5th Midweek – “I Can’t Believe in a God who Would…”
Luke 22:66–23:12, 1 Peter 1:6-9
St. John, Galveston 3/22/2023
Rev. Alan Taylor
+ In Nomine Jesu +
Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The series of messages over these Wednesday evening’s in Lent has been about “Living as a Christian in a Postmodern World.” The Postmodern World presents an all out assault on truth and it’s unchanging nature, even it’s certainty. God Himself is often at the center of Postmodern attacks because He often doesn’t fit the caricature of what God should be according to the Postmodern mind.
Tonight’s message, based on the readings you heard just a bit ago, offers a good case in point regarding God, and how He behaves toward us. It focuses specifically on a common theme among people today. Some say it adamantly and it becomes the foundation of their unbelief. Others believe in God, in Christ, and yet, sometimes the events of life create a nagging frustration, a source of doubt that threatens to overwhelm faith. Tonight’s message is titled “I Can’t Believe in a God who would…”
The rest of the statement is omitted intentionally, simply because there is no one way to complete it. For instance, someone might conclude, I can’t believe in a God who would let my child die. I can’t believe in a God who would let whole populations of people perish from hunger. I can’t believe in a God who would let 45,000 people die in an earthquake. I can’t believe in a God who would let suffering go on and on, even when the one who suffers cries out for His help, for God’s mercy.
God, we are told, is all powerful. Which means, there is no power, or force that is greater than Him. That being the case, when tragedy strikes, there is always some sense in which God is culpable. That doesn’t mean that He has caused the tragedy in question, but at the very least, He has allowed it to happen, since He has the power to intercede, to take it away, or to stop it. When He doesn’t do so, we are left trying to reconcile what we know about God from His word, with the tragic situation that has come upon us. Central to our struggle is the question of “why?” Why does God allow terrible things to happen to in our lives? What possible good could ever come from them?
In the second reading for this evening, the Apostle Peter first reminds us of who we are in Christ. He says, "(God) has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” He then goes on to say, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” We dare not pass over that second part too quickly. Did you catch what the Apostle said? “Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.”
It is difficult for us to comprehend the necessity of trials in our lives, since, particularly in the midst of them, they only seem to bring us grief and pain. In fact, as we measure God’s response to adversity, we often say, “Why, I’m a sinner, and I wouldn’t do that.” “I’m a sinner, and I wouldn’t have let all those people in Syria die from that earthquake.” The reason our argument against God, if you will, isn’t valid is because we, unlike Him, are not all knowing. Sometimes trials are necessary in our lives. Why? Well, the Scriptures go on to answer that very question. “If necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
“Jesus (we are told) is the author and finisher of our faith.” Faith is given in an instant, by water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. In that moment when the water flowed over you, “you were transferred from the kingdom darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom you have redemption, even the forgiveness of your sins.” Faith is given in an instant, but it is matured, it is strengthened and purified over a lifetime. Certainly, the continual hearing of God’s word and the reception of His body and blood in Holy Communion are a part of that process. But so are the trials that you face in life from time to time.
In writing this message, I couldn’t locate the quote of Luther I was looking for about the connection between trials and God’s word. Essentially he made the point that, without trials, there is a sense in which the reading and study of God’s word is merely an academic exercise. It is the trials we face that drive us into God’s word for hope and consolation. They give meaning to God’s promises because we learn to recognize God’s power bestowed on us, in and through His word.
We even come to believe in God, even though He allows trials into our lives that we otherwise couldn’t fathom being allowed by Him. But then, that is sort of the whole point of the Gospel, isn’t it? In a seemingly terrible moment of loss and defeat for God, that is, in the cross of His dear Son, He reconciled the whole world to Himself and declared us not guilty.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.
+ Soli Deo Gloria +