Today, Selwyn writes some challenging words: ‘In a fallen universe we are confronted with issues which produce almost inconsolable pain. … What answers can we give to explain ‘the terrible tragedies we experience, during our short lives”? There is no adequate answer. It’s easy to brush perplexing matters aside and say they are a result of a fallen world, but that still leaves huge issues unresolved. … We will under everything one day (the last day), but meanwhile God simply says, “Here’s my comfort, that has a depth and sufficiency.” In moments of bewilderment it is not answers we need; it is comfort. That comfort may not keep us blithe but it will keep us brave.’
I understand when Selwyn says that it’s not an adequate answer to say that the horrible trials we face in this world is due to our ‘fallen’ nature. Yet, in a sense – that’s where the answer can be found – I think we have no real idea, of the horrific effects of sin, and the consequences of sin in regard to our relationship with God and His creation.
Yesterday, I watched a documentary on the the Rwandan Genocide, the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of people over a period of about 100 days. The killings were based on ethnicity. It’s a sad fact that a number of people on both sides of this long-term, ethnic struggle – called themselves Christians. But, there are many signs before the atrocities started which signalled that, the basic aspects of our fallen nature had taken over – one of the perpertrators’ ten commandments was, ‘to show no mercy’. Compare, this aspect of our nature, to that of God’s nature (Joel 2:12-14, NIV): “”Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Men and women do terrible things to other men and women - for me, it’s not the question ‘where is God (to stop this suffering)?’. It is more the question – ‘where is the good man or woman?’ We bear the consequences of our own fallen nature – unfortunately, there are many ‘innocent’ people who suffer terribly.
Why do you think God allows such suffering to occur?
Brave if not blithe
Today, Selwyn writes some challenging words: ‘In a fallen universe we are confronted with issues which produce almost inconsolable pain. … What answers can we give to explain ‘the terrible tragedies we experience, during our short lives”? There is no adequate answer. It’s easy to brush perplexing matters aside and say they are a result of a fallen world, but that still leaves huge issues unresolved. … We will under everything one day (the last day), but meanwhile God simply says, “Here’s my comfort, that has a depth and sufficiency.” In moments of bewilderment it is not answers we need; it is comfort. That comfort may not keep us blithe but it will keep us brave.’
I understand when Selwyn says that it’s not an adequate answer to say that the horrible trials we face in this world is due to our ‘fallen’ nature. Yet, in a sense – that’s where the answer can be found – I think we have no real idea, of the horrific effects of sin, and the consequences of sin in regard to our relationship with God and His creation.
Yesterday, I watched a documentary on the the Rwandan Genocide, the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of people over a period of about 100 days. The killings were based on ethnicity. It’s a sad fact that a number of people on both sides of this long-term, ethnic struggle – called themselves Christians. But, there are many signs before the atrocities started which signalled that, the basic aspects of our fallen nature had taken over – one of the perpertrators’ ten commandments was, ‘to show no mercy’. Compare, this aspect of our nature, to that of God’s nature (Joel 2:12-14, NIV): “”Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Men and women do terrible things to other men and women - for me, it’s not the question ‘where is God (to stop this suffering)?’. It is more the question – ‘where is the good man or woman?’ We bear the consequences of our own fallen nature – unfortunately, there are many ‘innocent’ people who suffer terribly.
Why do you think God allows such suffering to occur?