most difficult questions to answer when witnessing
to non -believers is the dilemma of innocent
suffering. This question is usually posed in
a manner such as this. If God were all good,
he would desire all his creatures live perfectly
happy lives. And if he were all powerful, he
could do as he wished. Then why does he allow
the innocent? to suffer. For another way it may
be asked, how can a loving, just, and all -powerful
creator permit the cruel and evil events which
often befall humans? This is an old question.
One that has confounded men at least since the
time of Job was written. And it's an honest question.
There's never an answer. But it's also a difficult
question, even for theologians. Several answers
have been provided in the past and are still
in use. The following is a review of the most
prevalent answers offered by recent writers on
the subject. A current view, widely held, is
that evil is the price we pay for the greater
benefit of freedom in the universe allowed by
God. If the possibility of evil did not exist,
mankind would not be free to love God by choice
and thereby become part of God's own family.
Humans would be compelled to love God, and the
creation of a bunch of robots lacking the freedom
to choose him out of love was not in God's design.
We learn from the book of Job that neither should
we love God because he can provide us with abundant
gifts. It's assumed by nearly all theologians
today that God wants us to love him unconditionally
simply because he's God and we're his creatures
and he loves us unconditionally. A prevalent
view of ancient Hebrews as well as those of Jesus
there. was that all disasters, as well as disease,
pain, etc., were the result of wrongdoing or
sin of the person afflicted. This is assumed
by many today. And one would have to agree that
much human suffering can be attributed to the
immoral choices made by the individuals themselves.
As some would say, they're getting what they
deserve. Yet we know that much suffering is visited
upon the totally innocent. This was the dilemma
of Job. His friends advised him to admit the
sins he had committed and ask God for forgiveness.
But Job knew he had committed no sin. And so
his question remained. Why? In chapter 9, Job
seems to be ready to abandon the assumption that
God is good. He wonders, perhaps God is so powerful
he was not made to be good. He may seem to be
good, punishing the wicked and warning the righteous,
but being all -powerful, he has no compulsion
to do so. Rabbi Harold Kushner, in his book,
When Bad Things Happen to Good People, suggests
that God is not all powerful. God is really good,
he says, and would like only good things to happen
to good people. But some things are beyond his
control. Not all events are part of an ordinary
universe. Some things happen by chance, and God
has no control over them. C .S. Lewis in his
book, The Problem of Pain, says that pain or
evil is God's way of making us realize that something
is wrong. The way we conduct our lives and our
world. If pain or evil did not exist, we would
continue smuggling along present paths without
realizing the need to change. Lewis reminded
us that God made us for himself. And only by
surrendering ourselves to him completely can
we achieve the state of perfection he envisions
for us. Only when we experience things going
badly will we realize the need to change. To
use Lewis' words, God whispers to us in our pleasures,
speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to
us in our pain. It is his metaphor to rouse a
different world. In a popular book, Finding God
in the Questions, Timothy Johnson addresses the
question of evil as the principal one of several
he raises. Johnson says that he approaches the
problem by attempting to play God and design
a better world than the one we have. He admits,
however, that no matter how hard he tries, really
cannot imagine a better world than the present
one. Surely a major feature of Johnson's new
world would be the absence of suffering. He does
note, however, that a world without suffering
or death would be a world where humans would
be incredibly smug, pursuing pleasure without
worry or concern. As he says on page 177 of his
book, I find myself torn between the natural
desire for a world without suffering and injustice
where we would feast forever on a cosmic silver
platter and the present one where there is at
least the possibility of striving to overcome
pain with honest love and real choice. Johnson
also notes that suffering and injustice of this
world not only provide an opportunity to make
it better, but also provide an opportunity to
look forward to another time and place where
there is ultimate justice and no suffering. A
place permeated by love. The last source that
I will touch on this morning is the book by James
Dobson, When God Doesn't Make Sense. This book
contains a series of heart -wrenching stories
of sufferings by children and adults who, like
Job, were innocent victims. Dobson's advice to
such victims refers back to the conclusion drawn
by Job. Let us remember that God is creator and
man is creature. Not only is God all good and
all powerful, He is also all -knowing. Man is
limited in all three characteristics. That which
man is capable of knowing is but a minuscule
part of that which isn't known. Most of God's
activities are just unknown to man. Dobson says
that when God doesn't seem to make sense, we
should remember his greatness in our limitations.
That will allow us to maintain our faith in him
even when we don't understand. This is also the
answer given at the conclusion of Job. After
God finally speaks to Job from the storm, Job
replies. And in chapter 42, we read his confession
to God. I know that you can do all things, Job
said. No plan of yours can be thwarted. You ask,
who is this that obscures my counsel without
knowledge? Surely, I spoke of things too wonderful
for me to know. You said, listen now and I will
speak. I will question you and you will answer
me. My ears have heard you. Now my eyes have
seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent.
and dust and ashes. So, which of these answers
will you give when someone poses the question
to you? Personally, I cannot accept those answers
which place limits on God. I believe that God
is all good, that he is all powerful, and that
he is all knowing. I can accept that much suffering
is a result of immoral choice. Innocent suffering
often results from the wrongdoing of those of
us who are not so innocent. I can accept that
evil exists so man will have the benefit of moral
freedom, which is also C .S. Lewis' basic point.
Through pain, God is trying to wake us up. to
the need to change our behavior. Johnson's point
also seems valid, that the suffering of this
world provides an opportunity to strive for a
better way. And I, Fred Smith, would add that
it provides an opportunity for each of us to
grow. When Sarah, my wife, was 68 years, passed
a few years ago, I was devastated. I cried deeply
for nearly three months. Anything might set it
off. I would see her picture. A bowl she cherished.
The chair where she always sat. Anything. One
evening in my house, it was dark. It was cold,
and it was still, and the loneliness overwhelmed
me. I went from room to room, calling her, Sarah,
Mama, Mom, please come, I need you. But she wasn't
there. I began sobbing so hard, I fell to the
floor. I had hit rock bottom. I cried to God,
Lord, please help me. I can't continue like this.
And folks, as clearly as anything I have ever
experienced in my life, I heard a voice say into
my head, I am Jesus Christ. I will fill that
empty spot left in your heart by her departure.
And you won't have to feel lonely. Folks immediately
began to feel good, elated even. I regained my
walker and was shouting hallelujahs, got myself
ready for bed. That night I slept peacefully
till the next morning. I have never since felt
that kind of loneliness. I began to grow. for
love and compassion for others that I never before
knew existed. My life is more meaningful than
I ever thought it could be after serving him.
So yes, suffering will come, and it will hurt,
and you may not know why, but don't let it. Drive
you to despair. Call on Jesus. Listen to him.
He speaks American English. We're the son of
action. I know why I'm hurting. Join with me.
You don't have to have a dead spouse. But if
you let Jesus come into your life, he will raise
you up to more than you can be.