1 Session 5.2

Life’s BIG Questions

Week 5

Session 2

2 Session 5.2

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Part 2

3 Session 5.2

Last Time• We live in an imperfect

world full of imperfect people

• Pain is an unappreciated protective system

• Our actions cause suffering – To ourselves and others

God gave us free will – He wants us to God gave us free will – He wants us to choose to do goodchoose to do good

4 Session 5.2

Part 2• Problem of continual pain• Profiting from pain?• A world without pain• Teaching of Jesus

– Man’s atrocities– Natural disasters

• Bible message– Why we suffer– A permanent solution to suffering

5 Session 5.2

The Problem of Continual Pain

• Pain tells us ankle is broken– Once immobilised in plaster – no pain

• What if pain doesn’t stop?– Cancer– Arthritis– Loss of a loved one– Terrible accidents

• Loss of limbs, terrible burns, paralysis etc.

• Some pain can’t be “switched off”Why did God create Why did God create continualcontinual pain? pain?

6 Session 5.2

Enduring illness

• Some people endure far more than others – Long periods of time – No apparent hope of

release

• Their suffering not their fault

What is the answer?What is the answer?

7 Session 5.2

God disciplines us as children

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ... Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. … For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He [God] for our profit,that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Hebrews 12 v 7, 9 and 10

8 Session 5.2

God As a Father

• Often children can’t see why they are being disciplined

• Sometimes we can’t see a reason for God’s discipline

In hindsight sometimes possible to see benefit In hindsight sometimes possible to see benefit gained because of pain enduredgained because of pain endured

9 Session 5.2

A World without Pain

What would a world without pain be like?

John Hick imagined a Utopian world designed John Hick imagined a Utopian world designed to protect from all pain and evil…to protect from all pain and evil…

10 Session 5.2

A World without Pain

• No one could ever be injured– Murderer’s knife or bullet

ineffective– No one injured by accident– No need to work– No need to be concerned for

others

11 Session 5.2

A World without Pain

• Nature would make continual adjustments

• Present ethical concepts would have no meaning– No right or wrong actions– Courage/fortitude/concern/ consideration not needed

In this sort of world we could not develop In this sort of world we could not develop charactercharacter

12 Session 5.2

Profiting From Pain

In the world as it is we need . . . Love

Compassion Kindness

Gentleness Patience

LongsufferingEndurance

The Bible says God has these characteristicsThe Bible says God has these characteristics

13 Session 5.2

A Loving Father• We can choose how we live our lives• We all like to have our own way• Having our own way is not always best

for us

Suggest that suffering is a way that a loving Suggest that suffering is a way that a loving Creator has chosenCreator has chosen• Help us developHelp us develop• Make us think about life after deathMake us think about life after death

14 Session 5.2

Teaching of Jesus

• Persecution & War• Genocide• Murder & violence

Jesus had something to say about these Jesus had something to say about these things . .things . .

15 Session 5.2

Man’s atrocitiesNow there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Luke 13 v 1 to 3

16 Session 5.2

Man’s atrocities• Jesus’ response • Those killed were not

more wicked than anyone else

• Jesus gave a warning

Jesus says “Get right with God so you Jesus says “Get right with God so you don’t don’t perishperish””

17 Session 5.2

Natural disasters

These form part of our world . .• Floods• Earthquakes• Tornados• Tsunamis• Volcanoes• Hurricanes• Sand storms

Earthquake damage

Flood damage

18 Session 5.2

Jesus & Natural Disasters

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 13 v 4 & 5

19 Session 5.2

Dying or Perishing?

• Man made suffering– Pilate killed the Galileans

• Natural disasters– 18 men died when tower fell

• Jesus said “repent so you don’t perish”

• Perishing means dying forever

By repenting we can have eternal lifeBy repenting we can have eternal life

20 Session 5.2

Jesus & Continual Suffering“A woman was their who had been crippled. . for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “woman you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

Luke 13:10-16

When he could, when appropriate, When he could, when appropriate, Jesus Jesus healedhealed

21 Session 5.2

Teaching of Jesus• Jesus preached: “The kingdom of God is near”• The healing he performed pointed forward to

God’s kingdom:

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

Matthew 11:4 & 5

Jesus’ healing is linked to the good newsJesus’ healing is linked to the good news

22 Session 5.2

The Good News

• If we trust the Bible – We can be sure that one day suffering will end

• Jesus Christ will come back to the earth – He will remove all our world’s imperfections– Including pain and death

He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all facesGod will wipe away tears from all faces

Isaiah 25 v 8Isaiah 25 v 8

23 Session 5.2

Creation is waiting to be freed

I consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits . . for the sons of God to be revealed . . . That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God

Romans 8:18-21

Suffering shows that we are dying but we Suffering shows that we are dying but we can become God’s childrencan become God’s children

24 Session 5.2

Suffering will ultimately end“…God will wipe away every

tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21 v 4

The Bible tells us to look forward in hope The Bible tells us to look forward in hope & faith to the return of Jesus& faith to the return of Jesus

25 Session 5.2

Summary• A loving Creator wants to

– Help us develop– Make us think about life after death

• Jesus said:– “Repent so you don’t perish”

• Jesus’ miracles pointed to God’s kingdom

Bible says Jesus will come back and remove Bible says Jesus will come back and remove all our world’s imperfections, including pain all our world’s imperfections, including pain and deathand death

26 Session 5.2

Conclusion

• Thank you for being here this week• Review the notes from this session• We look forward to your company next

week - God willing