There are many concerns about why people suffer and the existence of evil in the presence of God. Some of these issues include: “Is God willing but unable to stop evil in its tracks? He isn’t omnipotent then, is he? Is he capable yet reluctant to do what you ask? Then he’s a bad guy. It’s up to him to answer that question. So, whence does evil originate? It seems that he has neither the ability nor the will to do so. Why do we refer to him as God? (Amerman 10) But with a lack of evil and suffering, it could imply that this would be a world in which there is no morality because people would be unable to make their own decisions. In addition, God would compel everyone to stop them before engaging in harmful activities. Thus, it would imply that the world lacks freedom and that it does not exist. The only one who understands what is best is God for every person on earth. As a result, he understands that this world is the most direct path to the finest conceivable world. There will be evil and pain along the path, no doubt about it. Believers may celebrate with the apostle Paul when he said, “I think that our actual sufferings are nothing when compared with the greatness that will be revealed in us” (Philippians 3:13). The existence of evil and suffering is supported in the scriptures (Schroeder 46).
A common objection to religious belief is the notion that God permits evil and suffering to exist in the world. This is one of the reasons why many people struggle to believe in God. Such individuals will often label themselves as atheists or agnostics. It is difficult to believe in a higher power that permits evil and misery to exist in the universe. The question many ask in silence is, if God is all-powerful or almighty, why does he allow us to suffer? Also, if God is all-good or omnibenevolent, then why would a kind creator and a God of love let evil exist? These are difficult issues for individuals of all faiths to answer. But Christians believe that evil and suffering happen for a reason that is intended by God, and He is not defeated to remove any kind of evil and suffering.
For Christians, sorrow is seen as an unavoidable aspect of human existence, and there are a variety of explanations for why evil and suffering exist throughout the world. The arguments are referred to as “theodicies.” Even though it is a complicated subject, in very basic words, some of the arguments provided for the presence of evil and suffering are as follows: God has given everyone free will, and people must choose their own decisions. Some of the decisions humans make result in tragic events and human suffering. Secondly, there is an evil power operating in the world, which is sometimes referred to as the devil or Satan. Traditionally, the devil was thought to be a fallen angel who had been cast out of heaven because he had defied God. The third argument is that God is present in our pain and suffering, and suffering is a test for the believer. The other reason is that suffering is a consequence of one’s sin. Additionally, it is believed by Christians that the way people respond to hardship provides them with the chance to grow as individuals. It is known as “soul-shaping.” In the Book of Job (1:8–12), a good explanation is given of how Christians should perceive evil and suffering. In the Old Testament, there is a rich man named Job who lives in an area of Uz with his huge family and flocks of sheep, as described in the Book of Job (Longman 132). He is referred to as a blameless individual and a man of integrity who is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to do good. In the midst of it all, there’s a lot to think about. In the story, Satan stands before God in the presence of the angels and accuses Job of being a liar. Because God has enriched him, Satan claims, Job is only righteous because of that. God is challenged by Satan, who says that Job will blaspheme God if he is allowed to punish him. To discover whether Job rejects God, Satan is allowed to afflict him and watch to see whether he goes away from God. From a Christian point of view, the sufferings of Job come as a test of faith in God and not as a punishment since he did not deserve it.
Job, in the narrative, is informed that his flocks, servants, and 10 children have all perished. Job is distraught. Job continues to express gratitude to God in his prayers. Satan returns to heaven once again, and God enables Satan to put Job through his paces once more. In the book of Job, Job is beset by severe sores, and his wife urges him to blaspheme God, but Job rejects the idea. Job receives a visit from three of his friends, who examine the reasons for Job’s suffering. Job examines the nature of humanity’s connection with God. He bemoans God’s unfairness in permitting evil individuals to flourish while he and many innocent people are subjected to so much suffering. Job, on the other hand, demonstrates his confidence in God and knowledge of his position in the universe in Job 42:1–6, even though God’s methods are beyond human comprehension.
The main reason why Christians believe that evil and suffering are necessary for one’s life is because they are used by God to test their faith in Him. According to the Christian worldview, pain serves as a crucible in which believers in God may rediscover their core and reveal to the rest of the world the reality of their religion. When people are experiencing severe pain or upheaval, they usually cling to whatever it is that they have put their faith in. When people are tested in this manner, Christians expose whether it is a juvenile fantasy or a genuine reality. Suffering, in this context, is seen as a call to be a greater and more loyal witness to the world. Even in the face of suffering, Christians are called to proclaim the gospel to those around them (Habakkuk 3:18). As the Christian worldview points out, as one learns more about how to deal with pain, one must remember that suffering will never be transformed into something positive. Suffering continues to be a bad thing. What must be realized, however, is that pain can be reclaimed; it may be made meaningful. When one is burdened beyond their capacity, they must resist the temptation to grow bitter and instead allow their faith to transform them. For the Christian, suffering must be seen as a three-fold call: to wish for a better world, to endeavor to become a better person, and to live out a greater testimony in the world. Therefore, the presence of evil and suffering is essential because it might present challenges to Christians’ belief in God. God is defined as all-loving, as expressed in Psalms 103:8: The Lord is kind and gracious. It’s hard for some Christians to believe that an omniscient and omnipotent God would make a world full of basic evils.
The Christian worldview has another look at how nothing pushes a person to face their nature more than hardship. Suffering forces people to direct their attention inside, forcing them to confront the aspects of themselves that they may otherwise avoid. God may use pain to transform people into better human beings, individuals who will be able to love and enjoy him for the rest of their lives (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Also, the Christian worldview sees suffering as a part of people’s existence because everybody is a citizen of a fractured society. Some of the people’s pain is the result of their immoral and bad decisions, but some is the result of the world’s fallen state.This element of suffering should cause people to wish for a better world—a society that has been redeemed and liberated from sin—a world that God will return to build one day (Romans 8:19–23). According to the books of (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4), nothing is so shattered that it cannot be used by God. Although suffering is incompatible with God’s ultimate aim for mankind, God is now using it to further people’s growth as individuals.
However, evil and suffering are often used by the opponents of Christianity, like atheists and skeptics, among others, in their arguments against the existence of a divine being. According to them, “because evil and pain exist, God must not exist,” as they explain. They may sometimes claim that God may be present, but that he is a small god, an inept god, or even a wicked god. The argument of those against Christianity has been turned on its head by some Christians as a response. They do this by posing the question: on what grounds is anything labeled “evil?” If the critic’s stance is based on some kind of moral norm, the issue of evil becomes a justification in defense of rather than against the existence of a supernatural being. Because, after all, to categorize anything as good or bad, there must be some underlying criterion of what is right and wrong. Many theists believe that this norm is based on God and his character. Many individuals are aware of the existence of his moral rule, and as a result, they know the reality of evil and pain. However, without a moral norm, people have no genuine foundation for categorizing things as good or bad.
Concerning Job’s suffering and evil things happening to him and his family, there are several lessons to learn about. First, evil things can happen to righteous people in the form of a test of their faith in God. For instance, Job’s story begins in verse 1, where we are told that Job was a spotless, upright man who loved God and was restrained from wrongdoing. Then his life came crashing down around him. However, Job’s suffering did not occur as a result of his sin, but rather as a result of his unshakable commitment to God. (Job 1:8; Job 1:9). The second teaching that Christians believe is that one should not lose hope in God even when one is going through hardship. Job Chapter 13 has one of the most powerful expressions of faith ever written in the whole Bible, and it is located smack in the middle of the chapter. Even if he kills me, I will still put my trust in him. When you place your trust in God, no one or nothing can take away your pleasure or your tranquility. It implies that a believer in God must never give up on their faith in God. The third lesson is that friends and family may compromise one’s faith in God and fail us in the thick of difficulty, but God never fails His believers. In this context, Job’s buddies are putting him on the hot seat. “Miserable comforters, you all!” Job said this about his three companions (Job 16:2). From the Christian view, one day, believers will be able to behold their redeemer with their own eyes. Because God is alive now and forevermore, believers can face tomorrow with confidence. For a long period, Job battled and wrestled with God’s silence in the depths of his suffering. He pondered the question “why” over time. He remained persistent in his desire to be given the chance to defend himself before God with regard to reaching the blazing furnace of his misery.
Additionally, this story about the suffering of Job matters because it teaches that wisdom stems from a fear of God and a desire to stay away from evil. The importance of humility cannot be overstated. Christians believe that when they are proud, it might make it difficult to follow the Lord’s guidance. As a result, when they allow pride to intervene, they may find themselves on the wrong road towards evil before they realize it. Job justifies himself in Job 28:28, wherein in the sight of the Lord, wisdom is shown, and the ability to turn away from evil is demonstrated through insight. The other lesson that Christians believe from the story of Job is that God is with believers even while they are in the thick of a storm. Christians believe that they are never alone because the Lord is their wonderful guardian, and He never departs. Usually, God joins in a stroll across the valleys. When believers are exhausted, he heals their souls to health. When they get disoriented, he directs them back onto the road of righteousness. When Christians are afraid, he gives them the strength to face it, and when they are suffering, he soothes them. The Lord is believed to be the father of storms and calamities. Also, based on the Christian view, God is in control of everything. God is the one who created the whole universe, and he is a man of great strength and ability. Christians believe that they can place their trust and their lives in Him.As Christians can see in Job chapter one, nothing that came into Job’s life did so without first passing through the loving hands of his benevolent. Another lesson that can be drawn from the story of Job in the Bible is that God welcomes a heart that is humble and remorseful. Job is seen to have surrendered to God and repented (Job 42:6). Job understood that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and that he is only a creature of God.
Further, Christians teach that when one is faced with evil and suffering, they must be cautious of their friends and family members who misguide them. Regarding Job’s story, because of Job’s wife and friends’ misunderstanding of God, made them fail and not be there for him in a supportive and loving manner. The close people to Job are observed only giving bad advice to disrespect God. As such, God was not happy, as shown in Job 42:7, where He replied to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath burns against you and your two companions, because you have not righteously spoken of me, as my servant Job has.” Job 42 describes how he offered a burnt sacrifice to his companions and prayed for them, as God had instructed him to do. Job forgives his friends, and the prayer for them was heard by God, and then Job’s fortunes were returned.
Generally, it can be learned that through the existence of evil and suffering, God has given humans the ability to choose. He has shown others how they should observe the Ten Commandments and follow in the footsteps of Jesus’ life and teachings. Whether people obey God’s instructions is up to them at that point in the process, because the reward of sin is evil and suffering. Also, God has a purpose for each person’s life that some may not be able to comprehend at the time. People may face evil and suffering, but Christians should place their confidence and faith in God’s plan. The other lesson is that God desires for people to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and assist those who need assistance. God must have a purpose for letting evil and suffering exist, but the reason is incomprehensible to mankind. Additionally, the presence of evil and suffering in the world is a preparation for eternal life. Evil and suffering provide people with an opportunity to grow as individuals and to enrich their souls. Christians believe that God will reward them in heaven for their good deeds on earth.
In response to the evil and suffering in the world, the Christian worldview believes that there are two primary methods to react to evil and suffering in the world: via prayer and by assisting one another. To begin, Christians must pray for God to either eliminate the sources of evil and suffering or to provide Christians with the strength and endurance to endure pain and evil.For example, if someone commits a moral wrong, such as not following the Ten Commandments, a Christian would not feel they must condemn the individual, but they would believe that God would penalize the individual for their actions. Lastly, Christians should model their lives after Jesus’. This implies that they should use their actions to aid people who are in need. In light of the Bible’s teachings, Christians know exactly how to react to pain and evil. Christian compassion is shown in Matthew 25:31–46 when Jesus tells a parable about sheep and goats, in which he promises to return to reward those who have helped feed the poor, cover the naked, visit prisoners, and care for the sick. Jesus’ statement implies that Christians who ignore the needs of the ill or hungry are disregarding Jesus himself. In the wording of the Lord’s Prayer, Christians are also instructed to forgive others as they’ve been forgiven. As long as people have faith in God, they should also replicate it in life by assisting others (Amerman 1).
In conclusion, evil and suffering are meant to strengthen Christian life and test the faith they have in God. In the Bible, the story of Job illustrates how one may face suffering without actually doing anything, but at this hard time, one should remain faithful to God. He was tried by Satan but remained faithful to God throughout his great suffering. As a Christian, one should respond to evil and suffering through praying and helping others, especially those who are going through hard times like hunger, grief, and sickness, among others.
Works Cited
Amerman, Peter. Mastering The Basics: A Study In What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It And Why It Matters. Paperback 2018. Amazon.Com, 2018
Amerman, Peter. Nehemiah—Leading with integrity: The Nehemiah process of faith integration and fulfillment of one’s calling. Nyack College, Alliance Theological Seminary, 2016.
Longman, Tremper III. Job (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms). Baker Books, 2012.
Schroeder, David E. Frontiers of Faith. AuthorHouse, 2017.
write