn’t intervene in the other school shootings, or in the movie theatre killings, or on the battle field, or in the countries where Christians become martyrs through dying for their faith. If God intervenes in one place, should he not intervene in them all? And if He intervened in them all, would He not be taking back the very freedom He lovingly gave us? Would He not be preventing us from taking responsibility for our choices and, sometimes, suffering for the consequences of those choices; from better understanding the presence and power of evil and therefore having a better opportunity to know the love and salvation in God? He knows that only when we choose to love Him freely for our freedom will we truly love Him. God cares and loves enough to let us be free. As Paul wrote (Ga. 5:1), “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
QUESTION #2: WHERE WAS GOD? “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” God was right where He was when His own Son died at the hands of violent people – in His Heaven with a broken heart, pained at the sin, evil, and sickness that drive people to violence. God heard His Son, in agony on the cross, cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And that’s the point – God was there; God did hear. Jesus could well have been crying out in the spirit of the Psalmist, who wrote (18:4-6 GNT) “The danger of death was all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me. The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me. In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.” God is listening, waiting to act when the time is right. The Psalmist went on to say that God did eventually act. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me… He drew me out of deep waters…He brought me into a spacious place…” And Jesus knew the God heard – for shortly after His cry of forsakenness Jesus, with great calm, committed His spirit to God. Make no mistake about it – God’s heart is pained deeply - He in His Heaven with a broken heart.
QUESTION #3: WHY DIDN’T GOD DO SOMETHING? He already did – He so loved the world that He gave His only Son and let Him die. He let Him die to bring us back to Him, to make a way to Him, so no one and nothing can separate us from His love. The letter to the Hebrews paints a vivid picture of how Jesus’ death on the cross makes Him our priest – our bridge to God. It refers back to Luke 23:44-46 (MSG): “By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.” The curtain which protected the Holy of Holies, which barred entrance to the Holy Place, which promised the penalty of death for any, other than the High Priest, who entered – this curtain was torn in two. The Holy Place was now open for all. The curtain which blocked the presence of God in all His glory and holiness was now removed so anyone could enter and receive life, and live! The curtain which prevented direct and individual access to God was now torn apart, allowing one-on-one, face to face communion with God. What Jesus had said was now true – He alone is the way, the truth, and the life – and no one comes to the Father but through Him.
So we have access to God, in the midst of any tragedy, any situation, at any time. The author of Hebrews extends an invitation (10:19-22): “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.” Indeed, God has already done something – He’s provided a way for us to go to Him.
QUESTION #4: SO WHERE IS GOD NOW? He is here – Emmanuel, God with us. (Is. 43:1-2) “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God…” (Ps. 34:18 NLT) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Jn. 14:18, 27) “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Or as Paul put it (Rom. 8:35-39), “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God is here.
QUESTION #5: SO WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? Let me suggest three things of utmost importance. First, KEEP THE FAITH. Do not begin to doubt in the dark what you have always believed in the light. Persevere. Our world is filled with evil but God still rules the world. He is sovereign. Revelation portrays it; Jesus Christ sits on the throne rules the world. As Psalm 46 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” Remember Jesus’ words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus asked his disciples to trust in God and draw on that trust. “You trust in God.” The disciples were good Jews, who believed in God, so Jesus told them to think about their trust in Him. They would recall God’s call to Abraham to father many nations; His work through the life of Joseph to save the little band of chosen people; His intervention in the birth of Moses who would lead God’s nation; His mighty plagues in Egypt that led to Israel’s deliverance from slavery; the miracles in the desert of the pillars and clouds, water from the rocks, and daily manna to eat; His provision of Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land and His power through Joshua to tumble to walls of Jericho; His covenant promise to David. (I suggest you read Ps. 78 for a litany of such events.) They would remember the promises through the Psalmist that His angels guard them, that He was their refuge, their hiding place, their fortress and their strength. (Read Isaiah 41:8-16 for a litany of such promises.) The disciples would remember that God was all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present; that God was loving and desirous of blessing them. The list would go on and on for the disciples. Jesus told them to draw upon that trust.
Then Jesus threw in the kicker. He said to trust in Him. “You trust in God…” then “…trust also in me.” That was a radical statement. For any man to equate trusting in God with trusting in himself was all but blasphemy; it was a claim to be equal to God. But that’s just what Jesus did. In fact, as Max Lucado has pointed out, Jesus’ most common command emerges from ‘fear not’ genre. The Gospels list some 125 such imperatives of Jesus. 21 of these urge us to ‘not be afraid’ or ‘not fear’ or to ‘have courage’ or ‘take heart’ or ‘be of good cheer.’ He wanted the disciples to recall all He had taught and done, to remember His miracles. As He met the disciples at their point of pain and agitation, so Jesus is ready to meet us at our point of agitation. Jesus said (Jn. 6:37) “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28). So Jesus tells us, “You trust in God; trust also in me.”.
We can hold on to our faith because Jesus is trustworthy. He said one of the disciples would betray Him; Judas did. He said Peter would deny Him three times; He did. He said He was going to die; He did. He said He would rise and live again; He did. He said He would go – ascend – and be with the Father; He did. He said He would send His Spirit; He did. We can hold on to our faith because Jesus is trustworthy. And we can hold on to our faith because Jesus held on to His. Jesus admitted to the disciples that He, too, had an agitated heart (12:27). Speaking of His impending crucifixion Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” Later that evening Jesus went to Gethsemane. Mark tells us (14:33 NEB) “Horror…came over him.” Horror is “used of a man rendered helpless, disoriented, who is agitated and anguished by the threat of some approaching event.” Jesus, too, experienced a troubled heart; it’s part of the human life. But notice what Jesus did there – He prayed. He spoke with, pleaded with, and listened to His Father. Luke tells us Jesus was so intense that He sweat drops of blood. But He was willing to hang on to His faith. He prayed “Father, if you are willing, take this cup (of crucifixion and death, of bearing the sin of the whole world) from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” He held on to His trust in God. Keep your faith.
Second, make sure your speech and actions are seasoned with grace. Just last night I read a commentary about the massacre by a sports columnist, Mike Lopresti – I found it to be right on target. I want to read a portion of it.
“Much of the discussion in response to all the dead kindergartners in Newtown, Conn., will focus on guns, and rightfully so. If little girls gunned down at their desks don't force the issue, what will?
But it is so much more. What is it about us, that so many pull triggers? This was the act of a disturbed man, but why so many acts, and why so many killers? No new gun control law can answer that.
The psychologists will eventually tell us their theories about this individual and why he picked up weapons one morning and decided to shoot 5-year-olds. If only it was as simple as one madman. Only as infrequent as one grim Friday.
But it's not. You wonder if we have created too fertile a breeding ground for violence. You wonder why the predominant emotion among so many of us so often is rage.
And then you look around, and the way we communicate with one another.
You look at our talk shows that once fostered thoughtful discussion and meaningful debate. Now they value one word only. Attack. Attack. Attack. The more vicious the better, because it sells.
You look at our Internet, and its vast promise of an interchange of ideas. And then see how that promise has been perverted, to where assault is made all the easier by anonymity, and even the media no longer has use for beauty or perspective, because scandal and conflict and heated rhetoric get so many more computer hits.
You look at our entertainment, and note the high body count, where we are numb to bloodshed and blind to its consequences. Where the winner is often the one who kills best.
I look at my own pitifully trivial world of sport. Where proposals for safer football rules are hooted down, because the game might be less violent, and the crowds might stay away.
I look at some of the mail I get. Abusive, brutal language from those furious about a Heisman vote or top 20 pick. If college football provokes such fury, one can only imagine what the real world must do.
If rage and rancor are so much a part of our daily lives, it should not be a shock that gunfire breaks out. It has happened so often, that now when the first reports come, we ask the same questions, dulled as we are by mayhem.
Where? How many? How young?
What terrible questions for a society to have to keep asking itself.
No, our violence-rich culture does not make murderers of us all. But cigarettes don't give everyone lung cancer. That does not make them non-lethal.
The haunting memory from Friday will be of young voices, shrieking in fear. Of parents thrust into their worst nightmare. Of Christmas stockings that will never be filled.
Have we finally had enough? It must not start with just gun control. It must start with us. We've surrendered common civility because something else makes more money, or gets more attention. The result? Many simply live angrier lives.
But a few pick up guns, and go off to kill children who still believed in Santa Claus.” (1)
Third, STRENGTHEN AND RENEW YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. Consider THOSE YOU LOVE. So you need to spend some time
with your family? Do it. Need to reconcile some relationships? Do it? Need to let somebody know how much you love him or her? Do it.
And examine your commitment to and relationship WITH JESUS CHRIST. Does it need some improvement? Do it. Need to get right with God? Do it. Need to give your life to Jesus? Do it. Are you ready to enter eternity? Now is the time to get ready. And be more serious about witnessing for Christ. There is no better time, no greater opportunity than now. The world is waiting to hear the Good News of the Gospel. Share it – boldly and unashamedly. As much as we want time to stand still until we can absorb all that’s happened, the truth is life goes on. The question is, “How will you live it?” Decide now.
The problem is not God – God is good. He cares. He loves. He is here. And He has provided a way for us to go to Him – He’s given us Jesus – and He invites us to come to Him. No – the problem is not God; He’s the answer. As someone pointed out, the problem is that we kick God out of our schools, out of the government, out of the public square – then every time a tragedy happens, we wonder where God is. If we keep our faith and strengthen and renew our relationships, perhaps – just perhaps – God will return to the center our society’s life.
May the Holy Spirit use these reflections to give you peace. Let us pray.
(1) Mike Lopresti, USA Today online, 12-15-12
