DEALING
WITH HARD QUESTIONS IN MINISTRY
SUFFERING
TYPES OF SUFFERING IN THE WORLD TODAY.
1. Creation suffering Earthquakes, floods etc.
2. Man against man Lying stealing, rape etc.
3. Mankind Caused War, famine etc.
4. Man's Imperfections Poor car design etc.
5. Personal suffering Lonely, sad, selfish.
6. Self inflicted Suicide, alcohol or drug
abuse.
WHO DO PEOPLE BLAME FOR SUFFERING?
1. Mankind
2. Creation
3. God
4. Satan
5. Sin
HOW TO INTERPRET THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING
1. Suffering is an illusion.
2. Suffering is good for it balances the world e.g. Good/Evil.
3. Suffering is a direct result of personal sin.
4. Suffering is good for evolutionary growth.
5. Suffering is the survival of the fittest.
6. Suffering is the result of the fall of mankind into sin.
A CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AND THE CAUSES
OF SUFFERING.
1. Is the material world good or evil?
Gen 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."
1 Tim 4:4 "For everything God created is good, and nothing is
to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,"
2. How did suffering enter the world?
Through the sin of Adam. As a result mans relationship to God,
creation,
other people and self has been marred. See Genesis 3:15-17
3. Does God cause direct suffering as a result of sin?
John 9:1-3 "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that
he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said
Jesus,
"but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his
life."
4. Will suffering and evil last forever?
Is 65:17 "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The Former things will not be remembered"
Dealing with suffering in our
own life
1.In what ways did Jesus suffer?
Phil 2:6-8 "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider
equality
with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found
in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death
- even death on a cross!"
5. Did the early Christians suffer
2 Cor 1:8-9 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about
the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great
pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even
of
life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this
happened
that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
6. How did the early Christians view suffering.
2 Cor 1:3-7 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts
us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with
the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the
sufferings
of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort
overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;
if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you
patient
endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is
firm,
because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you
share
in our comfort."
Phi 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be
anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
