Christmas morn, 2001, from Herb and Norma Douglass to Precious People

As we say each year, each Christmas morning, faithful Orion stands guard throughout the night, the North Star is still on duty, straight out my window, just where it always is—and you good people are as faithful, and always “there” as these heavenly friends. Thanks for what you mean to us all throughout the year. What kind of life would anyone of us have if we were not enriched constantly by our families, our neighbors, and our working colleagues, either by frequent interchanges or just being part of that omnibus of memories that keeps driving back and forth through our minds, often when least expecting that smile or encouragement from the past. One of the priceless privileges of living older and older . . . . . .

We have all said and heard enough about the ghastly trauma of September 11. And the only reason why we bring it up is because we hear so many scary explanations that are just plain wrong as to why it even happened! And this is Christmas when we remember the birth of the Prince of Peace who came to tell us the truth about God. And we are continuing to hear so much about that Day of Evil that is not telling us the truth about the God of Christmas but more of the lies about Him that have permeated the world for thousands of years! Let’s take a fresh look at Bethlehem’s baby!

For much of the Christian world, evil and suffering has been pre-ordained by a Sovereign God. Yes, they concede, evil men and women do evil deeds but what is done is controlled by a Sovereign God who is working out His mysterious will—He “decreed” the events of September 11. (Our Presbyterian and Reformed friends believe some version of this explanation of evil.) Others, often called Arminians (or Methodists, with many branches) reject this explanation and state categorically that free-willed men and women are free to do evil things as well as noble deeds. However, for them, with some variations, The World Trade Center catastrophe was terribly evil but in some mysterious way God “permitted, or allowed” it for His glory—to serve a particular divine purpose. Both views, though distinctly contrary in most all other areas, amount to very little when it comes to your pain. We end up with clichés such as “God knows what He is doing,” or “There’s a silver lining in every cloud.” In other words, “resign yourselves to suffering and evil, God has a plan.” We continue to hear all kinds of variations of these words after the Oklahoma City and WTC bombings. What is all that saying about the God of the universe as interpreted through Jesus who came to earth to reveal God’s character on that first Christmas?

Both explanations are simply contrary to Scripture. Take another look at Job’s experience or the way Jesus kept straightening His disciples out regarding the cause of evil and suffering. Our Lord’s response to suffering was not that of resignation but revolt and resistance to the Evil that is causing it. For Jesus, evil may be a direct Satanic attack or a consequence of life choices that ran contrary to God’s will. But all suffering is a wake-up call—we all live in a universe with two great powers locked in spiritual conflict. And the wake-up call may be to either make better decisions about the laws of life or to help God resist the outright attacks of the Evil One in helping others. Osama Bin Laden is just one more Incarnate Evil that this world has seen many times since the beginning!. And we will yet see worse!

Often I hear friends resort to that one text in John 9:1-3, attempting to outweigh all the other comments Jesus made about suffering. But the verse could just as well read: “But as a result of his suffering the works of God will be made manifest.” We are to resist evil, not be resigned to it! When we see suffering and evil and death, we say with Jesus, “An enemy hath done this.” We do what Jesus did—beat Satan back by aiding the victim. And we don’t fall back on misplaced compassion by telling suffering ones that “God’s hand is in this” as Job’s pals did!

Much better (in these troublous times when we can expect more stunning, more ghastly Satanic attacks throughout the world) is to fall back upon the words and habits of Jesus. Jesus knew exactly what is behind all suffering, all pain—the reality of Satan and evil angels was as obvious to Jesus as the reality of God and good angels. We all are within the great controversy that Satan began in heaven, we are not observers! All suffering, all evil, flows from bad decisions by angels or humans who have chosen to revolt against the God of Peace and Love. The core problem with the two conventional explanations mentioned earlier (Calvinistic or Arminian) is that neither has a clear focus on the Origin of Satan and his Fall from Heaven. When we follow that trail, it seems to me, the problem of why we have suffering and death ceases to exist.

But really what are we to think about the rape of a ten-year old left to die? Or Nazi slicing out beautiful eyes of a Jewish girl because they wanted them for two rings while her mother held by others went insane? To think that God was working out His mysteriously, glorious purpose is pure diabolical thinking, exactly the way Satan wants us to think.

Where, then, is our comfort when we are flattened by sickness or horrible disappointment? Or watch our loved ones struggle to live while ravaged by disease? This is what I know: I know that Jesus of Christmas has promised 1) His comforting, empowering Presence, placing in my mind words that I need because I know that there is no earthly pain or sorrow He Himself has not experienced (He has been “here”); and 2) regardless of how awful evil assails us, He has promised to eventually bring good out of evil (Romans 8:28) caused by the Evil One—He does not want us to look through our tears and, in resignation, thank Him for the evil being done. Why? Because we live in the midst of a cosmic struggle where “sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.” –The Ministry of Healing, p, 113.

The truth is, we never planned to develop our Christmas letter with a theological study. But we have heard too much “off the mark” thinking about the WTC that misrepresents the character of God. In so doing, Satan wins, no matter how many hymns we have that reflect the two positions mentioned above. And when we think wrongly about the character of God and evil, it will show up, sooner or later, in our Christian growth. When the sky gets the darkest, we must know the truth about God!

We both have had a great year, a personally fulfilling year. We reluctantly “turned in our keys” as vice president of Historic Adventist Village—about the hardest decision ever made. That Village will become one of the most important evangelistic areas in North America. But our plates were too full and the juggling of time and energy was not always fun.

Along with some other assignments, such as articles for the forthcoming Ellen G. White Encyclopedia, edited by Andrews University scholars, Drs. Fortin and Moon, we are beginning to outline what may be our last book, God at Risk: Paying the Cost of Freedom in the Great Controversy. Probably will occupy the next three years at least.

How eagerly we rip open your Christmas letters or your email. Every year we delete some names from our address list, not done without plenty of memory wrapped in the name. But one of these days the eastern sky will brighten as we have never seen a sunrise, we will hear trumpets like nothing on earth, and the swish of angels as they unite families, young and old. And then that Voice, the Life-Giver, our Best Friend—He will be calling your name! And ours! See ya there!

Herb and Norma Douglass – P. O. Box 933, Weimar CA, 95736 – 530-637-4233 – Douglass@neworld.net