Why would a good God allow us to experience suffering?
~~Watch the Video~~
Outline:
- Introduction
- Traits of Wholeness
- The Question: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
- Preventing Suffering
- Theological/Philosophical Views On Suffering and Evil
- Practical Views why bad things happen
- Region Beta Paradox
- Reasons We Go Through Trials from God
- Conclusion
Scriptures:
- Romans 5:3-5
- 1 Peter 4:1-2
- Romans 5:12
- Romans 3:5
- Ecclesiastes 9:11
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
- Matthew 4:1
- Luke 22:31-32
- Matthew 26:52
- Psalms 10:1-4
- 1 John 1:10
- Isaiah 45:6-7
- James 1:2-4
- 1 Peter 1:6-7
- Matthew 26: 31-35
- Hebrews 12: 9-11
- Romans 8:18
Introduction
Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Who here celebrates their tribulations?
Why does God allow suffering?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why does evil exist?
These questions arise..
- Lost a spouse
- Child
- Parent
- Cancer
- Cheated on
- Divorce
- Lost job or finances
Why would God allow this?
My Mother Died
I have asked…
Why did my mother die?
She was only in her late 60s
She was chair lady of the deaconess board at church
She wrote sermons for some of the pastors
She was a stay at home mom who gave up her career to raise us?
Why did she suffer?
—--
Situations like these can make you lose faith … in God
We will examine these questions of suffering and evil
from two perspectives
- Theologically
- Practically
Traits of Wholeness
We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness
How can we be:
- Spiritually healthy
- Emotionally healthy
- Mentally healthy
Free from oppression of
- Our past
- Ourself
- Bad thinking
- Strongholds
- The enemy
We’re talking about
- dealing with life’s current stresses
- being healed from experiences/wounds of the past
We’re not just promised eternal life
- We’re supposed to have: joy, peace, patience, and self control here on earth
Traits of Wholeness
- Authenticity
- Honesty
- Kindness
- Not seeking external approval / validation
- Living by values and principles
- Setting Boundaries
- Taking ownership of your responsibilities
- Living with purpose and passion
- Optimism
- Confidence
- Healthy relationships with others
- Not losing control of your emotions
- Free from addictions
- Addressing Conflict with truth and love
- Vulnerability
- Not critical or Judgemental
- Not jealous of others
- Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
- Know that you’re worthy of receiving love
- Not afraid to fail
- Able to manage irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
- Selfless encounters with others
- Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
- You care about how others feel
- Patient
- Don’t give into peer/social pressure
- Can communicate directly
- Don’t take responsibility for other people's emotions
- Take responsibility for your own emotions
- Slow to anger
- Ability to maturely express your wants, needs and desires
- Being led by the Spirit
The Question: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Why Shouldn’t God Allow Suffering?
There are unstated assumption in this question
- Suffering is bad
- That God shouldn’t allow it
There’s an implied judgment inside of that question
“ Why does God allow people to eat pineapple on pizza?”
- Why wouldn’t he?
- There’s an implication behind the question.
- You would assume that I don’t like pineapple on pizza
The question implies that God shouldn’t allow it by default
That He shouldn’t allow it unless He has a good reason
Why shouldn’t God allow suffering?
Why do you believe you shouldn’t be suffering?
- Why should God prevent you from suffering?
A lot of people think that God… A loving God… Would make sure that they are always happy
Says who?
God’s ultimate goal for your life isn’t that you be happy
- God’s goal for your life isn’t that you don’t suffer
Example: If you love your spouse and them spending all your money/savings on shoes makes them happy…do you do it?
- What if they are suffering if you don’t
- Should you forgo your family’s future so that they don’t suffer today?
Your happiness isn’t the measure of God’s goodness
God Allowed It
What does it mean when people say “God allowed it“?
“That pastor was cheating on his wife”
- “God allowed it”
What does this mean?
- Does it mean He is in agreement with it?
I assume that it means that God:
- Knew about it
- Had the power to prevent it
- But he chose not to
It doesn’t speak to the cause or whether He wanted it to happen
“Suffering” is Subjective
Suffering - the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship
Example: doctors ask “on a scale from 1 to 10 how much pain are you having?“
- Your 10 might be a seven for me
- Or vice versa
Suffering for you is different than suffering for me
Who has heard of the term…”First world problems”?
Bugatti Example
A rich teenager got a $18M Bugatti for his birthday, but the rims weren’t color he wanted
- He is suffering in agony because he didn’t get what he wanted
- He cursed his dad out
Most Expensive Cars In The World (2023 Update) | Motor1.com
Is he suffering?
Why would a loving father allow his child to suffer like this?
Why did God allow him to suffer?
Coworker Example
Two people at the same job
- One is whistling and happy the other was complaining all day
- Why does God allow the complaining person to suffer?
Drug addict brother Example
Your brother is drug addict who says he’s suffering because he can’t get drugs
- If you love him you should give him the money for the drugs?
- You can stop him from suffering if you make some financial sacrifices to give him money for the drugs.
Does the sufferer get to define what is suffering?
Your mindset impacts your suffering
Suffering For Christ
1 Peter 4:1-2
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.
You can expect opposition as a Christian
Preventing Suffering
If we’re honest… The reason that the question of “why does God allow suffering“ bothers us so much… Might be because the real question is
… “How can I keep from suffering“
We want to know the formula
How can I prevent pain for me or my loved ones?
If I do everything right…
If I’m a good person
If I follow Jesus…
If I do good works…
If I have faith…
Ultimately many of us are concerned with knowing why there is suffering… So that we can prevent ourselves and our loved ones from suffering in the future
It’s ultimately trying to understand how I can control the future
Maybe I can control the future
…if I pray
…if I have faith
…by giving money to the church
…by my good works
…by binding the devil
…by confessing my sins and saying hail marys
…with my relationship with God
I can control the future
…by becoming self aware
…If I uncover and live as my true self
I can control the future
…by manifesting
…saying affirmations
…with magic spells
…with blood oaths
…by aligning myself with the right spirits
I can control future
…make enough money
…get in the room with the right people
…with a good education
I can control the future
…by staying fit
…by eating the right food
…with vitamins
I can control the future
… By calling Miss Cleo
We have a strong desire to reduce the mysteries of life into a formula
Theological/Philosophical Views On Suffering and Evil
Why do we have?
- Suffering
- Sin
- Evil
Now that we’ve analyzed the question…we can look at some answers…
The theological debates on suffering and evil center around God’s
- Knowledge
- Power to prevent/stop
- Cause
- Will
Atheist argue a good God can’t be both:
- All knowing
- All powerful
Either he doesn’t know about the suffering, or he can’t do anything about it.
We saw in the examples above, it just because you know about someone suffering and can do something about it doesn’t mean that you shoul
Fallen World
Evil exists because we live in a fallen world
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—
Suffering and evil are results of Adam and Eve‘s original sin
God vs Satan
Some people view the universe as a cosmic battle between God and Satan
Everything good comes from God
Everything evil comes from Satan
Faith
Or lack of
If you have enough faith… God will answer any prayer.
If you have enough faith… you can prevent/stop suffering.
If you have enough faith, you can …
- heal any sickness
- get material wealth
- cast out any demon and bind satan
- raise the dead
POV: Prosperity doctrine, Word of Faith
Sovereignty of God
The sovereign God is the cause of everything
- And therefore he caused evil
The sovereignty of God doctrine tells us that everything is…predetermined
…by an all knowing, all powerful God
God ordained evil for His own glory
- God is made more glorious because evil exists - John McArthur
- We praise God because of what He’s done to overcome evil
Romans 3:5
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking from a human viewpoint.)
POV: Reformed, Calvinist, Lutheran
Works Doctrine
You suffer Because You Sinned
God is punishing you for your sins
Job’s friends
You get what you deserve
Related worldly beliefs
- Karma
Time and Chance
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all.
- Stuff just happens
The sun rises on the just and the wicked
Free Will
God allows us to make bad choices
We suffer from our own bad choices
- And the bad choices of others
Order and Chaos
Both evil and good are necessary
Yin Yang
POV: Kabbalah, the occult
Practical Views On Why bad things happen
The Bible makes it clear that we have some agency in the events that happened to us in our lives
God says “if you do this… I will do that“
We will focus on the cause from a practical viewpoint
Caused by Satan (or demons):
1 Peter 5:8-9
8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.
- We are told to resist the devil
We saw Satan in action
- Garden of Eden
- Book of Job
Satan Gets Permission From God
Book of Job
Matthew 4:1
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
- Satan’s temptation was part of the plan/process
Luke 22:31-32
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
- Satan requested permission to harm Peter
Solution
God might have some involvement in Satan’s attack
- But we are told to fight against it
Paul gives us our defense against Satan in our spiritual battle
Armor of God
- Truthfulness
- Righteousness
- The Gospel
- Faith
- The Hope of Salvation
- The Bible
- Following the Leading of the Holy Spirit
You Reap What You Sow
Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
- If you live by the sword… You die by the sword
Example: If you curse everyone out…You more likely to get punched
Your actions can result in natural consequences
- You brought it on yourself
- There was no divine intervention
Example
- Throw rocks in the air
- Flip off someone and they beat you up
Example: Leave $1,000 in the car seat with window down at the mall
Solution: Read Proverbs
People Are Evil
free will
Psalms 10:1-4
1 Why do You stand far away, LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the needy; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire, And the greedy person curses and shows disrespect to the LORD. 4 The wicked, in his haughtiness, does not seek Him. There is no God in all his schemes.
Why doesn’t God get rid of all the wicked people?
- If he did… You wouldn’t be here to see it
We are all wicked compared to God
We are all evil in the eyes of law
1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
You perceive it as bad
Your Mindset
- You made that judgment
Example: Spoiled 4 Year Old
- Has to go to sleep when doing good on video game
- Can’t eat cake for breakfast
Crying and screaming
Why does the parent allow him to suffer?
Is the parent evil for not giving him what he wants
- What he things is best
Is he suffering?
Why did his parents make him suffer?
Initiated by God
Isaiah 45:6-7
6 So that people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no one else, 7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things.
Maybe God sent the tragedy in your life – Billy Graham.
https://youtube.com/shorts/kbIAzbsCh0I?si=5ff_9QHuIFYD4JyE
- Strengthen your faith
- Change you or prepare you
- Revealing your heart
- Withhold a “blessing” that will hurt you
- To Get Your Attention
Region Beta Paradox
I live 15 minute walk from the Santa Clara Caltrain station
- If I don’t want to pay for parking I’ll walk
- San Jose Diridon station is too far to walk
- I can drive there in two minutes and would have to pay for parking
- I live 10 minute drive to San Jose Dirodian station
- Because it’s further…I get there quicker
This is a paradox that we often see in life
Sometimes we won’t take action until things get bad enough
I didn’t use to exercise
- I found out I had diabetes
- Has to stay in the hospital
- I went to the gym and walk regularly now and lost 30 pounds
- I’m off the diabetes medicine
- If I hadn’t have had a health issue I wouldn’t have gotten healthier
If you have an unbearable situation with a horrible boss or violently toxic coworkers you’ll get another job
If you have a sort of bad boss you’ll complain everyday and stay
Sometimes things need to get really bad in order for you to take action to improve
Some people need to hit rock bottom
Reasons We Go Through Trials from God
Making You Into Who You Need to Be
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Change you character
Preparing you
Wilderness
In other situations, he is making you into who you really can be.
40
- Jesus days
- Israelites years
- Noah days
- Pregnancy weeks
psychology: Exposure therapy
- People don’t get less fear when they face something. They become braver.
Story: butterfly strengthens wings by fighting to get out of cocoon
Gateway to a Blessing
Giants in the Promised Land
https://youtube.com/shorts/gjgACTePNF8
Strengthen Your Faith
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
You don’t have faith until it has been tested
Fireproof Faith
https://youtube.com/shorts/1ewbTYptka8
To Reveal Your Faith
Matthew 26: 31-35
31 Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.
Do you think Peter believed what he was saying was true?
- God showed you who he really was
When God tests you, it is not that he doesn’t know what you were going to do. You don’t know what you were going to do. He is revealing to you who you really are.
You Are Here
https://youtube.com/shorts/tfgJdHQYw0A
The Blessing Would Be an Idol
- God gave you a blessing, but it took you away from God instead of bringing you closer to him
- You worshiped the blessing
- You were not mature enough to handle the blessing
- So it was taken from you for your own good
- You were abusing (abnormal use) it
Example: Job promotion that draws you away from God
To Get Us to Listen
Hebrews 12: 9-11
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
The Discipline Gets You to a Point Where You’ll Listen - Bill Johnson
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoqhD8jrBES/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- The discipline removes the stronghold
Join 15: 1-2
1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
Conclusion
Ask God to use Your Suffering
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxU0A_4JTjywNl3_8GeFEwRj6VCF4EVX_K?si=GsBFbP1rI3a7vHt5
Genesis 1 - Let There Be Light
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx8vYhxP6Id/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Instructor: Michael Leadon
References
How to approach suffering as a Christian
Bill Johnston teaching
The real answer to why god allow suffering
Ascension presents
Extra
Job 33:14-18
14 “Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one notices it. 15 “In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on people, While they slumber in their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of people, And horrifies them with warnings, 17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct, And keep a man from pride; 18 He keeps his soul back from the pit, And his life from perishing by the spear.
John 9:1-41 ESV
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” …
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Hebrews 12: 9-11
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church.
ii. “The term ‘afflictions of Christ’ is never associated with the redemptive suffering of Jesus upon the cross. It speaks, rather, of those ministerial sufferings which Paul bears because he represents Jesus Christ.” (Lane)
God’s Plan Isn’t on Our Timeframe
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrODq2Lg6SO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
No comments:
Post a Comment