In the middle of a painful event reminding someone of the causal effect of a previous action only makes it worse. It does not matter what occurred before, things should not hurt. Ideals and lofty statements on accountability and responsibility seem to vaporize when one confronts with present reality.
If you doubt this perspective, examine your own reactions to what is going on around you in context of the Biblical scene.
The pain and sting of death can be overwhelming and it always comes back to a decision God made, is responsible for, or let happen. Is it? What happened to the decisions made by our parents in a moment of pure selfishness in the Garden of Eden?
Is it God’s fault that we took a course of action that resulted in painful childbirth and death for thousands of generations to come? Our body language says we want God to take away death’s sting without regard for truth. If we follow our desires out, where does it end?
A friend is killed by a drunk driver, or murdered on the backstreets, and God is accountable. What happened to individual responsibility? Does it stop at the person or just relationships? I look and see that not only am I responsible for the life and safety of those around me, I am accountable for tending to the environment, protecting children, and working for the common good. When we fail to take on our responsibilities and find a shortage of clean water, safe streets, nurturing relationships why is this God’s problem?
I still cry when I think of friends who are no longer with us; it hurts. I also find myself stunned when I think of lost opportunities to make a difference. “The irreverent have to learn reverence in the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.” (Proverbs 19.30)
God is not responsible for the pain; he did take on the challenge of the response. The answer was and is found at the Cross. It is there I find hope, love, and a future…
