Friday, August 28, 2009
an apologetic for evil
Following on from my recent post, a narrative theology concerning evil, I have been pondering whether Christians need to explain evil.
Much ink has been spilt on whether, if there is a God, did this God create evil? And if there is Satan, can we say the devil made me do it?
But we live post-Auschwitz. Is the task to philosophise? Or to weep?
I remember once being part of volunteer training event. The phone rang, with news of a suicide. The room went silent, sickened by the pain seeping into the room. The person taking the phone call shouted to me across the room “What would the Christian God say?” All the room, many non-Christian, looked at me, awaiting my reply.
I still think it an absurd question. The Christian God would visit and would weep and would rage and say My God, why have you forsaken us. It would not philosophise.
And in the months to come? Would it then philosophise? Or would it still not visit and weep and rage and say My God, why have you forsaken us?
Or am I just ducking hard issues?
It’s been a tough week for Opawa Baptist. Can’t say more here. Perhaps later. So this post is not a theory.
)
That’s tough, real tough. How does God weeping and asking “why?” work when the buck stops with God.
I mean, when God weeps… who is at the other end of the telephone line?
Comment by Iain — August 29, 2009 @ 12:20 am
Experientially, I know that God weeps…..and he doesn’t explain “why”. Perhaps we need to take our cue from him
Comment by kerry — August 29, 2009 @ 11:26 am
I don’t think there are easy answers. And when I sit with some one in crisis it isn’t about the “answers”, but it is about hearing the story, acknowledging the pain, and sitting with agony. Whether that takes hours or days or years. Only when the pain begins to ease does the “philosophy” begin. *cyber hugs* Steve…
Comment by KSW — August 30, 2009 @ 10:08 pm