Earlier this morning, an old high school friend of mine who is now a Catholic priest, wrote on his blog site anpiece about how often times we try and explain accidents or death by superstitious means - such as, "I guess it was her time to die", ect. I often encounter these types of explainations for death when I talk to folks and thought I'd throw a little Methodist theology into the mix. Here's what I commented on his blog site earlier today:


"The types of comments that you mention in this "musing" Mike; "I guess it was her time to die" ect. are some of the most frustrating comments (for me) I hear from folks as I counsel, console, and pray with people who are experiencing loss and grief. Not only are the comments a symptom of our superstitious nature, but they also reflect a tortured theology and a false view of God. In the Methodist tradition, we believe two things that run counter to those types of comments: 1. We believe God has given humankind the gift of free will and sometimes humans misuse that gift, make mistakes which can lead to accidents, relational difficulties, ect. and those bad decisions often harm innocent bystanders.2. We also believe in the fall of humankind and of the created world which leads to all kinds of disease, natural catastrophies, again, accidents and of course, sin. So, in Methodist "theological logic", to say that someone died in an automobile accident because it was their time to die or because God wanted them in heaven, discounts the gift of free will that God has given to us and, even more profoundly suggests that the fall of humankind only effects other people, not "me". Hunam suffering is so complex and often leads to a misunderstanding of who God is, how God works in our lives and how much God loves us. I very much appreciate your words this morning! I thought I'd put in my Methodist "two cents worth." " God bless, Kathy Miller

May you know today that God is a God who loves us unconditionally, does not want us to suffer, and wants us all to live life to His glory and to be the best reflection of His love that we can possibly be. God uses our suffering for good, because God is good, but God does not "make" us suffer so that his good can abound. Suffering is a continuing result of the fall of the world and the mistakes that we make.

Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—"

John 1:14 "Whoever does not love, does not know God, for God is love."