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 Resources What Do You Think? November 2003
What Do You Think?
November 2003
"God is dead. And we have killed him."
-- Nietzsche's madman (from The Gay Science)
Did that lead-in quotation grab you? Anger you? Did it entice you to read on? If so, it has
served its purpose. But there is much more to the story.
For those who may not not know, Friedrich Nietzsche was a 19th century philosopher
and, by his account, an atheist. But he was quite perceptive with regard to the world in
which he lived, including what it meant to be a Christian. While there have been many
discussions of Nietzsche's madman story, I've keyed in on just one that captured my
attention.
The interpretation that I stumbled upon suggests that the issue isn't whether God is dead.
It's also not a matter of what Nietzsche believed. The matter boils down to whether we
(Christians) act like God is alive and that He matters. This interpretation suggests that
God may appear to be dead if Christians don't follow in the footsteps of Christ. Simply saying
that we believe is not enough. We must also act as if we believe.
On the back cover of the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper is this brief
excerpt...
"Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement
from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live
in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball, and
collect shells...' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See
my shells.' That is a tragedy."
To those who knew this retired couple in Florida, did God appear to be alive or dead? When our
families, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances consider our lives, is it apparent that
God is central, that He matters, that He is alive? Do we consistently follow the message of
Luke, where Jesus says "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23)? How much better are we to lose our lives that to
waste them?
What do you think?
Jeff Hand (jhand@isualum.com)
Author's note: The inclusive language of the last paragraph was by design. I don't throw
out challenges to you without including myself. Imagine, if you will, two separate personas --
Jeff, the writer and Jeff, the reader. I write precisely because I struggle. I have far too
many days where I do not deny myself and simply follow. My prayer this month is that we can
all help each other, in many and various ways, to lose our lives in Christ so that others
know God is indeed alive. And I'm thankful that our gracious Lord forgives me on those days
that I fail.
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