Our Struggle for Answers in an Anxious World

John 6:68-69 (GNT): Our Struggle for Answers in an Anxious World

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. And now we believe and know that you are the Holy One who has come from God.”

“Dad, how can I believe in God when there is so much suffering and evil in the world?” These are the charged words of an inquisitive, intelligent teenager. And his questions often prompt abstract answers. In a world of concrete reasoning, abstractions only go so far. Many times, I find myself praying for an effective, efficient way to answer “the problem of pain” that C.S. Lewis writes about in his book of the same title. My answers, however, are far less satisfying. I do try my best, though, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. Here are some approaches:

Suffering is part of our fallen nature as humans. To suffer is to be human. We are imperfect, and God does not control our thoughts, choices, and contexts. For it is in the midst of our joys, sufferings, and setbacks that God earnestly looks for us. Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-32. Jesus presents God as the patient, merciful father who does not rush out to the pig farm to pull the son away from sin and squalor. Instead, the father waits with patience and love, always looking for his son to return. When the son returns, the father showers him with forgiveness and love. Our God is a God of love, but he does not force himself on anyone. He patiently waits for our turning toward him. Many choose to turn away.

God gives us free will. Loving God and neighbor is not a pre-programmed human genome. Many, unfortunately, choose evil in this world. And because of injustice, hatred, greed, and egomania, human beings become enveloped in the self, turning away from loving others. This causes a plurality of evil contexts in our world, evil that exists because of human depravity and choice. Even Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ chosen twelve, turned away from Christ and chose greed and egotism. All are free to choose love and forgiveness or hatred and despair. Which do we choose?

Love is expensive. Choosing to live for others, to give ourselves away, to deny ourselves our first fruits, and to look at others’ material prosperity is emotionally draining. It is much cheaper and easier to love the self than it is to love others. The Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for example, chose to give up his freedom in the U.S. in order to go back to Nazi Germany to fight the evil of the Third Reich. Bonhoeffer writes that “cheap grace” is demonstrated by a shallow, whimsical faith. True faith, he argues, costs us our lives. After all, it is what Jesus means when he says, “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). Discipleship is not cheap.

There is no simple answer to the problem of pain and suffering in our world beyond seeking the healing salve of Christ’s love and doing our best to be that salve to others, especially those who hurt. And in John 6 Jesus, too, presents a hard teaching that not many want to hear. Jesus points to himself as the answer to life’s quest. Following him means subsisting on him. We are to consume his word, his example, his love, and even Christ himself. But many could not get past the literal understanding of “flesh and blood,” deciding, therefore, that Jesus’ teachings were too radical and shocking. They left, walking away from God himself. But Peter, speaking for the apostles, guides us to our own answer to faith’s (and life’s) difficult questions: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”

Suffering, pain, and victimization are unjust, heartbreaking realities in our world. We are called as people of Christ, as Jesus’ literal body on this earth, to heal others, to offer ourselves in love, to be the change we want to see in our world, and to ease -- and even stop when we can -- the suffering of others.

Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for all those in this world who suffer and are victimized. We pray that your healing hand be upon each of them, restoring them to life. Jesus, we offer ourselves as the healing hope of your church, as the needed change that must rise out of the evil and hatred that subsists on our brothers and sisters. We pray in your name, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a blessed week!

Stan