In God We Trust, once we’re buried in a pile of crap
I was reading along the Internets when I ran across this story from the Dallas Morning News about a guy near Chicago who wants to change his name to “In God We Trust.” Evidently, he wants to do this as a tribute to God “for helping him through a painful divorce, bouts of depression, money problems and other woes,” according to the story.
This made me think about how Christians make it a habit to attribute any good in their lives to God while dismissing any misfortune as “That’s life” or “The Lord works in mysterious ways” or “S-word happens (no, Christians would never use bad language).” Why is that? Couldn’t God have been even more helpful to this guy if he had, ya know, prevented the painful divorce, bouts of depression, money problems and other assorted problems in the first place? Of course, then, God might not have gotten the credit. We do know from Christians that God craves our acceptance, belief and worship. If we don’t give it to him, we’re doomed to an eternity of suffering and Savannah-in-July-type weather. So maybe God either causes these problems for Christians or at least allows them to happen so he can swoop in and save the day, thus receiving praise for his heroic actions.
Is God a narcissist? That’s speaking from the perspective that he actually exists, of course. If the world is as Christians presume, wouldn’t we all be better off not ever being born? We either wouldn’t know what we were missing or at least wouldn’t have the opportunity to think our way to hell. Is it wise to put your trust in an entity that has shown the ability and willingness to dole out an eternity’s worth of punishment if you don’t think the way he wants you to?
In the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I Trust. Ya know, personally speaking and all.
Great post, love it
[...] has been on hiatus from blogging for the past few months. He’s started again recently. In one of his first new posts, Jeff offers us his own theodicy: . . . think about how Christians make it a habit to attribute any [...]
Reminds me of part of one of George Carlin’s old routines about Christian Athletes always praising God for their win, but never saying anything when they lose. “According these a$$holes, God is undefeated” (George’s rant, not mine!)
May you be be touched by his noodly appendage. Ramen.
I’m not calling you In Flying Spaghetti Monster We Trust.
Jeffy, Jeffy, Jeffy! God doesn’t “crave our acceptance, belief, and worship.” God doesn’t need us. He has elected His sheep from lost, fallen humanity and sovereignly draws them to Himself. He causes them to hear His voice and follow him by renewing their dead spiritual persons with new life through His Holy Spirit. God is not a senile, lonely, drooling old man with spiritual alzheimers whinning and pouting on his throne, abandoned by a race of men and women who could care less about Him. He doesn’t geek out or do magic tricks for us to get our attention. He loves His sheep, they hear His voice and it is their priviledge to honor, love, and obey Him. For His law is love and it extends to everyone, even you. Your Friend, RLJ
Let it be known that I did not ask RLJ to call you ‘Jeffy’. But I think it’s much better than ‘In Flying Spaghetti Monster We Trust’.