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Chapter 3

Chapter 3. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?. Superstition vs. Healthy Religious Practices. Throughout centuries, people have sought satisfactory answers t`o the question, “WHY?” Some people find their answers in superstition.

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Chapter 3

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  1. Chapter 3 WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

  2. Superstition vs. Healthy Religious Practices • Throughout centuries, people have sought satisfactory answers t`o the question, “WHY?” • Some people find their answers in superstition. • Superstition is the belief that bad luck has irrational causes—magic or certain actions, such as walking under a ladder, crossing the path of a black cat, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JvROoKGd0c&feature=related • In healthy religious devotional practices, people realize the source of their strength is God not from their particular actions.

  3. Our Quest for Justice • We long for a God who will reward good people and punish those who are cruel, selfish, hard-hearted, and evil. • This type of justice we seek is called retributive justice. • Reality, however, tells us that suffering and death are not always fair or just.

  4. Theodicy • Sometimes sinful people prosper in this world, and those who try to keep faith with God suffer. • Unjust suffering challenges our very faith in God. • “How can we uphold the justice and righteousness of God when we see daily examples of unjust suffering?” • This age-old problem of reconciling God’s justice with the fact of evil and suffering is called THEODICY. (In other words, Why do good things happen to bad people?)

  5. Punishment for Sin • A common response in the face of suffering is to think that it must be God’s way of punishing us for our sins. • In this way of thinking, God doesn’t cause suffering; we cause it by choosing to sin. • God punishes all humans for the sin of Adam and Eve. All humans inherit original sin, the tendency to choose evil over good.

  6. Why This Idea is Inadequate • There are TWO problems with thinking that suffering is punishment for our sins: • The explanation doesn’t present God is a very attractive light. - To say that God sends us suffering as a form of punishment is to describe God as a judge. 2. It doesn’t account for the suffering of innocent people, especially children and babies. -There are real situations in which innocent people suffer. For them, suffering is most certainly not a punishment for sin. (Discussion pg. 40).

  7. A Test of Faith • If suffering is not a punishment for sin, perhaps it is a test. • Maybe God is testing us to find out the quality of our faith. • Ultimate test of faith: The Old Testament story of Abraham and his son Isaac.

  8. Why This Idea is Inadequate • There are TWO problems with thinking that suffering is only God’s way of testing our faith: 1. Such thinking might give the impression that God is sadistic and cruel. 2. Such thinking might imply that God is not omniscient, all knowing.

  9. A Form of Discipline • If suffering is not a form of punishment or a test, then perhaps it is a form of discipline. • Maybe God sends us suffering to teach us a lesson, to help us grow. • Perhaps the suffering purifies us and strengthens us. • In Old Testament teachings, God inflicts suffering upon his chosen people, not to destroy them, but to discipline them and make them stronger.

  10. Why This Idea is Inadequate • There are THREE reasons with thinking that suffering is a form of discipline: • Suffering in itself is no guarantee that we will become better persons. • If suffering is always a form of discipline, then being “virtuous” would entail the seeking of suffering for its own sake. • Inflicting suffering as a discipline would make God monstrous and barbaric—hardly the type of God we could love.

  11. Suffering and Freedom • The Church has long taught that some suffering is the consequence of human sin. • Seven Capital Sins: • Pride • Greed • Lust • Wrath/Anger • Gluttony • Envy • Sloth These are at the root of the causes of suffering in this world.

  12. What is the REAL cause of Suffering? • Suffering is the consequence of human freedom. • God created humans FREE to choose between good and evil, between rejecting him and loving him. • For God, human freedom is more important than creating a world without suffering.

  13. The Suffering Servant • Because of his great love for us, Jesus chose to give up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. • When faced with unmerited suffering and death, he accepted his reality and made it redemptive. • He became the perfect sacrifice.

  14. Activity pg. 46 • In a small group, read ONE of the following prophecies about God’s Suffering Servant. • On a separate sheet of paper, answer the question: How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy? • Isaiah 42:1-4 • Isaiah 49:1-6 • Isaiah 50:4-11 • Isaiah 52:13—53-:12

  15. From Victim to Victor • The following actions can help transform someone in the face of suffering from a victim mentality to a victor mentality: • Face problems rather than dodge them • Keep close to the people you love. • Discover what your are really feeling. • Balance the ongoing problem with other parts of your life. • Be responsible for your own decisions. • Be true to your moral, religious, and spiritual beliefs. • Be proactive, not reactive, to your situation. • Maintain your sense of humor.

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