Where Suffering Doesn't Come From

There seem to be a lot of ideas running around about where suffering comes from.  Many of those ideas come from humanity's well-intentioned desire to come up with a logical explanation for everything.  In Bible study this week, we studied Luke 12 and 13, in which Jesus encourages his disciples to be ready and to concentrate on what is most important in their lives.

Here are the first five verses of Luke 13:

Now 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.  Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

In these verses, Jesus attempts to get them to focus not on why others are suffering, but on their relationship with God.  According to Jesus, our relationship with God is more important than trying to find an explanation for everything.

Here is a list of conclusions people come to about suffering, and why they are wrong.

• You are suffering because you sinned.  While we know that driving 150 miles per hour in front of the police station has its consequences, most suffering comes because the world is broken because sin entered the world.  So if you have cancer, it's not because you didn't say your prayers every night as a child.  When the man who was born blind was presented to Jesus, the people wanted to know if his blindness was because of his sin or his parent's sin.  Jesus reminded them that they were missing the point and that God was going to get His glory through their friend.
• You don't have enough faith.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard this from people wanting to present a quick-fix for those who are suffering.  And at the same time, this is the last thing suffering people want to hear.  Didn't Job have faith?  Faith when he lost his family and all his possessions?  Sometimes bad things happen to people with big faith.  After all, even the most saintly people die eventually (unless Jesus comes first, that is).
• God is punishing you.  This was offered by some as an explanation for the recent Haiti earthquake and was met with strong rebuff.  This statement is absurd and tremendously hurtful.  First of all, God's judgment has not yet come - Jesus refers to the "Day of Judgment" as something that is later - not today.  Not to mention that without Jesus' salvation, we all deserve judgment and punishment anyway.  The "God is punishing you" write-off often masks a self-righteous attitude.  Except for God's forgiveness, none of us escape the judgment, and we should all be grateful that it hasn't happened yet.
• God causes suffering.  This is sometimes phrased as a question - "Why is God causing this suffering?"  While I believe that God does allow suffering into our lives to help us build character, He is not its source.  On the contrary, His prevenient grace protects us from a lot of suffering that would naturally come our way in this sinful world.

I know a lot of people who suffer in various ways.  Some are inspiring pictures of faith, relying on God to carry them through.  God has not promised that we would not suffer, but He did promise His presence to those who are suffering.

Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

So don't listen to those with bad theology.  Stay close to friends who will just be there and listen during your turmoil, and listen to God.  He will be with you.

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