Tonight I attended a benefit for Karla Lopez. If you haven’t heard, she has cancer and is currently in the hospital. I know Karla from high school, more of an acquaintance but I know her all the same.
My sister Debbie also has cancer; she is currently undergoing chemotherapy and hopes to be fully recovered in the near future…….
This cancer thing really gets me. So many factors play into getting cancer and no matter how well of a life you live you can still fall victim to it. Am I not alone when I say I think this sucks?
Is cancer random?
In the Christian world you hear a lot of crap about “Gods plan” which is all find and dandy when things are going well. Comments like “it was Gods will that I met this beautiful girl” or “it was Gods doing that I got this awesome job.” I am sure you have heard someone say this in your life.
But now, facing cancer, we don’t hear too many people spurting off things like “it was Gods will (insert suffering persons name here) got cancer.” And if you have heard someone say that God let, allowed or gave someone cancer, I would think them an asshole just like you did.
Is it ok to have two sets of rules? Gods blessing can be his will and his doing when it’s good but when bad things happen…. Well that’s just tough shit isn’t it?
When Good things happen people give praise to God. When bad things happen, people have hope in God that He will correct things or make them better.
No one ever questions God about him doing a bad thing.
#1 by John on February 19th, 2007
| Quote
It’s because most people don’t understand that God requires suffering also. And through circumstances, other peoples lives may be changed through them. Trusting Him through the bad times is what many seek. But is all too often, extremely hard for us to do. Accepting that God knows best is all we can do right?
#2 by Judith on February 19th, 2007
| Quote
I have to say to the oppsoite of what you’re saying here, Ron. I’ve never really heard anyone say “God’s will” or “God’s plan” in reference when something good happens. What I’ve heard is when bad things happen that people question God and the purpose of life in general – to which the answer has been “God has a plan.”
#3 by Philip Daniel on February 20th, 2007
| Quote
“Trusting Him through the bad times is what many seek. But is all too often, extremely hard for us to do. Accepting that God knows best is all we can do right?”
What does it mean to trust him through the bad times? From what I have observed from people it seems “trust” is lived out by “naively accepting”, without questioning, in a passive way. That word “trust” gets thrown around quite a bit. If you question does that mean you don’t trust? If you accept that God knows best does that really mean you “trust” I think just saying “God has a plan” is a cop out.
#4 by Ron Smith on February 20th, 2007
| Quote
Phil, I like your sentiments. I trust God but I do question how things are played out at times – Ok, all the time. Am I being ignorant by questioning before I leap? Why do people look at having questions and doubts as not having faith and applaud people who blindly dive?
Jesus had doubts, he even questions God before he is about to be captured and executed. He then asks God, his own father why he has forsaken him.