Suffering

A major reason, perhaps excuse for some persons, for doubting the reality of God is that suffering is  common to mankind – especially is it offensive when found in innocent children.  Sincere doubters usually have additional explanations for their doubts, like the massive destruction of nature’s furies in fire and flood, eruptions and tornadoes, and seeming disorders in an ordered world.  Most atheists sincere in their treatment of the issue about divinity are not as stern about suffering as they are about what they believe ought to be the natural evidence to be found, presumably in science, that offers irrefutable proof of super- natural intelligence (God).  To this argument God responds that faith is the better route for mankind to take in that heaven’s culture and logic may be so remote from nature’s that we can’t absorb it. (Exodus 4:11)  (It might be understood in the analogy of trying to explain calculus to a pet animal.  It won’t succeed.)  Scripture notes that the most successful system is found in faith – regardless of the protest of those who find faith to be inadequate for them.  The observation of Luke, noted above, is illustrated in the experience of Jesus who addressed suffering as a major issue in his ministry, offering good and hope to the people and using miracles (evidence) to aid persons in relief (natural) so to give credence to faith (supernatural).  Christ was crucified, so to give death experience to God, so to correct distortions of faith from religious or secular leaders.  Distortions should embarrass mankind in the extreme.  Jesus illustrated human contradictions in contrasting his approach and that of John the Baptist.  One came from one direction, and the other from a different direction.  Jesus and John were rejected and both were executed by mankind.  God takes on the burden of suffering, and asks for faith (that includes divine trust) – that he will manage the matter to his satisfaction and the redemption of those who exercise faith in his offer.  (John 5:24)

We take on the theme of suffering.  It is inevitable in an imperfect world.  Where there is imperfection there will be suffering.  Suffering even to death will always be present in any context in which an alternate to perfection is present.  The matter is summarized in the word sin.  The word has gained so negative reputation that we find it difficult to discuss – what with its identification with the worst performances of the most rebellious persons and concepts in society.  We have no difficulty in identifying murder as sin against society, therefore a sin against God – if there is God to sin against.  Without faith in holy God, we may not like to believe that sexual dalliance is a sin, but that sexual intimacy between husband and wife has spiritual meaning to it in the joining of husband and wife into one flesh as introduced to the world in our first parents.  When that marriage agreement to life is broken, perhaps with divorce, the meaning is broken (lost) and the consequence is suffering.  Suffering in this context is likely greater in volume than suffering in the context of nature that disrupts health in the human body.  God takes on responsibility for suffering that is not of our (human) origin.  We are distracted by the tangents of our lives that cause much suffering.  The arrogance of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin provides modern illustrations.  We are currently facing in world events, public murders leading to massive suffering, especially beheadings, by terrorists who show even children lifting the heads of victims.  The fierce murderers release photography made available to the world of the internet.  This is done in the name of their god.  We are so distracted by the dramatic major violations we may not observe our own that may contribute to long-lasting suffering related to the forming of our lives.

So it is that we accept whatever the Lord gives us in refining processes, and suffering is part.  I am constantly taken by the suffering of good people and innocent children who seem to have something that is not cause for rebellion, but a sense of elevation above the circumstances they face.  But there is more to be addressed, especially related to prayer.  Every person of faith ought to have time and attitude (tenderness) each day related to a suffering world.  Prayer will have greater influence for good if the praying person avoids self-cause to suffer.  We contribute to causes that lift persons from suffering.  I have a serious belief that through suffering more persons find God than lose him because of it.