FAITH forum
7A
WESLEYAN WISDOM
Getting past the theological question of “Why?”
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He writes: “The word ‘given’ has the gospel hymn puts it, “miry clay.”
Y D ONALD W. H AYNES
UMR Columnist
two meanings. One is that a ‘given’ I am convinced that one question
cannot be changed, but the other is to be asked of every sermon is, “What
Some things in life are optional; that a ‘given’ can be seen as a gift.” is the good news?” No one should ever
some things are givens. We can change Out of the givens, God can open to leave church without the assurance
the options; the givens we cannot us deep wisdom, including “character, that God loves us in our sin, through
change or ignore. depth and compassion,” says Mr. Richo. our sin, and over our sin! To blame
Certainly we can deny their reality By moving on from asking “Why?” in God or ourselves for the inevitable
and inevitability. Or we can admit response to what we cannot change, we “givens” is not the gospel. The gospel
them, yet face them outside the “un- can cease our efforts to be in control. is that God can snatch victory from
searchable riches of Christ.” One thing Stop fighting the inevitable. Stop the jaws of defeat. We do not need to
is clear: We cannot ignore them, or the “blame game.” God can move us remain checkmated on the “Why?”
they will derail us on our journey. beyond victimization, defensiveness questions.
I will soon be or bitterness. Long ago, I became tired of butting
74, and in a sense I So as I have lived through the sea- my head against a brick wall. I tried
began to sort out sons of life, I no longer ask “Why?” out a lot of answers and none of them
what we cannot Those who insist on asking “Why?” worked. The best response to the
change the year I often end up in one of two places: givens of life is: “Yes, there are things
was 12, when my blaming God for all the givens or we cannot change, but when each of
daddy died at age blaming themselves. them comes into our path, we don’t
49. Even as a child, Last Sunday, my grandson was ask, ‘Why?’ Instead, we ask, ‘OK, now
my natural reaction
Donald
asking the “Why?” question. I said to what?’”
was the same as
Haynes
him: “Parker, John Wesley put it this Now what? It is like coming upon a
everyone else. I way. God has the attributes of om- sign that says “Road Closed.” There’s
© 2009 DESIGN PICS PHOTO
asked, “Why did my nipotence, omniscience and om- no point in calling the highway patrol
daddy die of cancer so young?” nipresent. God is all-powerful, or throwing a temper tantrum. The
Those who insist on asking “Why?” often end up either blaming
Years later, I lost two brothers and all-knowing and constantly present appropriate response to “Road
God or themselves, says Donald Haynes.
my mother in a 22-month period. everywhere. Our tendency in theology Closed” is “OK, now what?”
Mama had lived a full life, but the loss is to focus on these attributes of God, Several years ago I read an article we can see these givens as gifts, not this back in 1955, saying, “God will ei-
of the brother who was my surrogate but Wesley insisted that behind the at- about pigeons in the Detroit Free punishments. Here are five of them: ther heal us over a disease or through
father was the second installment of tributes of God is the character of Press. The reporter had observed that
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Change happens. Life is a run- a disease and the greater miracle that
what William Paul Young, author of God. And the character of God is love.” a pigeon struts confidently about 8 to ning brook; you never see the same blesses the most people is when we
The Shack, calls “the great sadness.” I explained that love “trumps” 10 feet, then abruptly stops and snaps water pass by twice! I cannot stop the are healed through a disease.” Suffer-
I have had some other pretty hard power and makes power vulnerable. If its head to the side. In researching this stream, but I can walk along its banks ing does not have the last word. As
knocks: Some I guess I deserved, but we love someone deeply enough, we strange but constant behavioral pat- and be surprised at what I see and Emily Wesley said on her deathbed,
others were “things I could not do not try to control him or her, be- tern, the reporter learned that a pi- feel. “The Lord is my Shepherd; he “We Methodists die well.”
change.” In his book Five Things We cause that would violate the basic gift geon gradually loses focus as it moves leadeth me in the paths of righteous- circle6 People we love are not always
Cannot Change, Zen Buddhist author of God: human liberty. The Bible de- forward. But in snapping its head, the ness . . . through the valley, in the pres- loyal and faithful. Somewhere there is
David Richo helped me articulate the fines God as “God is love.” Certainly pigeon jerks its eye back into focus. ence of enemies . . . ” We cannot stop a relationship fractured by disloyalty,
philosophy I had long embraced. Ob- God has power, but God’s very “is- And that is what each of us must the current, but we can “go with the breach of promise, unfaithfulness or
viously, I am a Christian, but I can ness” is love! do as we face the things in life we can- flow” as every saint must do. Ulti- maybe a devastating lie. It could have
translate his insights into my Chris- Blaming ourselves for the givens of not change. We will no more answer mately, we can even embrace death been a spouse, child, parent, friend or
tian faith and find him helpful. life is like falling into quicksand, or as the “Why?” question than Job did! But with serenity, hope and peace. pastor. We cannot change their be-
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Things never go according to trayal of our love and trust. But we can
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Stanley Jones gave me a response to
dhaynes11@triad.rr.com.
U NITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER | J UNE 26, 2009
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