FAQ’s Of The Christian Faith Намуна

A God of love in a world of suffering?  

One of the troubling questions that every follower of Christ faces is ‘why does a God of love permit suffering?’ The question assumes greater significance when one finds good people suffer. Needless to add, natural calamities like tsunamis kill many, including children, making it challenging to believe in a God who is all-powerful and loving.

However, juxtaposed to this formidable challenge are the amazing testimonies of men and women who, against all odds, put their trust in this Sovereign God. Hebrews chapter 11, apart from the great success stories, carries a list of ordinary people who went through extraordinary trials and yet rested in Him, even in the teeth of ultimate suffering. 

Someone once came up with this charge: “God is not fair because some are born poor, some are born rich, some are born lame, some are born blind… He must have given all people their basic needs.” I prodded him with this rejoinder: “What would be your response if I could bring someone who is physically challenged or visually impaired and he or she does not have the complaint that you do?” The truth is there are people who are challenged in many ways, yet are found to be content and graceful. I suggested to him that God seems to meet their deeper needs so they are not complaining. I gave him the example of Gladys Staines who lost her husband and sons to a murderous mob that torched them alive – yet, Mrs Staines announced her forgiveness to the killers. Her daughter Esther and Mrs Staines sang the song – ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow’ at the funeral of their beloved ones. God’s sovereign grace reaches where humanly speaking there is no hope. 

But then, why suffering? We live in a fallen world - a world under the curse, since Genesis chapter 3. So, while suffering does not spare anyone, there is hope and meaning even in the face of unimaginable pain and sorrow.

While this question of suffering is the strongest against Christian theism, the answer that God gives through the pages of the Bible and in history is unparalleled. God suffers with us. There is no record of any other god who was willing to suffer and die on our behalf. In fact, on the cross, the intense anguish of separation from the Father, apart from the excruciating physical pain made the Lord of the Universe exclaimed the same question that we sometimes articulate: “My God, my God, why …?” (Matthew 27:46) 

Edward Shillito portrays this poignantly in “Jesus of the Scars”. 

“The other gods were strong, but you were weak 

They rode, but your stumbled to a throne

To our wounds only God’s wounds would speak 

And not a God has wounds except you alone.”

In fact, God is even able to bring something good out of sin and evil. The gospel is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and in so doing He trumped against the greatest enemy – death. In the biblical worldview, there is life, death, and life after death. The Bible presents life beyond physical death as the grand climax. The Bible promises a world where there is no more suffering, or pain to everyone who receives His forgiveness. So, any question on pain or injustice because of God needs to factor in that we are on this side of life and the objection, in that sense, is premature. 

Death was our destiny until Jesus’ resurrection made it a door. 

PRAYER

Lord, make me a channel of your peace