Higher Ways

"God's ways are higher than our ways".

This is a statement often used by Christians that I come in contact with whenever I bring up questions about God's goodness, mercy and justice.

For example when I bring up the question of how a God who claims to be loving can create some people to experience mostly torture and suffering during their lives on earth only to be faced with more torture and suffering for all of eternity simply because (if we are being honest) they were born in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Christian writer Rachel Held Evans calls it the "cosmic lottery" in her book Evolving in Monkey Town.

That doesn't sound like love to me.

And of course the response is usually along the lines of "Ah, but God's concept of love is different than our concept of love" and "God's ways are higher than our ways".

And I don't necessarily disagree with that,

but...

Why us the term "love" at all to describe God if it means something fundamentally different than what we think "love" means.

And why would "love" mean something fundamentally different when the word itself is defined in the Bible.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13, emphasis mine)

When we claim that God is love isn't this, then, how we should understand God. As one who is patient and kind. As one who is not easily angered. As one who does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. As one who always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres and never fails.

With that in mind let's go back to that phrase "God's ways are higher than our ways".

Let's look carefully at the passage in Isaiah that this quote comes from:

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
   call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
   and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
   neither are your ways my ways,” 
            declares the LORD. 
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
   so are my ways higher than your ways 
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
 As the rain and the snow 
   come down from heaven, 
and do not return to it 
   without watering the earth 
and making it bud and flourish, 
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: 
   It will not return to me empty, 
but will accomplish what I desire 
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 
 You will go out in joy 
   and be led forth in peace; 
the mountains and hills 
   will burst into song before you, 
and all the trees of the field 
   will clap their hands. 
 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, 
   and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. 
This will be for the LORD’s renown, 
   for an everlasting sign, 
   that will endure forever.”
(Isaiah 55:6-13)

So it seems that God's ways of love, mercy and justice being higher than ours does not make them fundamentally diffirent than ours. In this passage the people often quote Isaiah speaks of God being more loving, forgiving and merciful than we can understand not more wrathful.

Because love isn't vengeful and it doesn't delight in evil. 

Because millions of people suffering eternally does not bring glory to God.

Because the gospel is good news for all creation, not terrible news for most of it.

Grace & Peace