The Senselessness of Suffering
A Christopher Wright Sermon Summary
Humans have caused lots of suffering. Genesis 3 describes how the devil tempted humans into rejecting God’s authority, distrusting His goodness, and disobeying Him, which led to the downfall of mankind.
The Bible doesn’t explain the origin of the devil but describes the devil as an angel rebelled and fought against God, such as attacking Christ throughout His ministry[1]. Despite this, the devil still exists under God’s authority.
God doesn't create evil because there is no darkness in God[2]. Though we can’t make sense of the devil, we need to reject and resist him[3].
We also can’t make sense of natural disasters and catastrophic pandemics, which cause suffering as well. The curse on the ground in Genesis 3 didn’t cause them because that curse was on humans[4]. The story of Job teaches us that suffering is not necessarily a punishment from God[5]. Natural disasters have existed all along. If God used disasters to punish, He would’ve stated so.
Many in the Bible, including Job, Jeremiah, and numerous psalmists, lamented and questioned their loving and all-powerful God. They complained furiously, protesting to God’s slowness in responding. Yet, they still believed in God’s sovereignty and goodness[6].
We also need to trust God being in charge. We need to believe that all things work together for His purpose, as seen in the life of Joseph[7].
Similarly, we need to trust God’s goodness. The cross demonstrates His goodness, as well as the wickedness of Satan and men under their free will. But God’s sovereignty weaves all these together for our good[8].
Finally, Revelation teaches that God is at the center of the universe, with all creation around Him. Only Christ can understand human history, not us[9]. And God’s sovereignty overrides all evilness, with God judging the wicked and saving His people[10]. In the end, Christ will rule over everything, with all evil, death, pain, shame, deceit, impurity, and curse eradicated[11].
In His sovereignty, God weaves evil into His purpose to redeem the whole of creation, accomplishing the greatest good[12]. This is our wonderful hope, in which we have total confidence and incomparable joy.
Summarized from Chapters 1-3 of The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith” by Christopher Wright.
1 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Revelation 12:7-9
2 Habakkuk 1:13, 1 John 1:5
3 Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9
4 Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-21
5 John 9:1-3, Luke 13:1-5
6 Job 19:6-8; Jeremiah 15:10-21, 17:14-18, 20:7-18; Lamentations 2:11-12; Amos 3:6; Isaiah 45:7; and Psalms 10, 12, 13, 28, 30, 38, 56, 69, 88
7 Genesis 45:4-8
8 Acts 2:22-24, 36-38
9 Revelation 4&5
10 Revelation 6&7
11 Revelation 21:1-4; 22:3
12 Revelation 21-22
The Bible doesn’t explain the origin of the devil but describes the devil as an angel rebelled and fought against God, such as attacking Christ throughout His ministry[1]. Despite this, the devil still exists under God’s authority.
God doesn't create evil because there is no darkness in God[2]. Though we can’t make sense of the devil, we need to reject and resist him[3].
We also can’t make sense of natural disasters and catastrophic pandemics, which cause suffering as well. The curse on the ground in Genesis 3 didn’t cause them because that curse was on humans[4]. The story of Job teaches us that suffering is not necessarily a punishment from God[5]. Natural disasters have existed all along. If God used disasters to punish, He would’ve stated so.
Many in the Bible, including Job, Jeremiah, and numerous psalmists, lamented and questioned their loving and all-powerful God. They complained furiously, protesting to God’s slowness in responding. Yet, they still believed in God’s sovereignty and goodness[6].
We also need to trust God being in charge. We need to believe that all things work together for His purpose, as seen in the life of Joseph[7].
Similarly, we need to trust God’s goodness. The cross demonstrates His goodness, as well as the wickedness of Satan and men under their free will. But God’s sovereignty weaves all these together for our good[8].
Finally, Revelation teaches that God is at the center of the universe, with all creation around Him. Only Christ can understand human history, not us[9]. And God’s sovereignty overrides all evilness, with God judging the wicked and saving His people[10]. In the end, Christ will rule over everything, with all evil, death, pain, shame, deceit, impurity, and curse eradicated[11].
In His sovereignty, God weaves evil into His purpose to redeem the whole of creation, accomplishing the greatest good[12]. This is our wonderful hope, in which we have total confidence and incomparable joy.
Summarized from Chapters 1-3 of The God I Don’t Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith” by Christopher Wright.
1 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Revelation 12:7-9
2 Habakkuk 1:13, 1 John 1:5
3 Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9
4 Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-21
5 John 9:1-3, Luke 13:1-5
6 Job 19:6-8; Jeremiah 15:10-21, 17:14-18, 20:7-18; Lamentations 2:11-12; Amos 3:6; Isaiah 45:7; and Psalms 10, 12, 13, 28, 30, 38, 56, 69, 88
7 Genesis 45:4-8
8 Acts 2:22-24, 36-38
9 Revelation 4&5
10 Revelation 6&7
11 Revelation 21:1-4; 22:3
12 Revelation 21-22