Just yesterday I finished a 1,033-page biography of Mark Twain, written by author Ron Chernow. Prior to that, I had read Chernow’s big biography of General Ulysses S. Grant. I viewed Grant favorably before reading that book and even more after I was finished. Such was not the case with Twain, much as I wanted to like him.
Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was the legendary author of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and many other books. He was from Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. He worked setting type as a printer, then became a river boat pilot.
He had a very interesting life–trying his hand at mining in Nevada; then writing for a newspaper in San Francisco. His breakthrough came when he was sent on a trip to Europe and parts of the Middle East so he could send back articles for the paper. This trip formed what became his book The Innocents Abroad–a humorous look at those exotic places. It became a best-seller. From then on he wrote other books, eventually becoming America’s most famous writer and a beloved humorist.
He took many trips to Europe. He lived in high style with many maids and servants. He was able to afford the best doctors, spas and health retreats. He met countless celebrities, presidents, prime ministers and kings. He had first class, well-furnished homes in America.
Twain knew all about Christianity. Though he disliked it, he was raised in church and Sunday School. He would use this background to poke fun at organized religion, particularly Christianity. These criticisms–especially when the church was pompous or hypocritical–were funny. Perhaps the Babylon Bee website is a modern extension of Mark Twain’s hilarious takedowns.
But beneath the humor he was a tortured man, especially in his older years. He railed not only at the church, but at God Himself. He had a vengeful streak. He never seemed able to forgive a wrong. He called life “a swindle.” He praised death as better than life.
How could this happen for a man that had more fame, wealth and success than almost anyone else?
He suffered tragedies–the death of three children, the death of his wife, big investments that went bust, bankruptcy, and betrayal from people he trusted. Rather than seeking help from God; he went away from God. He became an expert in expressing his bitterness.
Twain took to blaming God for injustice, and not just in his private writings. One literary project called Letters from the Earth was so controversial that it wouldn’t be published until long after his death. In it, “Twain doesn’t merely try to expose the folly and hypocrisy of conventional religious belief but enters into a full-throated diatribe against God, accusing him of cruel, pitiless behavior toward his creatures. He keeps returning to the idea that a father should shelter his children and argues that God does the reverse, subjecting them to unspeakable punishments on earth,” (Chernow, pg. 1005). Twain wrote many other gloomy things like this.
Like I said before, I wanted to like Twain for his classic books and witty sayings. I also have a soft spot for some independent, iconoclastic personalities. He’s an American treasure. But he is wrong here.
Why was he so bitter? And not just against religion but against God Himself?
It should be noted that Mark Twain’s sufferings were largely his own fault. For example: there was a time he was in favor of the ‘mind cure’ (associated with Christian Science) that repudiated sound medical treatment. This cultish, disastrous mistake may have caused the death of one of his family members. He himself would smoke 40 cigars a day, gaining what was called a ‘tobacco heart’ that brought on angina. Did God cause that? Another example: despite his riches, Twain often felt broke and had to declare bankruptcy–an event which caused much stress and misery for years. This came from unwise investments and a weakness for get-rich-quick schemes. He also was enraged at an embezzlement from an underpaid secretary–but ignored the fact that he pretty much gave up responsibility for his household while he chased irresponsible hobbies in his old age.
The other thing he should have known (he was well-versed in the Bible) was that God knows there is injustice in the world and He allows us to cry out to Him about it.
Who hasn’t at times wondered, ‘Why Lord?’ God freely admits the question; in fact, he encourages it. The Bible has many questionings of God–the book of Job, some of the tough Psalms, the bitter complaints of Jeremiah, to Jesus’ “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (which scripture does not explain but is left for those at the foot of the cross, and us, to think about). These are in the Bible that He Himself inspired. They are in there because He wanted us to read them.
God is not afraid of questioning. He understands the cries over injustice and unfairness in the world. But the cries and questioning should be done to Him in prayer.
And this was the mistake Twain made: he complained about God, rather than to Him.
Twain had much the knowledge of the Bible, but he did not let it guide him in the right direction. His knowledge did not help him.
In my time as a pastor, I’ve met people who know a lot about the Christian faith, who are interested in it, who are attracted to some aspects of it, but they just don’t cross the line into having saving faith, into really knowing God. I wished I could push the over the line, make the decision for them, but I can’t. It’s on them.
Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” God makes it possible. He’s there, He’s accessible, but it’s our responsibility to respond. If we do we will find that God is good. We can’t let bitterness win.