It's not FAIR!

September 18, 2011
The Rev. John A. Baldwin

In listening to the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, I am reminded of an expression I heard more than a few times from my daughters as they were growing up, and which I suspect you have heard from children and grandchildren yourselves - "It's not fair!"

In Jesus' parable, the workers who come early to the Vineyard, though offered a good wage for working, become prey to rising expectations. They begin to salivate, imagining the extra bonus they are going to receive when they see those who came later being paid what the earlier-starting workers were offered. They are brought up short when the owner pays everyone the same wage. "It's not fair! We deserve more than they do."

When our young children are dismayed by what they perceive to be the inequities of life - "It's not fair that Joshua gets to stay up later than me"  ...."It's not fair! Why do I have to eat all my peas in order to get dessert?" - we are likely to say in response, "Sorry love, but life often isn't fair."

And it isn't! Is it fair that you and I are living in one of the most prosperous nation in the world with liberties others long for and envy, while several billion human beings live in poverty in Third World nations, and many suffer from cruelties that are beyond our comprehension? Is it fair, that women generally earn less than men for the same work performed? Is it fair that some people are born into loving, nurturing families, while others are born into abusive, love-starved families? Is it fair that Hurricane Irene inflicted relatively small damage on our area, but pounded the Outer Banks, and flooded Vermont?

One of the early awarenesses of life is that human society is filled with unfairness. And it's a harsh reality to learn, indeed. But it's one thing to acknowledge the unfairness of human beings, and the sinfulness of the structures within which we live, and it's another thing to accuse God of unfairness. But we do!!!

The problem of evil leads us inevitably to such questions as, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Is it fair that Emily, who is one of the most loving persons I know has terminal cancer? Why was my child born with a birth defect? How come, out of all the houses in my area, it was mine that was destroyed by the tornado? In our anger and anguish we cry out to God. "Why aren't you being fair?"

A theology that is based on the premise that we are more favored or privileged than other people, and that God will protect us from unfairness if we live a faithful life, is a shaky and vulnerable theology. It totally fails us when unfair things happen to us, or to those we love and care about. If we've striven hard to lead decent, moral, faithful lives, then it must be God who failed us. How could God let bad things happen to good people? Why is God being unfair?

As a pastor I hear this theology being expressed over and over again. "I used to go to church until my daughter was drowned in a boating accident. Now I don't believe in a God who could let this happen." A theology that envisions God as responsible for everything that happens, can lead to our blaming God for everything.....from the sinful actions of men and women...to someone being in the wrong place at an unfortunate moment....to human genes combining in the womb in a tragic way. Inevitably this theology will lead to our faith failing us in a crisis. It's a weak theology, and our Gospel this morning underscores this.

In reality, God is radically fair to all alike. He doesn't play favorites. He treats Johnny-Come-Latelys the same way he treats those who sign on early. Every human being has the breath of life breathed into our bodies at birth, and that breath will inevitably be taken back by God from every one of us at death. Although we may accumulate wealth and ample possessions, no one can take it with them beyond the grave. Every man, woman and child, no matter what their race, beliefs, or character flaws and weaknesses, is loved by God. Everyone who sincerely repents of their sins and wrongdoings is forgiven and reconciled to God. These are the actions of a God who is radically fair to all alike.

Where our theology gets us into trouble is when we assume that somehow we should receive special privileges that are denied to others, or when we see God's role in our lives as primarily that of a Guardian Angel protecting us from all unfairness in life, rather than experiencing God as a companion in joy and suffering alike, as well as a tower of strength to draw upon in adversity.

A God who is radically fair is one we can rely on not to abandon us in times of trouble, and who we can trust to support us in our struggles to find new life and meaning on the other side of pain.

Earlier in my ministry I attended a conference in suburban Minneapolis that I will never forget, one that filled me with more than a little apprehension as it approached. It was a dialogue for clergy with men and woman who'd been diagnosed with AIDS. Back in those days (about 20 years ago) this was very close to receiving a death sentence. The conference planners hoped to enable clergy to grow in understanding and in compassionate ministry to those suffering with AIDS.

During the conference, I spent a half hour apiece hearing the stories of 2 young men as they described the effect learning they had AIDS had upon them, and how they were coping with their disease. Although both had lived lifestyles that were very different from my own, I felt great warmth and compassion for both of them in their illness.

Both described their shock and fear, the trauma of sharing with their friends and families, and the sadness of being treated like lepers. There was a very real sense of unfairness - being stricken with a fearsome disease in the prime of their lives.

"It was a terrible moment when I learned I had AIDS" one told me, "But strangely, it was also a blessing in disguise." He went on to tell me about some of the hurts and pains of his life. He described his inner life as containing a garage filled with rats. When something hurtful or painful happened to him, he pushed it into the garage and slammed the door, locking it with alcohol and denial.

But when he learned he had AIDS, something changed inside. He began to unlock the door of the garage, and let out the anger and hurt. He read me a poem he had written and sent to the Catholic Archbishop in St. Paul, Minnesota describing the anger and confusion he felt at a Church which had nurtured him as a child, but which had later turned its back on him and rejected him as a gay man.

Writing and sending the letter lifted a weight off his heart. Even though he never received a response, he felt his stored up anger towards the Catholic Church melting a bit. He began chasing out the other rats in his inner garage, and finding new hope in life, even while living with a disease which could end his life suddenly. He told me he had become very active in support groups for those with AIDS, not only drawing strength and courage from them, but also supporting and ministering to others.

"I know the rest of my life may be very short", he said, "But then, so could yours, or that of anyone. Having AIDS has changed my life, so maybe it is a blessing in disguise."

Although for many of those living with AIDS, diagnosis has not necessarily led to a deepening of faith, in this man's life it apparently has. Moving past this sense of unfairness, he discovered a God who was closer than ever in his illness.

Is it fair that AIDS struck down many young people in this country in the 1980's and 90's, as well as being rampant in Africa today? Is it fair that those inflicted by this disease were treated like lepers and outcasts in our society, and some even by their own families?

As Christians, an essential part of our vocation and ministry is to do battle with the unfairness of life, through our witness to a God who is radically fair in his love and compassion for all people. We need to move beyond the theology we may have been taught as children which portrays God as a Guardian Angel, who surrounds us with a wall of protection from the unfairness of life....and we need to move towards a theology that is realistic about suffering and sin, but which experiences God as very real and present in our lives as a companion, guide and friend. Amen.

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Lectionary:  Year A Proper 20 RCL: Exodus 16:2-15 , Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30 ,Matthew 20:1-16