A Surprising Source for Biblical Theodicy

Working definition for this post:
Theodicy is the technical term for the branch of Christian thought that seeks to understand the nature of a good God when confronted with evil in the world.

I don't know why I was surprised; seminary taught me that reading scripture with the poor can change how we ourselves read scripture. Nevertheless, I was still shocked to hear an AIDS orphan explain how he understands God to be working in his life in spite of his parent's deaths. I know that these kids have faith - I have seen it in action. I had just never thought to ask how any of them can call God good when all of their parents have died from a dreaded pandemic that has left 3/10 children in this area orphans.

We were sitting under a large tree (not a baobab tree, unfortunately) listening to songs and dances performed by the Champions working group. This is the group that has Purity the farmer (She is the one that built a house for her mentally challenged older brother). They were great at their performance. The songs and the dances are normally used in their presentation to the community raising awareness for HIV/AIDS. They even had some of the younger kids out that were just adorable.

After the dances, the Champions group had a master of ceremonies that told us of the rules that their group has set as standards for their behavior. For example, one of the rules is that they don't date within the group so that they are able to all look after each other equally. He then went on to explain why they are grateful for the Giving Hope project and grateful that we came to join them for their presentation.

He said that all of their parents had died and that none of them would choose for their parents to die. None of them wanted that burden. None of them wanted that pain. And yet, he said, God did not desert us. Just as when Jesus ascended into heaven, God did not leave his people alone. Jesus sent down the Holy Spirit to be with his people. In the same way, God gave us ZOE Giving Hope so that we would not be alone. He said that God did not leave them, but gave them a way to live.

Never have I been more humbled than to think that he sees ZOE as God fulfilling his promise to not leave his children alone. That, my friends, is theodicy.