Bart Ehrman and theodicy...

I recently read his latest book on suffering and noticed the personal element in the book. There was almost a sadness, a lostness in it, as if all the knowledge he has obtained has become a burden for him and thus the 'confessional' tone of the book. I wasn't upset or offended, as he raises legitimate questions and penetrates Scripture as few are able. His challenge is valid.

Yet as I was reading Clement's The Roots of Mysticism I came across this paragraph and thought immediately of Ehrman and those who feel as he does:

"The sanctified person is someone no longer separated. And he is only sanctified to the extent that he understands in practice that he is no longer separated from anyone or anything. He bears humanity in himself, all human beings in their passion and their resurrection. He is identified, in Christ, with the 'whole Adam'.

His own 'self' no longer interests him. He includes in his prayer and in his love all humanity, without judging or condemning anyone, except himself, the last of all. He is infinitely vulnerable to the horror of the world, to the tragedies of history being constantly renewed.

But he is crushed with Christ and rises again with him, with everyone. He knows that resurrection has the last word. Deeper than horror is the Joy." (p. 274-75)

In short:

"For the person without compassion the suffering of humanity is an obstacle to knowing God."

Perhaps those who are troubled by theodicy lack compassion. Or, perhaps more likely, they have compassion but are troubled by what it stirs up inside and it is easier to blame God than it is to wrestle with and act on what compassion stirs up. After all, there is no end to suffering and by our compassion we suffer for and with the world so, in effect, our suffering, be it mental, emotional or physical, does not end either.

Yet they crucified Christ and he endured the suffering. And was raised from the dead thus effectively breaking the bonds of death. This is the hope of the Christian message, that death does not have the final say.