Monday, June 14, 2004
Monday, June 14, 2004
Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
(Mark 9.24
NRSV)
"If there is a God who cares so much for you, why did he allow you to have the surgery in the first place? I have lived 41 years in this old world and I have yet to see any piece of genuine evidence that there is anything real about any religious beliefs. God certainly does not love me and has never done one single thing to express love to me. I have fought for everything I have in life. Nobody cares about what happens to me and I don't care much what happens to anyone else either. Can't you see the truth that religion is nothing but a crutch used by a lot of weaklings who can't face reality and that the church is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites who care nothing for one another and whose faith extends not to their actions or daily lives but is nothing more than a bunch of empty phrases spouted off to impress others?"
How would you respond to such a letter? Unfortunately there are people who have experienced some tragedy in their lives and think God has deserted them. Dave Dravecky has struggled with some of the same questions, but his faith has made all the difference. Dravecky shares his faith with others, helping them through difficult times. "Anytime we come to God, it is an act of faith." Dravecky writes, "When we knock on heaven's door, regardless of how hard we knock or how long we knock, how angrily or how stubbornly, we state by our very presence at that door that we believe God is there, that he is in charge of the world, and therefore in some way responsible for what goes on here."
Dear Jesus, guide me to your kingdom. Amen.
