How Suffering Is Understood and Practiced Within Christianity

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However, the Christian tradition does acknowledge how suffering cannot be avoided for all human beings as it consumes the core of their existence and self-understanding (Moltmann, 1974). Wherever there is suffering, there is a a battle for your soul. As individuals observe the destructive potential of suffering, many begin to question their belief and trust in a ‘cosmic monster’ of absolute power who simply oversees this suffering world and cannot himself be reached by suffering (Bowker, 1970). Therefore, in the face of suffering, Christians can feel that this autocratic God is likely to abandon them (Todd, 2001). Issues regarding feelings of abandonment are addressed in the Book of Job, which is the most sustained and challenging exploration of the problem of suffering in the Bible. Additionally, the Book of Job postulates the notion of a battleground as it exemplifies how there can be two ways to respond to suffering. The first way that has been explained, involves the act of cursing God due to the suffering that they encounter. The Book of Job explains how this is the easy way out and that many use this strategy as a ‘quick escape’ when enduring hardship. However, the second approach offered, involves praising God, even in the midst of suffering. This approach mentions how children of God should adopt a respectful silence (fear of the Lord) in the face of mystery and suffering, by which we try to view the cosmos and humans place in it from God’s perspective, rather than our own (Todd, 2001). All people are challenged, corrupted and needy. However, it can be argued that spiritual liberation is possible by altering our ordinary human consciousness to the divine consciousness, thus making us closer to God when spiritual liberation is achieved. By doing so, all concerns for physical and emotional suffering end (Taylor and Waller, 2011). Moreover, the lament psalms found in the Old Testament contribute to the theme of suffering in Christian life. Psalms are prayers, in which suffering individuals or suffering communities bring before God, the pain or hurt they feel and ask God to do something about it. The psalms can help suffering persons to recognise that they are not alone in their suffering, and in fact they stand in solidarity with others in a whole tradition of suffering persons (Niebuhr, 1935). In relation to spiritual liberation, Christian theologian Dorothee Soelle (1980) argues that Jesus’ life and ministry does not seek to explain human suffering, but does provide an example of how to live an abundant life in the midst of human vulnerability. She explains how the Bible tells us in ‘Revelations 21:4’ that there is a coming time when sorrow, tears, pain and death will pass away. There will be this day when God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of His children, and their sorrow will end forever. However, at the present time, humans must face the undesirable fact that people do suffer. Therefore, suffering is unavoidable and consistent, however each individual decides how to respond.

In closing, it has become evident that the Christian tradition generally agrees that all people, are beset by sin (Mellor, 1991). However, the experience of suffering for Christians is interpreted through their belief in a loving God who is intimately involved in their divine lifestyle (Todd, 2001). The notion of suffering is positively embraced throughout Christianity, despite it challenging the very experimental core of the religion.

References

Mellor, P. (1991). Self and Suffering: Deconstruction and Reflexive Definition in Buddhism and Christianity. Religious Studies, 27(01), p.49.

Moltmann, J. (1974). The Crucified God. Theology Today, 31(1), pp.6-18.

Bowker, J. (1970). Problems of suffering in religions of the world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Niebuhr, R. (1935). An interpretation of Christian ethics. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Todd, S. (2001). Guilt, Suffering and Responsibility. Journal of the Philosophy of Education, 35(4), pp.597-614.

Taylor, T. and Waller, G. (2011). Christian theology and tragedy. Farnham, Surrey, England: Ashgate.

Rowe, C. (2012). The Hope of the Cross. Tikkun, 27(4), pp.28-29.