GOD ON MUTE by Pete Greig

I appreciated what Greig said about our society's virtual denial (my words) about the difficulty of life. We have embraced a victim perspective and see ourselves as entitled to have "happiness" handed to us on a silver platter. This is one of the best books on prayer I have read since many of the classics like E.M. Bounds, and devotionals like Streams in the Desert. Our ancestors knew that life is difficult. They experienced death and suffering first hand, regularly, without the miracles of contemporary medical technology. They were not desensitized by violence and blood on television and in movies. They experienced those things first hand as they went about daily lives, slaughtering pigs, chopping heads off of pet chickens, and burying family members by hand. Life was hard, as it is for most of the rest of the world. Most of the poor folks I know are happier than those with lots of comforts and toys. Why is that?

Greig makes the point well: When life is viewed from the perspective of tough, the blessings of God, small and large, experienced daily in life are illuminated and amplified big time. Rather than blame God when tragedy strikes, or difficult times are had, those with a real perspective of the difficulty of life and suffering are able to see the good God is bringing out of the situation, and appreciate more resolutely the small blessings of life. We move forward through life, doing the best we can, clinging to Jesus, family and friends.

Yes, God is sovereign, but God gets blamed for way more than He deserves. I cringe when I hear people say: "well if God wants her, he'll take her." Life is difficult, and illness and death happen (now anyway). The hope we have though is that God is making all things new, and one day Jesus will wipe away every tear and take away pain and suffering. Until then, we walk through life with dignity, hope and joy able to withstand anything this life can throw at us, because God is with us, and God is good! Mystery? yes. Truth? yes, I believe.

Is virtual reality denial the contemporary darkness which the light of Christ must dispel?