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Why does God let people face terrible suffering?

Why do bad things happen in the world and why does God let them? This is the question Norwich local government officer, author and Proclaimers church member, James Knight attempts to address in the latest of his columns designed to get you thinking and debating.

The answer to the question of suffering can be found by looking in the right place, towards Christ. Most objectors look in the wrong place and claim that they have found no logical answers, but this is in no way surprising. You would not expect to learn trigonometry by using only a calculator.

I am not trying to trivialise the problem of suffering - far from it. I am simply trying to show that those who cannot accept Christianity because of suffering in the world should try looking to Him who suffered most; to Christ. You will not always find satisfactory conclusions from attempted human answers, for whoever tells you philosophically how to address the problem of suffering, there will still be a thought process, guided by your emotions, that only Christ can put right.

All human suffering, all pain, all infirmity, contains within itself a promise of joy and salvation. Therefore, in one sense, suffering can so often catalyse the awakening of our love, our compassion, our generosity, our solicitude, and our help for those who most need help. Just as we are healed by Christ's wounds (Isaiah 53:5), others can have a genuine chance of healing and, then, salvation, through their own hardships and afflictions.

That the world is full of beauty and pain, and kindness and suffering, we cannot dispute. But we can at least, look at the problem the right way round, by committing to Christ's way of kindness and compassion, which brings a reconditioning of our own minds, transforms our outward approach, and transfigures the way we face pain, suffering, worry, and anxiety. And however much we are concerned by suffering, we know we have a relationship with the One who suffered most; who suffered voluntarily for the sake of us.

The cross of Christ is the most dramatic expression of human suffering, and in the most mysterious of paradoxes, this suffering of Christ - Him becoming sin for us - fills every man and women with exciting possibilities and opportunities. The Bible says, Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6), and it is here that we can perhaps find the true answer to the question of suffering.

There are those who cannot quite harmonise or reconcile the world's injustices with God's overall plan for the world; and for those people, I should say that they will best find an understanding by thinking about His suffering before thinking about all other suffering; for those who are doubting the reconciliation, Christ is nearest to them at the time of His own suffering - and it here that He best understands our own issues with suffering.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16

We welcome your thoughts and comments, below, upon the ideas expressed here, which are intended to stimulate debate. You can contact the author at james.knight@norfolk.gov.uk

Feedback:

	James Knight (Guest)	10/08/2007 09:29
Hello. I thought this would be a good time say a few words, as one or two people have asked about my authority in writing these messages. I do not feel that I write with any authority at all, certainly no authority that is any better than anyone else’s; in fact every time I write something I hope to learn twice as much from writing it, and, indeed, from the responses elicited.. I have been a Christian for about six years now - but I am only a layman; that is, I sincerely hope that nothing I write comes across as dogmatic or prescriptive. If I were to write down all of my faults they would take up far too much of your time, as they are plentiful. I simply hope to write words that will encourage people, and, of course, bring about some interesting responses. As a local writer, keen on exploring Christianity to its full, I suppose I, like all writers, make a rather audacious assumption that I have a point of view worth your interrupting your day to ponder. And no doubt, those times when I think that - they are some of my worst moments. But if you’ll forgive me for that, I am confident that we can have some interesting discussions about some salient topics. If, however, you wish to read better viewpoints, you will have to go to writers who are better and more qualified than I am. Many thanks. Yours James
	Timothy V Reeves (Guest)	16/08/2007 11:02
Thanks James for the gallant effort to deal with very difficult problems. Glad to hear that you are not attempting to deal with these tricky issues from a basis of 'authority'; those who stand on authority may be tempted not to give full account of themselves - the result may be an unsatifactory hiatus in their reasonings. Don't worry James about feeling underqualified; after six years as a Christian I'm sure you understand that its who you know, not what you know that get's you places.
	Dave Burgess	03/09/2007 11:02
Why does God let people face terrible suffering? If there was no suffering how would we know! Where would Faith come from?

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