Q: Why is there pain & suffering?
9-Feb-09
You don’t have to go far to find the reality of pain & suffering. It seems unavoidable when you listen to the news or read the newspaper. There’s no doubt the news would be shorter & the paper would be thinner if it weren’t for pain & suffering. And then, of course, we each have our own experiences to varying degrees & we will have more.
There have been a variety of answers postulated over the centuries, but do they make sense? Do they fit into the framework of reality that the Bible explains, i.e. a Biblical worldview? Let’s examine what the Bible tells us about the source of such affliction.
Once again, we’ll begin with the beginning. God kindly reveals for us in the book of Genesis that He originally created things perfectly. In the account of the days of creation there are a phrases like “And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1.4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). Then, as to highlight that man is the pinnacle of creation, at the last day of creating, Scripture notes “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Gen 1.31a). Our world was absolutely perfect in the beginning. Despite what some say today, it is interesting to point out that work & marriage were both there in the beginning, yet there was not a single thing wrong with them, nor were they lacking (Gen 2.3, 15, 18, 23-25).
God created Adam & Eve with the ability to make moral choices. Scripture tells us that making the right moral choice (obedience) is true love for God (Jn 14.23-24). So if we were not able to obey, we would not be able to love God. God set before the first two people the choice of obeying & eating of the “tree of life” or disobeying & eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good & evil” (Gen 2.9, 16, 17). God lovingly warned them of the consequence of disobeying. This involved a curse of corruption on all of creation (Gen 3.1-24, Rom 8.20-22). They chose to disobey & nothing would ever be the same.
Namely, death is now introduced & is the over-arching & unavoidable result of sin (Rom 5.12). Generally speaking, other fallout includes pain, suffering, sickness, disease, decay, toilsome labor, crime & war. Every physical thing & everyone fades & passes with time (Ps 103.14-15, Mt 24.35, 1 Cor 7.31). Here are some thoughts concerning pain & suffering:
- Decay & Groaning – Rom 8.18-22, 2 Cor 4.16
- God’s Judgment – Jn 5.3-9, 14, Acts 12.23, 1 Cor 11.30-32
- Selfish Motives – Jas 4.2, 1 Jn 2.16-17
- Sanctification – 1 Pet 1.13-16, Rom 5.1-5, Heb 12.7-11
- Psalmists Asked Why – Ps 10.1, 13, 44.24
- Answers – Job 1.20-22, 2.10, 42.5, John 9.1-3, 1 Pet 4.5
- The Enemy Pursues Us – 1 Pet 5.8, Job 2.7
Here is an Answers in Genesis link that addresses this & related questions in depth.
There have been a variety of answers postulated over the centuries, but do they make sense? Do they fit into the framework of reality that the Bible explains, i.e. a Biblical worldview? Let’s examine what the Bible tells us about the source of such affliction.
Once again, we’ll begin with the beginning. God kindly reveals for us in the book of Genesis that He originally created things perfectly. In the account of the days of creation there are a phrases like “And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1.4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). Then, as to highlight that man is the pinnacle of creation, at the last day of creating, Scripture notes “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Gen 1.31a). Our world was absolutely perfect in the beginning. Despite what some say today, it is interesting to point out that work & marriage were both there in the beginning, yet there was not a single thing wrong with them, nor were they lacking (Gen 2.3, 15, 18, 23-25).
God created Adam & Eve with the ability to make moral choices. Scripture tells us that making the right moral choice (obedience) is true love for God (Jn 14.23-24). So if we were not able to obey, we would not be able to love God. God set before the first two people the choice of obeying & eating of the “tree of life” or disobeying & eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good & evil” (Gen 2.9, 16, 17). God lovingly warned them of the consequence of disobeying. This involved a curse of corruption on all of creation (Gen 3.1-24, Rom 8.20-22). They chose to disobey & nothing would ever be the same.
Namely, death is now introduced & is the over-arching & unavoidable result of sin (Rom 5.12). Generally speaking, other fallout includes pain, suffering, sickness, disease, decay, toilsome labor, crime & war. Every physical thing & everyone fades & passes with time (Ps 103.14-15, Mt 24.35, 1 Cor 7.31). Here are some thoughts concerning pain & suffering:
- Pain & suffering are an unfortunate reality of merely living in a world that has fallen from perfection.
- Decay & Groaning – Rom 8.18-22, 2 Cor 4.16
- Sometimes, but not always, pain & suffering are a consequence of our own sin. When we encounter pain, we need ask ourselves “Is there any sin I need to confess to God & ask His forgiveness?” (Ps 51, 1 Jn 1.9).
- God’s Judgment – Jn 5.3-9, 14, Acts 12.23, 1 Cor 11.30-32
- Sometimes, pain & suffering are a consequence of other’s sin.
- Selfish Motives – Jas 4.2, 1 Jn 2.16-17
- God uses pain to get our attention, focus us on the eternal & help us depend on Him.
- God works through pain & suffering for our good. God is more interested in our holiness than our happiness.
- Sanctification – 1 Pet 1.13-16, Rom 5.1-5, Heb 12.7-11
- Ask God why! Do it reverently, not in a way as to question His judgment.
- Psalmists Asked Why – Ps 10.1, 13, 44.24
- Answers – Job 1.20-22, 2.10, 42.5, John 9.1-3, 1 Pet 4.5
- Possibly spiritual attacks.
- The Enemy Pursues Us – 1 Pet 5.8, Job 2.7
- God didn’t spare His own Son from pain & suffering.
- God will 1 day end all pain & suffering for His people!
Here is an Answers in Genesis link that addresses this & related questions in depth.
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy. – Prov 14.10 "I (Jesus) have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." – John 16.33 |
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