Evil and Suffering: Christian Response Flashcards
Briefly explain the suffering of Job
One book of the Old Testament, Job, is dedicated to human suffering
Job is a good man who suffers: his children are killed, he loses his property and possessions
afflicted by a painful and disfiguring skin disease
This book offers three explanations to Job’s suffering
What is the first explanation to Job’s suffering?
Suffering is a test
God allows Satan to test Job to see if he deserts him
Job does not lose his faith and is rewarded
What is the third explanation to Job’s suffering?
Suffering is part of God’s plan, which is beyond human understanding
Humans have to accept what they cannot understand
God never says what is plan is but Job seems satisfied - his wealth is restored and he is healed
The balance of nature
The world is balanced
Everything is intricately related
Natural processes can produce good and bad effects
Floods kill people but also waters land which allows others to live
Earthquakes which destroy cities and can cause tsunamis are caused by the same forces that created the land on which we are able to live
Natural processes are not ‘acts of God’ they are acts of nature which God allows to happen
Why does God not intervene with the balance of nature?
he created nature and then let it runs its natural course
God should not intervene; this would disrupt the laws of nature
how could God chose between the suffering of one group and the well being of the other?
The suffering of Jesus
Jesus, as a man, suffered greatly
Duffering is part of being human
He was executed in an excruciatingly painful way; crucifixion
Just before he died he shouted: “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Mark 15:34)
he also said: “It’s is accomplished!” (John 19:30)
This suggests that his suffering had a purpose
Original sin
Genesis 3 begins with the story of the first sin
“the fall” of Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world
Before there was no sin, it was all good in the Garden of Eden
We are all seminally present in the loins of Adam and we all bare the same sin and this is why evil exists
People are born with a tendency towards evil
humans are usually attracted to do wrong when given the choice between good and evil
Free Will
Christians believe God gives us free will
to live life as we choose
Free will may lead to moral evil
God does not interfere every time people cause harm as this would make people God’s puppets
We are made in God’s image and God has shown us how to live but it is our free will and our choice to become like him
Humans take the consequences of their decisions
Suffering exists because humans have a choice to do evil
Suffering are acts of humans, not God
Satan
Some people see evil as the work of Satan
Satan appears at various times through the Bible as the opposite of God
Appears as a snake; tempts Eve to eat the apple and he Satan tests Job
God works in mysterious ways
We cannot understand God’s reasons. For some Christians, the answer is that they don’t know why there is suffering but that they should trust God’s love — even Jesus had to suffer. God works with a final plan in view, which is all good and all loving
What is the main Christian response to suffering?
To help those in need, either by intercession and/or helping and serving others by doing voluntary work and giving to charity
