Men, Not God, Are Cruel
AM Psalm 25 • PM Psalm 9, 15
Deut. 4:9-14 • 2 Cor. 1:1-11 • Luke 14:25-35
Today as I am writing this reflection, 122 Palestinian civilians, including 31 children, have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of the West Bank. Over 900 Palestinian civilians have been injured. Some estimates put it at a thousand. A total of 7 people have died in Israel, one of which, was a 6-year-old child. At times like these we often hear quick responses rushing to defend the actions of a particular side. It can be so disheartening when someone you love seems to be so callous in defense of something so devastating.
In America, the cultural and political tradition is to stand behind Israel in spite of the details. The popular notion goes something like “God gave the land to Israel in the Bible so...” enter a string of excuses for any action Israel decides to take. Another common refrain is “Israel has a right to defend itself from rocket fire and live in their own land.” It seems in an age of secularism in America, people become Bible referencing believers whenever something explodes in the West Bank. The problem with these inadequate sound bites that we culturally jump to is that they neglect to recognize that since 1967 the West Bank and Palestine have been the world’s largest open air refugee camp. People displaced by war, trying just to live, surrounded by barbed wire, soldiers, and surveillance cameras. Where is God in all of this?
Why is it that many American Christians who are so often publicly averse to “organized religion” and rules about Church, so quickly run to the Old Testament on matters of Israel, sexuality, and a very narrow view of murder? One might think the confessional statements of this country consist of the lone words “Sola...Israel can do no wrong,” “Sola no abortion,” and “Sola...as long as you’re not gay.” Where is God in all of this?
Whenever I am troubled or bewildered by the problem of evil in our world, I find a comforting theodicy in the cross. In His final moments, our Lord cried out to His father, “Into your hands I commend my spirt.” In a world worth having (one where love is freely given not required) Jesus willingly submitted to the cross. He used His free will to create an act of love so powerful as to transform every life that would ever live. While God does not will evil, He does will our existence in a world worth having. One where love and joy truly exist. That world includes the possibility of good gone wrong.
Today’s Morning Psalm made me think of Jesus’s words on the cross in the face of evil, “To You, Lord, I lift up my soul. My God, in You I trust.” (Psalm 25:1–2). In the garden and on the cross, Jesus put His trust in God’s plan for mankind. While there are things beyond our comprehension, we can trust that “the Lord is good and upright” and “...He teaches the humble His way” (vs. 8–9).
Lord teach us your way and may we choose to love and not to hate.
Written by Jonathan Wright
Jonathan is a native of Atlanta, GA and a relatively new member of St. Paul’s. He moved to the parish from the Cathedral Church of Saint Mark in Salt Lake City, UT where he became an Episcopalian.