The Troublesome God

By Brad Henderson

Letʼs face it: God can be troubling. If we spend enough time in his company and take seriously enough the stories of others who have spent lengthy time in his company, we eventually realize that God may be good, but heʼs not always great. At least it appears that way. Even St. Teresa of Avila, after a particularly difficult encounter with God, was quoted as saying, “Lord, if this is the way you treat your friends, itʼs no wonder you have so few! ”

Never mind the disappointment of unanswered prayers weʼve experienced and the mysteries of doctrines that have bumfuzzled us... there are deeper and more relevant troubled waters where God is concerned.

This Sunday, we begin a new worship series that explores the stories in Scripture that are very difficult for us to understand in the light of our experience of Godʼs love. Why would who John describes as being Love Itself eradicate thousands of Canaanites just so that the Jews could move in and take their country? Why would God, whose definition of a best sacrifice is a contrite heart, accept a fatherʼs sacrifice of his own daughter instead? Why would Jesus, whose very life is given for the sake of reconciling humanity with God, tell us that his mission is all about division rather than peace?

Sometimes our tendency as human beings is to run away from the things that trouble us about God. Iʼve known hundreds of church members over the years who would rather skip the crucifixion of Good Friday and head right to the resurrection of Easter. We want the joy without going through the pain. Unfortunately, the discipled life (and probably life in general) doesnʼt work that way. There is pain in reality, there is mystery in Creation, and there is a troubling facet to God.

The good news is that there is also a richness in exploring the more difficult aspects of life and of God. I invite you to join me on the journey.