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I don't get that god.

Image result for scratched carYesterday I was listening to a person's testimony who had endured an abusive hellish life but has since found peace and healing. I'm glad for said person but must admit that I choked at some of the conceptions the individual had of how God was working in their life.

I'll stick to discussing one.

The lady shared how her husband became abusive and beat her and God saved her from dying from the violence. And on top of that, even though her car was stolen at the same time, God protected the car from getting "even a scratch" on it.

So her god let her get beat  but intervened to make sure the perpetrator didn't fully kill her. And God made sure the car that got stolen didn't get any scratches or dents. The stereo equipment was stolen but that gave the woman silence which helped her grow closer to God.

Sorry but that strikes me as a really weird god.  I tell my kids all the time, I don't care if your toy breaks or gets muddy, I can always get a new toy but I can't get a new "you".  This god...bruised body and soul: fine; scratched car: better not let that happen.

I don't fault this woman. Christian teaching makes this type of reframing predictable. Any bad thing gets blamed on the devil or nature or human ill will.  The credit for any good that happens by default goes to God. Any real or potential reduction of evil is credited to God. But don't ask why he didn't stop some things from happening.

God intervenes but with no predictability or apparent equity.  This god's intervention defies moral sensibility.  We would use such power to feed malnourished children instead of helping the well endowed westerner find a parking space.

This kind of god feels nice and answers the angst created by the events of life.

It just doesn't make sense that a god would act like that.

God, if you're there, next time, could you maybe let the car be scratched and not let the dude beat the shit out of the woman.

Thanks

Comments

  1. andyheckathorneJanuary 18, 2018 at 6:27 AM

    Good points, Joe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ShambyFebruary 5, 2018 at 9:56 AM

    What I don't get is how people pick the most unsophisticated, easiest to rebut version of Christianity, bully it around on their theological playground and call it an intellectual or existential triumph.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JHWFebruary 6, 2018 at 6:16 PM

      So we agree that this version of god is bunk. I sat in a room full of Christians who listened to this testimony and took great solace in god's gracious acting. If it makes you feel better about life...great...I just don't get it. Intellectual triumph? I'm sure my millions of readers are wowed by my impressive intellect.

      Delete

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