Politics

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In the defence of God!

The recent happenings in the world, as usual, have once again brought to the attention of
the world the 'concept' of God and his personality. In a manner clearly indicating an all-
out attempt to rubbish the existence and goodness of a supreme being called 'God', the
recent tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and the subsequent rain flooding hobbling relief
efforts have made many a fringe believer question their theology. Probably prominent
among those who have embarked on this review of orientation is the Archbishop of
Canterbury who made public the queries in his mind regarding this previously assumed
'good' God. Pro-Malthusian enthusiasts have also put it down to the environment's way
of getting the attention of obstinate mankind in balancing the ecosystem and fighting
population entrapment for its own ultimate good.

Expectedly too, many well intentioned Christians have risen in the defence of a
seemingly defenceless creator and suggested a hodgepodge of reasons why an all-
powerful and compassionate God would allow so many poor, defenceless and vulnerable
people to perish. Someone recently said God did (or allowed) it in order to show kindness
in the relief efforts mustered by the rest of the world. This I considered supremely dumb
and would definitely not blame any right thinking person who distances himself from a
God who brings about destruction to show his relevance. It smacks of a youthful
attention-seeking delinquent causing mayhem in order to be recognised! This is not the
kind of God I profess.

While I do not claim to have an answer to why the tsunamis occurred and why God did
not stop it if he existed, I can certainly say that God is God and good in spite of tragedies.
Whether scientific-minded man likes it or not, there are certain things we will never quite
understand about life. The Bible says expressly that our knowledge is in part and can only
be full at the appearing of our Lord and saviour Jesus. But it also tells us that God is
good; in him there is no evil. God cannot be tempted with evil neither does he tempt
mankind with evil. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God the Father of
Lights. Tsunamis killing thousands could never be good gifts; they could never come
from God! Why then did he allow them happen even if they did not come from him? I
don't know. However, I am aware that a thousand shall fall at my right side and ten
thousand at my left but it will not come near the one truly trusting and believing God.
What if it does come near such a person? Would that make God less God than He
presently is? No! What if the entirety of mankind had a consensus decision that God
either did not exist or was a wicked God? Would that suddenly make him actually
inexistent? Certainly not!

I must at this point remind myself that a man cannot defend God. God is supreme and
kind. If he decides to rise in defence of himself, no man can gainsay His defence.
However I do not see him standing up to defend himself in the human court of character
as a truly wise man will not even accuse this God of great glory and eternal compassion.
God is a good God and it probably takes one who will come to Him in faith and a trusting
abandon to know Him for who He truly is. Meanwhile, let the world face up to the fact
that all - the victims of the tsunamis, the fortunate survivors and the cynical observers -
will someday stand before this 'dubious' God in judgement and answer to every
indiscretion demonstrated in unguarded words and proud unbelief!

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