For many people, the existence of suffering and evil in the world
constitutes a great insurmountable hurdle that prevents them from
believing in God or in a God that is good. The wrong view towards
the existence of suffering in this world has caused many errors.
The atheist says, 'There is no God, because an all-powerful and
good God wouldn't allow such to happen.' (Point to Note: It
is ironic that when the atheist makes an assertion, he speaks
as an all-knowing God would speak.) The pantheist argues that
suffering and evil are just illusions. The polytheist argues
that God isn't all-powerful, and that suffering is often the result
of a clash between opposing deities. This problem of human suffering
is by no means new. Every generation has asked the same questions,
'God why did you allow this to happen, why my child, why my husband…'
The Gnostics argued that all matter was evil and God was good,
therefore God couldn't have anything to do with the material world.
Of course this completely undermined the incarnation (1 John
4:1-3). The friends of Job were under the misconception that
bad things only happen to bad people (Job 8:2-6; 4:7-8). The
writer of the 73rd Psalm was initially perplexed because
it seemed that bad things happen to good people while the evil
doer lives in security and is untouched by adversity (73:3-5,
12-14).
1 Peter 4:12 'Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some
strange thing were happening to you'-'as though this were some
abnormal experience' (Phi).
The above verse reveals that if we view suffering as inconsistent
with the idea that God is good, then somewhere along the line
we have bought into some wrong assumptions. In this lesson I
hope I can give you something in which you can better handle adversity
that comes your way and the questions of those who are suffering.
I. Did God Create Evil?
Some would argue that since God created all things (John 1:3),
and that evil exists, therefore God is responsible for all the
evil in the world. POINTS TO NOTE: 1. There is a big difference
between what God created and then what man makes of those created
things. Many 'good things', when abused or misused by man, become
harmful, i.e. when drugs that can heal or alleviate pain, are
used for mere recreational purposes. In fact, every work of the
flesh, is simply a perversion of something that in itself is good
(Galatians 5:19-21). Barclay notes, 'Immorality, impurity, licentiousness
are perversions of the sexual instinct which is in itself a lovely
thing and part of love. Idolatry is a perversion of worship..Sorcery
is a perversion of the use of healing drugs in medicine. Envy,
jealousy and strife are perversions of that noble ambition and
desire to do well which can be a spur to greatness. Enmity and
anger are a perversion of that righteous indignation..Dissension
and the party spirit are a perversion of the devotion to principle
which can produce the martyr…The awfulness of the power of
sin lies precisely in its ability to make the raw material of
potential goodness and turn it into the material of evil.'
(Flesh and Spirit, p. 39) 2. When the Bible talks about
God 'creating evil', it is using the word 'evil' in the sense
of calamity, i.e. God does bring judgments upon the unrepentant
(Isaiah 45:7 'creating calamity'; Jeremiah 18:11). 3. The Bible
makes it clear that God doesn't entice anyone to sin (James 1:13
'..He Himself does not tempt anyone'), and that everything that
God initially created was good (Genesis 1:31 'And God saw all
that He had made, and behold, it was very good.').
II. The Consequences Of FreeWill:
We tend to forget that God took an incredible risk in creating
mankind. We also forget that God has probably suffered more than
anyone else. The suffering of the individual is always limited.
For the individual is never exposed to all the suffering happening
at one moment and the individual only lives for a very short time
(1 Peter 1:6; 5:10). But God has been slighted by every generation.
God must witness all suffering. And God must also allow suffering
to happen in many cases, because He created mankind with a freewill.
If God were to stop all suffering, it would mean that Jesus would
come in judgment. But stopping all suffering also means ending
the opportunity to repent (2 Thess. 1:7-9). POINTS TO NOTE:
1. But some people complain, 'Why couldn't God have created a
world wherein everyone would make the right choice?' (a) The
truth is that people will make wrong choices no matter how wonderful
or how little temptation exists (i.e. the Garden of Eden-Genesis
3:1-6). (b) If we ask the question, we end up rebuking ourselves.
For we are surrounded by comforts and blessings. And yet we
still sin. How much better would God have to make this world
for you to stop making wrong choices? (2) 'Why didn't God create
us without freewill?' (a) We must view 'choice' in the right
light. 'Choice' isn't a curse, rather, it is one of those things
which we have in common with the Creator Himself (Genesis 1:26).
Freewill is a compliment from God, it is one of those things
which makes man just a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:3-8).
(b) Then we need to realize that certain attributes cannot exist
without choice. Love that is forced is not love at all. To prevent
man from choosing to love God with all his heart, would be to
prevent the greatest good from happening (Mark 12:30-31; 1 Corinthians
13:4-8). Thus to create a world in which freewill didn't exist,
would also mean having a world in which the greatest of all virtues
didn't exist. Geisler notes, 'a world of freedom without evil
would actually be morally inferior to the present world. In this
world, men are challenged to do good and noble things and to overcome
(Revelation 2:10-11; 12:11; Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1:6-8) evil
tendencies. That could not happen in a world without evil…Courage
can only occur where there is a real fear of danger. Self-sacrifice
is only noble where there is need of an opposing selfishness to
overcome..It is better to have the opportunity to reach the highest
good rather than be confined to achieving lesser goods with no
opposition.' (p. 72) (3) Someone else might ask, 'But couldn't
God create a world in which there is just one less sin?' That
is, does there really have to be so much evil and suffering?
(a) We quickly forget that one less sin, depends upon the person
sinning, i.e. mankind. Sin is something that is chosen (Revelation
2:21 'I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent..';
Romans 6:16,19). The inquiry is a good question, because it confronts
all of us with the really big question, 'How serious are you about
seeing that this world has a little less suffering?' Are you willing
to stop the sin in your own life? (b) Are you willing to do
something to help those who are suffering? (Matthew 25:35-40).
© As with earthly suffering, eternal suffering is also
an area in which mankind has a choice (John 3:18; 3:36; 5:39-40;
8:24; 12:48)
III. The Benefits Of Suffering:
A. Pain Prevents Further Suffering:
The reason that lepers lose their fingers, toes and noses usually
has nothing directly to do with the disease. Rather the disease
causes the loss of feeling in these extremities, hence they end
up hanging onto hot pans, running into something at full force
without slowing down, etc…A small pain can often keep us
from inflicting greater pain upon ourselves (Psalm 119:71) C.S.
Lewis wrote, 'God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our
conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse
a deaf world.' (The Problem Of Pain, p. 93) Without some
suffering in this life, the warning of eternal suffering would
be something that people couldn't comprehend. Every earthly pain
is in effect saying, 'This is nothing compared to the suffering
that awaits the disobedient' (Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 10:29 'how
much severer punishment…').
B. Suffering Stops The Abuser:
Someone once said that the good thing about death and disease
is that they slow down and eventually stop the sinner. In a sense
suffering does curb future suffering by limiting the physical
endurance and lifetime of evil men. Even in this life man cannot
sin with impunity. Sin takes its toll upon the sinner (Galatians
6:7-8; Romans 1:27).
C. Suffering Doesn't Stop God's Purposes:
I am reminded of Joseph's statement, 'And as for you, you meant
evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about
this present result, to preserve many people alive.' (Genesis
50:20). (a) When confronted with suffering, we have two basic
choices, either the suffering can move us in an ungodly direction
(questioning God, turning to immediate sins for temporary relief,
etc…) or, suffering can be used to produce spiritual growth
(James 1:2-4). The choice is ours, 'And let endurance
have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
in nothing.' (James 1:4) (b) Be impressed that God can bring
'good' out of suffering, in fact, by one individual suffering,
many can be spared from future suffering. Suffering doesn't
mean that God doesn't care or that God is powerless. What a limited
view of life we tend to have at times. How I handle my personal
struggles and trials can effect generations! © At this
point I really need to say something to our young couples and
young parents. No matter how busy life becomes, God must come
first (Matthew 6:33). For your own sake (Luke 14:26-27). And
then for the sake of your children, their children, their grandchildren…..The
example and tone you set, can affect either in a positive manner
or a negative manner those who follow in your footsteps. I have
just seen too many families in the Church adversely affected,
neutralized, or destroyed because someone was an inconsistent
example of a Christian. We have just placed one nail in our children's
spiritual coffin if we dare give them the impression that there
is something more important in this life than serving God.
IV. So You Want To Stop The Suffering?
Our reaction to this last point will determine whether suffering
really bothers us or whether it is nothing more than an convenient
excuse that we are using to cover our rebellion to God. The following
are some practical ideas for the person who really wants to do
something about the suffering in this world: 1. Share the gospel
with someone who is lost. How much suffering will be prevented,
if just one person starts living the Christian life? 2. Comfort
someone who is suffering (Matthew 25:34ff). Suffering can often
produce some of the most cherished friendships. 3. Bring your
children to every service. How much suffering will be prevented
in their lives, if they become Christians? And if they become
faithful husbands, wives, parents and grandparents? 4. Love
your mate. Probably one of the most important things for a child
to see growing up, is the dedication, loyalty, honesty, and happiness
that exists between their mother and father. 5. Never argue in
front of the children. 6. Control your tongue! I often find
the people that gripe about suffering, then using the same tongue
to inflict suffering upon others. (James 3:9-10) 7. Die in
a right relationship with God. To die outside of Christ is just
to place another burden upon loved ones, for there will always
be the temptation to justify your choice. 8. Stop the habitual
sins in your life. Which for many means, become a Christian.
If you're not willing to stop the sin in your own life, then
you don't have any right to complain about the other sinners who
have made the same choice you have.