Introduction: Why Does God Allow Suffering?
How do we reconcile anguish and suffering with the Bible's portrayal of a loving God?
“The most overwhelming objection to belief that there is a wise and loving power behind the universe is the existence of so much pain and anguish in the world.”— Richard Harries, Oxford bishop and author
We tend to be comfortable believing in God when all is going our way. But let tragedy strike and we can quickly begin to doubt His very existence.
Look at the spiritual condition of the world. Agnostics—people who are skeptical of the existence of a supreme, intelligent Creator who controls the universe—influence educational, scientific and governmental policies. The existence of suffering in the world is one of the most common justifications for agnostics’ lack of belief and faith in God.
Not understanding the reasons that suffering is so widespread, they conclude that neither God nor religion offers answers to the world’s problems. As British historian and author Paul Johnson observed, “I suspect that the problem of evil drives more thoughtful people away from religion than any other difficulty” (The Quest for God, 1996, p. 61).
In Europe, for example, agnosticism is rampant. There the erosion of religious faith began in earnest when the enormity of the suffering and death of World War I hit home to the millions of surviving Europeans. More than 10 million had died, and another 20 million had been wounded, in that horrific conflict.
As British author David Edwards wrote, “The experience in Europe in the age of science repeatedly shows that belief in God can be overwhelmed by suffering” (The Futures of Christianity, 1987, p. 339). He explained how this came about: “The first world war was the great catastrophe [for religion]. It did less physical damage than the second world war —but far more damage to Christianity . . . Very little in the traditions of the European churches had equipped them for the spiritual crisis . . . They all encouraged their members to pray for victory and safety, only to find that a cloud of poison gas obscured all the doctrines which had seemed bright in days of peace . . . It was a war that did great damage to the old style of the churches’ teaching that God was in control like the clergyman in his parish” (pp. 306-307).
Since then a great many Europeans have come to believe that faith in God is hardly justifiable. Many have expressed the opinion that God was deaf to anguished cries emanating from the rain-soaked trenches of World War I and the Nazi death camps of World War II. This wave of doubt has been so great in Europe that many ancient church buildings have been sold for use as bookshops, office space, private housing and even nightclubs.
How do we reconcile anguish and suffering with the Bible’s portrayal of a loving God? Why would He allow the horrendous miseries that afflict humanity? Does the Bible explain suffering? Does it reveal a God who can exercise control over the universe? If He has that kind of power, why doesn’t He immediately put an end to misery?
Many people, the faithful and the faithless, look at calamities— whether personal, national or global—and agonize over these questions. In this lesson we will explore how the Bible addresses this enigma: Why does God allow suffering?
Lesson 4 Glossary
Anoint: To place oil on the head of a person as an act of consecration. In biblical usage the oil symbolizes God’s Spirit, which is the power of God. Those who are sick are to call for church elders to anoint them and pray for their healing (James 5:14-16).
Character: The discernment, willingness and determination to make and carry out proper moral, ethical and spiritual choices regardless of the circumstances and the pressures and tendencies to do otherwise.
Endurance: The ability to withstand prolonged hardship or adversity. The act of staying the course.
Free will, or free choice (also called free moral agency): The freedom to decide without undue pressure whether to embrace or reject a particular course of action—not ultimately controlled by prior causes (like instinct) or coercion but able to choose for oneself.
Fruit: The result or consequence of a decision or course of action. The fruit of the Spirit is the result produced by the Holy Spirit at work in a person’s life.
Human nature: The characteristics, tendencies and behavior of a human being. It is initially neutral, although over time it is corrupted. Starting at a young age, self-gratification tends to predominate under the influence of Satan (Ephesians 2:2-3). As creatures of choice, we are enjoined and expected to resist the pulls of base self-motivation and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Persecution: Affliction, abuse, harassment or attacks on our person or character. Persecution for obedience to God allows us to suffer for righteousness’ sake. Such abuse may include personal, political and religious persecution, both physical and psychological.
Reconciliation: Restoration; the opposite of alienation. We are reconciled to a relationship with God the Father through repentance of sin and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ. Alienation from God results from sin (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Repentance: A reversal of direction in attitude and actions. We repent when we realize we are headed the wrong way, then stop, turn around and begin moving in the right direction. Spiritually, it involves genuine sorrow for sins and a resolve to do what is right.
Reward: Something God gives to those who please Him. In the broadest sense, a reward is whatever we receive for our actions, good or bad. We cannot earn our salvation, which is a gift from God (Romans 6:23), yet Christ shows through the parable of the talents that some will receive greater rewards than others in the Kingdom of God based on their degree of service to their Creator (Matthew 25:14-30). The righteous reap their ultimate reward following their resurrection or change to immortality at Christ’s return.
Sovereignty (of God): The unassailable rule, power and autonomy of God. The Creator is sovereign in that no one can successfully challenge His supremacy.
Suffering: Pain caused by physical, mental or psychological factors or any combination of the three.
Trial: A test of faith, patience or stamina through being subjected to suffering or temptation. We are tried through the difficulties of life. Such tests work patience and build and reveal our character. “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small,” wrote Solomon (Proverbs 24:10). Successfully endured trials build holy, righteous character and trust in God.
Course Content
