Today's strip struck me for several reasons.

The author is dealing with a serious illness in the family.  I admire people who can be honest about what they are going through and integrate those experiences into their art and life.

Secondly, this post struck me because it symbolizes a lot of what is wrong with evangelical theology.  This strip doesn't mention Christianity, but how often have we heard someone say or intimate that if we just have enough faith, God is going to heal us?  If we just have enough faith, things will get better?  If we just have enough faith, God will answer our prayers?

These are well intentioned sentiments.  The problem is that they're pretty much dead wrong.  They focus the person they're intending to help on their own faith, and more specifically, whether or not their faith is adequate to the task of moving God to do what they want Him to do.  Faith is faith.  Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who lived, suffered, died, and was resurrected on your behalf?  Do you profess Jesus Christ is Lord?  Then you have faith.  

Attempting to quantify that faith is problematic, at best.  As though some people believe that more deeply than others.  Or that their belief is qualitatively better somehow, entitling them to special benefits from God.  

I believe in God.  I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I believe that God loves me more than I can ever fully understand, and the evidence of this great love is Jesus Christ.  These bedrock beliefs don't change (or shouldn't) depending on my circumstances.  I've been through hard times and good times.  These bedrock beliefs remain unchanged.  My circumstances don't alter their truth.  They are objectively true.  If my subjective experience seems to deny the existence or goodness or love of God, I don't focus on whether or not I believe firmly enough, I turn my eyes to Jesus Christ and the empty tomb.  I deal with my subjective situation with objective truth.  I pray that if and when I struggle with serious illness in myself or someone I love, when I or someone I love is faced with death, that I can communicate the solidity of this objective truth not just with my words and not just professionally, but in how I carry myself and in who I am in the midst of the situation.

I maintain that the difference between a Christian and everyone else, in terms of behavior, ought to be clearest in suffering.  I pray that Randall Munroe's family illness is resolved swiftly and joyously.  But regardless of the outcome, I pray that he experience the love of Christ throughout this struggle.