Why God Allows Suffering

To Help Us Grow in Community

“Suffering happens in community, and we have a responsibility to be of support and aid to those who are suffering around us. Paul alludes this in Galatians 6:2, when he writes, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The church is not meant to be an association of loosely bound individuals, but a community of individuals bound together. The church is also meant to be a refuge for those who are suffering. When someone in our church is hurting, the church tends to that member’s wounds. When a member is down and discouraged, the church is called to lift that person up. When someone in the church is in need, we are to come alongside them to help them through their suffering.”

Sadly, what I’ve noticed in my little corner of the world, is that too many church congregations develop cliques. Groups that identify and relate to one another. While this is a good thing, it is also a bad thing in that eventually that group is reluctant to entertain new members entering into their “clique”. By definition, the word “clique” means “a small exclusive group of friends or associates.” “Exclusive” means “excluding or tending to exclude”, which is not good. Our reputation as Christians can hinge on how we treat others. Avoiding those outside your exclusive group is unbiblical and unchristen. I believe the wrong message is sent to non-believers when we even give the appearance of being exclusive. It can also give a wrong message to others in your own congregation.

Hurting people want to feel loved and accepted. Cliques do anything but that. I believe it is thru the constituents of a church that the Lord is felt by those outside that church. How do we help others during a natural disaster, say a massive hurricane*, which devastated so many lives along the East Coast. It was the church collectively that touched the different communities with material aid and spiritual assistance thru prayer. Just being Jesus to others. 

Suffering is a part of life, and it won’t stop afflicting mankind until the day we die. But God’s hand extended in the form of a church ‘community’ can revitalize an entire area. The Lord knows what He’s doing. What we are called to do is trust Him with our lives and all that goes with that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing. 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Hurricane Sandy - Hurricane Sandy was an extremely large and destructive Category 3 Atlantic hurricane which ravaged the Caribbean and the coastal Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late October 2012. It was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spanning 1,150 miles. The storm inflicted nearly $70 billion USD in damage, and killed 254 people in eight countries, from the Caribbean to Canada.

This super-storm lasted from Oct 21 to Nov 2, 2012.