Where was God?

Where was God?

This question seems to surface on a national level whenever something tragic happens.  For those in my generation, we first asked this question on 9.11.01.  Most recently, many have asked this question in the wake of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado.  I also realize that this question is asked everyday on a personal level. 

The assumption of this question suggests that God wasn’t there when the tragedy happened.  On one extreme, I can hear people crying, “Why didn’t the all-powerful, all-knowing God knock the airplanes out of the sky?”  On the other extreme, “Tragedies like this prove once again that God doesn’t exist.” 

The short answer to this question from a Christian perspective says that God is with all who suffer because of Christ crucified.  God gave his only begotten son to live among us, suffer with us, and die for us to show us that He is with us always.  On the third day he rose again to show us that death and suffering is not the end of the story.  However, this answer does not seem to satisfy the response of the two extremes listed above (God let it happen or God doesn’t exist).   

In his book Simply Jesus, N.T. Wright helps me see the bigger picture.  In a nutshell, he would say that these two responses don’t understand God for who He really is.  In addition, he would say that the two responses ask God to prove himself.  However, Jesus didn’t come into the world to prove himself.  Jesus came to heal.  The following argument is based on what I have taken away from Wright’s book (I know I will make a lot of dangerous assumptions in efforts to keep this short and hopefully give you something to chew on.  For a better reading--read Wright's book).

First, I want to consider the first response, ‘why didn’t God stop the tragedy?”  The general assumption here is that we have a God who will come in and smash the enemy.  In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Israelites are waiting on a God to free the people from oppression with a great king or prophet.  Perhaps this is seen most clearly in the story of Moses with the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh’s army.  In short, the Israelites are looking for an earthly king who will defeat the oppressor. 

The second response, “God doesn’t exist.”  The general assumption here is that the pride of humanity is all that sustains this world.  In scripture, this picture is painted with the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Romans.  In short, the tyrant plays god and is out to prove their dominance by force. 

Therefore, it is not hard to understand why the answer of Jesus Christ crucified leaves so many unsatisfied because on both accounts Jesus challenges the assumptions about who God is.  On one hand, Jesus isn’t the mighty king that kills off the enemy (isn’t the one who knocks planes out of the sky).  And on the other hand, Jesus doesn't seem to be the God that would threaten Roman rule (he doesn't prove himself at the trial).

Jesus came into the world to show us a new creation, a place of healing for all.  In order for Jesus to offering healing to all, he can’t take sides.  Again, this truth is seen clearly in his trial when both the Jews and Romans (and for that matter, all of humanity) put him to death because they were unsatisfied with the answers to the questions.  If you look at Jesus’ trial closely, you will see that they want him to prove himself, but Jesus didn’t come to prove himself.  Jesus came to offer healing to a broken world.

Jesus didn’t come to smash the enemy through force.  If he did, how would his response be any different than the oppressor?  How could healing for all take place?  Jesus came to show that true kingship and true leadership come in the form of a servant, not through dominance over the weak. 

The victory of Jesus is a defeat over the spiritual forces that cripple all of humanity (Romans and Jews, religious skeptics/atheists and Christians, liberal Christians and conservative Christians).  In order to do that, Jesus resisted the temptation to play God (even though He was God) and he laid down his life for the weak (even though He was King).  The victory of Jesus gives the world a new reality to live by, a reality filled with hope and life.  This reality is available to all who simply follow the One who loves perfectly. 

God is made available to us all of us through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to be with the sinners and tax collectors as well as with the weak and vulnerable.  He preached servant leadership and forgiveness.  Jesus’ love does not try to transform the world by proving himself.  Rather, the love of God in Jesus wants to heal all people from anger, sadness, envy, and pride.  I believe that the type of healing that Jesus offers to humanity is the only way in which the world will be freed from violence and oppression.