Obadiah's Part

In the overall story, when things need to be settled, God handles it. That's his part. When we try to do his part, that's when we get ourselves into trouble. Historically, when the church tries to do God's part we get things like the Crusades and the Inquisition. God doesn't need us to bring justice, thinking that is our job or even our right is foolish and dangerous.

Our society (especially the typical guy) revels in seeing a person do God's part. We love the hero who serves revenge as a cold dish, who (often through violence) makes right the wrongs that have been done. We celebrate the gory spectacle of warriors bringing down those who have brought others down and we salute them as they stand over the fallen oppressors.

"On the day you stood aloof

while strangers carried off his wealth

and foreigners entered his gates

and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them.

You should not look down on your brother

in the day of his misfortune,

nor rejoice over the people of Judah

in their day of destruction,

nor boast so much

in their day of trouble.

You should not march through the gates of my people

in the day of their disaster,

nor look down on their calamity

in the day of their disaster,

nor seize their wealth

in the day of their disaster.

You should not wait at the crossroads

to cut down their fugitives,

nor hand over their survivors

in the day of their trouble.

The day of the Lord is near

for all nations.

As you have done, it will be done to you;

your deeds will return upon your own head."

We should recognize what we celebrate for what it is. Our part is not to create some bloody thing that vaguely resembles justice. Our part is to create mercy.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

It seems that every so often Christians hear the old refrain, "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?". It is one of those questions that seems to never have a good enough response. I'm not going to offer one, either.

I think that this is a question we will always have and one that has always been around. Jesus had three main compatriots when he was on earth. Peter, James and John were the three who were always by his side, the three he took with him to pray, the three he seemed to be grooming in a more intentional way than the rest of the twelve. John went on to write a few books, including a gospel and Revelation. Peter preached the sermon at Pentecost and became the de facto head of the early church. What happened to James?

According to Acts 12:2, Herod had him put to death with a sword. The account is very matter-of-fact and not filled with daring or supernatural intervention.

Seeing the gleeful reaction of the Jews, Herod decides to do the same to Peter and has him imprisoned and guarded by 16 soldiers. This was obviously not nearly enough, because when the angel showed up, they just walked right out to freedom.

My question is: Where was James' angel? Where was his supernatural rescue? Where was God's loving protection for John's brother? Why did Jesus spend the time with him, only to have him die? Why were Peter and John spared, but James was not?