when it comes to grappling with the issue of suffering, i think that there are two equally important components. the first is the Intellectual or Theoretical side - the dilemma of, if there is an all-knowing, all-powerful and all-LOVING God, then how can there, logically, be suffering in the world?
and i think that wrestling with this is absolutely and entirely necessary.
but i don't think that you can close the book with a purely intellectual understanding or response to suffering.
because it is essential to reconcile this intellectual dealing with suffering with what we actually experience of it. it's all very well to have a neat and logical 'theory' on suffering, but unless it's actually consistent with what we experience, day to day, then it's just hollow words.
so, i'm going to go through some of my thoughts on suffering, that i've come to through both reflecting on what i think the Bible says about it, and my experiences with suffering.
1. the first thing i want to say is that the Bible's response to suffering isn't to explain it away.
what i mean by that is that whereas there are some faiths which explain suffering away by saying that the root of evil and pain is human desire - and so if you rid yourself of those desires, if you detach yourself from them, then you will be free from pain - the Bible doesn't give a neat answer with a bow on it like that.
(i was talking to my bro, n he pointed out to me that, in the garden, we don't know where the snake came from, or why it's there - but we do know that it DOES NOT belong there. so there's this tension established from genesis onwards)
so, the bible doesn't explain it away. but rather, it tells us a story about what God has done, is doing, and will do to fix the problem of pain, suffering and evil.
2. HUMAN SUFFERING.
i think there are two branches of suffering which need to be dealt with separately, and in terms of the first of these, i think that one of the questions that comes up a lot is - why doesn't God, who allegedly loves us, why doesn't He intervene, and stop people from suffering.
and i think that a) on an intellectual/theoretical basis, we can apply some logic to this.
if God were to directly intervene in our daily lives, where would He stop?
at mass-murderes? paedophiles? what about corrupt politicians who ruin the lives of millions? what about abusive parents who are 'essentially good people but just have a bad temper'? it can be taken further - to liars and gossips, even. we all know the pain inflicted by those things. in fact, what about the thoughts of your own heart? selfishness? pride? jealousy?
if you follow the chain of logic back to its root, it quickly becomes apparent that if God were to intervene to stop evil and pain, the buck would stop with every single human heart.
and that in order to get rid of suffering,
He'd have to get rid of humanity.
because it's in humanity that the sinfulness which causes suffering resides.
'The line dividing good and evil runs through the heart of every person.'
Why doesn't God intervene?
HE DID.
in the most powerful, radical, and loving way: the Cross of Christ.
now, that may well seem like a cop-out answer to you, but let me explain why I think this is the case..
because on the cross, God gets involved in our helpless situation. He's not this abstract notion of a deity, who is intangible and couldn't give a stuff about your random collection of cells - no.
God gets His hands dirty - He uses the evil deeds of men to rescue those who want to be rescued: through dealing with the consequences of our rebellion, and offering forgiveness, He holds out in His outstretched, bleeding arms a gift.
and i want to suggest that THAT GIFT is our greatest need. (in mark 2, jesus says to the cripple, who's come to him in need of healing, 'your sins are forgiven'. the reason? more than physical needs, spiritual needs were his greatest need.)
more than any balm or relief from our physical or emotional or psychological circumstances, we need to be reconciled to God. and in Jesus we have that. our physical circumstances and suffering are temporary and will end; sinfulness affects our eternity.
so that's the framework for the theoretical side: we know it's there, we know it's unnatural, we know it isn't meant to be there - just look into the eyes of anyone sitting in the pews of a funeral and see their shattered soul: that it is not natural - it's not meant to be there, no.
but we know that whilst God hasn't squashed evil and pain IMMEDIATELY
- if He were to do that, because we are all complicit in evil and pain, we would be caught up in His judgement over it.
- God's delaying of His judgement over evil and pain gives us the opportunity to repent
whilst it hasn't been squashed IMMEDIATELY - we know that evil, and its byproduct of pain, WILL BE QUASHED.
Rev 21: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
then there's b) the experiential level, which must also be grappled with.
in experience, when your vision is clouded by grief and pain, it can be hard to feel this - that God as soveriegn over the earth will quash suffering - as reality. suffering has this ability to shrink our horizons and makes the hope of this promise of an end to suffering seem distant, and obscure - and sometimes more than a little naive.
on a personal level, for the past 4 years, i've been affected by a psychogenic disorder, which manifests itself as a hemidystonia - a Parkinsonian symptom - affecting my right side. that's medical jargon for, my right side decided it'd be fun to go on strike.
so, how do i reconcile this experience with a God who apparently has my best interest at heart, and whose plans cannot be thwarted?
first, i have too much to say on this to fit into this medium. i've wrestled long and hard with God, and have learnt immeasurably more about the character of God and how he works than i could ever possibly have known otherwise.
but let me say that, from my experience, knowing God brings contentment when understanding fails.
i know that God is soveriegn; i know that He is in control; that His will is perfect; and that His plan for my life is a good one - far beyond anything i could possibly hope or imagine for myself.
that's not to say i don't get upset. heck no. i miss playing oboe and clarinet. i miss being as physically active as i used to be. i miss doing art. whether or not it's a good thing, so much of who we are is defined by what we can do - by our abilities. it upsets me. but i've been real with God about that. and have learnt that the only sure foundation in which i can anchor who i am in isn't my abilities and it certainly isn't my own strength - it's jesus christ.
but that's another story.
3. NATURAL DISASTERS
just briefly, because i am tired and bed is calling.
natural disasters, genetic diseases, and the like:
- they are the result of a broken and fallen world
- they are the result of the indirect judgement, or curse that came upon the whole world because of sin
- romans speaks of the whole world groaning under the strain of its own brokenness, as though longing for the day when all things will be made new again.
- these things are NOT DIRECT and they are NOT PROPORTIONATE punishment for sin. it's not for any person to say 'that person's suffering is because of that sin'. no. load of crap.
john 9 tells the story of a guy who'd been blind since birth, and jesus' disciples ask him 'who sinned, him or his parents?' and jesus replies 'neither! who are you kidding?' [paraphrased..]
similarly, luke 13 tells us the same deal for the 'natural disaster' equivalent: 18 people who were killed in a tower which collapsed.
so yeah. no proportionate.
finally, i'd like to say that there can be no neat answers to questions as messy around the edges as suffering. anyone who tries to give you a nice neat little answer with a bow on top.. well, i'd be wary.
but here are some thoughts and meditations on the matter, and i hope they've been helpful.
love love,
me.
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