Sep

Why Do We Hurt?

In this war that we are involved in there will be casualties. God is battling right there beside us. Jesus won the ultimate battle by way of the cross but there is a lot of mopping up to be done. And just like the miserable, evil terrorist he is, Satan intends on taking as many out as he can before his final judgment.

Why does it have to be this way? Who can really know? I think we have let a whole lot of very intellectual, enlightened, and well-meaning theologians in this western culture convince us that the spiritual warfare that is really going on, is not. The kind of thinking that leads us to believe that maybe, just maybe, some things happen that God cannot control, would not be very acceptable in most of the very educated halls of western Christianity. I do not believe anybody or anything can best or beat God. But I believe He has self imposed limitations because of His love. The very thing that seems lacking when we are hurt is the very thing that makes the hurt possible.

Because God loves us so much he first gave us the ability to make our own choice. Second, He wants as many as possible to have the time to make that choice. When Jesus won on that cross it could have been over right then. But where would we be? Would that have ended the whole program?

The USA is the only nation to drop a nuclear bomb on another country. We could have done it again. And again. But that kind of use of power is not in any way loving. If God fought this war like He could, would it show HIS love?

There just seems to be no great answer for the hurt that all of us endure. But I believe we do ourselves and God a disservice by blaming it on Him, or thinking it is His will. He wants the best for all of us. But His word warns us that we will suffer on this earth, in this life, if we join His side. But someday we will suffer no more or ever again.

Even so, come quickly

Love you all

Tags: Evil, Free will, Pain, Perseverance, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 7:07 pm and is filed under Pain and Suffering. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 comments so far

Shannon

Sonny,

This is a great topic for the church to discuss, especially given the reality of suffering amongst God’s people. There seems to be this underlying notion in (popularized) Pentecostalism that those who suffer are not living the ‘Spirit-empowered’ life; yet, I am reminded of the empowerment in Christ’s life to live without sin, endure great persecution, suffer unto death and then be raised from such death. One of the important questions related to this whole ordeal is whether God himself suffers. As powerful and all-knowing and ever-present as God may be, does he suffer as a result of his creation? Many a theologian throughout the centuries contend that God cannot suffer. Yet, in light of the Scriptural witness, is this the case?

Boyd makes a helpful explanation concerning the complexity of the creation and the resultant pains and hardships that plague our lives. As you have mentioned, the fact remains that we cannot know the exact reason for hurtful situations. And instead of continually blaming God because of our ignorance of the situation(s), our focus needs to be on our response. Although we may not understand things totally (sometimes not at all), God has enabled us to respond in such a way that represents him, draws nearer to him and displays our faith in him to the world around us. Yet (as you have mentioned) such response involves the self-same vulnerability that makes possible the dilemma.

Do you think that we have any ‘room’ in the church today for suffering or those who suffer? In our singing, preaching, fellowship, evangelism, etc.?

September 16th, 2008 at 10:11 am

Sonny

Thanks Shannon,

If God does not suffer, can He rejoice? If He does not hurt, can He laugh with us and feel joy? Where does it say that He can only experience positive emotions? And if anyone thinks that He feels nothing, then how in the world can we even begin to see him as relational?

Paul seemed to have suffered mightily. Yet he kept on in joyful service to our King. I believe we have to allow those who suffer into our fellowship, if we want to serve Christ. The ‘room’ I believe you may be talking about is that some types of churches and ministries seem almost embarassed by anyone who suffers being around. If that is what you mean then no the American church does not seem to make much ‘room’ for them.

But I believe we must. And I believe preaching and teaching that is slanted towards all the good God has in store for us should be revised to let us know that we have been enlisted in the army of God and war is not pretty.

We must remember that Jesus suffered, and hurt, and wept. But the hope is in eternity and the end of this war.

September 16th, 2008 at 10:51 am