To help make this clear, I want to begin with an illustration. As humans, we have confrontations in 100% of our close relationships at one time or another, and I believe that the heart of the relationship is determined in how each party handles those confrontations. For instance, when a child disobeys their parent, the natural loving response from that parent would be discipline. I think we can all agree that a parent that sees their child doing something they know to be wrong, and allows the child to continue doing it, is displaying a poor example of parental love. I would also say that most people have experienced conflict in friendships and other close relationships. Maybe many of you have experienced the type of conflict that went unresolved and the relationship simply dissolved. But, the friends, spouses, parents, or children that we remain closest to are those in which both parties have expressed the truth about how they feel toward one another. You probably agree with all or most of what I just said in that paragraph, right? Then why is it that there's such a great tendency to throw this aspect of relationship and relational conflict out the door when it comes to God?
The bible says that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Then, one might ask, why does God allow the possibility for sin? To which I respond, why does a parent allow the possibility for their child to make a mistake or to disobey? Loving parents know that keeping their child on a leash will only inhibit them in any aspect of growth. Likewise, God allows us freedoms in order to allow for growth. Sin is what we do when we are dissatisfied with God. God created us. He made us to be fully satisfied in him. The bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from him, the unchanging Father (James 1:17). So, let's look back at the illustration of relationships from the previous paragraph. We could say that sin causes conflict between us and God, thus requiring a conflict resolution. An unloving God would allow us to keep on sinning, but a loving God allows suffering as a form of discipline. The bible says it this way in Hebrews 12:5-7:
5 "And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?"
Statistics say that 1/3 of this generation of Americans are raised without a father figure in their life. Maybe you're one of those people raised without a father. I have many close friends in that situation, and they've had to endure an unspeakable hardship because of their inherent need for a father (Psalm 68:5). Yet many people choose to deny either God's existence or his love because of his allowance of suffering in this world. From a truthful perspective, God is the only father with a right to desert his children when they make a mistake (sin), because sin is a rejection of God. However, God allows suffering, as a form of discipline, because of his great love for mankind. Maybe you're following me at this point but you're still wondering about the really horrific sufferings such as rape, child molestation, and the like. Notice, I've said God allows suffering; he does not create the suffering. Suffering is a result of sin, which is a result of rejection of God. (In other words, God is so good, that he uses bad to point back to his goodness.) So why doesn't he rid the world of rape, murder, and the rest of the sins that make the top of our unwanted list? I'm only going to touch the tip of the iceberg in my answer, but in short, God would then have to rid the world of lies, cheating, stealing, lusting, fornication, and so on because it's all a rejection of him. In order to do that, he would have to kill everyone on the face of the earth. So, to the one who opts not to believe in God and God's love because of God's allowance of suffering, and stands in judgment on those who've committed truly horrible sins, I ask this: Do you really want justice? Naturally, the wages of sin is death, because sin is a separation from God who gives life. Therefore all people stand condemned to die as sinners. Not believing in God because of suffering is illogical. In reality, the allowance of suffering points to a need for someone to mend brokenness. What is the most loving thing God could do for those who have deliberately rejected him over and over, except to allow them to suffer, in order that they will turn back to Him, the giver of life?
Because suffering is such an important topic for those in a relationship with God and those who don't have a relationship with him, the bible has a ton to say about it. I cannot possibly begin to express all of my thoughts towards suffering in this small post, and my thoughts don't even compare with those in the bible. Hopefully this small writing has stirred your thoughts, which you are welcome to contact me about. For now, this is to be continued...
