I like
school. I know I am weird. If I were to win the lottery and could spend time
any way I want, I would be a professional student and study all of my life. I
like education and being able to talk about deep topics.
Living in
Paris, sometimes this frustrates me. On one hand, Paris is a student city where
most people are educated. Some of the best schools in the world in a variety of
different disciplines find their home in the city of lights. I enjoy
discussions with students about their studies: literature, philosophy, and
history are among my favorites. Yet for me it can be difficult to talk to the
average Parisian about my education.
My area of
specialization is theology. I had a Religion degree from college and a Masters
of Divinity from seminary. I spent my time thinking about God. Yet when I bring
that up, the conversation often stops there- not because, as would be the case
in America, of an awkward avoidance of religion, but because it is a subject
that is not thought about any more. One person even asked me if I believed in
science at all after learning I studied theology! There is almost a total
ignorance of theological issues here. More often than not, the thoughts of the
people I meet have not moved past the question of whether God exists or not. As
one who believes the existence of God is self-evident, it is frustrating that
not many have contemplated what I consider to be a foundational question for
all people - What is God like?
Since this
question has not been pondered, it is quite normal to conclude that all
religions are the same. If the only theological question concerns whether God
exists or not, any worldview that responds with a “Oui” is seen as believing
the same thing. Judgments are made based on this erroneous thinking; judgments about
“religious” people and judgments about this abstract “God” that they worship.
Enter
Muslim terrorists with guns. Let them collide with Charlie, a publication that
has no filter and seems to think that the things it says have no consequences.
One side will not tolerate slander to
their prophet; the other side will not tolerate
their right to slander being threatened. Death. Outrage. Anger. Blame.
And then I
find myself in the middle of it. I am a Christian who finds the things Charlie
says highly offensive, yet whose Christianity teaches him that Charlie has a
human right to say those things. I relate to the Muslim anger at slander, yet
my Christianity demands strong condemnation of the violent action taken on
behalf of their (or any) prophet. As a Western Evangelical Christian, either
side would judge me as being part of the other. I am either a blind secularist
or an intolerant radical.
There is a
way to clear these matters up, but most won’t like it. It is our old, ancient
friend theology that will help us here. Forgive me if I try to tear down the
wall of comfort you have built to keep God out.
If you are
like me and believe that atheism is incapable of giving an accurate picture of
reality (it doesn’t even allow you to say what the terrorists did is wrong),
then it is time for us to grow out of our crèche and ask big boy questions.
What is God like? What did He think about the terrorist raid in Paris? Why did
He create me? Do I have a responsibility to Him?
Reflection
on these questions is long overdue in Paris. We can no longer hide behind an
affront of being a “Catholique
non-practiquant.” We must consider God again. And, in doing that, we must
consider this man named Jesus.
Now, if you
don’t mind, I will add a little Jesus theology to conclude. Jesus claimed to be
God. He was called Emmanuel by the angel, which means “God with us,” and this
is particularly important as we leave the Christmas season. What Jesus teaches
about God is very different than what the proud prophet Muhammed teaches. Jesus
chose and endured shame and taught Christians to take that same attitude. And,
not only did he endure shame, He endured much, much more.
God took on
human flesh in Jesus. He was not one “…who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin. “ (Hebrews 4:15) This means that the God who exists did not simply
spin the world He created and laugh at its suffering. He is Emmanuel, the God
who suffered with us.
God, who
knew no hunger, became one who was hungry (Matthew 4:1-4), that we might have
the bread of life (John 6:35). God, who knew no thirst, became one who was
thirsty (John 19:28), that we might have Living Water (John 4:10). God, who
knew no loneliness, became one who was alone (Matthew 26:31), that we might
have community (Matthew 16:18). God, who knew no sin, was made “…to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus did not present a God
who needed his followers to kill in order to defend His honor. Jesus presents a
God who humbly took dishonor for the love of God and humanity. For me. For you.
If
that doesn’t appeal to you, reject Jesus. But make no mistake: He will one day
defend his name with justice and wrath, and He is mercifully delaying this
desiring all to come to repentance; desiring you to come to repentance. If
Jesus is right, both Charlie and the terrorists are both very, very wrong.
Regardless
of what you think about Jesus, Charlie, or the terrorists, one thing should be
very clear- these questions are important, as is Jesus’ answers to them. What
you believe about God (ie. Theology) is the most important thing about you. It
is time to grow up. It is time to ask mature questions. The world is at a
boiling point, and God demands decision.
