OceanSide church of Christ
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ANGRY WITH GOD
Victor
M. Eskew
A child lives only two days after birth. SIDS has taken her precious little
life. Mom and Dad are angry with
God. A couple has been planning for
retirement. One month before the
husband’s last day on the job, he is
diagnosed
with cancer. He is given only three
months to live. The couple is angry
with God. By the age of ten, a
little boy has been in four foster homes.
He never knew his father.
His mother abandoned him at the age of five. He, too, is angry with God. A fifty-eight year old man has worked
diligently to build a business. A
poor economy and a corrupt business partner force him into bankruptcy. He is angry with God.
God has been the target of much anger. Humans rationalize that since God is
almighty He can stop all the evil in the world. They also think that since God is love,
He should pour out His benevolence so that no one suffers pain and anguish. Since this does not always happen, men
and women and children blame God for the heartaches they suffer. They ask: “Why didn’t God do something?” The more they think about their
situation, the more their anger toward God burns within
them.
Some of us have been in these situations. Others have witnessed the anger that
others have had toward God. The
question that often comes is: “How
do I deal with this anger?” Or,
“how can I help another who tells me about the anger he has toward God?” We hope that some of the thoughts in
this article will help.
First, we must remember that human beings are beings of choice. “…choose you this day whom ye will
serve…” (Josh. 24:15). If we did
not have the ability to choose, we would only be puppets in the hand of
God. Our service to Him would not
be voluntary. It would not be done
out of love. The fact that we are
free moral agents is important from two standpoints. One, sometimes we make choices that
bring us harm. God has nothing to
do with that. Two, sometimes other
individuals make choices that harm us.
Again, God has nothing to do with such things. In these cases, it is wrong to blame
God. We need to direct our anger
toward those who are responsible for our hardship or
grief.
Second, we must remember that God is not the only force that exists in
this world. Satan is the prince of
this world (John 12:31). He walks
about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). His presence, although evil, is
here. His presents the side that is
in opposition to God. Sadly, his
presence can bring harm to human beings.
He lures and deceives humanity.
Those who yield to him take a hard road (Prov. 13:15). Why men never want to be angry with the
devil has always been a mystery to this writer.
Third, our God never promised an easy road, free from tribulation in this
world. In fact, He promised
difficulties. In John 16:33 we
read: “These things I have spoken
unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world.” If we have had adequate
warning about the difficulty of our sojourn here, why do we get angry about
it? Nothing has been hidden from
us. God has not lied to us. A general once rode with his troops to
the battle line. He warned them of
the bloodshed and death they would experience. The battle was as predicted. The soldiers who survived never said an
angry word to their commander.
Instead, they thanked him for the forewarning. It eased the pain of their suffering and
loss. Why can’t we be as thankful
to our Commander? He has lovingly
cautioned us about the hardships of life.
Fourth, we sometimes fail to remember that not all suffering is harmful
to us. In fact, it can be a means
of
strengthening
our character and bringing forth fruit unto God. Let us remind you that we are not saying
suffering is
pleasant. We are only asserting that is can be
beneficial. This was a lesson the
Hebrew writer sought to get across to his readers. Apparently, they were experiencing
difficulties. Some were beginning
to waver. Thus, the inspired penman
writes: “Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yeildeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb.
12:11). James also set forth this
same lesson in James 1:2-4. It was
such a vital point that he exhorted his readers to rejoice in their
temptations. “My brethren, count it
all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience. But
let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be complete and entire, wanting
nothing.”
Fifth, those who are angry with God need to remember that God sometimes
wants to test our faith. The devil
says that the only reason we serve God is because He is always good to us. God knows better. He knows that many men serve Him for
nothing. They serve God because He
is God and for no other reason. Job
was such a man. In Job 1:9, Satan
asked God: “Doth Job fear God for
naught?” God then put His servant
to the test. He was afflicted
physically, economically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Job, however, held up under the
test. Even when his wife tried to
get him to curse God, he would not.
Here’s how he answered her chiding:
“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women
speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of the
Lord, and shall we not receive evil?
In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job
2:10).
Anger is a God-given emotion.
Expressed at the right time, in the right way, and toward the right
person, it can serve a purpose.
God, however, should never be the recipient of our anger. Even if He seems to act against us, He
is not. God love us and cherishes
us as His children. He knows that
this world in which we live is only a temporary existence. He is more concerned about our living
with Him in the world to come (II Cor. 4:16-5:4).
As we close, we want to look at one other point. There are many people who use their anger toward God as an excuse. Serving God is demanding. It involves sacrifice. If one is angry, he doesn’t have to serve. He can always say: “I’m too mad to serve God right now.” What is interesting is that many of these individuals were not faithful before the plight for which they are angry with God. Their anger is used in an attempt to justify their continued unfaithfulness. Those who use anger in this manner are not people of integrity. Sadly, they will stand before God lost trying to blame their Saviour for their lost condition. Think about that one. It is sobering indeed.