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February 24, 2006
The ongoing topic of cancer....
I never thought I would have seen this much debate on the topic of cancer as there has been this last week.
It began with John Piper's article, Don't Waste Your Cancer.
I took issue with Piper's comments as many of you read last week. And many of you took issue with my comments as well.
As I have read through various blogs as well as commenters it seems the issue is divided and people have set-up theological camp in one of two places:
1) On one hand some people see God as the author of cancer; and it is God who designs cancer for us; designed as a gift, and even designed for the purpose to "destory the appetite for sin." This seems to be the view that Piper espouses and that many follow.
2) On the other hand some people do not see God as either the author of cancer or its designer. Rather we live in a fallen world, and cancer is a part of that falleness; and it certainly has nothing to do with our sin. This is the view that others follow and to which I believe.
This issue is rooted in our understanding of several things: God's sovereignty; providence; theodicy; pre-ordination, etc.
The best post that I have seen on this issue this week is Cancer, John PIper and the Falleness of Creation by Tyler Williams. Tyler says:
Now, perhaps I am just coming from a different place theologically than Piper (actually, I know I am), but I find the notions that God "designs" people's cancer and that cancer is a "gift from God" to be offensive. What is more, I find that Piper's proof-texting of Scripture to be troubling. In the book of Job, God does allow "he adversary" (hasatan) to inflict Job, and his so-called friends did see his suffering as from the hands of God and due to his own sin. But, in the same way it is fallaciouss to see all suffering as the result of sin, so it is not the point of the book of Job to then attribute all suffering to the direct agency of God. Similarly, his series of proof-texts for his second point are perhaps relevant to part of his point that cancer is not a "curse." But saying that cancer is not a "curse" is not the same as saying it is a gift.
All good things are a gift from God (James 1:17) but in my books cancer is not a good thing. Cancer is an all too frequent reminder that this world is radically fallen, that things are manifestly not the way they are supposed to be--they are hebel. I do think there is a subtle, yet theologically important distinction to be made between talking about cancer (or any sickness or tragedy) as being used by God over against cancer being caused or designed by God.
Then there is Ben Myers who has a great post, Cancer and the will of God. Ben quotes Karl Barth in Church Dogmatics III/4 saying:
"[Sickness] is opposed to [God's]good will as the Creator and has existence and power only under his mighty No. To capitulate before it, to allow it to take its course, can never be obedience but only disobedience towards God. In harmony with the will of God, what man ought to will in face of this whole realm....and therefore in face of sickness, can only be final resistance"(CD III/4, pp. 367-68).
As I was thinking through this topic this week, I came across this sermon Prisoners of Hope: Living With Cancer from Dr. Scholer, professor of NT at Fuller Theological seminary. Dr. Scholer was diagnosed three and half years ago with incurable colorectal cancer. In the sermon he says this:
God is not the author or cause of evil; God never promised freedom from pain; God uses pain for God's purposes; We have God's promise of love and comfort; Evil and suffering are not experienced because of one's sin; God has provided a triumph.
But in the "interest of fairness (not agreement)", as my friend Brent Thomas stated last week when he posted my thoughts on PIper, I too, in the interest of fairness and (not agreement) want to leave you with Al Mohler's discussion on this issue, as well again, Piper's original post.
But whether we agree theologically or not on this issue, Tyler is right in that maybe we should support some of the agencies fighting cancer such as The American Cancer Society, The Canadian Cancer Society, or The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Technorati Tags: John Piper, cancer
Posted by rhett at February 24, 2006 12:24 AM
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Comments
So much to ponder, so little time.
I thank you for your thoughtful posts and the intestinal fortitude that it takes to swim against the current sometimes.
Posted by: standing firm at February 24, 2006 08:54 AM
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