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WHY DOES GOD NOT STOP ALL THE SUFFERING?

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Twisted Logic

Oscar Wilde claimed that suffering proved that a good God does not govern the world. If God cannot stop the suffering, then He is not all powerful. If God will not stop the suffering then He cannot be good and loving.

The faulty logic and wrong conclusion evidenced by Oscar Wilde is quite common. Many question God's goodness, power, or even existence, because of suffering in the world. Poverty, disease, war and natural and man-made disasters - why does God not bring it all to an end?

Zimbabwe

Even those who love God and do not doubt His Word, are often grieved and puzzled about why the Lord will not intervene, for example, to put an end to the tyrannical government in Zimbabwe? ZANU-PF has caused so much havoc to the economy and widespread suffering amongst the Zimbabwean people, more than half of whom have fled the country.

What is the Cause?

So much of the world's news media focuses on the effects of suffering, but seldom attempts to explore and explain the causes. What is the true meaning and purpose behind all of the world's calamities and catastrophes?

Creation and the Fall

The Bible teaches that God is a good, Holy and loving Creator who has provided us with a magnificent world. However, man's conscious, deliberate choice to rebel against God and violate His Laws led to the Fall of man and the corruption of all Creation. Death and suffering entered the world because of sin.

Everything has Consequences

Much of the suffering in the world today is a direct consequence of personal human choices. God has not made us immune from the consequences of our own, and others, choices. Most of the suffering in the world today is a consequence of the sinful choices of others where evil people and destructive ideologies cause untold misery.

National Suicide

The humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe is a classic case in point. What was once a peaceful, stable paradise, the bread basket of Africa, with the highest standards of literacy and education in the continent, has been destroyed by a communist dictatorship, socialist economics, rampant greed and corruption, Darwinian social engineering, all orchestrated by a brutal and malicious regime.

Communist Catastrophe

This ZANU-PF government of Robert Mugabe, which has caused the greatest unemployment and highest inflation ever experienced in the history of the world, was brought to power by an unprecedented international campaign. The Organisation of African Unity, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the US State Department and British Foreign Office co-operated together to sanction, isolate and wage economic warfare against Rhodesia. They supported terrorist warfare to bludgeon the people of Rhodesia to accept Mugabe's one man - one vote government. Very soon Mugabe turned that into a one party dictatorship, complete with ethnic cleansing, massacres of the Matabele, raids on churches, farm invasions and the destruction of the homes of more than a million people.

Accessories to Tyranny

The man-made disaster in Zimbabwe is not only the product of Mugabe's Marxist ZANU-PF. Most of the world's mass media campaigned to bring him to power. Most of the governments represented at the OAU and UN voted for economic warfare to bring down Rhodesia and to make possible Mugabe's seizure of power. Apparently most of the citizens of Zimbabwe even voted for Mugabe, time and again, despite its abysmal human rights record, blatant corruption and racist brutality.

Reaping what was Sown

The question could be asked: Why should God undo all the natural Laws of Creation to protect people from reaping the consequences of what they have sown? (Isaiah 59:1-2). Ideas have consequences. If we want God to heal Zimbabwe, then we need to mobilise God's people to humble themselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Law Violated

God gave us the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions: "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods" establishes the principles of private ownership of property. Socialism is institutionalised envy. It is legalised theft and it just doesn't work.

Failure of Socialism

Historically, socialism has produced nothing but poverty, bureaucracy and corruption. Free enterprise, honest money and the Christian work ethic are essential to restore the economy in Zimbabwe. The Bible forbids unjust weights and measures/inflation (Leviticus 19:35-36). The devastating impact of unbacked currency/inflation on pensions and savings is criminal.

Every aspect of Zimbabwe has been undermined and ruined by secular humanism, Atheism, Marxism, greed, covetousness, malice, hatred, violating all the Laws of God and nature. As the Zimbabwean government so clearly illustrates: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Zimbabwe provides an object lesson of everything that one should not do if one wants to build a stable, prosperous and peaceful society.

Hope for the Future

Zimbabweans need to learn to respect people, respect property, respect God's Creation and respect God's Law. Biblical Law requires that we have honest money backed by real constant value (Proverbs 20:10; Micah 6:11-12). The only hope for Zimbabwe is to return in Repentance to God, rediscover the Biblical agenda and restore Biblical principles into every area of economic and community life, education, public ethics, the judiciary and public policy.

Foundations for Freedom

Nations need to be built on the unchangeable Law of God's Word. Instead of rulers, we must elect servants - civil servants, bound down with the chains of the Constitution. We need a system of checks and balances to divide power and responsibility between executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. For our nations to be strong, the families need to be strong. For governments to be good, their citizens need to be good. Those who cannot control themselves are not capable of ruling over a city (Proverbs 16:32). Those who cannot manage their household well are not qualified to lead others (1Timothy 3:4-5). "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach." Nehemiah 2:17

Can God Stop Suffering?

Can God stop all the suffering in the world? Yes. Why does God not stop all the suffering in the world?

The Day Will Come

The Bible tells us that one day God will bring all human suffering to an end. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

Why Not Now?

So why does God not do that immediately?

To end all suffering in the world God would have to remove all people from the world. He would have to end free choice and independent thought and actions. Human sinfulness is the cause for most of the suffering in the world. Pride, greed, lust, envy, hatred, selfishness - these are what causes most of the grief and suffering in the world.

What Purpose?

We need to ask: what is God's purpose for mankind? We know that God cares. The Scripture tells us how God's heart was "grieved" at the sinfulness of mankind (Genesis 6:6). The Lord is "longsuffering" (Numbers 14:18). In Jesus we see that God entered our fallen and suffering world. He was not immune to the pain and grief which we ourselves experience. Jesus suffered even greater pain than any of us could ever know. He knew what it was to be destitute and homeless, He knew what it was to be hated, rejected and despised by His own people. He knew the heartache of betrayal. He experienced injustice and trial by the mob. He was scourged and tortured by cruel men. More than all of that, He bore our sins upon Himself and suffered the torments of hell that we might go to Heaven.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

There can be no question that God cares. Christ's death on the Cross proves that. But what possible purpose could be served by our following in His footsteps of suffering?

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

The School of Character

Suffering is directly linked to character building. Mankind's suffering is not an accident. The purpose for every human being's life is to teach us the terrible consequences of sinful rebellion against the Laws of Almighty God and to build in us the character of children of God.

Since God Himself is longsuffering, this is one of the Fruit of the Spirit which needs to be developed into our life (Galatians 5:22-23). God permits suffering because it is the school of character. In fact some of the most outstanding heroes of the Faith have endured tremendous suffering. The Old Testament prophets, all the apostles of Christ, the early Christian Believers who suffered in the arenas of Rome, the martyrs and missionaries through the ages, have all demonstrated that suffering can be used by God to strengthen our Faith and refine our character.

The Advantage of Adversity

There is no quick fix to the problem of sin and suffering. On the Cross our Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for sin - which is death (Romans 3:23). God is patiently using both the "day of prosperity" and the "day of adversity" (Ecclesiastes 7:14) to teach us vital eternal spiritual truths and to direct us away from the self-destructive paths of sin and rebellion. To refine and shape our characters to be God-honouring, unselfish, good neighbours who seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Time and Experience

Suffering is absolutely essential to character building because it is a process. Time and experience are a vital part of renewing minds and transforming behaviour. The Scripture even says that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ "learned obedience by the things which He suffered" Hebrews 5:8. If the only perfect Person who ever lived learned through suffering, how much more essential is it for each one of us to learn obedience by the things which we suffer?

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10

National Repentance

When a whole nation suffers to the extremes that Zimbabwe has been plummeted to it is an eloquent call to national repentance. In accordance with 2 Chronicles 7:14, Zimbabweans need to carefully, systematically work through the Ten Commandments and all the Biblical principles that have been violated. They must Repent, do restitution, rebuild and restore.

In the Light of Eternity

There is no shortcut in the process of Discipleship and Sanctification. We need to live in the light of eternity, understanding that God can work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the Creation eagerly waits..." Romans 8:18-19

Listen to God

God is a holy God. Sin is serious. Everything has consequences. Are you listening to the Word of God?

C.S. Lewis wrote that pain is God's megaphone to arouse a slumbering world. What is God saying to you?

King David wrote: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word." Psalm 119:67

Purpose in Pain

Physical pain of sufficient intensity stops us in our tracks. We begin searching for the cause of pain. This often leads us to change destructive behaviour in order to alleviate the pain and to avoid it in future.

"That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45:6-7

God has a great purpose and plan that extends beyond this life. Suffering certainly never feels good. But it can still be used by God for good purposes.

Ultimately, thousands of years of human suffering will eventually teach mankind the crucial lesson that we cannot ignore God, break His Laws and still be blessed.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Frontline Fellowship

P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725

Tel: 021-689-4480

E-mail: mission@frontline.org.za

Website: www.frontline.org.za

This message is one of a series on Answering Skeptics. An MP3 audio boxset with 32 lectures, sermons and radio interviews, with Dr. Peter Hammond answering some of the most serious questions by skeptics, is available from:

Christian Liberty Books

P.O. Box 358 Howard Place 7450

Pinelands South Africa

Tel/Fax: 021- 689-7478

E-mail: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za

Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za

LIVING BY FAITH

Pioneer Missionary Hudson Taylor declared: "God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply."

Hudson Taylor not only pioneered the first Inter-denominational Mission Society, but the first Faith Mission. Convinced that "God's servant is God's responsibility" and that "The will of God will never lead you where the Grace of God cannot keep you", Hudson Taylor determined not to engage in fundraising, but to concentrate on the Mission God had entrusted him with.

30 Years ago, as God laid the vision of launching Frontline Fellowship upon my heart, I determined to follow the example of Hudson Taylor in launching Frontline Fellowship as a Faith Mission.

This was during all-night prayer meetings in our military base. We were praying our way through Operation World, particularly praying for our neighbouring countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola. These were the, so-called, Frontline states. At that time they were at war with South Africa and supporting revolutionary groups which were coming across the border into South Africa and South West Africa, laying landmines in roads, placing limpet mines in shops, restaurants and railway stations and car bombs in public streets. They were coming at us with bombs and hate. We determined to go to them with Bibles and with the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Most Christian ministries seemed to make a major emphasis on money and fundraising. We determined to go the other direction. There is nothing wrong with taking up an offering to cover ministry expenses. However, I have never taken up an offering in the almost 30 years of our Mission, Frontline Fellowship. Others may have taken up some offerings on our behalf and we are grateful for that, but we have never required or requested it. Nor have we, as a Mission, engaged in direct fund raising.

Despite conducting speaking tours in 34 countries on 4 continents, I have never required speakers fees. "Freely you have received, freely, freely give."

Neither have I taken any royalties from any of the books I have written and published. All proceeds go directly into the Mission. Everything that has been accomplished in, and through, our Mission over the last 29 years has been entirely due to God's grace alone.

Some have asked how any individual can live without a salary and a visible source of income. Or how any organisation can operate without fundraisers.

Francis Grim, the Founder of Hospital Christian Fellowship International, taught me how to live by Faith. When he issued me the call to join his ministry in Kempton Park, I was in Cape Town, 1,400 km away. Having already been living and ministering by Faith for some months, I no longer had so much as a Rand to my name. I had to trust the Lord for the train fare to reach Kempton Park. When Uncle Francis sent me on a country wide tour to visit all the Christian bookshops and promote Heart Publishers materials, I needed to do so by hitch hiking.

In the early years of this Mission, I hitch hiked over 140,000 km. On one occasion I had to get from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth in less than a day. Knowing that that was virtually impossible by hitch hiking, I went to Lanseria Airport and asked the control tower if they knew of any aircraft flying through to Port Elizabeth that day. Incredibly a new helicopter was to be delivered to PE. When I explained my dilemma to the pilot, he cheerfully offered me a free ride! So in a matter of hours I was able to travel in comfort and style to my speaking engagement in the Eastern Cape. All this hitch hiking gave me opportunities to witness to hundreds of motorists and to distribute Gospel literature very widely.

When setting off on my first mission to Mozambique, funds were so low that I did not actually have sufficient means to purchase enough fuel to reach Mozambique. At a petrol station at King Williams Town, the owner of the fuel station came out and asked questions about the Christian stickers on my heavily laden off-road motor bike and what I was doing. I explained my Mission to Mozambique and after he filled my tank, he informed me that it was "on the house" and no payment was necessary!

Things don't always go quite that easily, of course. On one Mission to Mozambique via Zambia and Malawi, funds were so tight that I would not have been able to reach even Johannesburg without the books that I sold at a church meeting in Bloemfontein, en route. The books sold in Pretoria, helped me purchase fuel to go all the way through Zambia to Malawi and Mozambique. On the way back, however, I needed to sell spare shoes and our spare tyre, in order to have the fuel to get back home.

The first two times I received invitations to minister in Europe, I received extraordinary encouragement, (and essential provision) when, just before my departure, I went past our post office box and found an envelope sent by a supporter with hundreds of Deutschmark in the letter! As there was no way that he could have known of my impending ministry trip to Germany and Eastern Europe, the timing was incredible. This happened twice. At no other times did I receive DMark in the mail, except on those occasions that I was en route there.

When the wars in Mozambique and Angola came to an end, in 1994, the holocaust in Rwanda erupted. I knew that I had to go there, but there was no way that we had sufficient funds for an air ticket to East Africa. I investigated and found out that I had sufficient frequent flyer miles to earn a free air ticket to Nairobi. Through missionary contacts and correspondents in the area I was able to get into Rwanda and hitch hike with hundreds of Bibles into South Sudan. There I made contact with the persecuted Church.

That is also when Rev. Kenneth Baringwa tracked me down and gave me the Macedonian call: "You must come to Moruland!" But how could I do so? The distances were so vast. The expenses were impossible for our little Mission. We trusted the Lord for the resources to drive overland to Sudan. But then many of the areas we need to reach were behind enemy lines. The Lord provided for one air charter and we smuggled 1,200 Bibles to a remote area in Western Equatoria. Incredibly, through the vision of a blind man, Brent Noebel, sufficient funds were raised from Summit students for us to deliver over 300,000 Bibles and Christian books in 24 languages to 14 different regions of Sudan. I personally conducted over 1,200 services and meetings training hundreds of pastors, teachers, chaplains and evangelists in Sudan on 27 Missions. All by Faith. Frontline Fellowship conducted over 70 Missions to Sudan.

Many ask: How is that possible? With the limited means at our disposal we attempt to do our very best to respond to the challenges and opportunities to fulfil the Great Commission in Africa. The books that we have published go a long way towards financing the fuel for Mission teams in the field. But most of our support comes in from prayer supporters of our Missions, cheques, electronic transfers, direct deposits and envelopes after a meeting. These are some of the means that the Lord has used to enable our Mission to go forward.

Our recent Overland Mission to Sudan was another example of how the Lord requires us to step out in Faith. It was only after we had fully equipped and packed and loaded our vehicle and the team was already on the road to Sudan, that funds came in from supporters of the Mission to enable the team to reach their destination.

The children of Israel learned to follow the presence of God as it was manifested by the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. Just as the children of Israel were required to step into the River Jordan before the Lord parted the waters, we need to be responsive to the still small voice of God's Holy Spirit. We need to stand up, step out and launch out in Faith.

We are determined not to be deterred by the dangers, diseases and risks involved in ministering in conflict areas. We trust God alone for His provision, protection, guidance and blessing.

We are most grateful for your prayers, encouragement and support.

Thank you for this partnership in this Mission.

May the Lord continue to be your joy and strength.

Yours for the fulfilment of the Great Commission

Dr. Peter Hammond

Director

Frontline Fellowship

P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725

Cape Town South Africa

Tel: 021-689-4480

Fax: 021-685-5884

Email: mission@frontline.org.za

Website: www.frontline.org.za

HOMELESS in THE CRISIS - A Testimony

-by Kim Duke.

Andrew... you say:

“In Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina there was one Spirit-filled

Fellowship that was “thriving” in the midst of the chaos. They had

filled their sanctuary with food, clothes, and emergency supplies

of all kinds – and they were ministering to hundreds… I cannot

tell you how important this is, if we want to “thrive” – not just

“survive” – through this current crisis… So will you be a “light

shining in the darkness” during this present crisis, my friends?”

My husband and I have heard this call, and have decided to answer

it in the only way we know how. We have both been collecting

unemployment (until recently--mine just ran out) and living with

family, but our hearts just weren't in returning to the beast that is

the work world. We felt drawn to do some sort of outreach to the

homeless and down-on-their-luck folks in San Diego (which is

where I grew up. SD has a large homeless population owing to

the mild weather).

So, we sold our truck and bought a van (that's big enough for us to

modestly live in, with our cat and dog), and last week we left Texas

(where we were staying with his family, after my husband received

a medical discharge from the military).

We set out for San Diego (where I have my family) with $235 and

a little bit of food, not knowing how we were going to afford to get

where we were going, but believing that the Lord would provide.

(And, he has!) I went on Craigslist and found someone who was

looking for a ride for part of the way (in exchange for some gas

money), and that was enough to get us to San Diego.

Once we got here, we decided to camp out at the beach. We've

met a bunch of people, and gave away some of our extra blankets

to some homeless men who let us share their fire.

The next night, we ran into a group of Christians who were also

having a bonfire, and we told them a bit about ourselves and what

we wanted to do.

As we were leaving for the night, someone handed my husband

a wad of bills (we were down to our last few dollars, and had earlier

been praying for our needs to be met). It turned out that he gave us $283!

We're planning on using most of the money to buy a bunch of

blankets from local thrift stores, and also whatever food we can

get inexpensively, to hand out to those we meet.

It's been amazing to see what a little love (in the form of meeting

someone's basic needs) can do, to bring a smile to someone's face.

Where there is great darkness, even the smallest bit of light can

make a huge difference.

God is good, and he gives his children good things. If people would

but trust completely in him, they would be amazed at what he can

accomplish through our imperfect little vessels.

Even though the US is going through some very dark times, those

who believe in God need to remember that the Lord loves us, and

will provide, as long as we walk in his ways and seek to do his will.

And, through doing his will, a nice side-effect is that you might be

amazed at the blessings that come to you.

If we truly believe that God is in control of all things, then we must

be happy and content with just sowing seeds--trusting that the

Lord will send whatever is needed to help those seeds take root and grow.

-Please comment on this article at the following website-

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/