When the Problem of Suffering is Not Theoretical
One of the important areas of apologetics is that of the problem of suffering. I separate that from the problem of evil. I consider the problem of evil to be things like crime, war and injustice. The problem of suffering I see as more of what a person goes through personally, whether by sickness, disability or some other change of life quality. Suffering is likely connected in some way with evil, but I am thinking of more the things life throws at us that beat us down.
I’m glad that people write on this issue and there are some great books on this. But it is one thing to reflect on this on a theoretical level and it is another thing to go through the suffering yourself.
I have just returned home from almost a week in the hospital. During part of that time, it looked fairly likely that I might be dying. While I have since had some good test results and things are looking better, I am still not out of the woods. However, even in the grimmest time, I really did not wrestle with the problem of suffering. I asked “Why?” but I was not really seeking an answer. Even if God spoke to me in my hospital room, I’m not sure there would be any answer that would make me feel better. I was scared, not so much of dying, but of missing the experience of watching my children grow up. If an apologist came to me and tried to explain why this was happening, I would not have been open to their explanations. I was in a place of desperation where I was calling out to God. It was far more emotional than intellectual. I am thankful that the pastors that reached out to me did not try to explain the situation. They listened to my frustration and prayed for me. That is really all we can do.
What do we do with the problem of suffering? Continue to write on it, but write for the skeptics who struggling to see Christianity as having a place for suffering. But when it comes to people who are suffering, avoid the example of Job’s companions and just show compassion. The truth is you do not know why a person is a suffering or how God will respond.
DEARS IN CREATOR CHRIST, GREETINGS IN CHRIST NAME HERE IS A SMALL REPORT REGARDING MYSELF. AS I EARNED MY DEGREE IN MATHS, PHYSICS, AND CHEMISTRY. AND POST GRADUATION IN PHYSICS PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHS. AND ALSO I AM WORKING AS TEACHER IN PHYSICS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN ANDHRA PRADESH , INDIA.
AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL I AM BELIEVING IN YOUNG EARTH CREATION. HERE IS A COMMENDATION FOR THIS YEAR I WAS SELECTED AS BEST TEACHER OF APPRECIATION BY THE GOVERNMENT i.e., YESTERDAY, DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND MAGISTRATE, K. SURESH KUMAR GIVEN THE COMMENDATION CERTIFICATE IN OUR 6TH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS ALONG WITH OUR HONORABLE MINISTER, KANNA LAKSHMI NARAYANA. PRAISES TO OUR CREATOR CHRIST FOR THIS SELECTION. THE FOLLOWING WAS SUBMITTED AS NOMINEE. 1. HOW MUCH LIFE IN THE EVOLUTION? 2. LIFE OR EVOLUTION? 3. CARBON DATING IS INTELLIGENCE CHEATING 4. CHIMPANZEE GENOME: A REPORT 5. ENERGY ; IS IT A GOD? AND SOME MORE ADDED. PRAISES TO HIM THIS HONOR GOES TO THOSE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE YOUNG EARTH CREATION. GLORY TO HIM PRAISES TO GOD I SHALL ENCLOSE THE PHOTOS AND COMMENDATION CERTIFICATION IN THE NEXT LETTER
PRAY FOR ME I AM PRAYING FOR YOU TOO YOURS IN CREATOR, SIRISH B KANCHERLA INDIA
Hey Steve, I’ve often heard that C.S. Lewis wrote two books on this issue, “The problem of pain” and “A grief observed” The first was an academic apologetic undertaking and the second was written as he observed the death of his wife. Apparently, the theoretical book cannot compare with the book written in the midst of the suffering. I think that is why God chooses first to write His Gospel in the hearts of living people and not leave it on tablets of stone – Still praying for you.
I can emotionally accept sufferings, and I believe that intellectually the problem of evil fails to show that there is no God.
However, the problem of ETERNAL hell is completely unsolvable: those who wants to believe in this concept MUST clearly reject the concept of God as a perfect being.
Lothars Sohn – Lothar’s son
http://lotharlorraine.wordpress.com