Scott Peck author of The Road Less Traveled opens his book with the words "Life is difficult." These words come from the perspective of an individual who is viewing the world as it is verses the world as it ought to be according to their beliefs.
In the book of Job all parties agree that God should reward those who do good and punish those who do evil. Today, most would probably agree with that as well, but maybe not? What is the definition of good and evil?
Job's wife offers him one solution. "Curse God and die!" We probably all know to many people who have agreed with the concept of, "Why hold on to a sentimental belief in a loving God when so much of life conspires against it?"
Others who can not deny that God exists, simply state that, God agrees that life is unfair , but that He cannot do anything about it. This idea is written about in the book, When Bad Things Happen To Good People. The author Rabbi Kushner concluded that "even God has a hard time keeping the chaos in check," and that God, is "a God of justice and not of power."
A third option is to look to the future and believe that justice will work itself out in the universe. Unfairness is a temporary condition. Out of this concept comes the Hindu doctrine of Karma. At the end of 6,800,000 incarnations a soul would realize perfect justice.
The last approach is to deny the problem and insist that life is fair. Job's friends insisted that the world does run according to fixed, regular laws: good people will prosper and evil ones will fail. So if that's the case will someone please explain AIDS babies and the like. Should someone have told Meg Woodson that God took Peg away because of something you did wrong?
IN MY OPINION, my conclusion is that life is not completely fair and we as Christians need to stop denying it or watering it down. "God is trying to teach you something. You should feel privileged, not bitter, about your opportunity to lean on Him in faith." "Just meditate on the blessings you still enjoy... at least you are still alive. Are you a fair-weather believer?" "Someone is always worse off then you. Give thanks despite your circumstances." While each of those sentiments offer some truth Job clearly shows us that "helpful advice" does nothing to answer the questions of a person in pain. It's the wrong medicine, dispensed at the wrong time.
I am going to tell you up-front that I need some time to digest the remainder of this chapter as the theology does not sit all that well with me, yet something about it does get my attention. Philip shares the story of a man named Douglas. The story is filled with tragedy. In fact one after another and without all the details let me simply say that it's more tragedy than I think any one person should bear. That being said, Philip decides to interview Douglas and get his perspective on the God of unfairness. Douglas surprised Philip by saying after a long period of silence, "Philip, I didn't feel any disappointment with God." SHOCK! Multiple incidents of cancer with his wife a disabling accident caused by a drunk driver and you never experienced disappointment with God? Douglas explains that through his wife's cancer that he had learned not to confuse God with life. WHAT? Can you say that again? You learned not to confuse God with life? He then quickly says, that he is as upset about what has happened to he and his wife as anyone could be. He also says that he feels free to curse the unfairness of life and to vent his anger and his grief. But... he believes that God feels the same way about the accident, that he too is angry and grieved. Douglas explains that he has learned to see beyond the physical reality in this world, to the spiritual reality. He says, "We think life should be fair because God is fair.' But God is not life." Douglas concludes by saying that, if he confuses God with physical reality, by expecting constant good health, for example, then he sets himself up for a crashing disappointment. "God's existence, even His love for me, does not depend on my good health," says Douglas.
God.... Life..... God... Life... Two separate things? This is a stretch for me as I have always though the two were one in the same. God is life... isn't he? Am I not living according to His plan and purpose for me, that was established long before the foundation of the earth? My mind is flooded with verses that have supported my belief. Can life exist outside of God? I clearly can see how that belief can keep me from being disappointed with God. Anything bad is blamed on life and the unfairness of life, not God. Thus, I would never again be disappointed with God. Don't misunderstand my pause in jumping on the bandwagon of this theology. I believe there is a physical reality of life and I believe there is a spiritual reality of God. My pause comes in separating the two. The physical reality of life being separate from the spiritual reality of God?????????
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