prophetsandpopstars

We have really been through it as a nation lately. Last month, Boston. Last week, a massive twister set down in Texas, and yesterday, the brute force of nature devastated the people of Oklahoma. To be honest, this is destruction like I’ve never seen.

When things like this happen, it’s natural to jump to, “If God were real and good then things like this wouldn’t happen.” Again, we ask, “Where is God?” but to that we add, “If God is in control of all things, why would he do this?” Any minute, I’m expecting to hear some half-witted statement about about sin that God sent his personal whirlwind to punish.

Already, I’ve seen some perplexing tweets. Earlier I saw that Jay Bakker tweeted this:

It’s tuff to have faith in anything when you see the destruction of natural disasters like the one in Oklahoma yesterday…

— Jay Bakker (@jaybakker) May 20, 2013

Actually, while I think I understand his meaning, I believe that it’s far tougher to have faith in nothing when we witness natural disasters like the one in Oklahoma today.

The Gods Must Be Angry

In ancient cultures, many gods were worshipped. These gods were ornery characters that prayed upon the weaker humans. When something like an earthquake or a tornado happened, “The gods must be angry,” was the immediate assumption. In order to appease the gods, blood was spilt. Things and people were sacrificed. Any and everything was offered to make the gods feel better. It’s like they were a collective of toddlers in need of blood pacifiers and fear blankets.

But Jesus is not that God. God is not angry. Tornadoes do not fly from his hand. One of the prophets, Nahum, who was quite a poet, described God’s power like this: “The LORD is very patient but great in power; the LORD punishes. His way is in whirlwind and storm; clouds are the dust of his feet.” Out of context, some take this and twist it to mean that God uses weather to punish whoever he wants to punish. The terribly harmful theology that comes out of this can be aimed at things like what we witnessed yesterday, and probably will.

But this is wrong on two counts: first, Nahum is speaking to Nineveh, the capitol city of Babylon; the nation that enslaved Israel. The degree of their injustice was incalculable, and Nahum describes what a future event would be like. Second, a prophetic word like this one describes God’s power, not his attitude. “His way is in the whirlwind,” the force of it, the power. It doesn’t say anything like, “He sends tornadoes to kill people he doesn’t like.”

The Danger of Darkening Counsel

When something like this happens, I am reminded of Job, the persistent sufferer. I am also, and quite unfortunately, reminded of his three friends and Elihu, the stranger, who say the most ridiculous of things with intensity, conviction and sincerity. Their words are so sincere, in fact, that they are almost believable.

Toward the end of Job, Elihu appears as the consummate “know-it-all:”

“Wait a little while so I can demonstrate for you that there is still something more to say about God. I will draw from my broad knowledge, attribute justice to my maker. My words are certainly truthful; one with total knowledge is present with you. [36:2-4]“

Everyone likes to feel important, even if they don’t know what to say. If only they would stay silent.
Elihu tells Job, “He overturns the circling clouds [tornadoes]; by his guidance they do their work, doing everything he commands over the entire earth. Whether for punishment, for his world, or for kindness, God makes it all happen. [37:12-13]”

OK, Elihu has a point, God makes it all happen. But how? We don’t really know. However, Elihu claims he does. He’s sure and makes a strong case that when someone goes through what Job has, God has done it. Now, we as the reader know that it was Satan, and not God, that caused Job’s suffering (which I’ll come back to).

Regardless, God (who, ironically, is approaching in a whirlwind to restore Job) responds to Elihu’s words. Elihu who has sounded so intelligent, so knowledgable he tells us so himself, receives this from the Lord, “Who is this darkening counsel [idiot] with words lacking knowledge [and what is this idiot talking about]?” I’m sorry, what? But Elihu told Job all the stuff I would have told him: You’re all powerful. You’re strong. You make the BIG decisions. What did we miss?

Nature Red In Tooth And Claw

Paul addressed moments like yesterday. Like us, he was aware that things that happened in the world, in nature, didn’t add up to our over-idealized imaginations. I’m sure he worked his way through earthquake rubble and twister damage. He saw the savagery of nature first hand. His experience would have confirmed the mystery of God, the theology of nature.

“I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now.” [Romans 8:18, 20-22]

We live in a fallen world, a world that doesn’t act as God created it to. The natural world exists like humanity exists: in a state of rebellion against God, contrary to the way we were created. The whole creation groans. All of it. When a tornado destroys, creation groans. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. When a hurricane drowns, creation cries out. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. When children lie beneath fallen structures, creation cries out. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. The world is broken. It’s not how it’s supposed to be; not how it’s going to be. That day is coming, but until then…

Beware Of Darkness

Years ago, I feel in love with this cover of a George Harrison classic. The lyrics are fearsome and the melody is mesmerizing.

“Watch out now, take care,
Beware of the thoughts that linger,
Winding up inside your head,
The hopelessness around you,
In the dead of night”

This song reminds us that there is darkness that is beyond us, darkness that we cannot control. Like Peter warns in his letter, “Satan prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he will devour,” there is darkness that leave us hopeless in the dead of night. That’s what today is: Darkness.

We have to be careful not to give credit to God that is due Satan. Like Elihu, we jump to God’s power to control, without thinking about Satan’s lust to destroy. We don’t stop to consider that death, chaos and destruction is not God’s plan for the “world that he so loved that he gave his only Son.” In the Job story, it’s clear who the instigator, who the villain is: the one who subjected creation to frustration. Redemption is God’s plan for creation. The death part, that’s something else entirely. That’s darkness.

But as Harrison reminds us in the chorus, it’s always darkest before the dawn. Light is coming! Or as he puts it:

“Beware of Sadness,
It can hit you,
It can hurt you,
Make you sore and what is more,
That is not what you are here for.”

We Are Meant For More

A few minutes ago, my wife posted this on her facebook page:

We were meant for that reality. The reality in which, God doesn’t throw tornadoes, but enters into their devastation. The reality in which God doesn’t punish the innocent, but upholds them, comforts them, heals and restores them. The reality in which light has defeated darkness, life has defeated death and peace has calmed the whirlwind.

That’s the reality we wait for.
That’s the reality we hope for.
That’s the reality that is on the way.
That is the reality that is already here.

“I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [Rev 21:3-4]