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Deep Dive

The Problem of Pain and Suffering

Author

Michael Pleasant
September 04, 2024

THE PROBLEM OF PAIN AND SUFFERING

For this teaching, the majority of our time will be discussing questions around the problem of pain. Since this is a more philosophical debate, group discussion will be prioritized over cold hard research.

1. IS SUFFERING A RESULT OF SIN?

Yes, suffering is a result of the sin entering the world. Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21

2. WHY DID GOD ALLOW MAN TO SIN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

If God did not give man the choice to love Him, would the love be real?

Example: Imagine I gave you two options…

  1. You can have a real dog. It will likely pee and poop on your floor (especially early on), you will have to train it, it can disobey you, it might not listen to you, it might dig in the trash, etc.

  2. You can have a dog that at a snap of a fingers does everything you want it to do. It will leave no mess and does not have a choice to. It will do anything at your command and follows all things you say no matter what.

Which would you choose? Most of us, if we are honest, would choose the dog that can make mistakes.

Why? Because there is something so much more authentic about the love and obedience of a dog that chooses to love and obey us.

3. WHY WOULDN’T GOD JUST RESTART AFTER ADAM SINNED?

  • Well, if He did, what about the next time someone in the garden sinned? Would he restart again? How many restarts until God would give up?

  • God knew what He was doing when He made man and knew the consequences of giving man free will.

4. IS SUFFERING A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN?

Sometimes, but not always. This is an important distinction from the first question. Suffering is a result of sin, however that does not mean it is always a punishment of sin.

Examples of suffering as punishment: Genesis 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 11:29-31

Examples of suffering not as punishment: 2 Corinthians 11:23–28, 2 Timothy 4:16–17, Job 1

5. WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

  • What is good? How can we define it? Are any of us good?

  • Romans 3:23-24 and Psalm 51:5

6. WHY DOES A GOOD AND ALL-POWERFUL GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?

  • “Medically we know that pain is a gift. Without it we would not know when we needed medical attention.[1]” If we didn’t feel pain when we touched a hot stove, what would that mean for us?

  • James 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and 1 Peter 1:6-7

  •  Regardless, we have a savior who knows our suffering and is in it with us. God is not ignorant to what suffering feels like.

7. HOW DOES JESUS' SUFFERING RELATE TO HUMAN SUFFERING?

  • Isaiah 53, Hebrews 4:15-16, and 1 Peter 4:12-13

8. WHAT HOPE DOES CHRISTIANITY OFFER IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING?

  • Romans 8:18, Revelation 21:4, Psalm 23:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, 1 Peter 4:12-13, and so much more.