Dear Trekker,
There is a strange, recurring phenomenon “out there” in the world, definitely “of the world”, that if you haven’t encountered it personally, you are fortunate. I am referring to the “God is dead” crowd, or as its founder, the Prussian/German 19th Century nihilistic philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed, “Gott ist tot.”
Well, trekker, you know God is not dead; you’ve probably spoken to Him several times today as He surely has spoken to you. Yes, the postulation is quite absurd. I remember the 60’s comeback pop T-shirts… “God is dead – Nietzsche”, followed by “Nietzsche is dead – God.”
And now, Hollywood has really outdone itself! It’s true to life…a riveting movie story line where a skeptical college professor is out to destroy one brave student’s childlike faith in God. May I suggest you rush to the nearest showing… it is currently playing across the country in major theaters and “making money” at the same time… and see it all unfold in “God’s Not Dead”. I remain amazed at the clear message of an active and saving God it presents to viewers. You will be mesmerized by the professional quality of the film, the instructive dialogue and the barrenness of those standing “outside the door” (Rev 3:20). Nuff said; go see the film pronto. You will like it and maybe, stand and cheer as some did in our theater.
I recall reading some years ago (it may be apocryphal, but a good story regardless) about a court case in Florida where an atheist was suing the federal government for not declaring a federal holiday for atheists, as other religions had been so honored. The federal judge listened to the case, then promptly dismissed it as highly inappropriate, unnecessary and not worthy of review. His remarks directly implied reference to Psalm 14:1: “I am dismissing the case. It is not relevant to this court. You do have your own holiday. It is April 1 and is known as April fool’s day.” And the gavel sounded the abrupt dismissal. (Psalm 14:1 is explicit… “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”)
You smile as you should. But why are so many people angry at God, or any mention of Him, and defy rationality by saying “He is dead” when they never believed He existed in the first place? One has to have been alive or one cannot die…isn’t it true?
I was a young Army captain in Georgia in the early 60’s when the “God is dead” movement emerged in the modern era. A religion professor at Emory University, Thomas J.J. Altizer, proposed since Christ died there is no place for transcendence in the modern world as an immanent spirit remained to “preserve” God. There is no resurrection, so God is dead. I remember debating this absurdity in the main chapel one Sunday evening at Fort Benning, Ga. Yes, one can only shake his head!
What does God think of all of this? He laughs! In three places in the Psalms (Psalm 2:4, 37:13 and 59:8) it is recorded, God laughed. This is not God’s sense of humor at work; it is God’s scorn and derision expressed toward those (nations in Psalm 2) who would ignore God or declare, “God is dead.” Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, to quote the wonderful book title of Eugene Peterson’s work on God’s activity in creation, history and community. Ah yes, He surely is the God who is there, “present and accounted for,” to use that descriptive military phrase every soldier knows so well. I also recall an old Yiddish proverb most applicable here: “der mensch tracht und Gott lacht” translated, “Men plan and God laughs.” No doubt this has been going on for ages!
My mind is drawn to Psalm 46. Such powerful prose! God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble” (v.1). Therefore, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth” v.10. Be still… release everything to the Lord. Let go, relax. Surrender. We surrender to know that God is alive, well and in control. We “let go” to know the saving and redemptive power of God the Holy Spirit in our lives. We stop trusting in our self-sufficiency in order to experience the joy and glory of God’s all-sufficiency. As a soldier I think of Exodus 14:14: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Trekker, looking forward to the Promised One, the Psalmist foresaw all of this! He did not know the risen Christ at his back, urging him on. He did not have these powerful, life-saving words on his tongue: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 10:25, 26).
As we again approach Easter, the key is simply the words of Jesus to his friend Martha, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26). I like the message of the Apostle Paul to his friends in Corinth: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead… the resurrection of the dead came through a man… so in Christ all will be made alive,” (I Corinthians 15:20-22). Yes, He’s alive! He is not dead! He is meticulously fulfilling His promise and carrying out His plan of redemption for all humanity.
Therefore, trekker, stand firm, let nothing move you. Abound in the work of the resurrected Lord!
Your trekker friend,
Jim Meredith
