“Why Does a Merciful and Loving God Allow Suffering?”
The Case for Faith Series
Job 1:6-22 (quotes taken from the NKJV unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ March 6, 2005
Theme: God doesn’t cause suffering. But in the midst of our doubt surrounding suffering, God uses those experiences to our benefit.
Introduction – Tragedy… “Who has sinned?”–John 9:1-41
Tragedy can strike so quickly and capriciously. While going about our every day lives, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, the world can be changed.
As a nation we have been living with the awful reality since 9-11. Or take the tsunami in Asia. A quarter of a million killed by a freak wave from an ocean floor earthquake. Or how about in Wichita Kansas this week a Lutheran church experienced an absolutely gut wrenching tragedy. This Middle America church learned that Dennis L. Rader, the church council chair, scout leader, and 30 year member was the BTK Killer.
But tragedy is not just far from home. In our private lives we have all experienced tragedy in some form. And if you have avoided tragedy at this point in your life thank God that you have been spared, but consider your self lucky as well. Recognize it is only a matter of time.
And when tragedy occurs, our first nature is to question. While most of us know that God does not CAUSE tragedy. The Bible states clearly that God does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men (Lamentations 3:33) .The greater problem for most believers is this: Why does God ALLOW such awful things to happen? In fact, it’s the number one question surveys tell us that people would like to ask God. It’s the number one intellectual reason for rejecting the existence of a loving God. It’s a question that deserves an answer.
Jesus’ disciples asked our Lord this thorny question 2000 years ago. They met a man one day who had been born blind. In the first century, most people believed that all suffering was the result of sin. So the disciples asked Jesus, "Who sinned in this case, this blind man or his parents?" "Tell us, Jesus," they begged, "why was this man born blind?"
Jesus did not respond with a neat, simple answer to the problem of human suffering. He never answered “why” this man was blind in the first place, but he did focus on what good could come from the experience when he said, “..the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9:3-5) Sometimes this is all we have to work with.
***
I am suspicious of anyone who talks too glibly about this age-old mystery. There’s a humbling episode from a British movie entitled, "Whistle in the Wind" where a brother and sister had experienced the death of their pet kitten.
They had prayed fervently that the cat would get well, but instead it died. They couldn’t understand. So, they went in search of the local pastor. They found him in a taking a morning break, enjoying his tea and newspaper. They asked him, "Why did God let our cat die?"
The good pastor was not delighted to be interrupted with the matter of a deceased cat. But out of duty he laid aside his paper and launched into a long, complex, theological response to this question. The children stood and listened intently. When he finished he wished them well and went back to his newspaper. The children walked away somewhat bewildered.
The little boy, holding his older sister’s hand, looked up at her and said, "He doesn’t know either, does he?"
***
Never in this world will we fully understand all the mystery surrounding suffering. But with God’s help we can gain some helpful insights. That is my purpose this morning.
(source: introduction adapted from Brett Blair, see below)
I – The Theological answer – God’s design, sin, and free-will – Genesis 3:1-24
The first answer we can give is the theological answer. If you have your Bibles, turn them to Genesis 3.
If we believe as the Bible states, that in the beginning God created everything to be good, then there had to be no suffering in the beginning...Amen?
But when humanity rebelled, when Adam and Eve, made the decision they made, sin entered the world and had an enormous impact.
And you and I know, that much of the suffering we experience is due to bad decisions on our own part.
Although we try to do it, it’s not fair to lay that at God’s feet. Our choices will always have consequences. We have to remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. Galatians 6:7 reminds us that we are not to be deceived, God will not be mocked, we will always reap what we sow! Galatians 6:7 (NLT)
Isn’t this the message of Genesis chapter 3? Look at verse 22, “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil…” that includes suffering.
Cliffe Knechtle wrote of this in this book by saying…
“In Genesis 3, when humans tell God to take a hike, he partially honors their request. He steps back from planet earth. Chaos, havoc, injustice, suffering and death fill the gap. Nature is cursed. Genetic breakdown occurs. The ripple effects pass down through the generations. Sin does not simply result in a bad mood; sin leads to death.” (Knechtle, 55)
THEOLOGICALLY, suffering happens because of God’s perfect design being trampled by sin, as a result of our free will coices. But that doesn’t answer the whole question.
II. The Disciple’s answer – God’s perfecting process - Romans 8:18 & II Corinthians 4:16-18
As disciples of Christ, we have another answer. In ordinary times we get along surprisingly well, on the whole, without ever discovering what our faith really is. If, now and again, a remote and academic problem is so unmannerly as to thrust its way into our minds, there are plenty of things we can do to drive the intruder away.
But there are times when our tool chest of coping skills falls woefully short of our need.
These are the times when we are brought to our knees.
These are the times when we yell at God in anger.
These are the times when we give up on the church.
These are the times when our comfort zones are no where to be found.
Life as we know it becomes different.
We are told in God’s Word in numerous places what these times represent…
2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us that He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are in trouble, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
I Peter 1:7 says that these trials are only to test our faith, to show that it is pure and strong. Our faith becomes tested just as the fire purifies gold.
And probably the one most noted, Romans 8:18 which has Paul saying, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
For the Christian disciple, suffering provides tough empathy training. The redeemable aspect of our suffering is in the change it brings about in the way we view other people. We care for people dealing with grief when we’ve lost a loved one. We’re able to empathize with a person suffering from a disease or health condition when we’ve gone through something similar. If we’ve come through suffering with faith we can more easily point suffering people to the God who helped us through.
“And we have to remember that Jesus is right along with us. If we’re broken, we need to remember that Christ was broken for us. If we’re despised, we need to remember that Christ was despised and rejected. If we cry out that we can’t take it any more, Christ is a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Are we betrayed? He was sold out himself. Are our most tender relationships broken? He too loved and was rejected. Do people turn from us? People hid their faces from Him.
I fully believe that God felt the pain at Auschwitz. He felt the agony of friends and families at the deaths in Northern Ireland, in the World Trade Centers, and at Columbine. He stands with us, as 1500 American families, and ten times as many Iraqi families, have experienced the tragedy of war.
In the Passion of The Christ, there is one scene that completely blew me away. It wasn’t that of the passion itself, through gut-wrenching as it was. For me, it was the tear that fell from heaven that started the earthquake when Christ died on that cross.
Did you get it? Every tear we shed becomes his tear. He may not wipe them away yet, but he will.” (Kreeft in “The Case For Faith”, pg. 52)
Listen to how The Message translated Paul talking to the church in Corinth about suffering,
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (The Message) – II Corinthians 4:16-18
THE DISCIPLE’S ANSWER to suffering, is that while it is most difficult, it can help us learn to help others in this day, as we look forward to the promise we have of tomorrow.
But that still doesn’t answer the whole question.
III. The Unknown answer – Job 1:6-22 & Psalm 73
Having given you these two possibilities, the theological answer and the disciple’s answer, let me offer a third that may not sit well with some of us. Some suffering seemingly has no rhyme or reason. It’s not caused by another person’s sin or our own. We’re not perfected in our faith by it. It’s just tragic and no explanation will do. The category doesn’t fit neatly into any box.
This morning we heard the story of Job who God himself called the most righteous man of his entire generation. In the story God allowed Job to lose all his sons and daughter in a tornado, all of his herds which today would be the equivalent of your life’s savings. Job remained committed to God though it all. A short time later, God allowed Job to suffer from a horrible disease of oozing sores. It was so bad that Job was disfigured and his friends didn’t recognize him. Job remained committed to God, but he started asking a question: Why?
In fact, most of the book is a dialogue between Job and his friends who are quite convinced that he’s done something to deserve the tragedy that’s befallen him. Finally, God interrupts and tells Job’s friends that they’re wrong. Job hadn’t sinned. Interestingly, God never answered the "Why?" question either. For 42 chapters, we hold our breath waiting, but the answer never comes.
I mention this story to let you know that there’s not always going to be an answer to our suffering - at least not in this life. When you stand by people who undergo suffering beware of offering pat answers. When you endure it, don’t expect to know why. You may not be able to figure it out.
The Psalmist spoke of this unknown answer when he penned the 73rd Psalm…
“For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning…Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in mind… Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel…it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all Your works.” – Psalm 73:14, 21, 23, 28
EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T have the answer, we still put our trust in the Lord.
Conclusion - How do we respond to the doubt of suffering?- Romans 5:3-4
Which leaves us with probably the most difficult question remaining…How do we respond to suffering.
The answer is found in Romans 5:3-4 – “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance [our attitudes]; perseverance, character [deepening out faith]; and character, hope. [living in faith until knowledge comes.]” (NIV)
It’s that doubt to faith to knowledge thing once again…
1. In the midst of doubt, we make the decision whether we have faith in God or not, thus
determining our attitude. Paul calls this perseverance.
2. If we decide to have faith, we respond by taking that faith and going where God is,
thus deepening our faith. Paul calls that character.
3. And as we live out our faith, we await the day, when our faith becomes knowledge. Paul
calls that hope.
Let me leave you with one last quote, this one again from Cliffe Knechtle…
“Although I do not know why God allowed evil, I do know that he wants to destroy it. That is why there is hell.
Although I do not know why God allowed pain, I do know he wants to wipe every tear from our eyes and give us joy for eternity in his presence. That is why there is a heaven.
Although I do not know why God allowed suffering, I do know God is a suffering God who became human in Jesus, suffered and died on the Cross in order to forgive you and me.”
God doesn’t cause suffering. But in the midst of our doubt surrounding suffering, God doesn’t forsake us, but instead can use those experiences to our benefit.
Even though we can explain suffering theologically and through the lens of discipleship, we still don’t have all the answers…but God will explain it to those who put their faith and trust in Him someday.
Closing Prayer
Merciful and Loving God,
We come to you this morning we our theology in check…ready to blame sin and free will. We come to you this morning knowing that as your disciples…we are to face suffering as a opportunity to draw closer to you and to others. We come to this place this morning…understanding that we will not understand it all.
But Lord, we struggle with suffering. We struggle applying all of our learning and all of our knowledge when we are in the midst of pain.
Forgive us when we fail to put our trust in you. Forgive us when we become selfish and self-centered. Forgive us when we try to avoid the suffering that you would have us to learn from.
We are no longer ours, but yours. Put us where you want us to be, rank us how you would have us to be ranked. Put us to be doing what you have called us to do. Put us to suffering as you would have us suffer. Let us have all things or let us have nothing. (Wesley’s Covenant Prayer)
In the name of Christ we pray…Amen.
Closing Song - #525 – “We’ll Understand It Better By and By”
Benediction
As we leave this place, may the cause you suffer for be just. May the pain that you experience for Christ, be beneficial. May the love of a merciful God be never too far away. So that until we meet again, you may feel his love as he holds you in the palm of his hand. Amen.
For further evidence:
Peter Kreeft. Making Sense Out of Suffering. Servant Publishing, 1986.
Philip Yancey. Where Is God When It Hurts. Zondervan, 1990.
Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes. When God Weeps. Zondervan, 1997.
Luis Palau. Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? Doubleday, 1999.
Direct Sources:
Cliffe Knechtle. "Help Me Believe." InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Lee Strobel. "The Case for Faith." Zondervan, 2000.
Joel Smith. "How Do You Explain Suffering?" – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. Wellspring Community Church,
www.sermoncentral.com
Brett Blair, Why Did God Allow That To Happen? – John 9:1-41, eSermons.com
