Summary

The article discusses the challenge Christians face in reconciling their faith with the existence of suffering and tragedy, emphasizing the importance of humility and acknowledging the limits of human understanding.

Abstract

The text reflects on the difficulty Christians have in accepting and explaining the occurrence of disasters and tragedies, given the belief in a caring and invested God as presented in the New Testament. It cites historical events such as 9/11, tsunamis in southeast Asia, and the COVID-19 pandemic as examples where believers have suffered and died, questioning how this aligns with the concept of a benevolent deity. The author suggests that God's purposes in allowing such events are beyond human comprehension, advocating for the church to embrace humility and the phrase "I don't know" when faced with inexplicable theological questions. The article encourages Christians to accept the mystery of God's judgment and to focus on their faith in Jesus Christ rather than attempting to rationalize every divine action.

Opinions

The author believes that the church should encourage, rather than discourage, difficult questions about faith and suffering.
It is posited that while we may have theories about why tragedies occur, ultimately, we see through a glass darkly and cannot fully understand God's purposes.
The article expresses that it is acceptable for Christians to not have explanations for complex theological concepts such as the Trinity or God's judgment.
The author feels that the church has historically struggled to admit when it does not know the answers to challenging theological questions.
There is a conviction that God's Kingdom can encompass concepts that are beyond human understanding, and that this should not threaten one's faith.
The author emphasizes that Christians should not feel pressured to explain all the complexities of the Bible and should instead direct people to Jesus Christ, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide them in truth.

The Three Most Difficult Words for Christians to Utter

Disasters abound

On 9/11, 2001, two airliners crashed into the World Trade Center, a third one into the Pentagon, and a fourth in a field in Pennsylvania, killing thousands. Those who perished were valued by God to the point that the very hairs on their heads had a running total. Yet disaster befell them.

Terrible tsunamis hit southeast Asia a few years back and killed hundreds of thousands. The victims also had the hairs on their heads counted and they were valued by God. And summarily destroyed.

COVID has taken a toll on well over a million deaths worldwide. So many believers have died.

How can this be?

The New Testament is full of strong proclamations of caring and investment by God in human beings — so how does this square up with reality? How can this apparent dichotomy exist?

Tough questions, questions that the church can discourage the world from asking (bad approach) or encourage the world to ask (good approach).

The answer

For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known. (1 Cor. 13:12, KJ21)

The simple answer is that God lets these temporal tragedies befall his beloved for purposes known only to himself. What are those purposes? I don’t know.

Oh, we may speculate, we might even develop pretty good theories. But in the end, we all see through a glass darkly.

Because we see through a glass darkly, humility forces us to utter the three words that have been almost impossible for the church to say throughout history, yet buy us the most credibility due to their truth content. I have already used those words in this text. The words are, I don’t know.

Just say the three words

I have been in situations before (bet you have too) where you yourself have asked theologically difficult questions like, “How do you explain the Trinity?”. On that particular question, I believe in the Trinity but have never heard a good explanation. Oh, I’ve heard all the traditional responses however none felt sufficient. No explanation really registered with me as being anything more than desperate attempts to explain what simply cannot be explained.

Maybe that's because it deals with the infinite and my finite mind just cannot stretch that far. I’m ok with that.

You can love God and still ask questions

In addition to the Trinity, another inexplicable situation that the Bible outlines is God’s judgment — in particular, how can God judge man, who is created by God? I mean, all of it was created, free will, predestination, whatever is out there, He created it. So how can He possibly criticize man? Judge man? It’s all His ball game. From A to Z. The totality of everything.

Oh yes, I’ve asked that difficult question, and about three-fourths of the time, I have been shushed in any number of ways. Once I was accused of not being a believer because I asked the question. And the explanations that were given to me were simply unbelievable, yes, that’s the right word, unbelievable.

The truth of the matter is that in my mind, judgment is completely and totally unexplainable. And I am very comfortable leaving it there, another incomprehensible theological concept in God’s Kingdom.

I love Jesus Christ, am forgiven by His grace, and am filled with His Holy Spirit. And I find His Kingdom is sturdy enough to embrace concepts that are “His ways, not our ways”, hence simply are alien to our thought processes.

We should never feel compelled to explain to others the more difficult complexities of the Bible that we may feel uncomfortable trying to explain. Let’s not beat ourselves up over the mysteries of Scripture. Just say, I don’t know, then simply point folks back to the Savior.

The Spirit of Truth is very adept at taking it from there.