 Suffering is pervasive. As history progresses, we experience different forms of suffering. For example, in Medieval days, half of all children died before age 10. Now, with advances in technology, education, and lifestyle, our suffering is more often mental rather than physical. To illustrate, our anxiety towards suffering may have intensified.
Sometimes, we bring suffering onto ourselves with careless decision-making, but often our suffering can seem senseless—the loss of a loved one, natural disasters. The 2004 tsunami, comparable to the power of 550M Hiroshima atomic bomb, killed nearly 250,000 people. Why do these things happen? If God is good and all-powerful, why doesn’t He prevent them? The Bible is filled with writers protesting to God on sufferings, particularly what they considered the sufferings unjustified. Yet the Bible doesn’t explain why there is suffering, other than the world is broken and cursed. How do we cope with it? First, know that our God understands suffering due to His personal experience. Christ went through the ultimate unjustified suffering: tortured, nailed on the cross, left totally alone, and even forsaken by His Father. The resurrected body still carried the scars of the nails, revealing a wounded God. Second, know that God suffers with us. Christ wept when His friends suffered (John 11:33-35). His love is always with us. Christians never suffer alone and are encouraged to seek comfort in friendship with one another. Third, know that there is hope. Christ shows the ultimate hope at His resurrection. One day, He will wipe all tears. Paul described his suffering on earth as light and momentary because eternal glory far outweighed his temporary pain (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Finally, think beyond yourself. Help the least (Matthew 25:40-46) and suffer with those who suffer. Then we share Christ’s suffering and will share His glory (Romans 8:16-17). Though the Bible does not explain why there is suffering, we know our God understands suffering, and He suffers with us. One day, Christ will heal all wounds. We must learn to help others even in the midst of our own suffering. Summarized from a John Ortberg sermon: https://menlo.church/series/thats-a-great-question#/modal/message/4972/mlo 为什么上帝允许这么多的苦难？ 痛苦是无处不在。随着历史的发展，我们经历不同形式的苦难。例如，在中世纪时期，有50％的儿童在10岁之前死亡。现在，随着科技，教育和生活方式的进步，我们肉体的痛苦减少了，但精神上却没有。比如，我们对苦难的忧虑可能增加了。 有些痛苦是我们做成的，例如超速驾驶导致的意外。但大多数的苦难我们不了解。2004年的海啸相当于550M广岛原子弹的能量，造成近25万人丧生。又譬如我们深爱的人之死。为什么这么多苦难？ 许多人想，如果祂不能停止不合理的苦难，那祂是否还是全能的; 又或者祂是否好和善良如果祂允许不合理的苦难。 圣经中充满了作家向上帝申诉苦难，特别是他们认为那些苦难是没有道理的。 但是，圣经没有解释为什么有苦难，除了世界是破碎和被诅咒的。 那么我们如何应对苦难？ 首先，要知道我们的神了解苦难因为祂自己也受过苦的经历。 基督经历了终极没有道理的痛苦. 祂受的痛苦完全不是因为祂的错。 祂被折磨，孤单地钉在十字架上，甚至被父神抛弃。祂复活的身体仍然带有疤痕，露出受伤的上帝。 其次，要知道上帝是与我们一起受苦。当祂的朋友受苦时, 基督哭泣。祂的爱与理解永远伴随着我们。基督徒不会一个人受苦的。 如果我们可以与他人分享我们的痛苦，那么我们的痛苦会减轻。因此，尝试建立友谊，以免我们独自遭受苦难。 第三，要知道有希望。基督的复活显示出最终的希望。有一天，祂会擦干我们所有的眼泪。保罗将自己在世上的痛苦描述为轻微而瞬间的，因为永恒的荣耀远远超过了他短暂的痛苦 （哥林多后书 4：16-17）。 最后，我们应该想远点，不要只关注自己。帮助卑微的（马太福音25：40-46），并与那些受苦的人一起受苦。那么我们可分享基督的痛苦，也能分享祂的荣耀 （罗马书8：16-17）。 尽管圣经没有解释为什么有苦难，但我们知道我们的上帝理解并且与我们一同受苦。我们也知道基督有一天会治愈所有的创伤。因此，即使我们在痛苦中，也要学会帮助他人。 Comments are closed.
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