Since the beginning of history, men and women from different
places and fields of study have inquired about God’s existence. Is there God?
Does God exist? The Bible assumes God’s existence. There is not one verse which
directly states the existence of God, because for the Bible writers, the
existence of God is a given fact—it is an accepted reality. In fact, to not
believe that there is God, is considered ridiculous. Only fools who are corrupt
and those deeds are vile say “The fool says in his heart” (Psalm 14:1).
But still, it is possible to ask the question of God’s
existence as it relates to everyday practical human life. There are valid questions
that people commonly ask, though silently. They are questions raised everywhere
and every time by all kinds of people who encounter the realities of life. They
are questions that transcend the boundaries of nationality or citizenship. They
are not original questions, as they have already been raised in the past; but
they will be recycled, as they will be brought up again today and in the
future.
Was there God in the past?
Was there God during the Holocaust, when millions of Jews
were murdered by the Nazis?
Was there God every time a bullet hits a body of a soldier during
the World Wars?
Was there God when the World Trade
Center
Was there God when the tsunami hit Asia
in December 2005?
Is there God today?
Is there God in the market, where there is cheating?
Is there God in the streets, where all you hear are jeepney
horns and vehicles’ engines?
Is there God in the subdivision, where there is an
atmosphere of individualism?
Is there God in the house, where the drunk father gets home
late?
Is there God in the classroom, where the teacher is an
atheist?
Is there God in the jeepney, where people sit in front of
each other but do not talk?
Is there God in the mall, where what everyone wants is to have
and buy?
Is there God in the office, where the boss is demanding and
your co-workers are tired?
Is there God in the city, where everyone is busy?
Is there God in the barber shop, where talks revolve on
senseless topics?
Is there God in the hospital, where everyone is suffering
pain?
Is there God in jail, where convicted criminals abound?
Is there God?
Is there God in the traffic, when you are already late for
an appointment?
Is there God when a mother is grieving over the death of her
only child?
Is there God in your neighbor’s house when they don’t have
any food?
Is there God when a friend comes complaining about his or
her miserable life?
Is there God when your best friend is sick?
Is there God when your neighbor has cancer?
Is there God to a hungry old man begging on the street?
Is there God when a car just carelessly cut you through?
So we ask again: “Is there God? Where is He?
Is there God?
Is there God for a family living in the slum?
Is there God for a desperate unemployed fresh graduate from
college?
Is there God for the drug addict, whose very life is death?
Is there God for the taxi driver, whose life is in peril
everyday on the streets?
Is there God for the peanut vendor, whose earnings cannot
feed the entire family of eight?
Is there God for the blind, who sees nothing but darkness?
Is there God for the sorrowful, whose heart is filled with
grief?
Is there God for the orphan, who has no one to show him
love?
Is there God for the street child, whose mind and heart is
filled with fear?
Is there God for the oppressed, the outcasts, the society’s
trash?
Is there God for the businessman, whose business is on
collapse?
Is there God for the hungry, whose stomach is grumbling and
in pain?
Is there God for the son, whose father loves beating him?
Is there God for the daughter, molested and sexually abused
by his own father?
Is there God for the homosexual, who is living in shame and
sin?
Is there God? Where is He? Why is there suffering in the
world? Where is the good God in an evil world?
Is there God?
Is there God in politics, where greed and corruption abound?
Is there God in philosophy, where search for truth is never
satisfied?
Is there God in economics, where having possessions is the
ultimate aim?
Is there God in education, where intellectual activity
dominates the practical sphere?
Is there God in science, which often times opposes the
person of God and belief in Him?
Is there God in arts, where sensual beauty is idolized?
Is there God in technology, upon which humanity leans and
depends for its existence?
Is there God in business, where love of money is both first
and last?
Is God in the world? Why are there so little, if no evidence
of His existence?
I do not see any wrong in asking these questions. Indeed
raising them is inevitable. So long as we are living in this world, these
questions will be asked by humanity. The questions I enumerated are indirect
questions concerning God. They are in no way directed towards God. Most of the
time, these questions just stay in the mind—we do not utter them, we do not say
them—although they are deeply rooted in our consciousness.
It is part of our freedom to raise questions. Indeed we can
utter these very questions to God. We can tell God and inquire of Him. But it
is not fair, I think, if all the answers to these questions are left to God as
His assignment. There are elements in the questions that are answerable only by
God. This I affirm. Yet when we look back at the questions, we see that we
already have the answers to the very questions we ask, especially us who are
Christians. Let me illustrate my point by inversing the questions. This time,
it is God who asks the questions—and they are directed to believers. GOD IS
ASKING: WHO WILL BE ME?
Who will be Me in the market, where there is cheating?
Who will be Me in the streets, where all you hear are
jeepney horns and vehicles’ engines?
Who will be Me in the subdivision, where there is an
atmosphere of individualism?
Who will be Me in the house, where the drunk father gets
home late?
Who will be Me in the classroom, where the teacher is an
atheist?
Who will be Me in the jeepney, where people sit in front of
each other but do not talk?
Who will be Me in the mall, where what everyone wants is to
buy and have and buy?
Who will be Me in the office, where the boss is demanding
and your co-workers are tired?
Who will be Me in the city, where everyone is busy?
Who will be Me in the hospital, where everyone is suffering
in pain?
Who will be Me in jail, where convicted criminals abound?
Who will be Me?
Who will be My hands?
Who will be My feet?
Who will be My voice?
Who will be Me for a family living in the squatters area?
Who will be Me for a desperate unemployed fresh graduate
from college?
Who will be Me for the drug addict?
Who will be Me for the taxi driver?
Who will be Me for the peanut vendor?
Who will be Me for the blind?
Who will be Me for the sorrowful?
Who will be Me for the orphan?
Who will be Me for the street child?
Who will be Me for the oppressed, the outcasts, the
society’s trash?
Who will be Me for the businessman?
Who will be Me for the security guard?
Who will be Me for the student?
Who will be Me for the hungry?
Who will be Me for the son, whose father loves beating him?
Who will be Me for the daughter, molested and sexually
abused by his own father?
Who will be Me for the homosexual?
Who will be Me?
Who will be My hands?
Who will be My feet?
Who will be My voice?
Who will be Me in politics?
Who will be Me in philosophy?
Who will be Me in economics?
Who will be Me in education?
Who will be Me in science?
Who will be Me in arts?
Who will be Me in business circles?
Who will be Me?
Who will be My hands?
Who will be My feet?
Who will be My voice?
We are the light and salt of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)
We are the ambassadors of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
3 comments:
I would note that the question of Suffering and the existence of God only comes up in the context of a Christian God. For Buddhist suffering is the result of Karma. For Atheists suffering is the meaningless fodder for evolution - survival of the fittest. For those who follow Islam it is the result of the will of God who controls all events, even our sinfulness.
But you are very correct! That the inverse of the question is the best apologetic! When we are God's presence in the midst of suffering people see God in our actions. When we pray for those who suffer God's answer shows them His Power through deep love.
At the same time there are many stories of the Holy Spirit sending visions, dreams and interventions into the lives of people, even when they have not yet met a Christian. God is at work in the lives of everyone, and is close to all who desire to turn and call on His Son.
When we forgive, others understand the Cross. One family forgave a young man who stole a bike from them. Later they were working to start a new church in the hills of Negros Island. They were making contacts and found this family who they had forgiven! The family opened their home for the new church and many were brought to Christ.
I found peace in being able to forgive all the drivers in Manila (and other cities) who cut me off, blocked me and made life difficult and dangerous. "I forgive you" was often on my lips as I drove.
The mystery of the Gospel is that God uses us to make Himself present in other people's lives in a tangible and concrete manner.
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