Who cares? Have you heard that one? Someone says, “Wow! He criticized your work.” The response, “Who cares, what he thinks or says?” That, of course, is generally an indication that the person asking the question truly does care. We just like to pretend that we don’t. On the other hand, it is truly bothersome, when we believe that no one cares, especially God, when we endure difficulties in this life.
The disciples were terrified in a boat that was being swamp while Jesus was sleeping soundly on a cushion. Incredulous that he could sleep during a time of panic they said (Mark 4:38), “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Martha was in a very different circumstance, tending to the needs of guests while her sister was simply sitting and listening to the teaching of Jesus (Luke 10:40). Martha said, “Lord, don’t you care that . . . ?” The first scenario is one of panic, the other of fairness. Those are typically the times when we would like Jesus to iron things out- when we are in trouble, or when injustice seems to prevail.
Of course Jesus cares. He cares intensely. He wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble to hang on a cross if he didn’t. He just does not always do things the way we prefer or according to our timing. As a result it is absurd to conclude God’s apathy from our unpleasantness. “I don’t like this, therefore God must not care” is more self-absorbed when we look at it for what it is- a self-centered world. And, the most patronizing and painful piece in these stories is that in both cases, Jesus is addressed in honorific form or by title- Teacher and Lord. “Teacher, don’t you care?” “Lord, don’t you care?” In other words, let’s mask our displeasure by giving God honorific titles (“Lord, you’re not doing your job”), demonstrating either our moral superiority or religious devotion while cloaking our fallenness. But, the titles hardly mask the attitude and doubt.
How much better it would be to either remove the ruse of spirituality and just state the disbelief, or better yet, to offer the honorific title when talking to the Lord and putting the doubt and failure where it belongs- on us. “Lord, I know you care, but I’m also filled with fear or frustration.” Such a statement contains honesty about our feelings faith in the Lord. It is like the man who said, “I believe but help my unbelief.” Jesus answered that one without dressing the man down for lack (or absence) of faith (Mark 4) or for failed priorities (Luke 10). Jesus could simply address a person like that without reproof. The doubt was on the table. But, it wasn’t Jesus’ problem.
Hiding doubt or anger toward God behind polite terms and honorific titles does not help the cause. It actually makes it worse. Questioning the integrity of God does not advance the cause or speed our delivery. It just exposes our foolishness. Keep the faith, honor the Lord and share the truth. That is a pattern that does not seem to offend the Lord and simply allows us to state things as they are. It can all fit together.