A few days ago I printed a satirical "prayer" from skeptic James Randi. He had written it in response to President Bush's comments about a loving God in regard to the Virginia Tech tragedy. Basically, Randi questioned why a "loving God" would allow such tragedies to happen to those he loved.
A certain commenter to this site felt the need to explain to me why his God would allow such tragedies to happen. This is what he had to say:
As far as why God allows things like the Virginia Tech shootings to happen, for better or worse, He created us with free will. He could have created us as mindless automatons without the means to do anything but his bidding, but then He couldn’t have a dynamic love relationship with us that He has always longed for.
Whether you view Adam and Eve as historical figures or merely allegorical characters, the truth is the same: even if there were only one rule to follow, humans would use their free will to disobey God. When Adam and Eve decided they knew better than God, that perfect relationship was broken. Since that decision, God has allowed us to go our own way, and the Earth has never been the same since.
In order for God to totally take back control of His creation from us, two things would have to take place: all of mankind would have to either have to 1) give up its collective free will; or 2) use that free will to be totally obedient to God.
Personally, I find this explanation rather inadequate. Do you really believe that free will trumps prayer? Because that is what the explanation seems to be saying. Evidently you can pray for God's protection, but any nut with a gun that comes along can shoot a hole through you and that prayer, because he has free will.
And what about diseases and natural disasters? Do they also have free will? After a natural disaster, you always hear people saying that God protected them from being hurt by it. Did God not think those who were killed and injured deserved his protection? Were they not good enough God-believers?
The only answer this commenter has is that he has met people who have overcome and learned to live with serious disabilities brought on by disease or natural disaster. So have I, but I've yet to meet one who wouldn't have preferred that it hadn't happened.
The answers provided don't say much for the power of prayer. God can't protect you from humans (because of free will) and won't protect you from diseases and natural disasters (because you either deserve it or need to be tested).
This Guy in the Sky doesn't sound very loving or all-powerful.
I had intended on posting a long response to this post, adressing each issue point by point. But seeing as such a response would be as tedious as it would be futile, I decided to post a three comments that hopefully won't glaze anyone's eyes over. Then I'll give you the last word, jobsanger:
ReplyDeleteFirst point: I think you're missing something important about the purpose and power of prayer. (Not to worry, a lot of professing Christians miss it too.)
IMHO, the purpose of prayer is not to get what you ask for, but rather to grow closer to God and to understand Him better. This can be done in conjunction with studying God's Word and includes meditation (on who God is), introspection (about who we are), and thanksgiving (for what God has already provided us), as well as petition (asking God for things and for protection).
In the process, sometimes God changes our circumstances, but more often He changes us. That's the real power of prayer.
(cont'd)
Second point: I think you glossed over my examples and missed the point.
ReplyDeleteThe people I described didn't just "overcome and learn to live with serious disabilities," through faith in a loving God, they actually thrived and attained a joy that many people without disabilities can only hope for.
You're right that people who suffer disabilities would have "preferred that it hadn't happened," but the Christians I know who have found a deeper relationship with God through suffering agree that given a choice between no suffering and no relationship with God and suffering with God's compassion and care, they'd take the latter every time.
(cont'd)
Third point (and then I'm done - I promise!)
ReplyDeleteWhen most people think about the events at Virginia Tech and free will, they focus on Seung-Hui Cho and see an uncaring, impotent God.
I focus on Liviu Librescu, the professor who blocked the door so that his students would be able to escape, and died in the process.
Dr. Librescu was a Romanian Jew and Holocaust survivor who was rescued from death at the hands of the Nazis so that 62 years later he would be able to stand in the gap and give his own life to rescue others.
This reminds me of another Jew - a carpenter turned preacher - who stood in the gap and gave his life to rescue others from the prison of sin and an eternity without God. In order to be rescued by Him, all you need to do is swallow your pride, acknowledge that you don't know it all, admit you're not perfect, and accept His gift.
Jim Elliot, the missionary who was martyred by the Waodani Indians, summed it up well: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."