Tragedy is everywhere. We all face some pretty horrific things in our lives and we all hear about even worse things. From war, to rape, to other acts of senseless violence there is a normal question asked into the universe..."Why?" God gets this question in response to tragedy all the time. Why did so and so have to die? Why did that happen? Why is there war, famine, drought, pain, suffering, sorrow? Why is there so much bad?
I believe, along with others I hope, that God does not cause these things to happen. Therefore, there is no why. There is no cosmic reason for pain and sorrow. The only reason is people are stupid or there is a scientific reason for most natural disasters. There is natural cause and effect, but there is no cosmic reason for the bad that happens.
If I truly believe this line of thinking then it has to apply to everything. Thus, I have to ask did God really caused the pain and suffering of Good Friday, or did humanity? It's often thought of as part of God's master plan, but why would God cause so much pain if God doesn't still cause it today. Is this the one exception to my belief? I was told as a kid and teenager that God orchestrated the whole cross thing because it was God's way and plan for redemption. But what if just like God doesn't cause the hurricane that rips through a major coastal city, or doesn't cause the car crash that killed that teenager, God didn't cause the crucifixion? Would it change anything?
Here is my assertion: I believe that God didn't cause Christ's crucifixion, but instead knew it was coming. All of those times when Jesus is predicting his own death had less to do with God's causation and more to do with humanity's own patterns and causation. Jesus knew that things he was saying and doing was in direct contrast to the ruling authorities of the day. It was especially an affront to the Roman way of life. Therefore, he knew he was going to be crucified, but he also knew that he couldn't live any differently than he was. He knew that there was a better way to live and a just kingdom to look forward to. He knew that he has the start of the that just kingdom, so he had to live in it now realizing the consequences of his actions. Therefore, God did not cause the crucifixion to happen, but instead it was caused by our own systems. The crucifixion exposes our systems of domination and violence for what they are. And they are not of God!
There is a second half to my belief that God doesn't cause the bad things to happen in our lives. And it is but God brings the good in the bad situation. What I mean is that in the face of tragedy, people will throw aside differences to become one for the greater good. They will rebuild cities. Cry with a friend who lost a loved one. Decide to dedicate her life to the research and cure of a disease. Educate people on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. In the face of tragedy when everything is looking absolutely horrible there is always a little good that God is working into the problem. Just like how on the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead, ushering in and validating the kingdom that Jesus had started to build. In the face of death there is always resurrection. So in the face of tragedy, we should absolutely mourn, but also have hope that in the face of violence, pain, suffering and sorrow there is the crucified Christ reminding us that there is always resurrection.
Amen?
