Why Does God Allow Christians to Experience Pain and Suffering - Assignment Example

God allows Christians to have pain and suffering for a reason even if they don’t know why

The world tends to look at pain and suffering from a negative perspective, basically as a misfortune. However, Christians ought to be able to see a positive side of both pain and suffering and what God’s purpose is in this context. Both pain and suffering have become realities in our day to day lives. Worth noting is that all negative aspects such as illness or injuries which are brought about by the two concepts are as a result of a fallen and sinful world. In deed in the beginning pain and suffering were not a plan of God. God created everything in perfect form and harmony and every creation was truly a reflection of God’s glory. At that time pain and suffering were nowhere in the picture up until Adam and Eve who were created in perfect form and given the free will to make choices decided to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. Their act broke the perfect communion with God and as a result the world was filled with darkness and sin. Amidst all the calamities brought by this act came pain and suffering too. Judging from the origin of pain and suffering comes in the question why does God allow Christians to experience pain and suffering?

According to Lewis, the concept of pain is the troubling that God gives us for us to know Him in the manner we ought to. Additionally, Lewis states that the act of self-surrender to God in full form demands pain. Based on this, the question put forth is whether pain was not a constant element in our day to day lives; would we rely on our self-sufficiency or would we surrender to God. The truth is we cannot be in a position to answer as to why God allows pain and suffering, but we can understand through His word what His will is. This paper will hence look at the subject matter at hand based on three concepts: Bring to God, Repentance and Being more Christ like.

Bring to God

• Salvation

Suffering tends to promote Christian growth as it portrays the coping mechanisms that they can use to cope and deal with life disappointments and pains. The sufferings and various trials faced can push a Christian to implement the mechanisms past the breaking point. It is only through perseverance that one can identify an area where he/she needs to work on.

Salvation arises as a result of suffering as it is defined as the deliverance from suffering or danger. It is often known that salvation mainly concerns a spiritual deliverance that is eternal. To undergo salvation, both pain and suffering are clearly depicted as the main source of the process. Suffering brings about various responses from a religious and secular perspective and it is based on this that most people tend to ask why God allow us to suffer. As mentioned above, the origin of pain and suffering has played a critical role in what salvation is all about.

As Christians, being given the free will to make our own choices comes with a great responsibility. It is quite amazing how God decided to create us in His own image and likeness instead of creating us with restrictions of how we should act. According to Lewis he came to realize that pain and suffering are not experienced without a purpose. He mentioned that God tends to whisper to us when we have pleasures, He also talks to our conscience however, when we have pains He shouts to us and this is just a megaphone for Him to awaken a dead world.

It is through Jesus Christ that salvation came about. Jesus underwent a lot of suffering and trials in order to bring human salvation. As a result of this for all Christians Jesus is indeed a model of how we should leave and cope in our Christian life. Pain and suffering are just a process which Christians must overcome to strengthen their faith.

B. Continue Need for God

Amidst the pain and suffering God wants Christians to be able to overcome the trials and strengthen their Faith. Many perceptions have been brought up regarding how Christians should act when they are faced with suffering or pain. It is important for all Christians to know that even when they are faced with trials they should continue to pray and believe in God.

In the scriptures Jesus mentioned that we would come across troubles as a result of the fallen world. Based on this we should expect that suffering and pain will come our way but when it does most people rush for it to end without wanting to find out from God what is learnt from that suffering. In the point where Christians embrace their pain and suffering and they look forward to learn from it then their pain and suffering can actually turn to praise. God has a purpose for every suffering and for that in moments of suffering we should continue and ask for God’s mercy.

Repentance

• Punishment

Many people hold firm the belief that God does punish. However, this is not the case as the word punishment is addressed in various ways in the Christian life. God does not punish us simply because Jesus Christ took the punishment for all our sins when he died for us on the cross. It is important to note that God does not punish but He disciplines. Punishment inflicts a penalty while discipline promotes growth. Promoting growth is the nature of God in helping us grow and overcome our suffering to become better in our ways.

• Consequences

When Christians abide to God’s ways they are rewarded the benefits of being able to live in a good relationship with Him. His grace often flows generously and freely in our lives. However, worth noting is that there are effects of going against the ways of God. For instance, in the case where one wants to steal something there are definitely consequences that come with that act. Such type of suffering is as a result of bad decisions and as the saying goes every action clearly has a reaction.

God is indeed our father and just like any father would do He would want us to be able to achieve our full potential. Therefore, if there is need to learn a lesson God will take the advantage of the mistakes we make so as to assist us to grow. His aim is not to let us face pain and suffering but rather His focus is on making us better. Consequences are there and Christians ought to accept and learn from their mistakes and that of others.

Being More Christ Like

• Sanctification

Sanctification is simply the process through which God uses to change a Christian to be a man or woman that depicts actions and character that resemble Christ. According to Berkhof he defines sanctification as a continuous and gracious operation depicted by the Holy Spirit in which He delivers a justified sinner away from the pollution of sin. Berkhof further adds that one’s image is fully renewed in this process in order to perform good works.

The qualities of a good Christian tend to build and become stronger over time. Paul in this context identified spiritual fruit as the life qualities that emerge from embracing the Holy Spirit. Based on this Holiness is the main aim of sanctification and it cannot be easily attained without going through a process. It is evident that God mainly uses pain and suffering in order to shape the life of His people to become more Christ like. The concept of suffering has an important impact on a Christ follower as it is known to be a life changing transformation.