By Timothy D. Holder 

           Throughout history a lot of people have wondered why we have to suffer so much if there is an all-powerful God out there.  It’s not a bad question.  If God really exists, and He can do anything, and He loves us, why do we have to go through so many bad things in life?  I don’t want to sound negative, but let’s face it; there are a lot of things we face that are tough: physical pain from injuries and disease, the death of loved ones, untimely job losses, crime—the list goes on and on.

            I’ll cover a few reasons for why we hurt, but let me first say that I recognize that understanding only takes us so far.  If someone can explain to me on a philosophical level why I am suffering, that helps, but I will still be suffering.  My explanations to you are not meant to minimize your pain in any way.

            Okay, I realize this won’t be very popular, but one of the reasons we suffer is because of our own sin.  We were talking about Samson in church the other day—about how the Philistines captured him and gouged his eyes out.  A wise man mentioned to me afterwards that it was Samson’s eyes that got him into trouble.  He (Samson, not the guy in my church) kept lusting after the wrong women, and eventually the Philistines were able to use one of these women against him.  His eyes had caused him to sin, and he paid for his sin with his eyes.  For most of us, the cause and effect of our wrongdoing is not quite so specific, but a lot of the time when we end up suffering it is because our hearts were not where they should be and our minds and bodies followed.

            Sometimes our pain is the result of someone else’s sin.  From criminals to abusive family members to bosses with anger management problems, many people have suffered because of the sins of others.  Is that fair?  If God loves me enough to give me free will then I can do good things or bad things.  If God took away all the consequences of my bad deeds then the deeds wouldn’t really be bad, and I wouldn’t really be operating freely.  Besides, it would put God in the role of the servant instead of the master.  God doesn’t work for me; I work for Him.

            It is through seeing the bad consequences of my actions that I see my need for redemption.  If God was erasing all the effects of my bad decisions then I wouldn’t see my need for God.  What bad irony that would be.

            Sin is not the only reason for suffering (at least it is not the direct reason for all suffering).  Maybe I’ll write more about this next week.

By Timothy D. Holder

            You know what I find troubling?  It troubles me when musicians in a church service or at an event seem to only be interested in their music and nothing else.  When they make their music but don’t pay any attention to anything else before or after their time on the program, it makes one wonder what it’s all about for them.

            You know what else I find troubling?  It troubles me when the preacher or speaker at a service or event seems to only be interested in the message and nothing else.  It bothers me when the speaker totally ignores the worship music because his head is buried in his notes, or worse—when the speaker is talking to someone when he should be singing along with everybody else.  It sends the message that the speaker only really cares about his message—like that’s all that matters.

            You know what I find most troubling of all?  I find it troubling when I am supposed to be worshiping and instead I’m looking around and judging people for not doing what they’re supposed to be doing.  In such cases I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing either, I’m just more subtle about it.  My subtle sins are very troubling.  How about yours?

            Maybe if we were ready mentally and spiritually for a service or event—I don’t mean prepared for our own little aspect of it, but prepared to do what we’re responsible for in the service and prepared to worship and focus on God—our worship services and Christian events would have a more dramatic impact on our lives.  Maybe God really is there when two or more are gathered in His name, just like He promised, but we’re so preoccupied with stuff that we don’t notice.

            Maybe if we were truly prepared to worship, and not busy just thinking about music, or what we’re going to say, or judging people, our worship would reach a whole new level. 

By Timothy D. Holder

            In response to the question “Does God exist?” an increasing number of people in our world are likely to respond “Who cares?”  Actually, we would all do well to care about this question.  If God exists (as we Christians understand Him), then your life is not an accident; you matter.  God made you for a purpose.  He gave you your talents, passions, and opportunities as part of some greater scheme.  You are not alone.  You are loved.

            If God does not exist, then your life is an example of cosmic happenstance.  You could just as easily have been born a totally different person, or from a totally different background, or you might not have been born at all.  If God does not exist, then there is no greater purpose to anything in life.  What does it matter what you accomplish, who you love, or who loves you?  In the end you’ll be dead, and it’s all over.  What can you create with your life?  Who cares?  Can you make a difference?  So what? 

Does all of this seem kind of harsh?

            That’s my whole point.

            We want our lives to mean something.  We want to know we’ve made a difference to somebody.  We want to be loved.  Why would I have those feelings if I was nothing more than just a random collection of molecules, destined to break down into nothingness after 90 or 100 years?  It must be a proof of God’s existence.

            “How so?” you might ask.  To which I say, “Don’t interrupt.”  Anyway, sometimes I get hungry.  This is a normal sensation because somewhere food exists that satisfies that hunger.  Why would I long for food in a universe without food?  That would not make sense in a universe governed by God or one governed by evolution.  In the same way, why would I long for a life of purpose in a universe without purpose—a universe that is nothing more than a cosmic accident?

            You can chose to make your purpose in life something less noble than serving God.  In the same way I can eat unhealthy things to satisfy my hunger temporarily.  But there is good food for your belly, just as there is a good reason for your life.

            Your life matters.  I know this is true because I know that deep down you want your life to matter.  That longing wouldn’t make sense if there was nothing to satisfy it.

            What if God exists?  If God exists, it means everything to you.