Introduction
When I was a kid, I was afraid of a lot of things. Like many kids, one of the scariest times was that moment after my Mom tucked me in, and shut off the light and I lay awake in my bed, waiting for sleep to come. I had some serious concerns. I liked to lay on my stomach and hang my arm over the side of the bed, but I happened to know that there were alligators under my bed – despite the fact that we lived in Massachusetts, an area not really known to have a large alligator population. And I knew that if I fell asleep with my arm hanging over the side, the alligator would bite my arm off in the night. I can remember many times I would start to drift off to sleep only to be jolted awake with the awareness my arm was hanging over the side and I had better pull it back in if I intended to have it intact in the morning. And then, there were the monsters in the closet.
I can still remember when my fears went from the irrational and the impossible to the rational and possible. I could finally convince myself that there were not alligators under my bed. I could even persuade myself to believe there weren’t any monsters in the closet.
But then I realized there really could be a bad man outside (Sorry guys, it was always a bad man). And I knew that even if my Dad looked around outside and told me there were no bad men out there, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a bad man out there five minutes later.
I remember the feeling of helplessness and terror that brought. Perhaps some of us have felt that same helplessness and terror this week. Our worst fears seem no longer to be irrational fantasies, but all too real possibilities.
If you have young children, or if you work with young children, or even if, like me, you’re really just a big kid yourself, you’ve probably heard of the “Veggie Tales.” The heroes of this Christian video series are Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. The creators of this series have done a great job of retelling biblical stories and communicating biblical truths in ways kids can understand.
One of the videos addressed the subject of fear. After the characters learn about God’s protection, they sing a song called “God is bigger than the boogie man... and He’s watching out for you and me.”
We like to tell that to our kids– because it helps them to go to sleep. But after seeing the horrors we have seen this week, we may find ourselves we lying awake and wondering if we’ve told them the truth. Is God really watching out for you and me? Can we trust Him to protect us? To protect our children? Our families? Our friends?
September 11, 2001 will no doubt go down in our history books as the bloodiest day in America’s history. We watched in horror as our nation’s capital and its most populous city were touched with unspeakable tragedy. With the plane crash in Somerset County, the events were brought even closer to home.
If you’re like me, you’ve been riding a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions this week. This morning I would like to briefly address a few of the questions these events have raised, and incorporate Scripture into that.
The first and most obvious question, perhaps is,
How do we respond to such an unspeakable act of violence?
I think every American is suffering from a huge loss this week
We have lost not just thousands of Americans to this disaster
We have lost a sense of safety & security
We no longer think we are immune from the horrors that we have seen in other nations.
The attack was not just on Washington and NYC, it was on our country, our home
“We” and not just “they” have been invaded by a vicious and ruthless enemy
In every loss, we experience grief
Some of us will that grief more deeply than others, but we are all grieving.
We have probably all experienced stages of grief this week – they are to be expected
Shock & Denial:
“This can’t be happening”
Sadness:
A deep sorrow over the loss of life, the pain and injuries suffered by thousands
As Christians, we don’t feel too badly about having those feelings.
But some of the others confuse us and we’re not sure what to do with them
Like anger and the desire for revenge
All grief includes anger somewhere along the way
And not all of it is like our President described, “a quiet, unyielding anger.”
Sometimes it is a wild, screaming anger
A desire to see others suffer as they have made us suffer
As Christians what do we do with anger? What do we do with our desire for revenge?
Isn’t that a sub-Christian feeling?
Isn’t it sinful?
Aren’t we supposed to love our enemies?
Aren’t we supposed to turn the other cheek?
Those certainly are Scriptural commands
But there is another theme in Scripture, that we have a tendency to ignore most of the time.
In our Call to Worship this morning, we read together from Psalm 11 that “God loves justice”
God loves justice –
and He hates sin,
He hates injustice,
He hates violence
We don’t usually like to talk about those things, because we don’t want to think too much about the fact that God hates our sin, too.
We don’t like to talk about the wrath of God, we want to talk only of the love of God
But I have to say that this week, I have been very thankful that I have a God who gets angry
I am thankful I have a God who hates what has happened to thousands of innocent people
I have a God who loves justice.
This is a rare time for us, a time when we can finally understand some of the Psalms that call for God’s judgment, that call for His vengeance, that call for Him to strike down His enemies.
Because I know that even if we never get Osama bin Laden or whoever else is responsible for this, God will, ultimately, bring about justice.
Another question some are asking is:
Was this God’s will? Is it a sign of His judgment?
I was horrified to discover that one Christian leader has stated publicly that the ACLU is largely responsible for the attack this week, along with homosexuals and pro-abortion factions and others
I do not know and dare not say whether God has allowed this horror to fall on our nation as a sign of judgment, but I do know this:
First Peter 4:17 says plainly that “judgment begins with the house of God.”
That means us, folks
That means the church
Why would God send judgment on those who make no claim to follow Christ?
If this has anything to do with the judgment of God, it has to do with the church.
It has to do with an American church which has become complacent, lazy and apathetic.
President Bush said we are entering a new war to rid the world of evil
I think all of us are bracing ourselves for war of some kind
Perhaps we in the church should brace ourselves anew for war – for the battle we have largely opted out of.
It’s not a battle against flesh and blood
It’s not a race to condemn unbelievers for their behavior
It’s more like the song we closed last week’s service with:
Lead on, O King Eternal, ‘til sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper the sweet Amen of peace;
For not with swords loud clashing, Nor roll of stirring drums,
With deeds of love and mercy The heav’nly Kingdom comes
If there is a battle for the church to fight, it is the battle against sin, our own sin first of all
And then a battle for the souls of the men and women in our nation
The standard we are to lift is the Gospel of Jesus Christ
A standard that doesn’t strike down sinners, and condemn them to death
but one which offers them life, love and salvation through the Cross of Christ
And the only way they will ever grasp hold of His love and mercy is through our acts of love and mercy
Was this God’s Will?
Of course it was not God’s will, in the sense of it being His desire that it would happen
If you want to know what God’s will is, start with the Ten Commandments
That’s God’s will. That’s what God desires
But sinful people who had the free will to break God’s Commandments, and His heart, along with ours, carried out this act.
But Why? Why would God allow such a thing?
I remember someone telling me that if I wanted to learn why God allows suffering, I should read the book of Job.
So I read the book of Job – All 42 chapters of it – looking for the secret
And you know what I found?
I found out that I had been conned!
The book of Job doesn’t tell us why God allows suffering.
After all Job’s talking and complaining and crying out to God
After all his friends philosophizing and theologizing about Job’s problems, God does show up and answer Job.
But he doesn’t tell him why he had to suffer.
In fact, God doesn’t really answer Job, in fact, God questions him
NIV Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-- 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
And God goes on with these questions for four long chapters.
16 "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
40:2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"
Finally, Job answers,
4 "I am unworthy-- how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."
God has shut Job’s mouth. But He’s not finished with Him yet.
6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: 7 "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
8 "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, 12 look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
NIV Job 42:1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ’Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 "You said, ’Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
After 42 chapters, God’s answer to Job is, essentially, “I’m God and you’re not.”
That means, God understands, God is in control.
Somewhere all of this makes sense
Somewhere all will be made right.
But we’re not going to know and understand all there is to know and understand in this life.
And trusting God is not about trusting Him as long as we understand Him and agree with Him
It’s about trusting Him even when we don’t understand Him
And we can’t see that His ways are the best ways.
God does not answer “Why,” because we don’t need to know why.
What we need to know is how to go on living in the face of tragedy
What we need to know is how to cling to the goodness of God, even when we are surrounded by the evil of this world.
While we held our own prayer time here on Friday, President Bush spoke at the National Cathedral’s Prayer Service. I was able to read a transcript of his remarks, and was struck with these words:
"In many of our prayers this week, there’s a searching and an honesty. At St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, on Tuesday, a woman said, ’I pray to God to give us a sign that he’s still here.’"
More than a philosophical answer to our questions, we want a real experience of God’s presence
That’s what “shut Job’s mouth,” you know.
Not the answer to why, but the living presence of Almighty God
Job recognized that God is good and He is real and He is present.
And when we experience that, it is enough, for now.
That doesn’t mean, “Never question why.”
It was Job’s questioning and struggling to understand that brought him into God’s presence.
But you may find that His answer is simply, “I’m God. I’m still in control. And I’m here with you always.”
That is not to say that there aren’t reasons for why God allows such things.
And when we get some distance, we may even be able to see and understand some of them.
Although I doubt we will understand all of them in this life
But what we need now is relationship
What we need is the presence of God and the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ
And that’s what we’ve seen, isn’t it?
I was rather amazed to hear a New York City news anchor person say on Tuesday, “All we can do is to pray for the victims and relief workers.
When was the last time you heard a news anchor tell you to pray?
When has our nation gathered together for prayer as we have in this week?
Those who usually think nothing of God are turning their thoughts towards Him, seeking Him, desiring His presence.
Our nation has come together as one, wounded community
embracing one another,
supporting one another,
being careful with one another in a way I have never experienced.
We suddenly have a whole new army of heroes:
They’re not rap stars or sports figures
They’re Firefighters and policemen, Doctors and nurses; carpenters and accountants who have rushed into harm’s way to help, to try to save and to serve those who are suffering.
Many are those who gave their lives, others are those who have risked and continue to risk their lives for the sake of others.
Where is the presence of God in all this?
I think we have seen God’s presence in the sacrificial love expressed by these noble men and women.
So, IS God bigger than the boogie man? IS He watching out for you and me?
The answer is yes, and no
Does God keep His people from experiencing pain?
Will God make sure that tragedy doesn’t touch your life?
Does God make any guarantees that He will God protect you and me from crises like the one we’ve witnessed this week?
No. I wish I could say He does, but He doesn’t
God did not spare His own Son
In fact, He intentionally allowed Him to undergo tremendous suffering.
But He did it for a larger purpose.
He allowed Jesus’ human life to be brutally cut short, so that millions could have life that lasts forever.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that God will treat us better than Jesus.
In fact, as His followers, we are told that we, too, will have to bear the cross.
But just as Jesus’ suffering was for a greater purpose, so will ours be for a greater purpose
Though we probably won’t see it now.
But just as Jesus’ suffering was not forever, neither will ours be.
God is bigger than the boogie man
He is bigger than Osama bin Laden and/or whoever else was involved in this bloodbath
And while we may well experience suffering and tragedy in this life, it will not be forever
We may not be saved from suffering from this life, but ultimately, those who trust in Christ will be saved for eternity
And I believe that when we see the wonders that God has wrought through the sufferings we endure, we will actually believe it was worth it all.
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
It was just more than he could take. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!"
But the next day, he woke to the sound of a ship approaching the island to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" he asked in wonder.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
We will not always understand, but we can always trust, that God is Bigger:
Bigger than the boogie man
Bigger than terrorists
Bigger than all the evil this world can throw at us.
