A debate on abortion was the topic of the day in modern literature class a few days ago, and near the end of the class, the concept of whether someone who's been raped should be allowed to have an abortion sprung up. I am not going to use this post to throw out my views on abortion, because it's been beaten to death. I was just sitting in the back waiting for the bell when something traumatizing happened: a Christian girl said to a few girls who had been raped, "Everything happens for a reason." The message was this, and it rang clear in everyone's ears: you were raped for a reason. The girls who were raped became incensed and were silently screaming; I could see murder written over one of the girls' eyes.
The idea that everything happens for a reason is a big misunderstanding rampant in the Christian church today. I think it can be attributed to the way we make presumptions about God and such without really exploring it; twisted ideas are the product of consumerist Christianity. The plain and simple truth is, "No, not everything happens for a reason." We are given free will; we make our own decisions and are affected by others' wise and poor decisions. Can you tell me that sin happens for a reason? Or murder and rape of the innocents? No! "God has beautiful and wonderful plans for us all." Yes - but really, now, does that include sin hurting us? It is a flaw to believe that everything that happens fits into God's wonderful plans. Because while God has wonderful plans for us, Someone Else does not, and he is the author of genocide, rape, infanticide, murder. He is the author of all the horrible atrocities that fill our news screens daily. Perhaps this is the Evil One's ploy: "I will do horrible deeds, and they will think it is God's hand at work!" Those girls being raped did not happen 'for a reason'; God's wonderful plans for them - and I may sound arrogant by saying this, but please, think it through - did not include rape. But "God will make everything work out right for those who love Him" and "in the end, God's purposes will be fulfilled." It is not just bad theology, it is wicked theology, to believe that rape has a place in God's beautiful plans for us. Those who are raped need to realize they are the victims of the Evil One, and they need to turn to the One who loves them for peace and comfort. He is the only one who can make something so horrible work out for good; but just because something good comes from rape does not mean rape is a good and wonderful thing. It is horrible and sickening.
I wish I were back in that debate class so I could say something about this. With the words, "Everything happens for a reason," our hearts harden towards God, when, really, God is the only one who can heal us and make us whole. I feel deeply sorry for those girls who were raped - and sorry for the girl who made that statement. This is a big issue that, I believe, needs clarification.
The idea that everything happens for a reason is a big misunderstanding rampant in the Christian church today. I think it can be attributed to the way we make presumptions about God and such without really exploring it; twisted ideas are the product of consumerist Christianity. The plain and simple truth is, "No, not everything happens for a reason." We are given free will; we make our own decisions and are affected by others' wise and poor decisions. Can you tell me that sin happens for a reason? Or murder and rape of the innocents? No! "God has beautiful and wonderful plans for us all." Yes - but really, now, does that include sin hurting us? It is a flaw to believe that everything that happens fits into God's wonderful plans. Because while God has wonderful plans for us, Someone Else does not, and he is the author of genocide, rape, infanticide, murder. He is the author of all the horrible atrocities that fill our news screens daily. Perhaps this is the Evil One's ploy: "I will do horrible deeds, and they will think it is God's hand at work!" Those girls being raped did not happen 'for a reason'; God's wonderful plans for them - and I may sound arrogant by saying this, but please, think it through - did not include rape. But "God will make everything work out right for those who love Him" and "in the end, God's purposes will be fulfilled." It is not just bad theology, it is wicked theology, to believe that rape has a place in God's beautiful plans for us. Those who are raped need to realize they are the victims of the Evil One, and they need to turn to the One who loves them for peace and comfort. He is the only one who can make something so horrible work out for good; but just because something good comes from rape does not mean rape is a good and wonderful thing. It is horrible and sickening.
I wish I were back in that debate class so I could say something about this. With the words, "Everything happens for a reason," our hearts harden towards God, when, really, God is the only one who can heal us and make us whole. I feel deeply sorry for those girls who were raped - and sorry for the girl who made that statement. This is a big issue that, I believe, needs clarification.
3 comments:
I like your passion. But when you really look at things, everything does happen for a reason. The reason that pain, death, sickness, and even rape are in our lives is because of sin. Those things were never part of God's plan for us. We chose to live life on our terms, but the consequence is sin. Everything does happen for a reason, but we cannot blame God for that. And we cannot blame Adam and Eve. Even if they hadn't sinned someone else would have. It is in our nature to be tempted and falling to that temptation is the big problem we face. I understand that those girls were terribly upset. There is little positive that can come from a rape. But if the Christian girl had understood that cliches' and cheesy slogans only put salt in the wound, then maybe it wouldn't have got to that point.
You're right, the bottom line is sin. All the atrocities imaginable down to the smallest lies are underscored because of our own depravity and embracing of sin.
The point I was making - or trying to make anyway :-) - was that it is bad theology to believe that God authors all the rape that happens. That's what was presented, and in some ways, is what is believed by many.
anthony,
we must be very careful to not confuse God's foreknowledge (omniscience) with His will. They are not the same. I believe we devalue God and begin to "box" him in when we confuse His foreknowledge with His will.
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