Nebraska state senator sues God

How long does one have to live until they are never surprised at anything they read or hear in the media. I do not know, but I thought I was there until ...

Settled into my chair, I was ready to read my newspaper and doubtless enjoy a few dozes. I fully expected to mumble a few, "Well, can you believe that?" Now that is not an exclamation of surprise. Rather, just noting an item not ordinary, but still in the realm of the expected by current standards.

All of this changed when I read a news item that truly surprised me.

Actually, it severely shocked me! No dozing was going to occur after this.

See what you think. It was datelined LINCOLN, NEB. and the headline read: "State Senator Sues God to Make Point."

Are you kidding me?

Maybe I did doze off and this was all a dream. There was an "ouch" as I pinched myself. No, I was not asleep. I refocused my eyes and adjusted my bifocals. Yep, there it was. "A Man Sues God." Even today, when lawsuits occur frequently and foolishly, this is still way out.

Read it yourself. "State Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued the Almighty in Douglas County District Court last week. Chambers, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, said he filed the lawsuit against God to show that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody. Chambers says 'God has caused fearsome floods, horrendous hurricanes and terrifying tornadoes.' He's seeking a permanent injunction against God."

If the senator wanted publicity...he got it. If he wanted to prove anyone can sue anyone...he was successful. If, however, the senator wants us to believe he knows anything about God, God's ways and the Bible...he failed miserably.

Obviously the senator does not know these elemental Biblical truths: The natural world is full of sin, ignorance and folly. Though man's redemption is available and experienced now through Christ Jesus, the natural world remains under the curse of man's sin in the Garden of Eden. All of the physical creation awaits its redemption, which will occur as an end time event. God does not cause disasters of nature except on occasion for judgment as He did in the flood in the days of Noah.

Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. A violent storm suddenly raged, threatening their lives. The disciples in fear called out for help to the sleeping Jesus. Jesus by a spoken command calmed the wind and the waves. Jesus revealed Himself as Lord of physical nature as well as spiritual nature.

Behind the seemingly unexplainable and awful manifestations of nature, which seem to treat man's suffering with indifference, the Bible teaches there is always the loving hand of a caring and powerful God. In the last resort, nature's wild events are not caused by God but are always subject to God's holy and righteous will...When He allows "storms" in the lives of His children, it is not to interrupt or interfere with their lives, but to instruct, improve and to draw them into a closer relationship with Him.

Believers are not immune to all kinds of "storms" in life: loss of loved ones, threat of death, loss of material possessions, health and relationships. The Bible assures us the final outcome of our "storms" is controlled by a loving and peace-giving Lord.

So, my friend, when you are afraid and feel you are about to perish in one of life's "storm," don't file a suit against God. Rather, give Him thanks and praise for if there were no "storms" in your life, you would not know God and He can do nearly as well.

(Dr. French O'Shields is a Gaffney native and a retired Presbyterian minister.)