The Problem of Suffering
Published on Nov 05, 2016
Suffering: What’s the point of it? Who’s to blame for it? Why does God allow it? How can I avoid it? How can I get free? Why is it so hard to get free? Those last three questions anyone can ask. The first three require faith. That makes it thorny.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The Problem of Suffering
God, Free Will and Consequences
Some of the worst things about suffering
Are the thorny questions it raises
It's because suffering
is a faith issue
If there's no God, why expect no suffering?
But IF there is a God AND He is good...
THEN WHY???
This question takes us to two mysteries
Our Free Will
God's Sovereignty
Without free will, we are not at fault
Unless God is sovereign, we have no hope
Holding this together takes balance
Oops! Looks like we left something out
The Evil One!
Without a belief in real spiritual evil
We end up blaming God or ourselves
Now we can map out the key points
1st Question
Where did evil come from?
Why Evil?
- God did not create evil
- Evil exists because God gave free will to the angels
- Satan chose to go his own way away from God
Why Evil?
- God did not create evil
- Evil exists because God gave free will to the angels
- Satan chose to go his own way away from God
Why Evil?
- Satan tempted others
- This "created" the evil spirits that tempt us
- We joined the Rebellion, thereby "creating" sin
Why Evil?
- Satan tempted others
- This "created" the evil spirits that tempt us
- We joined the Rebellion, thereby "creating" sin
2nd Question
Where does suffering come from?
Why Suffering?
- 1) Our Free Will: our choices & those of others have consequences
- Sinful choices always cause suffering
Why Suffering?
- 1) Our Free Will: our choices & those of others have consequences
- Sinful choices always cause suffering
Why Suffering?
- 2) A Real World Setting: the rules of reality are not made by us
- 3) An Invisible Enemy: still sins against us
Why Suffering?
- 2) A Real World Setting: the rules of reality are not made by us
- 3) An Invisible Enemy: still sins against us
