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A common argument against the existence of God is that there is pain and suffering in the world and that God is either cruel
and unjust, because he doesn't stop it, or he doesn't exist.
The irony of this argument is that it stems from a false teaching within the Church that God is all about our health, wealth, and happiness, that his ultimate goal is for us to be blessed here on earth.
These humanistic teachings have been intermingled with the gospel and tainted the very essence of what following Christ is all about.
Those making a case against God have picked up on this and used it even though it is far from the teachings of Jesus. The fact is that we are promised suffering in this life. The Gospels record Jesus teaching us that "A servant isn't better than his master. If they persecute Me, they will also persecute you" - "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake." - "Blessed are you when people hate you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely because of me." - "in me you will have peace,but in the world you will have tribulation."
Suffering is part of our existence - physical and emotional pain are something we endure from the time we are born to the moment of our death.
The very fabric of creation is interwoven with suffering as part of it's design. Even the most basic of creatures relies upon pain to tell it when to react to harmful stimuli. There is a rare condition that some people are born with that does not allow them to feel extreme pain. Of those who have this genetic condition half will die before the age of 3 and most will not make it past the age of 25.
The emotional bonds make up the social and familial ties that allow for civilization and our survival as a larger group. They cause us pain when broken or abused, but, when absent they leave a person unable to function as a part of society.
So physical and emotional pain are essential to our personal and societal survival, but why did God choose to create us in such a way as to be dependent on this way of life?
We have a clue as to why in Hebrews "it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered."
We know that Jesus was perfect, so what perfecting is this referring to? I believe that the perfecting that is spoken of here is the ability of pain to change us in a way that nothing else can.
God creates life to be dependent on pain for it's survival and then he himself comes to Earth to experience suffering.
An eternal being, with limitless power, who had never known physical pain chose to endure extreme torture and become "perfect" through it.
This is no accident, plan b, or punishment, like we wish to believe, this is a deliberate, planned action which achieves something deep inside our inner being. Something that we will probably not understand the full depth of until we are standing before God.
Take this into consideration when considering the larger picture of existence:
- Angels are created with a sinless nature, seeing God in his glory knowing his plan and purposes, never experiencing pain.
- Man is created with a sinful nature, seeing only glimpses of God in this life, experiencing physical and emotional pain.
Yet, though we are born lower than the angels, upon our entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, we will judge angels and will be the "Sons of God" joint heirs with Christ. I Cor. 6:3 "Don't you know that we will Judge Angels
So we see that our struggle through the troubles of this world have a clear purpose that elevates us to a position in God's Kingdom that other created beings will not share. In the end, because of the afflictions and trials that we overcome in this life, we will receive a great reward and the honor of being considered by God to be part of his family.
Paul puts it best, "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Suffering as Believers
Jesus - taking up the cross
Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
In the time that Jesus spoke this the people would have clearly understood what it meant to "take up their cross".
It meant to carry the instrument of your own death through a crowd of people that insulted and physically assaulted you until your were nailed to it and tortured to death.
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Galatians 6:12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Paul is referring to the fact that Jews were exempt from Emperor worship. When Christians were circumcised they appeared more in line with the Jewish religion making them less likely to be singled out when the festivities for the Emperor came up where he was to be worshipped as a god.
Used to discipline
Hebrew 12
5 And you have not kept in mind the word which says to you as to sons, My son, do not make little of the Lord’s punishment, and do not give up hope when you are judged by him;
6 For the Lord sends punishment on his loved ones; everyone whom he takes as his son has experience of his rod.
7 It is for your training that you undergo these things; God is acting to you as a father does to his sons; for what son does not have punishment from his father?
8 But if you have not that punishment of which we all have our part, then you are not true sons, but children of shame.
9 And again, if the fathers of our flesh gave us punishment and had our respect, how much more will we be under the authority of the Father of spirits, and have life?
10 For they truly gave us punishment for a short time, as it seemed good to them; but he does it for our profit, so that we may become holy as he is.
11 At the time all punishment seems to be pain and not joy: but after, those who have been trained by it get from it the peace-giving fruit of righteousness.
To teach obedience
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Jesus perfected through suffering
Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5
8 And though he was a Son, through the pain which he underwent, the knowledge came to him of what it was to be under God’s orders;
9 And when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;
We see that Jesus goes through suffering and is "perfected" by it.
Jesus was already perfect before he suffered, so, what are the meaning of these verses?
This is talking about a completion or changing of a person to fulfillment. Suffering changes us in a way that nothing else can. Even the eternal God himself who has never had to suffer physical pain comes to earth and undergoes this process.
Gives patience and endurance
Romans 5
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Helps us to comfort others
2 Corinthians 1
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
To share Christ’s glory
Romans 8
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Peter 4
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
I Peter 4
12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
I Peter 2
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Phillipians 1
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
James 5
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Corinthians 1
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
Romans 8:18 consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
The irony of this argument is that it stems from a false teaching within the Church that God is all about our health, wealth, and happiness, that his ultimate goal is for us to be blessed here on earth.
These humanistic teachings have been intermingled with the gospel and tainted the very essence of what following Christ is all about.
Those making a case against God have picked up on this and used it even though it is far from the teachings of Jesus. The fact is that we are promised suffering in this life. The Gospels record Jesus teaching us that "A servant isn't better than his master. If they persecute Me, they will also persecute you" - "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake." - "Blessed are you when people hate you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely because of me." - "in me you will have peace,but in the world you will have tribulation."
Suffering is part of our existence - physical and emotional pain are something we endure from the time we are born to the moment of our death.
The very fabric of creation is interwoven with suffering as part of it's design. Even the most basic of creatures relies upon pain to tell it when to react to harmful stimuli. There is a rare condition that some people are born with that does not allow them to feel extreme pain. Of those who have this genetic condition half will die before the age of 3 and most will not make it past the age of 25.
The emotional bonds make up the social and familial ties that allow for civilization and our survival as a larger group. They cause us pain when broken or abused, but, when absent they leave a person unable to function as a part of society.
So physical and emotional pain are essential to our personal and societal survival, but why did God choose to create us in such a way as to be dependent on this way of life?
We have a clue as to why in Hebrews "it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered."
We know that Jesus was perfect, so what perfecting is this referring to? I believe that the perfecting that is spoken of here is the ability of pain to change us in a way that nothing else can.
God creates life to be dependent on pain for it's survival and then he himself comes to Earth to experience suffering.
An eternal being, with limitless power, who had never known physical pain chose to endure extreme torture and become "perfect" through it.
This is no accident, plan b, or punishment, like we wish to believe, this is a deliberate, planned action which achieves something deep inside our inner being. Something that we will probably not understand the full depth of until we are standing before God.
Take this into consideration when considering the larger picture of existence:
- Angels are created with a sinless nature, seeing God in his glory knowing his plan and purposes, never experiencing pain.
- Man is created with a sinful nature, seeing only glimpses of God in this life, experiencing physical and emotional pain.
Yet, though we are born lower than the angels, upon our entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, we will judge angels and will be the "Sons of God" joint heirs with Christ. I Cor. 6:3 "Don't you know that we will Judge Angels
So we see that our struggle through the troubles of this world have a clear purpose that elevates us to a position in God's Kingdom that other created beings will not share. In the end, because of the afflictions and trials that we overcome in this life, we will receive a great reward and the honor of being considered by God to be part of his family.
Paul puts it best, "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Suffering as Believers
Jesus - taking up the cross
Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
In the time that Jesus spoke this the people would have clearly understood what it meant to "take up their cross".
It meant to carry the instrument of your own death through a crowd of people that insulted and physically assaulted you until your were nailed to it and tortured to death.
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Galatians 6:12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Paul is referring to the fact that Jews were exempt from Emperor worship. When Christians were circumcised they appeared more in line with the Jewish religion making them less likely to be singled out when the festivities for the Emperor came up where he was to be worshipped as a god.
Used to discipline
Hebrew 12
5 And you have not kept in mind the word which says to you as to sons, My son, do not make little of the Lord’s punishment, and do not give up hope when you are judged by him;
6 For the Lord sends punishment on his loved ones; everyone whom he takes as his son has experience of his rod.
7 It is for your training that you undergo these things; God is acting to you as a father does to his sons; for what son does not have punishment from his father?
8 But if you have not that punishment of which we all have our part, then you are not true sons, but children of shame.
9 And again, if the fathers of our flesh gave us punishment and had our respect, how much more will we be under the authority of the Father of spirits, and have life?
10 For they truly gave us punishment for a short time, as it seemed good to them; but he does it for our profit, so that we may become holy as he is.
11 At the time all punishment seems to be pain and not joy: but after, those who have been trained by it get from it the peace-giving fruit of righteousness.
To teach obedience
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Jesus perfected through suffering
Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5
8 And though he was a Son, through the pain which he underwent, the knowledge came to him of what it was to be under God’s orders;
9 And when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;
We see that Jesus goes through suffering and is "perfected" by it.
Jesus was already perfect before he suffered, so, what are the meaning of these verses?
This is talking about a completion or changing of a person to fulfillment. Suffering changes us in a way that nothing else can. Even the eternal God himself who has never had to suffer physical pain comes to earth and undergoes this process.
Gives patience and endurance
Romans 5
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Helps us to comfort others
2 Corinthians 1
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
To share Christ’s glory
Romans 8
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Peter 4
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
I Peter 4
12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
I Peter 2
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Phillipians 1
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
James 5
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Corinthians 1
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
Romans 8:18 consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Why is suffering a part of creation?