Does Suffering Debunk God?

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." — Hebrews 12:2

As part of this "Really?" series, we've been looking at the biggest myths challenging our faith. This week is the biggest question that confronts Christians and non-Christians alike. It's one we struggle with, and one that commonly appears in popular culture, too.

I have watched "Grey's Anatomy" since the beginning. It's a show in its 14th season, so it's been going for a long time and there aren't many surprises left. But this season has featured a story arc that is of interest to me. It surrounds April (Sarah Drew), the only openly Christian character on the show. A few weeks back, in one of the best episodes they've had in years, April struggled because no matter how much she fought and prayed, all her patients died. It caused her to lose heart and question her faith.

In the weeks since, she's been a mess. It was unclear why. But in Thursday's episode, someone finally challenged her and she responded. She shared that she saw people who were bad or unworthy getting ahead, while the righteous suffered. And she couldn't help wonder what's the point. It was a heart-breaking moment, but a real and honest moment. And the arc hasn't resolved itself, but I'm curious to see where it goes. And I'm curious if Drew, herself a Christian, has any input in this story.

This commonly comes up, though, the idea that those who are good should receive blessing while those who are bad should suffer. That is bad theology, and doesn't dovetail with Scripture. And I think that's part of the problem. Well meaning people sometimes try to claim that once you become a Christian you're immune from heart-ache and suffering. This version of the prosperity Gospel has existed since the time of Jesus, but it's in conflict with Scripture. In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, Jesus gives us a glimpse into why this is incorrect.

He says, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:44-45. Both the evil and the good get sunshine, and both get rain. When we pretend we're immune from the rain, we create a false narrative.

Another difficulty with this question is why? Why us? Why this? Why now? And that's the hardest part of understanding suffering in our lives — the idea that we only see a part of God's plan. That's the limitation of this life. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." That's where faith comes in — we have to be able to trust in what we can't see and fully understand. And that becomes infinitely harder when suffering is involved.

So two of the challenges are that we often get told bad theology, and we can't fully appreciate God's plan for the world. The final piece, for me, is considering what suffering can lead to. Paul addresses this, too.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." — Romans 5:1-5

Suffering continues to be a challenging problem, and one that we'll never fully answer. But that's where faith comes in. And that's what makes it such an interesting and challenging question to consider.