This is one of the most difficult questions for Christians to answer.<\/p>\n
The \u201cproblem of pain,\u201d as the well-known Christian scholar, C.S. Lewis, once called it, is atheism\u2019s most potent weapon against the Christian faith.<\/p>\n
All true science<\/a> and history<\/a>, if rightly understood, support the fact of God<\/a>. This evidence is so strong<\/a> that, as the Bible says: \u201cThe fool hath said in his heart, There is no God<\/a>\u201d<\/i> (Psalm 14:1<\/a>).<\/p>\n Most atheists<\/a>, therefore, without any objective evidence on which to base their faith in \u201cno God\u201d, must resort finally to philosophical objections. And this problem of suffering<\/a> is the greatest of these.<\/p>\n That is, they say, how can a God of love<\/a> permit such things in His world as war<\/a>, sickness, pain, and death<\/a>, especially when their effects often are felt most keenly by those who are apparently innocent? Either He is not a God<\/a> of love<\/a> and is indifferent to human suffering, or else He is not a God of power and is therefore helpless to do anything about it. In either case, the Biblical God who is supposedly one of both absolute power and perfect love becomes an impossible anachronism. Or so they claim!<\/p>\n This is a real difficulty, but atheism<\/a> is certainly not the answer, and neither is agnosticism. While there is much evil in the world, there is even more that is good<\/a>. This is proved by the mere fact that people normally try to hang on to life as long as they can. Furthermore, everyone instinctively recognizes that \u201cgood<\/a>\u201d is a higher order of truth<\/a>\u00a0than \u201cbad\u201d.<\/p>\n We need also to recognize that our very minds were created<\/a> by God. We can only use these minds to the extent that He allows, and it is, therefore, utterly presumptuous for us to use them to question Him and His motives.<\/p>\n \u201cShall not the Judge<\/a> of all the earth do right<\/a>?\u201d (Genesis 18:25<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u201cShall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, why hast Thou made me thus?\u201d (Romans 9:20<\/a>).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n We ourselves do not establish the standards of what is right. Only the\u00a0Creator<\/a> of all reality can do that. We need to settle it, in our minds and hearts, whether we understand it or not, that whatever God does is, by definition, right<\/a>.<\/p>\n Having settled this by faith<\/a>, we are then free to seek for ways in which we can profit spiritually from the sufferings in life, as well as the\u00a0blessings<\/a>. As we consider such matters, it is helpful to keep the following great truths continually in our minds.<\/p>\n Since \u201call have sinned<\/a> and come short of the glory<\/a> of God\u201d<\/i> (Romans 3:23<\/a>), there is no one who has the right to freedom from God\u2019s wrath<\/a>\u00a0on the basis of his own innocence.<\/p>\n As far as babies<\/a> are concerned, and others who may be incompetent mentally to distinguish right and wrong, it is clear from both Scripture<\/a>\u00a0and universal experience that they are sinners by nature<\/a> and thus will inevitably become sinners<\/a> by choice as soon as they are able to do so.<\/p>\n The world is now under God\u2019s Curse<\/a>\u00a0(Genesis 3:17<\/a>) because of man\u2019s rebellion against God\u2019s Word<\/a>.<\/p>\n This \u201cbondage of corruption,\u201d with the \u201cwhole world groaning and travailing together in pain\u201d (Romans 8:21-22<\/a>), is universal, affecting all men and women and children everywhere. God did not create the world this way, and one day will set all things right again. In that day, \u201cGod shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death<\/a>, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain\u201d (Revelation 21:4<\/a>).<\/p>\n The Lord<\/a> Jesus Christ<\/a>, who was the only truly \u201cinnocent\u201d and \u201crighteous<\/a>\u201d man in all history, nevertheless has suffered<\/a> more than anyone else who ever lived.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And this He did for us! \u201cChrist died for our sins<\/a>\u201d (I Corinthians 15:3<\/a>). He suffered and died, in order that ultimately He might\u00a0deliver<\/a> the world from the Curse<\/a>, and that, even now, He can deliver from sin<\/a> and its bondage anyone who will receive Him in faith<\/a> as personal Lord<\/a> and Savior<\/a>. This great deliverance<\/a>\u00a0from the penalty of inherent sin<\/a>, as well as of overt sins, very possibly also assures the salvation<\/a> of those who have died before reaching an age of conscious choice of wrong over right.<\/p>\n With our full faith<\/a> in God\u2019s goodness<\/a> and in Christ\u2019s<\/a> redemption<\/a>, we can recognize that our present sufferings can be turned to His glory<\/a> and our good.<\/p>\n The sufferings of unsaved men are often used by the Holy Spirit<\/a> to cause them to realize their needs of salvation<\/a> and to turn to Christ in\u00a0repentance<\/a> and faith<\/a>. The sufferings of Christians<\/a> should always be the means of developing a stronger dependence on God and a more Christ-like character, if they are properly \u201cexercised thereby\u201d (Hebrews 12:11<\/a>).<\/p>\n Thus, God is loving<\/a> and merciful<\/a>, even when, \u201cfor the present,\u201d He allows trials and sufferings to come in our lives.<\/p>\n \u201cFor we know that all things work together for good to them that love<\/a> God<\/a>, to them who are called according to His purpose\u201d (Romans 8:28<\/a>).<\/p>\n Source: ChristianAnswers.net<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is one of the most difficult questions for Christians to answer. The \u201cproblem of pain,\u201d as the well-known Christian scholar, C.S. Lewis, once called it, is atheism\u2019s most potent weapon against the Christian faith. All true science and history, … Continue reading There is really no such thing as the \u201cinnocent\u201d suffering.<\/h2>\n