“Because I Said So” by Vicar Trevor Flanick

Many of us are intimately familiar with this situation. A child has been told to do something (or not do something). In rebellious protest, the child continually demands for the reason “why” they must obey. In exasperation, the parent responds, “Because I said so! That’s why!” Whether you have been on the giving or receiving end of that phrase, it is one that we all know quite well. And most of the time, we hate it. We hate it because it’s dismissive and strictly authoritarian; that reason isn’t really a reason at all, other than the threat of punishment if not followed. There’s no explanation or applied thought. And yet, it is a valid reason. The child may not always know or agree with the decision, but they should obey and honor it because their parents, whom God has placed over them, have given them the command. Sometimes, children will not accept the myriad of valid reasons given, always finding a perceived loophole or crack in the logic. In those cases, parents may resort to, “Thus sayeth Mom and Dad!”

Why do I bring this up? Because too often, we are just like a petulant child when it comes to the clear teachings of God’s Word. As sinners, we don’t and won’t accept God’s Word as truth and instead look for ways to circumvent it, to poke holes in what Scripture teaches so that we don’t have to do what it says. Especially in our postmodern culture, we look for any and every way to deconstruct and explain away the Bible. We see this particularly prevalent in American Christianity at large, where many Protestant denominations have abandoned their Biblical roots, instead catering to the worldviews of the day. In attempts to reconcile the prevailing worldly beliefs of the day with Christian doctrine, the baby is thrown out with the bathwater, and what is left is neither Biblical nor Christian. Satan, the World, and our sinful flesh do not want people to take God at His Word and believe that what the Bible says is true and authoritative. We are tempted constantly to not be satisfied with God saying it.

On the other side of the same coin, though, when Christians defend the teachings of Scripture, how often do we turn to logic and reasoning as our primary weapon? These aren’t bad things to use when engaging in apologetic discourse or discussing why certain behaviors or worldviews are wrong, but we can be tempted to make Scripture an afterthought. An example of this is with polygamy, a subject that has probably been overly discussed as of late. We are often quick to point out how polygamy always results in jealousy between wives over the disproportionate time and affection the husband gives to one wife over another. Or we can point to the conflict and emotional pain that is caused by introducing multiple people into the marriage relationship. These might all be good reasons to oppose polygamy, but what about the primary reason? What about, “Because God says it is sinful in His Word”?

We could go through this same exercise with many other celebrated sins of our day. Homosexuality? We can easily drone on about how it violates natural law, how there are higher divorce rates in LGBTQ couples, how it degrades the family structure…but ultimately, it’s because God has declared it to be sinful and against His will for human relationships!

Why do we not start with that? Now to be fair, there are plenty of pastors and Christian laity who do immediately go to Scripture when addressing these issues, which is wonderful. This is how it should be. But we must also be on guard, ensuring that we don’t fall into the trap of resorting to our own reason and strength to justify what the Bible clearly teaches. God’s Word stands on its own; the Lord doesn’t need us to explain why His will and commandments are best. Why do we believe, teach, and confess what we do? Because God said so! As much as we know good, logical reasons why we stand where we stand on the hot-button issues of the day, even more so should we boldly and confidently rest in the words of Scripture. We need to be reminded that God’s Word is not just enough; it is more than enough. When we are tempted to be dissatisfied with what the Bible says, we ought to repent and gladly accept when God tells us, “Because I said so!”

There is also great promise for us in these words; it is not strictly Law with no healing balm of the Gospel. God’s Word is performative; it does what it says. It is not like our words, which are weak and falter. God’s Word is truth that stands for eternity. When we are afflicted with doubt and uncertainty or pain and affliction, we can turn to Scripture to hear what God says. How do I know that God made me His child in baptism and granted me faith through water and the Word? The Lord says, “Because I said so!” (Rom. 6:3–5; 1 Peter 3:21). How do I know that I receive forgiveness, life, and salvation through the Lord’s Supper? God says, “Because I said so!” (Matthew 26:17–30). How do I know that Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was enough to atone for all my sins? Jesus says, “Because I said so!” (John 19:30—“It is finished”).

As we close out this Lenten season, may we ever be reminded to take God at His word, to be satisfied with what God has declared. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have the sure promise that we have life in His name. We have the promise in God’s Word that through Jesus, though we die, yet shall we live! We have the assurance that Christ is with us every day of our lives and that He is preparing a place for us in Heaven. We know that He is coming soon to fulfill on all these promises. How? Because He said so!