The question of why a loving and all powerful God would allow suffering in the world lies at the heart of why many people object to the idea of God. We regularly read and see personal suffering across the world in various forms of abuse and violence and in the vagaries of the biosphere in extreme weather such as cyclones tornado's and hurricanes and in seemingly random geological upheavals in the form of earthquakes and hurricanes. We also know of the sufferings that are self- inflicted through human weakness, in addictions, through pride, by unhelpful character traits and immoral behaviour causing harm both to ourselves and others. The result of all this suffering we know to be death, injury and emotional distress. In the face of suffering which often seems random and unfair how do we react? Like when we see a child or one who we perceive to be a good person dying at a young age when conversely a seemingly wicked person lives to great old age. This somehow offends our sense of justice.
Critics of Christianity often believe that we should just grow up and accept that life is random and unjust, that as humans we are prone to misfortune, are exposed in the face of evil and that suffering is just part of life. That life has evolved in a process of ‘"survival of the fittest’" and where the strong triumph over the weak because naturally evolution depends on death destruction and violence. Those critics may see the fact of accepting the natural world this way as a strength, proud of their ability to accept life as it is rather than create a magic world in the sky where suffering and injustice are corrected but only in the minds of Christians. This "realism" is seen as a virtue. The world is cruel they say. "Get over it" because it is childish to believe that life owes you comfort.
Yet when we are in danger, when faced with things beyond our control or when in despair of our own human weakness. How often do we cry out for help to something beyond and greater than ourselves whether we have faith or none. It is worth pointing out that this argument arises only when we posit God because without him the cruel world would be an indisputable fact we would not need to ask the question- Why? The idea of God then raises the notion that we should be protected from suffering and also gives us somebody to be angry with at death, disease and all forms of injustice. If you abandon God though, does it make suffering any easier to handle? So if God is so loving and good, why on earth does he allow it and if he is all powerful why does he not stop it.? Does he care? Is he powerful at all? Is his nature really love? These are all reasonable questions in the face of what we know of the real world.
There is no easy or quick answer to the question of suffering but the bible does give us some pointers. Christians believe that the kingdom of God is indeed good and free from pain suffering and injustice but the bible tells us that the serpent was there from the very beginning of creation. The serpent represents evil and the word evil in Hebrew means "that which causes harm". God said that the earth was good rather than perfect and we believe that for love to be meaningful we are given free will. Love without the choice to love would mean robotic love, it could not be freely given. God could have made love obligatory but that would have been a meaningless kind of love. In the bible we do not see a God who pulls levers and controls us and all situations, though this is the God that many people crave and desire but instead we see a God that provides and then gives us free will. He provided a physical material world and a spiritual life for us to enjoy and he himself is the source of love on whom we can draw. As Christians we are called to practice this Agape unconditional love and in doing so take an active part in reducing suffering.
Critics presume that the reason for our own suffering should be known to us but as individuals can we really be aware of an overall purpose given our human limitations, despite our natural need or perceived right to know all things? This is most evident when we deny that much suffering is the result of our own sin and error. The reasons for human suffering whilst appearing random does often serve a purpose and that tragedy may not be as pointless as it first appears. In times of trauma or distress it is common to learn more about ourselves and build up resilience and character to cope with adversity in the future. It also has a refining effect because it is only when we look back on situations that we can often give reason or make sense of it.
When our own mortality is at stake life comes more sharply into focus and our sense and appreciation of it can increase. Anxiety and distress give happiness and peace the perspective of appreciation, while the consequences of our own error may bring us to a point of humility where we are moved to change (The word repentance actually means to turn and change) for the better and which may not have happened had we not been challenged. These adversities allow us to develop sympathy and empathy toward others who suffer likewise because it increases our understanding and can lead us to judge people less harshly.
Throughout history suffering has been experienced when people stand for justice and freedom when fighting for rights as with the trade union movement for workers rights and in the wars against Nazism to protect ideas of freedom. Suffering is therefore required in the face of evil in order to achieve long term security and the greater good. Conversely it is thought that a comfortable life free from suffering diminishes our spirit leading to many kinds of neuroses and psychological problems. Sociological studies across materialistic western cultures report lower levels of trust, weaker community, increased fear, greater loneliness and increased expectations which all feed greater dissatisfaction. The bible often describes the spiritual damage done by the love of money and a material rather than spiritual outlook.
In the Christian life we find peace in the Holy Spirit which gives us a light at the end of the tunnel, giving deep consolation and strength to face the brutal reality of life and provides for us optimism rather than a sense of futility. Our spiritual life in eternity has ongoing meaning rather than just being useful for a limited time span until death and where our legacy may live on for a limited time in those left behind (or it may not ) This experience causes us to hold a sincere hope that our suffering is not in vain.
This is exemplified in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our God came down to earth and deliberately suffered physically and emotionally to bear the sins of mankind. God understands human suffering. Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, tiredness, anger, he grieved and was tempted just like us. Jesus was also distressed and troubled by his own suffering and sorrow. He was not a stoic hero in sharp contrast to many martyrs that followed him who faced death in Christ’s name with remarkable courage. Jesus asked to be relieved of his fate and on the cross he cried out to the father, asking why he had been forsaken. He did not renounce God instead he asked Why? His reactions were similar to what most of ours would be in the same situation and is something we can identify with because he suffered and in doing so identified with all those who are abandoned. His suffering and our suffering somehow meet at the cross. His three hour lingering death by slow suffocation and blood loss was compounded by the inner agony of separation and abandonment from the father, the source of love itself who he had known for all eternity.
Christianity does not give a complete reason for such pain but provides resources not least the power of the Holy Spirit for facing suffering with hope and courage rather than bitterness despair or resignation. Critics ask why a suffering dead body is necessary but we believe that Sin has a cost and causes spiritual death and inner suffering, which requires the justice of redemption. The cross teaches us the resolve to cope and the idea that sacrifice redeems us to the purpose of ultimate love. The book of Job is dedicated to the idea of suffering. Job refused to blame God because he has faith despite repeated tragedy, he had fortitude in adversity and his eventual reward gives us a hint to sufferings purpose. Job's story seems harsh and many view God in the old testament as being power crazy and hard in his punishments but life itself punishes us when we do wrong things and our obedience and response to Gods love often determines the level of suffering we experience.
Our fragility in the face of natural disasters which seem random and unjust, lead us to realize that we are not powerful, secure or in control. Such events demand our humility. Our sin in various forms show our psychological and moral fragility and death proves that we are merely deteriorating soft fleshy material. The bible implies that the spiritual state of humanity in its fallen state impacts on the creation and material world as a whole, that they are intertwined. We do not have an immediate scientific answer to this idea or a solution to all suffering, we cannot always discern why. Not all people are refined by suffering, rather many are crushed because of it but we have a Christian story which says that God is with us amidst the catastrophe wanting to transform us if only we ask him to.
If we accept a God who suffers on our behalf we should also be able to believe in a God of ultimate reason and purpose. In the absurdity of the human condition faith offers a gateway to a spiritual life which we can experience in prayer and worship which is not an escape into an imaginary paradise but a renewal and cleansing of earth which begins in the here and now. This provides us with a purpose driven life and hope that the kingdom of heaven will come down to earth, so that we may experience eternal harmony and peace and where suffering is no more.