Questions For God ~ Pt. 2: Why does a good God allow suffering?
Here’s a summary of what’s often behind the question. There is suffering and evil in the world. If there were a good God, He would have done something about it. But nothing has been done about it. Therefore I don’t believe in God or I have really strong doubts about the existence of God. So how do we deal with this?
Part of the problem with this answer is that it takes into account “reality without revelation.” Reality without revelation means that we look at the physical world happening all around us but we don’t take into account God’s written revelation to us – the Bible.
We get a different perspective on suffering and evil when we look at the reality that we see and experience it through the grid of God’s revelation to us in the Bible.
Even though suffering is part of life (1 Pet 4:12), someday in the future God will stop suffering, evil and pain. When he does stop suffering, he stops it forever. When we look at the problem of suffering and evil with only the reality that we see and experience now, we miss the promise that God will one day right all wrongs and eradicate evil and suffering.
Look at God’s final promise about what he will do with suffering. Revelation 21 [1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. [5] He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
But even if reality plus revelation helps us with a possible answer to the question, can we really trust God? Does his revelation to us give us reasons to trust him? I think it does.
Isaiah 55 [8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Deuteronomy 32 [4] He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
Psalm 147 5 Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.
So even if we get a better perspective on suffering by looking at God’s revelation to us in the Bible, it still doesn’t seem to address my suffering here and now in this life. But what if the greatest need of every human being was to know God’s purpose for our lives and to live in perfect harmony with Him – something much more important than being happy and living free from suffering? What if being in harmony with God was the best thing — even better than being totally comfortable, happy and free from suffering in this world? That would change our view of suffering – wouldn’t it? I think so because I now realize that living in harmony with God is the best thing for us – even if I experience suffering in this life.
The Bible actually tells us becoming more like Jesus and living in harmony with God is his main purpose for us. And, suffering actually helps us move closer toward that purpose.
Rom 5 [3] We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
“We rejoice in our sufferings?” That doesn’t seem to make sense. But as we read on, we discover that the suffering that we go through eventually produces the character that God wants each of us to have. And, to God, that’s more important than our happiness.
2 Corinthians 4 [16] That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. [17] For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
God wants us to see beyond the physical reality in this world to the spiritual reality. The spiritual reality tells us that suffering can either make us bitter or better. The next time you experience some suffering, ask God about it and see if he is trying to build Christlike character in your life so you can live in harmony with him and others – no matter what.
Questions for God: The Evidence for Easter (from Pt.1)
There is lots of solid evidence out there validating the probability that the resurrection happened.
This past Easter Sunday, we got into just a sample of that evidence:
There’s the empty tomb Historical records outside the Bible tell us that the Roman authorities sealed the tomb and placed guards to protect it. This was very unusual but they were determined to keep people from stealing the body. No one could get through the Roman guard. Yet, the tomb was empty – the stone was moved away … Jesus rose from the dead.
I was talking with this guy at Shady Grove Metro about our Questions for God series and he was a skeptic. He told me that one of this biggest arguments against the resurrection was that the story was written down some 50 years after it happened so what we read today is myth and legend.
I thanked him for his thoughts and then shared some things that hopefully would shed some light on that premise. I mentioned to him that the resurrection story was written down just a few months or even weeks after it happened – and circulated openly all over Jerusalem by the early Christians. These documents preceded the writing of the New Testament. They were circulated in early Hymns and something called Creeds (short belief statements). Scholars tell us that these Hymns and Creeds were written down from 33 AD – 48 AD – just weeks or even months after Jesus ascended into heaven.
One of the creeds is in 1 Cor 15:3-8. (Take a minute and read this example) which gives a lot of details proving that Jesus truly did rise from the dead. This Creed here in 1 Cor 15:3-8 was written down very early after the ascension of Jesus into heaven and circulated to thousands in Jerusalem.
The disciples weren’t into blind faith – they wanted people to know well after they died that there were many good reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The content of these Creeds and Hymns centers on the death, resurrection and the fact that Jesus was God in the flesh. The idea of a fully divine, miracle-working Jesus who rose from the dead was present in writing right away. So the resurrection was not a myth or a legend that was written down decades after it happened. On top of that, since the resurrection story was all over Jerusalem at the time … thousands heard about it … don’t you think that if the resurrection was a hoax – that someone would have spoken up and even written about it?
Yet, we don’t have any record of any first century person saying that the story was false or a hoax. As a matter of fact, a number of ancient non-Christians wrote about the resurrection happening – and one of them was a famous Jewish historian. The evidence is overwhelming — Jesus rose from the dead and beat death… everyone else is in the grave – no faith path leader did what Jesus did.
MORE EVIDENCE
All of the apostles died terrible deaths. Thomas was pierced with a large lance while in India. Other disciples were tortured, stabbed to death and beaten to death because they wouldn’t denounce Christ. Mark was dragged through the streets to his death. James was beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down.
Maybe you’re thinking, a lot of people have died for a lie that they thought was the truth. If the disciples made up the story and they were in on a hoax, they knew it was a lie. Would anyone die the deaths that the disciples did for a lie – that they knew was a lie? I don’t think they would. These men were honest men. They had no reason to devise some elaborate scheme. They didn’t have the courage to defend a bold-face lie. To die like they did meant that they really did see the risen Christ. They were willing to die for the one who overcame death for them and for us.
There’s lots more evidence out there for any skeptic to examine and I think when you do, you’ll come to the conclusion that the resurrection really happened.
CLICK HERE FOR IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE RESURRECTION HAPPENED.
Questions for God ~ Pt.1: What is the significance of Easter?
Our first Question For God is, “What is the significance of Easter?” Why is this an important question for God? The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever invented by the minds of human beings–or it is the most remarkable … the most incredible – life-changing event of all of history.
Now why is that? If the resurrection didn’t happen, then billions of Christians worldwide are wasting their time celebrating something that never happened – something that’s fiction and made up. Now, on the other had, if it did happen, then there’s no story like it anywhere in history. Nothing even comes close. No one in history has matched what Jesus did that Easter morning.
When it comes to the significance of Easter, I think that a lot people would say, “I believe in the resurrection. I just don’t understand it. What’s the big deal about it anyway?”
Maybe that’s you. You accept the resurrection but you keep Jesus and church at a safe distance. But you still have some lingering questions and some doubts that haunt you.
Or, maybe you’re here and you’re skeptical about the resurrection. You think it’s some myth or mumbo jumbo made up by a bunch of delusional followers of Christ over 2,000 years ago.
No matter if you’re a believer or a skeptic, if you step into the story of Easter and look at it again with fresh eyes, I think the significance – the big deal of the resurrection – may hit you differently. Turn in your Bible to John 20:11-31. John’s Gospel story of the resurrection zeroes in on a couple of key characters and what happened to them. These two characters epitomize our human dilemma: the first character unveils suffering and inner pain and the second character in the story unveils doubt and skepticism. Both are key parts of being human.
The first character in the story is Mary Magdalene. She was on the of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb that Sunday morning. When we saw that he wasn’t there, she experienced deep anguish and pain. Her Lord that changed her life was gone. She felt alone and lonely. We all experience this. I think God put this story about her here to encourage us because the story doesn’t end here. Read John 20:11-16. Jesus restores her hope and reveals Himself to her. He says one powerful word in v. 16 — “Mary!” He says her name. You know, Jesus knows your name too.
The joy that was sapped out of her life – returns … forever. She now knows that nothing can ever draw here away from that deep joy – not that Jesus beat death for her.
The second character in the story is Thomas. Most people refer to him as doubting Thomas. That’s kind of a negative way of looking at Him. I believe that God put this story here in the Bible to encourage anyone who may be dealing with doubts and skepticism about God, faith or the Bible. God embraces every skeptic and wants to show them evidence, proof that He’s real and that Jesus beat death too. That’s why Jesus comes back twice to meet with Thomas. He missed him the first time (v.24-25). When Jesus comes back the second time, he encourages Thomas to look at the evidence and believe. I think He loves to prove and validate who He was and is. Thomas believes and now sees the scars on the hand of God in the flesh, Jesus.
Be encouraged this Easter that God wants to meet you in the midst of your pain, suffering and lingering doubts about Him. There is lots of evidence out there that I believe intentionally allowed to exist to let us know that it’s reasonable to believe the story of the resurrection!
Questions for God ~ Some thoughts on our new series.
We’re beginning a new weekly series this week called Questions for God. At Upcounty, we believe in helping people make three life connections: connect with Jesus Christ, connect with each other in more meaningful relationships, and care for people in the upcounty area by demonstrating and sharing the love of Christ with them.
As we connect with people in the upcounty area, we’re sensing that people have heartfelt questions about God, faith and Christianity. We understand that and we believe that God wants – and even welcomes our questions. He really does.
That’s what this series is all about – no question is out of bounds. God wants us to think and to probe and to dissect his truth. Nowhere in the Bible does God tell us to strip off our intellect and take a blind swan dive into the abyss of faith. Nowhere in the Bible does God tell us to check our mind and brains and reasoning power at the door like we check our bags before we board a flight out of BWI.
We’re meeting for lunch after each service over at Bailey’s Restaurant for our guests and anyone else that wants to come to ask questions, etc. from our Sunday time or other questions on your heart too about God, the Bible or whatever. It will be right after the service until 1:30 pm.
God wants us to question. He loves to reveal himself personally to believers and skeptics alike.
One Powerful Word From the Easter Story
Just a thought from Scripture to encourage you about how much Jesus loves us. It’s been a good time reflecting and getting ready to share the real significance of Easter tomorrow. When I was preparing things with this passage from John 20, the personal, intimate love of Jesus (who is the same God that created you and me … and everything) — look at what He says to Mary Magdalene …
John 20 [13] They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” [14] At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
[15] “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
[16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
When Mary was sad … missing her Lord – look at what Jesus says to get her attention … to connect with her — one powerful word — her name — “Mary!” The original language gives us the idea that he said it with tenderness and compassion.
What an amazing God! He knows our name … and longs to be with us. Romans 5 [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That’s Easter.
I never get tired of the stories of Jesus. Just think again, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the same one, true God from the Old Testament (John 8:53-58; Titus 2:13). He’s God in the flesh — I can never get over that.
I hope you sense the Lord calling your name today.
The Spiritual Life Process
The Spiritual Life Process is all about engaging in living life the way Jesus intended. The Bible mentions time and time again that there is a more and better life available to anyone who chooses to fully follow Christ. The Spiritual Life Process is a spiritual map to help us experience all that God has for us in this life.
(CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE)
Some Thoughts About Our Spiritual Journey
Spiritually speaking, cultivating is the process where we till the soil of our hearts getting it ready to be open to whatever God wants to show us or do in our lives. That tilling or cultivating happens best when we engage in some of the same spiritual practices or activities that Jesus did: silence and solitude, worshipping God, deeply reflecting on the Bible, fasting and more. Spiritual practices help us move from just knowing the Bible to actually living out Christ in us – so we can experience more of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. (Galatians 5 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, [23] gentleness, self-control).
Over my years of following Jesus, I’ve seen too many believers think that growing in Christ simply means getting more – or even some new – biblical “information.” Yes, we do need sound biblical teaching or doctrine. But, we learn from Scripture that information alone never equals transformation. That’s why you have the proverbial Sunday School Teacher who has knows the Bible frontwards and backwards — yet still has a severe anger issue or is emotionally out of control. For genuine, inner transformation to occur, we need to start with knowing (i.e., learning biblical truth) but we need to continue with what I mentioned above. When we do, we will discover a new vitality and a new awareness of God changing our whole being to be more like Jesus.
My heart for us as a church community is to truly engage in life with Jesus and pass on that life to others. I’m excited to hear the stories from many of you about how God is changing you more and more – from the inside out – as a result of entering into a more vibrant life with Him.
