A recent Los Angeles Times editorial about religion in American politics triggered a couple letters from readers, one of which contains what I think is a priceless comment. “[The] march of religion into American politics raises the question: Whatever will God do on Judgment Day when all of our opportunities for making the ‘wrong’ decisions have been removed?”
It’s a little tiny doorway into a huge question: Why did God allow for evil in the first place? Why did he create a world where wrong decisions were possible? I don’t think we can fully answer that, but I do think it is important to notice that He did. And if God would do this, it does at least give reason to pause and wonder how much we want to try and rule those wrong choices out of the little piece of the universe we control.
Take the example of teenagers and sex. Do you preach total abstinence and leave them at risk for sexually transmitted diseases should they decide not to listen to you (and statistics show that the majority of them will not, Christian kids included)? Or do you prepare them for the wrong choices as well as the right ones? What would God do?
God has created a universe of right and wrong. His rules are not so much to live by, as they are to show up how wrong we are. Law brings about transgression, Paul taught. Rules come with the delightful appeal of breaking them and doing things we wouldn’t have even thought of had the rule not been there. Law shows us how bad we are and leads us to Christ and an entirely different way to go about change – through the heart.
I remember those anti-rock seminars that used to tour our churches and Christian schools, and parents would bring their kids to learn about all the dangers of rock and roll, and the seminar leaders would pick the raunchiest music they could find to convince everybody how bad it was, and you know what happened, don’t you? The first opportunity the kids had they would go out and find that raunchy music that they wouldn’t have even known about had not the anti-rock seminar came through town.
This is why Christians should never major on morality. It’s bound to backfire. It’s human nature. Law brings about transgression, and we keep thinking it will make people better.
I’m not by any stretch suggesting we do away with law. Law is an absolute necessity in order for people to live together in community. I’m just saying we can’t put hope in the law to change people’s behavior. The only thing that will change behavior is a change of heart. And changing hearts is God’s business. And that is what we should be about as God’s people. Putting people in touch with God through Christ.
It takes a changed heart to want to do the right thing.
CORRECTION: I stand to be corrected in regards to my closing remarks in yesterday’s Catch about no one caring about the Republican primaries. It was irresponsible and simply not true.
CANCELLATION: There will be no teleconference Bible study tonight due to John & Marti’s scheduling conflicts. We will resume next Wednesday.
John Fischer The Catch 
John, God allowed evil to be in the world as a part of our freedom. The only way God could construct our existence in such a way that we would be able to love God in the way God loves us is for us have the choice of ‘God’ or ‘not God.’ Hence, God = Good; not God = evil. I have never heard it put more poignantly than in the movie starring John Denver and George Burns – I believe the title was “Oh, God.” Denver asks Burns (as God) that same question. Burns replies by having Denver take a coin out of his pocket and tell him what is on one side. Denver says, “heads.” Then Burns asks him what’s on the other side and Denver says, “tails.” Then Burns says (perhaps paraphrased), “That’s the way it is. I never could figure out how to have one without the other.” Hence, as usual with God, it’s all about love.
Wow, usually I just hit reply and send an email back but today I looked for a comment button and I found one down below after messing around a bit, here it is. I really thought that your comments today were timely and right on. Thank you for your ponderings! I forwarded a Catch to a friend of mine who now lives N.of Seattle. He remembered you and your music from back in the 50’s in S. California. Your parents went to his church. He really appreciated and admired them!
And additionally, for what it is worth, I care less about the outcome of the Republican primaries now than when they began! I wish that Hatfield could be one of the contenders. He was in Congress about 30 years and made a huge impact for “The Kingdom”. His wisdom, calm demeanor, ability to listen and dialog, and his willingness to vote his heart brought a huge following. He is mainly responsible for why Oregon is as it is now! He was a moderate Republican and I don’t think that such a creature exists anymore, especially one that would vote against the Vietnam war like he did! If a moderate thinking Republican stepped up to the plate, I would probably care about the Republican primaries!
I know you retracted your last comment regarding nobody caring about who wins the Republican primary / nomination. Personally, I think you were right on but might have clarified a bit. Not many care about our election process – at least not for the right reason. It’s become a negative, depressing, mud-slinging process that has me longing for it to be over before it has really begun. Instead of choosing the best of the best, we have settled for choosing the lesser of two evils. Apathy is the result, crossing all party lines. Instead of praying for a Christian to lead us – we need to pray for an intelligent, articulate statesman that has no agenda but to serve the country / people (NOT his party) – someone who upholds our Constitution. I am guilty of voting for someone JUST because he was a Christian – history has shown Jimmy Carter to be one of our worst, if not THE worst president ever elected.
You understood the meaning of my statement.
Thank you John for understanding that I understood you! God bless you for your courage – it has been an inspiration for me to see the ‘unseen,’ to look below the surface always – to ‘see’ with God’s eyes – to ‘hear’ with God’s ears. Then comes the responsibility to act on it. Keep on ‘keepin’ on!’
Sandie… I feel your frustration too, but while we’re not electing a “religious guru” of any persuasion to be our President, we are including in our decision making process, the man’s “World View”. This is core to the leading style we will be subjected too by him. I’ll take an honest, competent Christian leader over what we suffer under right now, any day.
Ralph – I truly feel the same way…the operative words for me in your statement are HONEST and COMPETENT. As believers we are supposed to be looking for those qualities and supporting them wherever and whenever we find them. Like John has said in an earlier Catch – God is ALREADY in the world – He’s just waiting for us to join Him there!
John, I would add that it is the fear of the Lord that causes one not to do evil, and it is the love of God that causes one to do good. You cannot have the one without the other. We hear a lot of Christians talking about the love of God, but rarely do we hear them mention the fear of the Lord. Yet, God says it is the beginning of wisdom and, really, the beginning of any kind of relationship with God. The reason the Hebrew midwives did not obey the Pharaoh by destroying the Hebrew male babies was the fear of the Lord, and God blessed them for it. The reason a child obeys her parents is, initially, out of a fear for them. Later, she may do it out of love. You cannot have the love of God until you first have the fear of God.
The Law of Moses instilled fear, but taught love. Jesus instilled fear, but taught and exhibited love. Look how many people, including the disciples, and spirits were afraid of Jesus. They knew He had power and authority. Yet, He used that power and authority for good; but He could just as easily have destroyed, just as easily have called down ten legions of angels to come to His aid. He was not a man to be toyed with. And still, children felt safe sitting on His lap. That is the wonder and power of love when it is combined with fear, and that is what God deserves from us. Love, by itself, will not do the job. It has to be combined with good, healthy fear – respect, if you will.
Job feared (respected) the Lord and eschewed (avoided) evil and God called him “perfect.” (Job 1:1) Let us go and do likewise.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It seems so much more important to me to love people, care about them, let them know that God values them just because they are; so more important than telling them how they need to be, what they need to think & feel ETC…. You are right, we are in this real world and wrong choices are going to be made whether we want them to be or not. It’s not easy navigating this world sometimes. And it seems so important to me that we share the really GOOD NEWS that God’s love and presence will not fail us even if (when!) we do.
PS I would have loved to hear you while you were in Rochester, NY. I have no doubt that those you spoke to and with will be the better for having heard you. Thanks for taking the time to come here.
Our God is a relational God. Yet instead of talking to our kids what it means to be in a relationship we instead only touch on SEX. We talked to our teens, who are now adults, about sex as a “small” part of a relationship with another person. All 5 waited until they found that person they wanted to share their lives.
I have said for years, to fellow Christians, that “you can’t legislate morality.” You are absolutely correct that only changing hearts works, and only God can do that. Once God does that work, then people start to make the “right” choices, but even then it is a continual work in progress.
On another topic…. I don’t care about the Republican primary, because no one in the race matches my viewpoints. I’m cynical about politics… each election, horrible, terrible things will happen if the “other party” wins, no matter who the “other party” is.