88. Why Do The Righteous Suffer?

It Would Be Nice To Know

Why do the righteous suffer?  There are about as many answers to this question as there are people with opinions.  Philosophers will deduce, argue, surmise and come up with opinions that one can accept or reject as one is inclined to.  Theologians will find their favourite Bible verses to prove their arguments; sensible or otherwise.

Why do the righteous suffer?  Because they were careless or did something foolish.  This is often true, but because that answer isn't deep, philosophical or theological we will bypass that one.

Why do the righteous suffer?  It is a method of teaching patience.  In some cases, it works, but because it is not always successful that cannot be the complete answer.  Besides which, we all know somebody who should be made to suffer if it would create more patience in that person.  Why, then, isn't that person suffering?

Why do the righteous suffer?  A simple answer is, suffering brings us closer to Christ.  This would be a great answer if it was true 100% of the time.  However, since it isn't always the case, that answer is not sufficient.  Job is portrayed, as a shining example, because he was one of those who did not lose his faith.  There are many cases where Christians completely lose their faith because of sociological, physical or material setbacks; those things that we might call "unanswered prayers".

Why do the righteous suffer?  Because life happens!  The righteous suffer, so do the wicked.  What happens to one is liable to happen to anyone.  There is no distinction.  The sense is, that as certainly as man is born, so sure is it that he will have trouble. It follows from the condition of our being, as certainly as ... sparks will ascend.  Based on Job 5:7 in Barnes Com.  This sounds as though Jehovah is not normally involved with an individual's situation.  Christ intimated as much when he said, For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Mat. 5:45. Christ was not speaking only of the weather; His is a generic statement which says, righteous or unrighteous - you get what you get. 

Let Us Not Blame Jehovah

Job, in contrast to his friends, stated his point of view concisely, One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. ... And another dies with bitter soul, and never eats with pleasure. They lie down together in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. Job 21:23-26.  This is not a comforting point of view but it is a lot more realistic than a lot of things we have heard from the pulpit.

Jehovah can, and will, take direct actions for people when He chooses to.  However, as a general rule "mother nature" will do whatever she will do; people's lives will be lost or destroyed, but in most cases, none of these things can be blamed on Jehovah; He simply was not involved.

Many Christians get much comfort from believing that Jehovah is in control of the very minutest aspect of their lives.  So, whether it is logical, or not, they attribute everything that happens in their lives to the plans of a higher power.  If one follows through with this logic one must end up with the following conclusion.

• It is Jehovah who sends mudslides which bury whole villages; 
• He sends tornadoes and earthquakes which kill thousands of people.  
• He allows droughts so that many people will starve to death.  

Is this the "God of Love" that the Bible tells us about?  No, that is a picture of a heinous God!  Therefore we cannot accept that Jehovah, the God of the Bible, is in charge of everything that happens in the world.

If we do not want to accept that "mother nature" is in charge of what happens Saint Paul gave us another option.  In 2 Cor. 4:4 he tells us that Satan is the god of this world.  Killing and maiming millions of humans certainly fits his profile.  Why must we insist that Jehovah is in complete control of everything when so many experiences completely belie that theory?

Theologians insist that Satan could harass Job only so far as Jehovah would allow.  On the surface of the story, it seems to read that way, but the story can also be read like this.  Jehovah says to Satan, In view of the contest you are proposing, there are a few rules that must be in place.  This is not to say that Jehovah would universally limit Satan, but He did limit him for this contest, to keep it fair.

1. In the first round, according to the rules, Satan could destroy everything Job owned, but his health he could not touch.  
2. In the second round Satan was given permission to take Job's health, but, according to the rules of the contest, he was not allowed to kill him.

Theology took a wrong turn when it began telling us that there is only one God and that He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent.  This, they do, in spite of the fact that many of the books in the Bible distinctly teach that there are many Gods and that the Gods have limitations.

I substantiated that theory, based on the Bible, in several posts I wrote in 2012.  If you are interested in reading more about this topic go to:

http://wwwthinkagai.blogspot.com/2012/05/the-ot-teaching-about-various-gods.html 

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