Every Easter I face the same decision. Do I share the evidence for the resurrection in an attempt to offset the influence of those who deny the resurrection? Then I talk with the visitors–including those who have been coerced into coming to church by a friend, family member or romantic interest. Inevitably, someone tells me they aren’t interested in God
or they don’t believe in God
or they are angry at God.
How can God exist when so many bad things happen to good people?
How do we respond?
Many of my friends try to defend God. To explain God. To justify God.
I’ve stopped that.
There are two kinds of people who ask such questions. One kind is the person who is growing in their faith and truly seeks to understand. These people deserve a response, but not a justification.
The second group are those who are challenging me to explain God–or challenging God to explain himself.
There were such people whose questions were recorded in the scriptures–both Old and New Testaments. The Holy Spirit’s answer, through different authors, is basically: “Who do you think you are?”
To seek to understand is wisdom. To challenge God is just plain arrogant. God levels Job with the basic question “Where were you when I created the earth?” Paul challenges God’s critics to explain when the pot began to judge the potter.
So why do we try to defend God?
I have begun to respond differently. I’m through “defending God” because he doesn’t need defending, and because to facilitate such a confrontation between God’s “accusers” and him is to encourage them to be in a spiritually untenable position. So what do I do now?
First, I simply ask the person which of the two groups they belong to. I have found most people are pretty “up-front” about this. When I find someone is “challenging” God, I draw their attention to Job and Paul. I simply let them know that they are creations trying to judge the creator, and it just doesn’t work. God doesn’t need to explain himself to them–therefore I don’t need to explain God to them either.
These people aren’t hopeless–but something needs to happen in their heart. Something the Holy Spirit must accomplish. And I ain’t him.
What do you think?
