The issue of Sufferring

Phew, the Christmas services are finally over... ok, let's try to clear some questions today..

Question 2:

If God was a loving God, why have he allowed people to be raped, helpless to be abused, families to be broken up by natural disaster like the tsunami or earthquakes?

ok, this is not exactly from myself, prob from different sources. here goes...

Have you ever seen a poor African kid logging on to blogger and complaining to the whole world about why God allowed the plight of the poor? Or have you ever seen tsunami victims rallying the world against God because God allowed such things to happen to them?

You have to realise that the people who complain why God allowed such things are those people who sit in air condition rooms, are doing all right with life, have a warm bed to sleep on and have no problems getting three meals a day? if you actually go to those so called "sufferers" of these plights, do you know how much they look to God?

If you ask God for an answer, he goes beyond that and gives you the answerer and solution in the form of Jesus Christ. You know if those well to do complainers were to actually go to the sufferers and convincing put God down, these complainers are doing a very selfish act. They are in fact taking the only hope left for these people. The salvation in Christ is the only way these people can pick themselves up again.

The body of Christ is tasked to represent God as well to help the poor. In fact, the bible says,

15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
~ 1 Peter 2:15 ~

The suffering on earth was the reason why Jesus came to provide the answer.

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
~ Matthew 9:12-13 ~

It is for these sufferers that Jesus came to die for.
In fact, someone raised this exact question up to Jesus. In John it says,

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
~ John 9:1-3 ~

The disciples were curious as well. Why did God allow these man to be blind from birth. Surely there must be a reason. So the disciples gave Jesus the following multiple choice:

a) He sinned
b) His parents sinned

If you are the more thinker type, you can add a few more options to this multiple choice. for example

a) He sinned
b) His parents sinned
c) God is evil
d) God does not care
e) There is no God

And the list can continue. Jesus in all his wisdom would always choose one option: None of the above. Let's see what Jesus said, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

In the book of job, it summurizes what i am trying to say

15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
he speaks to them in their affliction.
16 "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place free from restriction,
to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
~ Job 36:15-16 ~

In fact, this question 2 is a hot hot question in developed countries like the US and Europe where people are more well to do. And guess what, these countries are getting further away from God by the day. Zoom in to countries in poor south Africa and parts of Asia, where it is supposed to be where God is not doing his job, and you will know that the presence of God is much welcomed and celebrated among the people.

So one day, if you find yourself complaining about suffering in the world, using it to disprove God and are in a comfortable air condition room, go be the one to give all these people hope. Not only physical hope, but emotional, mental and spiritual hope as well.

If you can't, just shut up and stop stumbling others from receiving their hope. By asking this question in a malicious way to disprove God, you are not helping anyone, including yourself, to lead a better life, you are not bringing more hope to anybody and you are not salvaging any situation.

Now, let me address those who have been hurt before. You may have been physically or sexually abused, you may have a broken family, you may have witness the death of a close one.

You know that asking "why did it happen to you" will not get you anywhere. Why not ask the question "who can help you get out of this mess?" Would you let go and embrace the hope that God has for you? You've had enough hurt and wallowed in self pity for a period of time. And you know that the only way for you to let go, pick yourself up again and move on with life, is through the hope and the answerer that Jesus presented on the cross for you. Would you let him?

If you want to find out more, there is actually a link at the left of this page called articles about God. it provides extensive answers to this topic. if not, you can pick up a book called case for faith or download ravi zacharias's podcast on this topic.

http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.php?p=LMPT&o=140&i=100

That's all for today, will answer the other questions some other day.

Regards,

Jie Hui

Labels: Apologetics