Facing the Question of Suffering

A few months ago, I was interested and excited to read about some happenings at The Gate Church in Reading.  During a period of mission by the church, 100s of people had either rededicated their lives to Christ or made a first-time commitment.  One of the main features of what was happening was that it took place not in a church building but out and about in the community.

When we heard that some folk from Reading were coming to Leicester to help lead a two-week mission in the city, Sue and I were keen to go along and discover more.  After some training in the morning, we were challenged to go out onto the streets to engage with people and share the message of God’s love.  The reason I mention all this is because of the reaction of one lady we approached.  We had been encouraged to commence a conversation by introducing ourselves and then, having made the introduction, to say to the person how much God loves them and that God has a great purpose for their lives.

With some trepidation, Sue approached a lady who was walking towards us.  When Sue informed that lady of God’s love for her, the lady shook her head and replied something like, “I don’t see how God can love us when there’s so much suffering in the world.”  In other words, she brought up the age-old, thorny problem of human suffering.  Put simply, the BIG QUESTION is, “If God is a God of love, and if he is all-powerful, then why is there so much suffering in the world?”

It’s one of life’s tough questions.  It’s one which all those who believe in a God of love cannot ignore.  Let’s be honest and admit that although there are some things we can say in response, which might at least provide part of the answer, there is no fully worked out, conclusive response to such a massive question.  This blog is not the forum for addressing in any detail the question of human suffering, but the lives and recent deaths of two people known to me do, I believe, have something to say.

The first is a lady called Beryl.  I wrote a few weeks ago in my blog about this wonderful lady, who for some 35 years experienced the increasingly debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease, which progressively took more and more of her physical abilities away from her.  Beryl freely admitted that she didn’t understand why God had allowed this to happen, and yet her amazing testimony was that through the dreadful experience she found herself being drawn closer and closer to God.  Still she was able to daily count her blessings, and experienced the reality of constant God’s presence.

The second person I want to mention is called Dan.  Dan was the son of Paul and Jacky, friends of ours from our days in Norwich.  Aged 25, recently-married Dan was diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain tumour.  Rather than wring his hands and give up on life, Dan responded with typical resolve.  He was a young man of strong Christian faith, and despite everything, his faith in Jesus Christ never wavered.

In May this year, Dan was told that the brain tumour was continuing to grow and another cycle of chemotherapy began.  In October, he was told that the chemotherapy wasn’t working and treatment would stop.  Describing how Dan took this news, his wife Kim said: “We came out of that appointment and I said: ‘how do you feel about it?’ and Dan just looked at me and said: ‘God’s good’.  And through everything, every time we get good or bad news, Dan is always like: ‘God’s in control and God’s good’.  And that has always been the focus: God is still good and God still loves us.”  [You can read a full tribute to Dan here].

Beryl and Dan, two people from different generations, but two people deeply in love with Jesus and very much aware of God’s presence in the midst of great suffering.  I can’t give a totally satisfactory answer to the problem of suffering, but what I would want to say is this: Firstly, this life isn’t all there is; those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ have the assurance of a life to come, free from suffering and pain, a life lived fully in the presence of God.  Secondly, God never promises that our earthly lives will be free from suffering, but he does promise that through whatever we face he will be with us; Both Beryl and Dan knew the truth of that promise!

Variety the spice of life?

We have several trees in our back garden, so not surprisingly the garden has an autumnal appearance at the moment.  Fallen leaves are providing an attractive, multi-coloured carpet.  I did take a photo but, as is so often the case, the resulting image didn't really do justice to the reality.

Though the leaves are similar, in reality each one is different, and together they had formed what seemed to me to be an enchanting early morning scene.  Variety lies at the heart of God's amazing creation.  Certainly variety is one of the elements of my role as a Methodist Minister.  Sometimes the contrasts in what I do are noticeable.  For example, one day this week I spent the morning visiting an elderly person who is nearing the end of their life; in the afternoon I was at one of my churches as we hosted a large group of very young children from a local school.  One of our church members has died recently, and it is possible that I will be asked to take the funeral service.  In contrast, I have an appointment in the coming week to visit a couple who would like their baby baptising.

Without variety, the resulting monochrome life would be so dull and boring.  The old saying, "Variety is the spice of life" contains much truth.  With Sue being away part of this last week, I had a go at cooking one evening.  Without going into too much detail, the results were disappointing, to say the least.  I may not be a chef, but even I know that ingredients like spices and herbs, when added to dishes, can make such a difference.

Yet the sad reality is that we human beings sometimes struggle with variety, especially when it comes to other people.  We may fear anyone who is "different;" we can be suspicious of anyone who sees things differently from us.  It seems to me that at the heart of so many of the problems in the world today lies the failure to embrace and accept those who are "different."  One of the mantras of today's culture is "tolerance", yet the ironic thing is that we are so poor at tolerating differences!

We have seen that so clearly recently with the US Presidential election, and before that with the EU Referendum.  We just don't seem able to disagree in an agreeable manner.

The 12 disciples who followed Jesus appear to have been a very diverse bunch.  As one commentator points out, "Jesus could not have picked a more diverse group of men to accomplish his divine purpose. By human standards, the Twelve had very little in common with one another - one unpredictable fisherman, possibly one with a bias against Nazareth, a fanatic Jewish nationalist, a despised tax-collector, a sceptic/pessimist, two “Sons of Thunder” with explosive tempers, and a covetous betrayer."  And yet Jesus command to them was "love one another."  He called them to work together and find unity in their diversity.

Variety isn't always easy to deal with, but it is so beautiful.  Let's not fight against it, but let's embrace it and celebrate it as part of God's amazing plan and purpose.

Election reflections: reason for hope

It has long been a running joke that if a British person shows an American friend some item of British culture, the expected response is something like, "O, we've got a much bigger one of those back home!"  The stereotypical outlook of a US citizen is much bigger and brasher than their UK counterpart.  Well, if we in the UK thought that the Brexit vote earlier in the year was a massive shock, the Americans have most certainly outdone us with the almost totally unexpected election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.

My grandson Max was apparently looking at the TV this morning when the news showed Donald Trump walking onto the stage.  Max asked his mum, "Why are people following that man, mummy?"  Mummy replied, "His name is Donald Trump and he's the new President of America."  To which Max responded, "Is that 'cause he trumps a lot, mum?"  That's a bit of an aside to the main point of this blog, but it caused me to chuckle so I thought I'd pass it on!

In some respects the Trump victory mirrors the victory of the Brexiteers a few months ago.  The polls got it badly wrong in both cases, and many commentators have made the point that what seems to have happened in both cases is that there was a huge and unpredicted vote against "the establishment" by ordinary people who felt that their voices were being overlooked.  Whatever the rights and wrongs of either vote, the fact is that our democratic systems have produced an unexpected outcomes, whether we like it or not.

The point I really wanted to make is that I have been deeply saddened by some of the the reactions to the votes, particularly from fellow Christians.  Sadly, there have been some who have poured scorn on anyone with the temerity to see things in a different way; sometimes seeming to suggest that those who don't agree with them are mindless idiots.  Also, whatever we may think of the two candidates for the US Presidency, I see absolutely no justification for the mass of abusive personal vilification which has poured forth in recent months.  We may greatly disagree with the policies of the candidates, and strongly object to much of what they say and how they have conducted their campaigns, but personal abuse of any kind can never be justified.

Perhaps most worryingly of all, there have been many Christians who almost seem to have thought, both in terms of the Brexit vote and the Trump victory, that with either of these scenarios the world will come to an end!  They seem petrified of an outcome which goes against their wishes, and I have to wonder where is the God-element to such thinking.

A couple of Sundays ago we sang a song in church which has the chorus "Our God reigns," and I made the point that the song is a real statement of faith.  When we look around the world today and see the mess it is in, the huge inequality, suffering, conflict and many other problems we face as a human race, it can be hard to hang on to the belief that God still does have "the whole world in his hands."  Yet we are called to believe that somehow God is able to work even the worst things for good.  The apostle Paul stated this in his letter to the Christians in Rome as they faced terrible persecution from Caesar and the Roman authorities, and if they could believe it, so should we!

I like a Facebook comment from a friend, who wrote yesterday, "Praying for our dear friends across the pond on this Election Day. Whatever the outcome is of the election I am reminded that alongside a Pharaoh, God raised up a Joseph and alongside Nebuchadnezzar, God raised up a Daniel. God can win with a pair of twos. He loves the people of the USA and He is not about to let you down now whoever wins. We love you dearly and May God Bless the United States Of America."

Yes, in human terms we live in very uncertain times in all sorts of ways.  Yet in God we can know peace and security in the most uncertain and troubling of times.  This coming Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when we remember the huge cost of war and the great sacrifice paid by so many.  We will read Psalm 46, which begins with these words, 'God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.  And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.'  Twice in the Psalm we read this great faith statement, 'The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.'  Through the Psalmist, God speaks, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’


Jesus' promise to his disciples is a promise to all who will receive it, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid' (John 14.27).

We are called, as followers of Jesus, to believe that even though the world around seems to be crumbling and all seems so uncertain and worrying, ultimately God is in control and will work his purposes out.  We are also called to pray; to pray for all those in authority (including the Donald Trumps of this world), and to pray for this beautiful world which God has given us, and for its people, each one loved extravagantly by our Creator God.  And finally, we are called to love.  I am currently reading a book by Martin Luther King, in which he so powerfully reminds us, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."  I pray that the people of our world may hear and remember those words and act on them.

When you just need a crutch

A rather traumatic event took place in my family during the past week.  Our younger daughter, Steph, and her husband and two young children were visiting our other daughter, Caz, in South Wales.  Whilst there, Steph managed to fall, fracturing her tibia and fibula in the process.  That was bad (and painful) enough, but the situation was complicated by the fact that Steph is almost 6 months pregnant.  She was taken to hospital and operated on; her leg is now in plaster.  After a couple of days in hospital she was eventually allowed to make the long and uncomfortable journey back home to Doncaster.

It will apparently be around 6 weeks before Steph is able to place any weight on her leg, followed by several further weeks of physio.  Clearly she will find it difficult to maneuvre herself around for some time, and will need support.  In view of her being pregnant, she has been given a zimmer frame for the time being.  Perhaps crutches will come later when she feels a little more confident and less in pain.

There are times when Christians are accused of being weak people.  "Your Christian faith is just a crutch!" is an accusation often heard.  No-one will find it strange to see Steph using a zimmer or crutches for physical support and to get around, in view of her current disability.  Why, then, should it be regarded as strange when we admit to needing support in other ways?

Indeed, there is a sense that admitting to weakness is a prerequisite to the Christian life.  The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Christians in Corinth, writes about a particularly difficult issue which he had asked God to take away.  He then goes on, 'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' (2 Corinthians 12.9&10).  Paul discovered the wonderful truth that God's strength is most clearly experienced in and through our weaknesses.

The journey of Christian faith begins with a person coming to recognise their own weaknesses and inability to manage on their own.  In other words, we come to the point that we say to God, "I admit I've messed up, I admit I can't manage on my own and I need your help."  God graciously comes to our aid, and in our weakest moments gives us the strength we need to carry on.  I know that there have been certain times in my life when I would have been utterly lost without the knowledge of God's presence and his strength. I don't mind admitting that during those times I have leaned heavily on him.  Just as Steph would be foolish to attempt to move about without support, so it seems to me to be foolish to attempt the journey of life without relying on the One who gives life.

Of course God is far, far more than a support in times of need.  But I freely admit that there are many times when I need a 'crutch'!