Pastor's Message

by the Rev. Dr. Marcia Cox

Q: What is the difference between magic and faith?

A: Magic: The following syllogism describes it this way: Good conduct pleases God; God rewards that which pleases God; conclusion: therefore a good person prospers.

The negative of this syllogism is likewise accepted: evil behavior angers God. The Deity punishes those who offend; conclusion: the evil person fares ill in this life.

The logic is irrefutable; yet so many innocent have suffered. Why?

The Bible is full of this thought. The authors of Deuteronomy and Chronicles used this premise as they wrote and re-wrote Israel's history. The whole story of Job brings this to the fore. Job, confident in his goodness (thus, deserving of God's blessing) yet suffering for no apparent reason, lashes out at God, making a parody out of Scripture. Job's version of Psalm 8: What is man, that you spit on him? …of the Creation: Let there be light…my eye…let there rather be darkness!

We hear it in the disciples' discussion about the place of honor in God's reign and in the question, 'Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

If this is what our religion amounts to, than Feuerbach was right when he described religion as the "opiate of the masses". If that is what we believe, then we might as well stay home from worship and find something else to do with our time and resources.

What do we do with the oppressors who seem to thrive? "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The hungry and the homeless, the couple who can't get pregnant, the graduate who can't find a job, the almost-retired get laid off, the victims of natural disasters of fire and flood, seem to have no "breaks" in life. If we follow the above reasoning, then these people are undeserving or evil or God is powerless or unjust.

Job uncovers the secret; suffering is an inexplicable mystery yet it can be the vehicle for God's forgiving, reconciling and transforming love. God is not the one who holds out the carrots in front, nor the one who stands in the back beating us with sticks. God resides with us in the most obvious ways when we are at the end of our emotional/mental, physical, economic, and/or spiritual resources and we actually have to trust Someone other than ourselves.

Enter the closets of prayer of 2 people. One prays: If you will come with me, protect me, keep me healthy and make me wealthy, I will give you a tenth of my income and you can be my God.

The other one prays in Gethsemane: I don't want to die; I'd much prefer to live, and live to a ripe old age, and find someone who will love me always. Nevertheless, speak the word; I am at your disposal, not my will but thine be done.

The first prayer is based on magic. The second prayer is based on faith.

From the Pator