They state the nature of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation, the Noble Eightfold Path. But, there are a variety of causes for suffering: morally corrupt (evil) people, disease, earthquakes, floods, famine, etc. Periods of Persecution. However, the first human … 3 years ago. 1 1. Christian theism is, in fact, the only worldview which can consistently make sense of the problem of evil and suffering. Peter wrote: Peter wrote: [N]ow for a little while, if necessary, ye have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. Illustration: parents who totally control their kids. Suffering exists in both religions but the causes as well as the way to stop the suffering are different. Jesus has already endured any punishment deserved for our sins, right? A loving God gave us a choice. Would you prefer the alternative? When he claimed to experience Nirvana, one of the resulting insights was a concept labeled: “The Four Noble Truths.” These succinctly state that life is inevitably going to include suffering, and the cause of suffering is desir As a result, Christians were regarded as contributing to the decline of the Empire. In the midst of an extreme trial, it can be hard to develop mature faith. How does a christian explain suffering? One, deserved suffering. By the Jews (before 35) In Acts 7:54-8:3, we read of the first persecution of the Church. Economic Causes . FREE WILL. All suffering, however, is under the sovereign purpose of God, who is able to use it for his glory. Our goal should be not merely relief from suffering but rather learning to please God by being responsive and obedient to Him and to His Word (see Romans 12:1, 2). Sometimes God permits us to suffer to teach us that pain is a part of life. Types of evil and suffering . Sin always spawns misery. So, deserved suffering is inevitable: “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. A temptation to power and self-exaltation lay in the late Jewish promise of the coming of the Messiah–Son of man. Although there are many reasons why Christians suffer, I would like to address what I believe are eight of the most common reasons why there is suffering in our lives. This can cause problems for many Christians, as they believe in a loving, powerful and all-knowing God. but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. What he looks for now is God’s sustaining presence, not God as the cause of his suffering. Instead, faith offers confidence that God can be trusted in the midst of suffering, even if much remains unclear and uncertain. We experience three kinds of suffering in this life. I've come to question this for these reasons though. He paid in full, once and for all (Peter 3:18). ... For Christianity, redemptive suffering is the belief that human suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with the Passion of Jesus, can remit the just punishment for sins and allow to grow in the love of God, others and oneself. It is by Christ's suffering that we are saved (Isaiah 53:5–6). as all knowing, omnipotent, and omnipresent, it seems impossible to believe that anyting happens independent of It is nature’s preferred agent for inspiring change. The ultimate cause of suffering is sin, which has brought violence, disease and death into the world. In fact, he has experienced it personally. Regardless of the specific cause of our suffering, our Lord and Savior can understand, empathize, and sympathize with our suffering (Hebrews 4:15). Suffering in the Christian life is a given, like in any life. Easy explanations for the causes of disasters are not provided; guarantees that God will prevent or remove suffering are not provided. Nowhere does the Bible say that the Christian will not suffer adversity! 3 years ago. Answer Save. Favorite Answer. 4. Suffering can fall into three simple categories: emotional, mental, and physical suffering. Christianity - Christianity - The problem of suffering: The starting point for the Christian understanding of suffering is the messianic self-understanding of Jesus himself. We must understand that God doesn’t want anything bad for us. Lv 7. Judaism has attempted to cope with the problem of suffering in various ways. Unbelief can cause all kinds of suffering, for ourselves and others. My 19-year-old friend Pete is already living his new one-legged life with great courage and hope. (not living at all, or being a "robot"?) It keeps the world from becoming too attractive b. #1: A Lack of Word Knowledge. Christ had died on the cross, so there was no higher honor than to imitate that death through accepting martyrdom (witness by one’s blood). Suffering christianity encouraging Suffering Saints. How we bear our suffering can make all the difference in the world for how we love life, express faith, and avoid cheapening God. Unbelief is something God can’t stand. Suffering Ceases … pain and suffering that is so pervasive in this world. The presence of suffering in the world poses a problem for religion insofar as it seems to contradict the notion of an all powerful benevolent God. Suffering tempers the soul and helps prepare it for eternity. Pat answers that God will quickly make everything good do not help. Suffering is the central problem that Buddhism addresses, and recognizing our suffering is the first step to its solution. Whatever character and faith are already built into a Christian’s life prior to going through suffering tends to come out during suffering. 1:6-7). However, pain that is not transformed through the acceptance of God’s will and the co-suffering with Christ is often the cause of more pain into the world. Why would suffering be the result of human behavior then, if Jesus has already paid for our sins? Revise and learn what Christians believe causes human suffering and how they seek to combat it with BBC Bitesize GCSE Religious Studies. Suffering will follow because you are going against the forces of the universe, which is what causes anxiety, depression and negative emotions. Many Christians suffer because they're too busy seeking carnal knowledge instead of the Word of God. Unbelief keeps the blessings of God such as healing, forgiveness, fullness and freedom locked out from our lives. It would seem that if God were good, He would not want His creatures to suffer, and if, all powerful, He would be able to prevent their suffering. The Bible book, John, tells us he wept when his friend, Lazarus, died and his sisters were distraught at their loss. He lived 2,000 years ago in the Middle East. Verse Concepts. Christians serve a God who has lived on this earth and endured trauma, temptation, bereavement, torture, hunger, thirst, persecution and even execution. Cholera certainly creates suffering but the causes of this suffering are manifold: there is the cholera bacterium, there is the pump handle that is teaming with the bacterium, (going beyond the story) there is the city that is refusing to belief that the pump handle is the problem, and there is the merchant who charges more for a pump handle than the villagers can afford. The reason desiring causes suffering is because attachments are transient and loss is inevitable. Christian news and views about Suffering and Problem of Pain. Philosophers through the ages have offered defenses for the idea of a loving, omnipotent God in the face of suffering. Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha in order to leave samsara. When our sins catch up with us and we feel the pain, in humility, let’s humble ourselves and accept it. sats. An Entry Point. Christians with unbelief are dishonouring God by their thoughts, words and deeds. There are different explanations for why God allows suffering, but none of them can satisfy everyone. Lv 5. It’s all sin can do. Charles. There are many possible entry points to a discussion of Christianity and suffering. Is it better if we did not have freedom to choose good or evil? The Jews ( before 35 ) in Acts 7:54-8:3, we are given consistent access to the throne God. The Church be trusted in the late Jewish promise of the Empire sense of coming! The causes of suffering in christianity to stop the suffering are different idol makers, soothsayers, painters architects. Sins, right us to suffer to teach us that pain is a given, like in life... 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