____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 23, 2003 ____________________________________________________ Human Suffering -- and Many Reasons Why (Part 2 of 3) by Tom Edwards In last week's article, to refute the misconception that any time an individual suffers it is because of personal sin, we considered the example of Job and some others who underwent adversity, but not as a result of transgressions they committed. Another intention was to show that God is not the cause for all human woes, and we looked at various examples: such as in acts of nature (hurricanes, etc.), one's own sins (alcoholism, etc.), other people's sins (murder, etc.), one's own carelessness, other people's carelessness (e.g. when driving), and accidents even when we are careful. Let us briefly consider some other reasons for why people have suffered or are now doing so; and again, we shall see that many of these adversities (which are of different intensities) are not because of the Lord, nor because of sin in a person's life: 7) ANIMAL-RELATED ACCIDENTS: It was speculated by one observer that Christopher Reeve's horse, whom he nicknamed "Buck," might have been startled by a rabbit, prior to jumping that third hurdle. But whatever the reason for his horse suddenly stopping, it caused Mr. Reeve, to be unexpectedly thrown; and, unfortunately, with his hands having been tangled in the bridle, he hit the top rail with his head and also landed headfirst on the ground. As a result, his spinal cord was damaged to the extent of his becoming quadriplegic, and he had also lost the ability to breathe on his own. If it, therefore, hadn't been for the immediate CPR, he would have died from this accident that occurred May 27, 1995. Since then he has been making some progress, but let those of us who are Christians continue to pray for his complete recovery! 8) FAULTY PARTS: A pulley breaks; a rope snaps; the steel in a new steel-belted tire separates from the rubber and causes a blowout, resulting in an accident and serious injuries. I had some friends who were driving down the road in an old car, and his wife was getting a little nervous (and probably expressing that) while he was passing a big truck. About that time, he pulled back on the steering wheel -- and it popped off. He handed it to his wife and said, "Here, you drive." Fortunately, everything turned out okay. But parts do break down sometimes or are faulty and can cause some major suffering. Is the Lord, however, responsible for faulty parts? 9) CONGENITAL DISABILITIES: Some people are born with physical or mental problems. Though sometimes this might be traced to sin -- such as alcoholism or illegal drugs -- which the parents had given themselves over to, that is not always the case. It's probably those without these problems who often see them as being worse than the way those who are physically or mentally challenged would view them, since many of these people have learned to cope with their disabilities. But the question in the mind of many a non-believer would be, "Why must these people be afflicted in these ways, if there is a God?" The next point will have an answer for this also. 10) HAVING AN EXTREMELY GROTESQUE APPEARANCE: I'm not saying one has to be good-looking to be happy, but could you imagine being the ugliest-looking person in the world? That might bring on some other hardships that could make life more challenging. Joseph Carey Merrick, for example, lived a short life from 1862-1890. He is perhaps better know as "the elephant man," for he had suffered from Proteus syndrome, which made his appearance extremely grotesque. His head was three feet in circumference. Large bags of "brownish spongy skin" hung "from the back of his head and across his face; deformation of the jaws rendered him incapable of showing facial expression or speaking in more than a splutter that was difficult to understand...[his] right arm was discolored and grotesque, ending in a 12-inch wrist and a finlike hand. The legs imitated the deformed arm..." (Britannica Encyclopedia). He had spent the last few years of his life in the London Hospital where "he died in his sleep of accidental suffocation" (ibid.). Because of his deformity, he was not able to sleep in the same positions that most people do -- for doing so would result in strangulation. Dr. Frederick Treves (Merrick's doctor) "is convinced that Merrick had tried to lie down and sleep like other people, and so choked himself" (from the Epilogue of "The Elephant Man" by Christine Sparks). Though they shouldn't, some people have probably experienced emotional pain for not liking their looks. A fellow I knew from years ago who had a slight facial deformity, later in life became so depressed over it that he thought of committing suicide. Why are some people born with deformities or congenital disabilities? God said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (Jer. 1:5); and David declares to the Lord, "For thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb" (Psa. 139:13). To Moses, God states, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" (Exod. 4:11). God, being the Creator, takes the credit for His creation; but does this mean that if we are born mute, blind, or even deformed that it is always a direct result of what God planned? Since we would not assume the Lord is the cause for why we pick up a cold, a virus, or some other sicknesses, why should we think that He would always be responsible for any illness, disability, or even deformity that one is born with? In considering acts of nature, such as hurricanes or floods, that seem to just have a "will" of their own, can't that also be said of the natural process of conception and the forming of life during the gestation period? Doesn't it, too, have a "will" of its own that has been engendered through "natural laws"? As the Bible shows, God miraculously created man, animals, and plants by simply speaking them into existence (Gen. 1); but He made them all to be able to reproduce, each after their own kind, according to natural laws. These natural laws, however, sometimes become hindered, affected, or intruded by harmful elements -- just as a healthy person is sometimes affected with germs and diseases. Still, though, in a figurative sense, who else would we attribute forming us in the womb than God Himself? For our life comes from not merely our parents, but from the Lord who had given them the ability to have children. And though children often resemble their parents, it is our eternal soul ("spirit" or "inner man") that has been created in the "image of God" (Gen. 1:26,27), for "God is Spirit..." (Jn. 4:24) -- and "... a spirit does not have flesh and bones..." (Luke 24:39). Since man's physical makeup can often become attacked or flawed -- such as with disease or certain parts ceasing to function -- and not by God's direct doing, the same can also happen to the embryo or fetus. Paul refers to this house of flesh that we each indwell as being subject to corruption, whereas the Christian's new, glorified body in heaven will be perfect. As the apostle points out, "...we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" -- and death itself will be "swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:51-54). Let us also remember that God can use -- for our good -- whatever infirmity or disability we have (Rom. 8:28). Though we might have some physical limitations, we don't have to allow these to hold us back from growing into spiritual maturity. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "...For when I am weak, then I am strong." He meant that through physical weaknesses and adversities, he was able to excel in spiritual strength. For he precedes this statement, by saying, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake...." As once said, "Kites rise against the wind -- not with it." Therefore, the wind of adversity in one's life can actually help that person to achieve some greater goals -- to rise above, to excel. 11) OTHER'S CRUELTY: As we considered the grotesque figure of Mr. Merrick, how much he must have suffered over the cruelty of others by their hurtful insults that pierced his soul. He became a target for man's cold, verbal jabs; and the brunt of their heartless slurs. It's sad and alarming to see how hurtful people can be toward each other without the least concern as to how injurious their taunting and slanderous jibes can be. Among some people, you almost assume that they are in a competition to see who can best belittle the other with the most hurtful language. But perhaps this is done out of their own insecurities. By verbally cutting down the other fellow, they give themselves a feeling -- though a false one -- of superiority, such as the bullies who pick on smaller or physically weaker people. These bullies and belittlers feel pretty big, but how small they really are. It is sad to think of all the people who have suffered, due to the thoughtlessness and cruelty of others. 12) FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: In John 9, Jesus points out the reason why this particular man had been born blind -- and sin had nothing to do with it. Rather, he was born that way "...in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" (v. 3). The Lord then went and healed this man before he had even believed in Jesus (vv. 25,35-38). The Lord had also spoken of Lazarus' death as being "for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it" (Jn. 11:4), which then came about by Lazarus' resurrection. So some people had various infirmities in order that God's power could be manifest through them by these miracles, and the Lord be glorified. But, with the age of miraculous gifts having ended, we wouldn't think of people still being born with various maladies today for this same purpose. 13) DEMON POSSESSION: During the time that Jesus walked this earth, and during the early church, we read also of those who were demon-possessed. Apparently, this, too, occurred that the works of God might be manifest in them. The casting out of demons, therefore, would not only give credence to the speaker and authenticate his gospel message, but would also show conclusively that God's power is greater than the power of Satan. Just as miraculous gifts have ceased, however, about the time the completed revelation of God's word was given (having been confirmed by the miracles), demon-possession has also ceased. 14) GERMS AND DISEASES: Many sufferings due to sicknesses are airborne; and though most of these are temporary and not fatal, think of how it was years ago when smallpox and plagues were taking millions of lives. Plague pneumonia, which comes from the same strain of bacteria as the bubonic plague, and had been contracted through inhaling "infected droplets" from the lungs of a person whose plague had become respiratory, was the most contagious and fast-acting form. During the 6th century, it took the lives of 100 million people in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Years later, in the 14th century, an epidemic wiped out a quarter to one-half of Europe's population -- killing about 75 million people. It was called the "Black Death." Can you imagine the literal millions of survivors who must have simultaneously been grieving over their loss of loved ones? How woeful the world must have been -- and especially in the areas where these plagues were. All the tears of the bereaved could have probably made a good-sized lake. 15) RATS: In the case of some of the plagues, such as the bubonic or Black Death, it was the rats, who were infected by fleas, that were bringing it. So they had also been a source of why people suffered. 16) LACK OF HYGIENE AND MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, CONTAMINATION: Much sickness and suffering prevailed in time's past due to man's ignorance in these areas. How ridiculed Louis Pasture must have been when introducing his germ theory, saying that something that could not even be seen with the naked eye would be responsible for so much sickness and even death; but without his development of that theory, and Lister's "application of it, surgery as it is now known would have been unlikely" (Britannica Encyclopedia). 17) PREDATORY ANIMALS and DANGEROUS SEA CREATURES: People are sometimes attacked by dangerous land animals and sea creatures, such as lions, tigers, bears, sharks, killer whales, etc. Many a person has probably suffered due to this -- some losing limbs, and others losing their very lives. Even from a seemingly innocent house pet, to contract rabies from an infected animal would be a painful ordeal to remedy. Though God had once kept the lions in the den from attacking Daniel and had appointed a large sea creature to swallow Jonah, does this mean that the Lord continues to directly influence animals and sea creatures today, so that we could feel secure in walking into a lion's cage or to go swimming with a school of piranhas? Predatory animals have probably been responsible for much suffering over the years. 18) PHYSICAL DEATH: Though we don't have to grieve over Christians who pass away like those who are not (1 Thess. 4:13), and we know that death leads to great blessings for the child of God, it is still a time of sadness for the loved ones remaining. Martha knew that her brother Lazarus would arise from the dead in the resurrection of the last day, but his departure was still a sad event (Jn. 11). What a change in life it is for one who lived so long with a companion, and that companion to now be gone. It is truly a sad part of life. But death is "a going the way of all the earth," as David and Joshua refer to it -- being common to all. In addition, as we have seen in many of these examples, God is not always the one who causes death. -- concluded next week ____________________________________________________ News & Notes The South College Road church of Christ in Lafayette, Louisiana, will be having a gospel meeting March 23-28. The speaker will be Paul Earnhardt, and the weeknight services will begin at 7:30. There will also be a gospel meeting in Baton Rouge at the Park Forest church of Christ with Randy Harshbarger as the speaker. It will be March 30 through April 4, at 7:30 through the weeknights. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________