Friday, September 24, 2021
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
How Could A Loving God…?
Our thanks to Phil Eichman for sharing the following article with us on the problem of suffering. Dr. Eichman teaches at SouthArk Community College and is one of my good deacons.
Thanks, Phil, for sharing this “good stuff” with us!
Dan Williams
PREACHER STUFF RESOURCE EXCHANGE
College Avenue church of Christ
1817 North College Avenue
El Dorado, Arkansas 71730
www.cacoc.org
When we ourselves are hurting, when we see the pain and suffering of others, or when we hear of some type of tragedy, we are often left with questions. Often these questions are directed at God. We may, for example, hear people say: “Why did God allow this to happen?” or “Where was God when this happened?”
Left unanswered, such questions can seriously affect a person’s faith. J. B. Phillips has pointed out that the “problem of evil” and the “problem of pain” are “the most serious problems which face anyone of intelligence and sensibility.” He further points out that when faced with suffering or tragedy, people may ask: “If there is a God of Love...how can he allow so much suffering in his creation, how can he permit natural disasters such as earthquakes, and how can we possibly reconcile the existence of evil with the idea of an all-wise, all-powerful, all-loving God?” (God Our Contemporary, Macmillan, 1960).
What is suffering? Suffering could be described as any physical or emotional pain. Such a description, however, may be too simplistic. Some pain, such as that resulting from an illness or injury, may be very intense but only last a short time. Suffering would seem to indicate a more long-term process, resulting from something such as a serious or terminal illness, death of a loved one, a divorce, an accident, or a natural disaster, for example.
At one time or another we have all experienced pain and may have also experienced some type of suffering in our lives. Pain and suffering are universal. No one is exempt. All of us hurt from time to time, even Christians. Different people approach the problem of pain a suffering in various ways. The way in which a person approaches the problem will depend to a large extent to how he or she views God. Here are some examples of how people view the problem of pain and suffering. (Adapted from “Why Would a Loving God Allow Pain and Suffering?” by Jay Lynch, M.D., <http://www.leaderu.com/common/terror/lynch.html>.)
There is no God. This is the conclusion of scientism with its naturalistic explanations. It is also the result of reductionism that views everything within the universe as simply the result of chemical and physical processes and random events. Pain or suffering just happen and nothing can be done about it. It is more a result of “bad luck” than anything else. Individuals with this view would not necessarily blame God for pain and suffering in the world. They may, however, use pain and suffering as an argument against God’s existence.
There is a God but he is not good. This is not as common in Western culture, but is very common in cultures with animistic religions in which the world is seen as being filled with evil spirits. It is possible, however, for a person to be angry with God and question his goodness in a time of pain or suffering. Thus, this response is not as remote as it may seem at first.
I recall such an incident when I was a teenager. A young woman in our congregation was killed when her car was struck by a freight train. The following Sunday morning a man went to the front of the congregation to lead the closing prayer. He began the prayer, but stopped, turned and walked out the door. As far as I know he never returned. He indicated to those who talked to him that he was unable to believe in a God that would allow such a thing to happen. For him God was not good.
Pain and suffering are not real. This is a common response in Eastern religions that see the material world as a delusion. Thus, pain is seen as an illusion--something that is not real.
God is all-powerful and all loving, but he uses pain and suffering to punish us for wrongdoing. This is a common response to pain and suffering and is the main subject of the book of Job. Even today it is common for a person to say: “Why did this happen to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” This is the type of thinking that concludes that good things should happen to good people and bad things should happen to bad people.
God is good, but he is not all-powerful. This is the view expressed in the popular book When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Harold Kushner. Although this leads to a rather weak view of God, this is probably more popular than we realize. For some people it is evidently easier to believe in a weak God who cannot prevent pain and suffering, than an all-powerful and good God who still allows pain and suffering to exist.
God is good, all-powerful, all knowing, and all loving and he will eventually make things right. The view expressed in the Bible is that God presently allows pain and suffering in our world, but there will come a time when he will bring an end to pain and suffering and make all things right.
This is not necessarily an easy answer to our questions about pain and suffering. It will, however, point us in the right direction. We will still often struggle with the existence of pain and suffering in our world, but as Christians we can do it with the hope that God will eventually make things right.
Thanks, Phil, for sharing this “good stuff” with us!
Dan Williams
PREACHER STUFF RESOURCE EXCHANGE
College Avenue church of Christ
1817 North College Avenue
El Dorado, Arkansas 71730
www.cacoc.org
HOW COULD A LOVING GOD…?
Left unanswered, such questions can seriously affect a person’s faith. J. B. Phillips has pointed out that the “problem of evil” and the “problem of pain” are “the most serious problems which face anyone of intelligence and sensibility.” He further points out that when faced with suffering or tragedy, people may ask: “If there is a God of Love...how can he allow so much suffering in his creation, how can he permit natural disasters such as earthquakes, and how can we possibly reconcile the existence of evil with the idea of an all-wise, all-powerful, all-loving God?” (God Our Contemporary, Macmillan, 1960).
What is suffering? Suffering could be described as any physical or emotional pain. Such a description, however, may be too simplistic. Some pain, such as that resulting from an illness or injury, may be very intense but only last a short time. Suffering would seem to indicate a more long-term process, resulting from something such as a serious or terminal illness, death of a loved one, a divorce, an accident, or a natural disaster, for example.
At one time or another we have all experienced pain and may have also experienced some type of suffering in our lives. Pain and suffering are universal. No one is exempt. All of us hurt from time to time, even Christians. Different people approach the problem of pain a suffering in various ways. The way in which a person approaches the problem will depend to a large extent to how he or she views God. Here are some examples of how people view the problem of pain and suffering. (Adapted from “Why Would a Loving God Allow Pain and Suffering?” by Jay Lynch, M.D., <http://www.leaderu.com/common/terror/lynch.html>.)
There is no God. This is the conclusion of scientism with its naturalistic explanations. It is also the result of reductionism that views everything within the universe as simply the result of chemical and physical processes and random events. Pain or suffering just happen and nothing can be done about it. It is more a result of “bad luck” than anything else. Individuals with this view would not necessarily blame God for pain and suffering in the world. They may, however, use pain and suffering as an argument against God’s existence.
There is a God but he is not good. This is not as common in Western culture, but is very common in cultures with animistic religions in which the world is seen as being filled with evil spirits. It is possible, however, for a person to be angry with God and question his goodness in a time of pain or suffering. Thus, this response is not as remote as it may seem at first.
I recall such an incident when I was a teenager. A young woman in our congregation was killed when her car was struck by a freight train. The following Sunday morning a man went to the front of the congregation to lead the closing prayer. He began the prayer, but stopped, turned and walked out the door. As far as I know he never returned. He indicated to those who talked to him that he was unable to believe in a God that would allow such a thing to happen. For him God was not good.
Pain and suffering are not real. This is a common response in Eastern religions that see the material world as a delusion. Thus, pain is seen as an illusion--something that is not real.
God is all-powerful and all loving, but he uses pain and suffering to punish us for wrongdoing. This is a common response to pain and suffering and is the main subject of the book of Job. Even today it is common for a person to say: “Why did this happen to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” This is the type of thinking that concludes that good things should happen to good people and bad things should happen to bad people.
God is good, but he is not all-powerful. This is the view expressed in the popular book When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Harold Kushner. Although this leads to a rather weak view of God, this is probably more popular than we realize. For some people it is evidently easier to believe in a weak God who cannot prevent pain and suffering, than an all-powerful and good God who still allows pain and suffering to exist.
God is good, all-powerful, all knowing, and all loving and he will eventually make things right. The view expressed in the Bible is that God presently allows pain and suffering in our world, but there will come a time when he will bring an end to pain and suffering and make all things right.
This is not necessarily an easy answer to our questions about pain and suffering. It will, however, point us in the right direction. We will still often struggle with the existence of pain and suffering in our world, but as Christians we can do it with the hope that God will eventually make things right.
Phillip Eichman
College Avenue church of Christ
El Dorado, Arkansas
Friday, September 7, 2018
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Mobilizing People For Prayer
Mobilizing People For Prayer — God is a loving Father who listens at a moments notice and always answers as quickly. The field of prayer is so vast that it would be difficult to catalog all the varieties of prayer, the rules of prayer and the methods of prayer known to Christian people. But prayer works; we must believe that. Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline said, "We are working with God to determine the future. Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly." Remember the scripture from James: Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and it didn't; then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. James' presumption is that history would have been different if Elijah had not prayed. So what does it take to help us as individuals have a superior lifestyle of prayer? Let me list four rules.
1. The first rule is praying with faith. "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). The more certain we are that what we are praying for is God's will, the more faith we can have.
2. The second rule of prayer is praying with a pure heart. We must constantly be on guard that the motives behind our prayers are the right motives. "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).
3. The third rule of prayer is praying with power. All spiritual power we have comes through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?" and then He immediately adds: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11).
4. The fourth rule of prayer is praying with persistence. Praying about something just one time is not enough; we must pray for it again and again before we see the answer we are expecting. The persistent widow in Luke 18 is a great example of how each of us need to continue to pray persistently and fervently.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Monday, January 4, 2016
Monday, October 26, 2015
Hard Questions
How Could a Loving God Command?
by Jim Baird
Is The Bible Reliable?
Jeremie Beller
Why Is There a Hell?
by Jim Baird
Why Would God Allow Slavery?
Jeremie Beller
Does The Bible Really Condemn Homosexuality?
by Jim Baird
Did Jesus Really Have to Die on a Cross?
by Jeremie Beller
by Jim Baird
Is The Bible Reliable?
Jeremie Beller
Why Is There a Hell?
by Jim Baird
Why Would God Allow Slavery?
Jeremie Beller
Does The Bible Really Condemn Homosexuality?
by Jim Baird
Did Jesus Really Have to Die on a Cross?
by Jeremie Beller
Friday, October 23, 2015
Links to my other blogs
I continue to work on and add to each one of these to keep them active and
up to date. Constantly adding my old material and adding fresh content.
| Title: Click on the title below to go to blog | Brief description of each blog |
| Off-The-Church-Walls | Humor blog |
| Real Life Quotes | Growing Quote collection. |
| Real Life Enrichment | Practical information for everyday life. |
| Parable | Inspiring devotional illustrations |
| Preacher Points | Place for sermon outlines and resources |
| Kevin Rayner's Ministry to God @ The Edmond Church of Christ | Many current resources currently being used at the Edmond Church of Christ |
| Edmond Oklahoma SAM's | Information for helping Seniors |
| Rayner Resources | Hub for my information online |
| Magnify Jesus | A look at the Christ's life and teachings |
| Christ's Church | Reflecting on the followers of Christ |
| Real Life Conversion | How lives are changed by Christ |
| Oaks of Righteousness | Where to focus on becoming more fully devoted followers of Christ |
| "Overtime Church" | More challenging thoughts for the disciple that is most serious about Jesus. Theology for the night owl, weekend worker, or Bible student who wants to learn more. |
| Kevin's Komment | Online commentary and resources to better understand scripture. |
| Real Life Servant Maker | For the Christian growing with a Christ-like servant attitude toward others. |
| Becoming Great Neighbors | Encouragement to love and serve your neighbor |
| Edmond Church of ChristHospitality | Helping each Christian become more hospitable. |
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