The Lutheran Hour
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"Either/Or"
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Text: Luke 13:5
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. If your heart is heavy, if your life is filled with despair, then hear the angel’s words of resurrection. This day be glad for the opportunity for repentance which comes by the Holy Spirit. He wishes to show you that the risen Lord Jesus Christ has come to save you, and assist you, and bring you from darkness into the light of grace.
“Why God, why?” Every day since humanity fell into sin, the cry has gone up from this doomed and damned planet, “Why God, why?” Have you not, in some of your darker days, looked to heaven and cried, or sighed, or shouted, “Why God, why?” You need not be a Christian or even be particularly religious, to have that searching scream pour forth from your heart. Why God, why? Those words may stem from a personal tragedy or a painful terror; they may have started with some surprising sadness, or begun with an event that you felt was terribly unjust. “Why God, why?” we demand to know. Help us make some sense, allow us to get some meaning from what has happened to us.
It is more than 20 years now since I knew a pastor who performed a Sunday morning baptism. Mama and papa were proud of the newest addition to their household. They’d made arrangements to celebrate with their friends, the grandmas and grandpas, the uncles and aunts. Surprisingly, the entire family had made it to church on time. Thankfully the baby didn’t cry too much during the service. Although the cry of a baby is a normal thing, it does seem to upset parents. When the service was over they bundled her up to go home. And she stopped breathing. That was it. She stopped breathing, no crib death, no accident, no dropping or shaking. She simply stopped breathing. The celebration was instantly turned into sadness; the happiness was transplanted by a faceless, black horror.
In shock, the parents had to put aside plans for a party. Instead, they had to make arrangements for a funeral. I don’t have to tell you, the entire community turned out for the wake. Every heart that walked through the door of the funeral parlor had wrestled with the question, “Why God, why?” The mourners wanted to have something to share, something to say, anything which would provide some way to explain this tragedy which had come so suddenly. The pastor who was present with the parents, soon noticed that the mourners seemed to be “either/or.” Either they were Christians who had something to say, or they were unbelievers who remained for the most part, silent.
The pastor listened as Christians said things like, “The Lord must have needed another angel in heaven.” Someone else said “You must be thankful you have other children, some people never have children at all, you know.” Yet another suggested that, “This is the Lord’s will, and although we cannot understand why this has happened, we must pray, ‘Thy will be done.'” One, in a long line of mourners, told the weary parents, “You can be thankful your child will never experience pain.” That was what many Christians said.
As I said, there was another group of people who came to the wake that night. Most of these mourners passed by the miniature casket without comment. It was not that these people were immune from the pain which was so obviously before them. On the contrary, they seemed to suffer more than anyone else. These were, you see, the people who had no Savior, no comfort, no consolation. True, some of them had held to a hazy, vague, belief in some kind of undefined divine being. But that night, those folks were filled with rage. They were angered that god, if there was a god, had done such a thing. The death of this child had absolutely convinced them that god, if there was a god, is cruel and capricious, vile and vengeful.
For them, without Jesus there was no hope; there was no promise of a reunion in heaven. Without the Savior they simply could not see that death, for those who have been washed from their sins by Jesus’ blood, is the doorway to eternal life. Their cries, “Why God, why?” echoed back to them unanswered. They could not, as hard as they tried, find anything of comfort to say to the parents. They could only cry, shake their heads, give them a hug, and pass on by.
After the time of visitation was over, the pastor had intended to have a short service with the immediate family; such was the custom of the small community. But before he could begin, mother and father called him to the side of the small funeral chapel. They asked, “Pastor, are these people right? Is this the Lord’s will? Did God kill our baby? Are we supposed to be rejoicing that our baby is no longer with us? We are glad that because of baptism, she is with Jesus, but we still wish she were here with us.”
You can understand what they were asking, can’t you? It is impossible for me to know the vast majority of those who are listening to my voice today, but I do know that you understand. No, you may never have lost a child, but you understand the pain of those parents. Why God, why? You may have been a child and lost a dear pet. You may have found yourself in a financial situation which could not be remedied. You may have been betrayed by someone you love. Why God, why? What in your life causes you to ask that question? Is it not because you, like the parents, like the rest of humanity, want an answer? You want some way of making sense out of that which seems so senseless.
In a few minutes, I will tell you what the pastor said to those parents. First, I would like to take you away from the casket and the funeral home and journey back in time, about 20 centuries. I’d like you to go to ancient Israel and hear what Jesus said, when He was asked, “Why?” If the Jerusalem Post had been publishing back then, the headline story would have read, “Soldiers Slaughter Sacrificers.” The story would have talked about how the soldiers of the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, had stomped into the temple and murdered some of the people who were making their sacrifices to God. It was a scandalous act which had shocked people into asking, “Why God, why?”
Some observers had concluded, just as some of us still do, that God had struck the victims down because of some special sin they had committed. I say we still do that because I have heard preachers and people talk about how AIDS is a punishment upon the homosexuals and promiscuous. I’ve heard some of the most Christian of souls ask from a hospital bed, “What have I done wrong that God is punishing me this way?” I’ve heard professional football players say God gave their team a weekend win because their quarterback was a better believer than the ball-thrower from the other side. Why God, why? People come up with some strange answers as they try to read the mind of God; as they try to figure out why life works the way it does.
When Jesus was asked that question “Why?” He gave an answer. In effect, He said, “Yes, I heard about those murders…. and did you folks hear about the tower that fell over and killed some eighteen construction workers the other day?” Then Jesus added, “Are you thinking that there is a direct connection between the way these people died, and some sin they committed? Are you really thinking that? If you are, you’re wrong. It doesn’t work that way.” That’s true, of course. God generally doesn’t go out of His way to punish particular sins. When He does go out of His way to punish a particular sin and sinner, He tells that sinner very, very clearly exactly what his sin was. No, the Triune God isn’t like the fake Scandinavian god Thor who throws his hammer at people he doesn’t like; He isn’t a false-Roman deity like Zeus who zaps you with a lightning bolt whenever you get him the least bit upset. The Triune God, the true God doesn’t work that way.
That’s why, when Jesus heard the question “Why God, why?” He told them, “You folks don’t get it, do you?” They didn’t get it if they thought that sin “A” always receives punishment “B.” They didn’t get it if they thought that God is making a list, checking it twice, trying to find out who’s naughty or nice. They didn’t get it if they thought that God was just waiting to pounce on them as soon as they got out of line. They didn’t get it if they believed God is gleefully looking down from heaven wondering who’s going to goof up so He can get them good. If anyone believes that, or anything like that, they just don’t get it.
Jesus went on. He says, “If you want to get it, then you need to repent.” Now for us, the word repent means to feel sorry. We think repentance is what a mother demands of her boys when they’ve been fighting. “Tell each other you’re sorry.” They may shake hands, they may say the words, but they still hate each other. No, when Jesus told us to repent, He meant more than something that superficial. For Jesus, the word meant to change or shift your entire perspective. Repentance means the way you see things has changed.
Jesus wants us to repent. He wants us to stop asking why somebody has died the way they have. He wants us to repent and forget the busybody game of “spot the sinner.” He wants us to repent and stop being a moral coroner trying to perform an autopsy on every person who dies in a way that is different. He wants us to repent and forget focusing on the dead and stop the guesswork on why they died the way they did. There is no point in doing such things.
There’s no point because everybody is going to die. He told the crowd which was with Him, “you’re gonna die.” Jesus tells us we’re gonna die. It shouldn’t be a surprise; it shouldn’t come as a shock. The world has over five billion people in it. The death rate, unless Jesus comes back sooner, is going to be a hundred percent. That’s the way it is. When sin came into this world, death walked in with it, hand-in-hand. Sin and death are inseparable siblings. For some sinners death may come earlier, for other sinners it will come later, but death will come. Some sinners will see death show up unexpectedly; other sinners will receive a drawn out series of warnings. Either way, death is coming.
So when you ask, “Why God, why?” The answer is simple: death, sickness, injustice, hatred, envy, lust, every single thing that is wrong in this world, everything that is unjust, unfair, unbearable is here because of sin. If you accept the truth that death is coming, your question will not be, “Why God, why?” You already have your answer to that. No, if you repent your question will be, “How can I be prepared? How can I be ready for that event which is most certainly headed my way?”
Which takes me back to the pastor and the parents at the funeral home. Do you remember them? Mom and dad wanted an answer from God. They wanted some understanding, some help with the cross they were carrying. The pastor led them to repentance. God gave him the words to change their point of view. He began this way: “My Savior does not kill children. My Lord does not rip apart the hearts and ruin the lives of mothers and fathers.” Then that pastor proceeded to explain that God cannot love us and hate us at the same time. Jesus cannot be the Light of the world, and at the same time, the Bringer of darkness. He shared with them that God does not take pleasure in the death of the world’s sinners. (Ezekiel 33:11b)
The family understood. That doesn’t mean they didn’t hurt. That doesn’t mean they stopped missing their daughter. But they repented, they had a change of perspective. No longer was God cruel. No longer had He crushed them. No, they knew theirs was a gracious God. Theirs was a God Who through baptism gave to them the only life preserver that could have helped them, or their baby. They knew that God had loved them and their child so much, that He had sent His Son to save.
This my friends is the Triune God of Scripture. If you do not know Him as Someone Who loves you with a better and more pure love than you have ever seen, then you need to repent. Repent, read the Bible; see how when Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them and made them a promise to send a Savior. They didn’t deserve it, but God was there to help. When His people were in slavery, He came to them and brought about their deliverance. They hadn’t earned it, but God came to them. When the Children of Israel wandered into sin, when the Jews adopted false gods, the Lord in love called them back. When His own priests had Jesus condemned; when His government had Him crucified; when His disciples had deserted Him; when He was mocked by the very people He had come to save, Jesus forgave them. When Peter denied his Savior, Jesus sought Him out and offered forgiveness.
If you have, up to this point in your life seen God only as angry, vengeful, hurtful and harmful, then repent. See Him for Who He is. Look to the manger of Bethlehem; see the Savior on the cross of Calvary. He suffered so that you might be at peace. He carried sin so that you might be forgiven. He gave His all so that you might have all. If He did this, how can you think even for a moment that He would connive and conspire against you? Repent and see the great, the wonderful, the God-given truth of scripture: the Lord is love for you.
What is your problem? What grieves your heart? What wound, fresh or scarred over by time, do you carry on your soul? Have you, up to this very moment believed God was indifferent to you; have you believed Satan’s lie that says God is cruel? Repent. The Lord Jesus reaches out to you in love with His nail-pierced hands. He has already redeemed the world, now He wishes to rescue, revive and restore you. He will do this. Only do not shut the door. Repent. The Holy Spirit wishes to give you a change of heart. Repent. If you don’t know how, let us at Lutheran Hour Ministries connect you with someone who will help.
One evening a woman was driving home when she noticed an 18-wheeler behind her that was driving uncomfortably close. She stepped on the gas; the truck did too. The faster she went; the faster went the truck. Afraid, she got off the freeway. So did the truck. She turned up a main street, hoping to lose her pursuer in traffic, but the truck ran a red light and continued the chase. In panic the woman whipped into a service station and bolted out of her automobile screaming for help. The truck driver sprang from his truck and ran toward her car. Yanking the back door open, he reached in and pulled out a man who was hiding in the backseat.
The woman had been running from the wrong person. From his high vantage point, the truck driver had spotted the would-be robber or rapist. The chase was not his effort to harm her, but to save her even at the cost of his own safety. Please don’t run away from the Lord. Don’t think His presence is there to hurt or harm. He is there to help and save. Amen.
Lutheran Hour Mailbox (Questions & Answers) for March 14, 2004
Topic: Why Does God Permit Suffering?ANNOUNCER: And now Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer. Today’s question is: Why does God permit suffering?
KLAUS: Mark, that dovetails rather well with today’s message. I’ve often thought it was interesting that people often consider pain to be evidence that God isn’t there, or that He doesn’t care.
ANNOUNCER: And I suppose a related question might be, “Shouldn’t a good God produce a good world?”
KLAUS: Let’s start there. Our Triune God is perfect, so you think He would have created a perfect world. As you know from reading the first chapters of Genesis, that is exactly what He did. The world He gave to our original ancestors had none of the pain, evil and badness we see on the news and in our lives. But then Adam and Eve disobeyed God, fell into sin, they dragged the whole creation down with them.
ANNOUNCER: And that’s the world we know, the world we see around us. So actually it’s more like living in a mansion that’s been hit by a tornado and then blaming the original builder for the damage.
KLAUS: Exactly. I should add, at least from my experience, pain isn’t necessarily bad. Every once in a while a child is born whose pain receptors don’t work; life is hard for them. They don’t know when they’ve stubbed their toes, they don’t know if that toe is broken or bruised.
ANNOUNCER: So pain gives us warnings that help us?
KLAUS: Yes. But there’s more. The Christian writer, C. S. Lewis, and by the way, I heartily recommend his books to those listeners out there who are looking for something solid and interesting for themselves and their children to read. C. S. Lewis wrote in his book The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Lewis is saying something I never thought of before. Pain can be God’s way of getting our attention.
ANNOUNCER: Have you ever seen that happen?
KLAUS: I have. When I was in the parish, and I think most ministers will back me on this, pain is a magnet that repels or attracts individuals to the Lord. When pain enters a person’s life, they are either going to be brought closer to the Lord or going to go farther away.
ANNOUNCER: And how do you know which way it will go?
KLAUS: You don’t. I remember a young man who died in a motorcycle accident. His father said, “How can God be so cruel?” He refused to believe in a God who would do such a thing. At the same time, the mother said, “I give thanks my child is with the Lord, and although I would like to keep him here, the Lord knows what is best.” Same child, same motorcycle, same accident, but what a difference in the result. By the power of the Holy Spirit, one person’s pain brought them closer to God; the other resisted.
ANNOUNCER: People sometimes think though, shouldn’t good people get the good stuff, and bad people get bad stuff.
KLAUS: Well Mark, are you a pretty good guy?
ANNOUNCER: Well …
KLAUS: I won’t make you answer that Mark. We all know, here at Lutheran Hour headquarters, you are a good guy. Compared to some of the other folks in the world, you are a very good guy. Now if God were judging Mark Eischer compared to other people, you should do pretty good.
ANNOUNCER: But God doesn’t judge us according to each other, He judges us against His holiness.
KLAUS: And Mark, how are you going to do on that test curve?
ANNOUNCER: Well against God’s perfection, I’m not even on the scale.
KLAUS: So, if God gave you what you deserve …
ANNOUNCER: Well, we’d have nothing and the stuff we do have He would take away.
KLAUS: We would be lost. Indeed, we are lost unless …
ANNOUNCER: Unless we have faith in Jesus, our Savior.
KLAUS: Right. Because Jesus is the only person Who has ever lived in this world who could measure up on God’s “perfect meter.” True Man and true God, Jesus took our sins, He took our place, died on the cross and rose again. Those who trust in Him as their Savior have a substitute.
ANNOUNCER: And because of Him, we are saved.
KLAUS: Right. We don’t get what is coming to us, we get what Jesus earned for us.
ANNOUNCER: So would you say God is not fair?
KLAUS: Absolutely, at least in some respects. God seems to be terribly unfair, but not to us. He was unfair, that His innocent Son was punished for guilty Ken and Mark and everyone else. But because God was unfair to Jesus, my life, here and now, no matter how bad it might be according to human standards, is a whole lot better because of what Jesus did for us. And through the gift of faith, Jesus gives us eternal life.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.