Introduction
Perhaps one of the most asked questions is “If God is great and God is good, then why would He allow evil to exist?” Unfortunately many American Christians have not taken the time to investigate the answer to this question which has resulted in a neo-Atheism movement to spring up across
The question is a difficult question to answer. One may have a theological understanding but once life seems to happen, one’s faith is severely tested. C.S. Lewis showed this by his writing of The Problem of Pain with an excellent thought of why the problem exists to then show his own questions and struggles once his wife died captured in his journaling of A Grief Observed.
Yet some Christians do hold to their theological understanding in these times at the expense of the emotional turmoil raging within. One father who lost his unborn 37-week old baby rationalized that the baby helped him and his wife communicate more and therefore had a purpose from God and that purpose was now over. His wife was left silently grieving as her husband had it all figured out. Some who come in hopes of comforting may give shallow words of condolence such as “God needed another angel for His garden.” or “Our loss is heaven’s gain.”
This is an important question to address. It is a question though no matter how thoroughly discussed the answer may not be fully realized on this side of heaven. The struggle of finding God in the midst of this question and in the midst of circumstances can help one experience a new level of intimacy with Him. As humans have a purpose of reflecting God’s character and experiencing God’s character, this question gives an opportunity for those purposes.
Theology of Why Suffering
The Bible begins to tell a story of God creating the heavens and the earth. In the midst of this, He also makes mankind in His image. For an unknown time, man enjoyed perfect fellowship with God without any separation. God designed man with the ability of choice as He wanted man to choose Him. Man chose to sin instead and broke that perfect fellowship because God’s holiness was offended. While God still sustains the universe, it is a broken system because instead of God’s joy over all there is now a wrath restrained. This is the basic theology of original sin which infects our bodies and our earth now.
While that may describe the origins of suffering, that sometimes does not answer the question completely of why one exists now. Certainly there can be other reasons as well although if there seems to be no other reason, then just realizing we live with broken bodies in a broken world. Romans 8:22 states all of creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth.
One reason that one might be suffering is the result of personal sin or bad choices. An example of personal sin would be if one is promiscuous and because of their promiscuity, an STD was contracted. An example of a bad choice would be not wearing a seatbelt and once an accident happens, a lot more damage was done that could have prevented. Along the lines of personal sin, there is also that of generational sin that can cause medical problems or other problems within family lines. One does not have to remain within the curse of generational sin though. It is also important to note that while this may occur, God’s grace is certainly bigger than sin so therefore it would not be wise to think to automatically assign this as a reason, but it should be investigated for its potential.
Another reason for suffering is the result of free will. Individuals are selfish and sometimes make decisions that cause harm to others. An example of this would be one who gets drunk, decides to drive, and ends up crashing into another car wounding or killing the passengers of that vehicle. Kushner wrote in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People “This is what it means to be human ‘in the image of God.’ It means being free to make choices instead of doing whatever our instincts would tell us to do.” (pg79)
Another Biblical reason is that sometimes God allows things to happen. We can see with Job that he was protected until God said it was ok for Satan to do what he was to do. We can also see in Paul’s life that God sent to him a messenger of Satan. In this case we know that God allowed it to keep Paul humble and dependent upon God, that he might boast “when I am weak, then I am strong.” (1 Cor 12:10). God is not always concerned with our happiness as much as our holiness, that is becoming more like Him.
It is important to note that the forces of evil are still extremely weak compared to God. God is always in control and not even a sparrow falls without Him knowing it. Within these thoughts one might ask where God’s power to protect was or why did God let this happen. Certainly one may never know the reason or the answers to the questions asked but it is good to ask the questions.
Where God is in the midst of Suffering?
A reasonable question to ask, especially in the midst of suffering, is “Where are You, O God?” And indeed this is not a bad question but a very good one. There were many occasions where the Psalmist wrote themes asking God where He was. “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). “Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only {life} from the lions.” (Psalm 35:17)
While God doesn’t always appear to take our suffering away, He does promise to be with us at all times and that nothing can separate us from His love. A popular poem entitled Footprints in the Sand, states at the times of suffering He was carrying us. The Psalmist describes God as a shelter or refuge (Ps 61:4). Job suffered and didn’t experience God throughout His time of suffering until the end. Even in that time he did not get an answer to why He suffered.
It is important to note that if one is in a relationship with God then it is important to be open and honest with Him about suffering. Jesus showed great emotion throughout His ministry. D.A. Carson in How Long O God states that “the comfort God gives is real comfort. It is not mere stoicism expressed in some stony-faced assertion that God knows best.” (pg 113) It is the difference of wresting around and being real or being a spiritual fake.
Part of our suffering can also be looked at through the scope of the doctrine of common grace. Because of sin both cooperate and personal, God’s justice requires that He be separate, meaning that He withhold any good that comes from Him. Common grace is the ability for all mankind to receive good and a way of withholding His wrath in full until the day of judgment. In one sense, we could receive a lot worse then what is happening because the whole world is under God’s wrath although restrained.
The Bible can also be used as seeing God’s hand in the midst of suffering. It is a book of a way of living life through suffering. James Halla in his book Pain: The Plight of Fallen Man states “the Bible has answers that are far superior to any wisdom of the age.” (pg 95) While many Christians may use the Bible finding ways that we are supposed to be prosperous in every aspect, the Bible also gives great comfort and instruction through the darker periods of life.
God also designed humans to be instruments to help those suffering. All throughout the Bible, His people are reminded to take care of orphans and widows, poor and afflicted. When this is done for others, it is done unto Jesus (Matt 25:45). One atheist was complaining to a Christian of all the evils of the world and people who suffered and reasoned that God did not exist. The Christian listened and responded by stating, “Who made it that you cared?”
All humans have times of suffering. Suffering also connects us together in our humanity. Henri Nouwen stated about the cup of suffering, “Whose cup is this? It is our cup of human suffering. For each of us our sorrows are deeply personal. For all of us our sorrows, too, are universal.”
The Greek word for this concept is koinonia or fellowship. Often times in Christian circles it is used in a very shallow form but the word has a much deeper meaning. It is almost of a description of a journey, both during the good portions and the bad. It is sharing in the “fellowship of sufferings” as Paul wrote.
Some can look back at their struggles and sufferings and see the fruit of what it produced. For some it was a drawing closer to God as depending upon Him as their source. Others can see the community that gathered around them in their time of need, a picture of God. Yet others can be motivated to start organizations, such as MADD, groups that grieve, or groups that raise money for an illness, all of which my help that others may not have to suffer in the same way. And yet others may walk away on their journey from walking wounded to wounded healers, more compassionate to others around them.
Conclusion
Suffering can produce many questions and sometimes it may feel like there are no answers. Why does evil exist? Even with all our theology and thoughts, we still come up empty as for deeper meanings. We may not even know what God is doing at this time. Some may experience God’s hand and presence in a very real way, while others may see it in community. Others may pray and read the Bible to get comfort, while others may be experiencing a dark night of the soul.
We can be assured that God is in control and that He is good. There is a popular reference, whether real or misinterpreted, that the Chinese character for crisis is made of elements that signify danger and opportunity. In The New Guide to Crisis and Trauma Counseling, Dr. Norman Wright states “Every new situation we encounter provides us the opportunity to develop new ways of using out resources in order to gain control.” (pg9) Indeed every amount of suffering provides an opportunity to connect with God, with others, and with ourselves in new ways.
