Why Is There Suffering and Evil?
What about all the evil and suffering in the world?
“Did you ever notice that evil spelled backwards is live?” (Anonymous)
I have had several students ask this question when I have held open air dialogues on their campuses. One student, Steve, stepped out of the crowd and asked, “If God is so loving, then how come there are starving children in Africa?”
I responded, “You seem quite concerned about the starving children in Africa Steve. I commend you for being so concerned.” He stepped back, rather shocked that I would even indicate that there might be something good in him after all.
“Steve, are you really concerned with the starving children?” He was not sure how to answer, so I answered for him. “ It does seem to me that you are. So let’s see how concerned you are.”
“Steve, I know you are a college student. I wonder how much money you spent on going to concerts, buying music cd’s, and purchasing alcohol this past year?”
Steve replied, “ I don’t see what that has to do with my question?”
“Trust me, Steve, it has everything to do with it. How much did you spend?”
Steve replied rather slowly, “I guess about one thousand dollars.”
“That’s great, Steve. Thanks for your honesty. Now you have just told me that you were concerned about the starving children in Africa, and that you have spent at least one thousand dollars on your going to concerts, buying music, and having a few cold ones every week. What I would like to ask you now is, since you are so concerned with the starving children in Africa, how much money have you given to help alleviate the hunger conditions in Africa this past year?”
Steve looked rather embarrassed. “Uh, I have not given anything.”
The crowd standing around Steve began to accuse him of his hypocrisy. I quickly came to his defense. “Steve, I want to thank you for your honesty. I know it is embarrassing to discover that you are now part of the problem of the hunger in Africa. But so are all of us here today. When you asked the question, “What about all the starving in Africa?” you indicated by your question that the starving children were God’s problem. But now, when you take a good look at yourself, you find you are the problem.
God has given you the resources to help alleviate hunger but you have not. Why? Because the Bible says that everyone one of us have sinned by refusing to follow God’s commands. As a result this world is not a safe place to live.
In short, this world is filled with evil people, and evil people do evil things and people die. But it was not so at the beginning. The Bible says that in the beginning it was very good. Death and disease and suffering are all a part of Man’s rebellion. This world in which you live is cursed and as a result you will all die at some time in the future because of your sin.
There is a new world coming where there is no death and disease, no sickness or pain. If you want to get to the new world you must obey God’s Word which says to “Repent and turn to God that your sins and acts of rebellion can be wiped out so that times of refreshing might come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
When you repent and trust in Jesus Christ, your sins will be forgiven and you will find God giving you a heart to care for the starving children in Africa and to reach out to those who are hurting with the good news that this life is not all there is. Even though this life is under a curse, you can be set free from the curse and find a new hope in Christ and the promise of a new world to come.”
Steve and a few other students walked away looking rather embarrassed and ashamed.
Certainly this does not answer all the questions of evil and suffering, but it can be a great launching pad for further discussion.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
1. What questions do you still have about evil and suffering?
2. What do you believe God wants you to do about the evil and suffering in the world at present?
3. Who in your circle of influence do you know that is going through a period of suffering right now? Take a moment to pray for them and then ask God how He wants you to minister to them during this time of suffering.
4. Select a ministry that cares for those who are suffering and decide to take some specific action to meet their needs.
a. Crisis Pregnancy Centers
b. Hunger Relief through the International Mission Board, Attention: World Hunger, P.O 6767, Richmond Virginia 23230-0767
c. Hunger Relief For North America; North American Mission Board, 4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022-4167
d. Disaster Relief Ministries, State Convention Office