Q&A RE: SUFFERING & FAITH
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First of all I want to point out that no Christian knows all the answers, and I certainly don’t! However as I have grow in my Faith and have had the privilege of working in the healing ministry I have learnt & witnessed much about the power of God. One question that I don’t fully understand is when I pray with some people they get healed, and others appear that they do not! However as I don’t do the healing, only God does that, I have to accept that he chooses when and how to heal. This can often be very different to what we may expect or want!
Below are some questions that have been put to me in the past.
Q/ If God is suppose to love us, why does he allow suffering?
A/ We have to accept that the human race often does things differently to what God had intended. God gives us free will and we often bring disaster and illness on ourselves. Our style of living has a lot to do with our physical well being. For example, I confess that too often I eat more than is necessary and as a consequence I carry more weight than is good for me! Because we tend to change our belongings when it goes out of fashion and not when it wears out, resources such as rain forests are being used up at an alarming rate and having a bad effect on our environment. If we drink to much and drive we are more likely to have an accident If we smoke excessively the chances of lung cancer are greater etc….
I don’t believe that God necessarily inflicts suffering on us as a punishment, although we have to accept that there are examples especially in the Old Testament where he does. Certainly God can use suffering to his advantage. I know that I would not be a Christian today if Maggie had not suffered so much. Likewise Saul (St. Paul) who persecuted Christians was transformed into one himself as a result of his suffering. I know of many other Christians who can rejoice in their suffering because it was that which brought them to Christ.
Q/ If I become a Christian does that mean I’ll become healthier & wealthier, no more suffering?
A/ If the answer to this were yes I guess our churches would be overflowing and hospitals closing! Although I don’t preach the ‘prosperity Gospel’ as such, certainly many people can testify how when they became Christians their lives were enriched. For a Christian if this were not so I would have to ask the question if they were experiencing an actual personal relationship with Christ! However Christians will never be exempt from suffering whilst living their earthly life. Although Jesus did promise rewards for those who follow him, he also predicted poverty, rejection and persecution. Although there can be no guarantee of a life without suffering, we can be guaranteed that if we suffer Christ will be there in our suffering. Faith in him will give us peace, strength and endurance to cope with the suffering. He may also minister his power in actual healing, as I have witnessed on many occasions!
There are many Christians who have gained great financial wealth. This is not necessarily wrong. The Bible doesn’t say it’s wrong to be rich. What it says is “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6v10) not money itself.
What matters most is the importance we place on wealth and what we do with our money. Such people as Lord Shaftesbury and more recently Sir Cliff Richard, are examples of wealthy Christians who use their wealth to help others and it’s not the most important thing in their lives.
Q/ Don’t talk to me about religion, aren’t there more wars fought over it than anything else?
A/ No! They may be fought in the name of religion, but how many are fought because of religion? Again although we have to accept that in the Old Testament there were bloody wars which God seemed to condone, these were mainly in relation to establishing the Isrealites into the promised land. Often the enemies were given ample opportunity to negotiate a peaceful settlement, and to turn to God rather than their own sinful ways. Even in New Testament times there have been many wars in the disguise of religion. Although the crusades were supposedly initiated to spread the Christian Gospel, in reality I wonder how much of it was to do with possession, politics, pride and greed. Although a very complex issue, we have to look no further than Northern Ireland to see an example of war blamed on religion. Yet there are many, probably the majority of people who want peace. Those who truly know Christ and understand & follow his teaching from both sides of the divide are striving for peace & unity. Jesus taught us “to love our enemies” “to turn the other cheek” not to kill each other over differences of denominational doctrine.