God's Comfort for Human Brokenness in Divine Suffering

2020

Despite the irreducible non-equivalence of individual experiences of suffering, there is a solidarity possible among sufferers especially during times of collective crisis. This essay focuses on the suffering of the disciple Peter in order to formulate a model for suffering that resonates deeply with other, more recent accounts. Peter’s suffering is linked with Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, as well as the work of certain German political theologians, in order to show how it is our human inability to adequately respond to suffering that gives us the existential vulnerability we need in order to stand in solidarity with others who suffer too—the primal element of Christian love. At a precarious time when so many feel a vulnerability perhaps never felt before, such vulnerability potentially transforms us into more responsible social agents and political actors.

2011

2012

In Eastern Christianity, suffering is not treated as a special topic. A special theology of suffering is not well-defined, although the theme is present in important aspects of Orthodox doctrine: anthropology, providence, soteriology, sanctification and eschatology. As a consequence of Adam"s sin, suffering overwhelms the entire human being: body and soul. The ontological restoration of all of humanity is achieved in the divine-human person of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, in His quality as Son of God Incarnate. Once Christ entered the world, human suffering acquired a soteriological meaning: from individual despair it became a saving cross, a sacrifice expiating sin, an opportunity for man to obtain the power of grace in his battle with sin and its aftermath. Suffering, as estrangement from God"s grace, does not elude the irrational created nature either. Called to protect and sanctify nature, man becomes its serving priest, an intercessor of God"s grace, capable of restoring it from corruption.

Journal KERUGMA, 2019

Suffering is a legacy of the existence of the world of souls [humans] living on earth. Suffering is not imagination, not some nightmare, on the contrary is real, actual, but not academic. Suffering comes when humans are born. Humans cannot escape suffering. Suffering comes from various angles of life. Suffering comes from a broken relationship with God. Starting from the failure of Adam and Eve's relationship with God, humans began to feel suffering. Humans cannot resist the suffering they experience. The purpose of this study is to determine the cause of human suffering and its consequences, and how to overcome suffering. The author uses a descriptive method of literature and research results as follows: first, mercy is the perfect character of the deity of God. God's mercy from eternal to eternal until humans are afraid of God. Kindness is the essence of the quality of divinity, but God shows mercy on an ongoing basis through His sovereign will. Second, the source of God&#...

This article discusses the concept of suffering in the Old Testament. It first looks at passages in the Pentateuch that describe life before the fall, which paints a picture of human existence before suffering. It then examines what the Pentateuch and Proverbs teach about avoiding suffering through living a life of faithful obedience. Next, it examines suffering in the books of Job and Ecclesiastes, which tackle head-on the issue of the suffering of the righteous. It then moves to the New Testament to examine how suffering differs on this side of the cross and how modern-day Christians must live in light of the reality of suffering. The article concludes with few proposals for how to apply the biblical theology of suffering.

Academia Letters, 2021

Why is there suffering in the world? Further, why does it appear that often 'good' people suffer when the 'wicked' often thrive? How do we make sense of what happens? Is everything actually random coincidence or is there some sort of plan into which suffering fits? Where is God? This is clearly a significant issue given our current worldwide pandemic. There is no way to be comprehensive on such a cosmic issue here, but it is possible to provide at least some context for thought. It is also impossible to include the substantial positions on the issue of Jesus nd Paul. Hence, this paper provides the often neglected view of 1 Peter to hopefully enhance the discussion. THE ISSUE Why is there suffering in the world? is there some meaning in suffering? This is clearly a pertinent question with the current worldwide pandemic. For centuries, both philosophers and theologians have sought to analyze the issue and suggest a coherent and reassuring response to it. In the face of actual suffering, however, these philosophical/theological concepts often fall short. C.S. Lewis himself cries out in anguish when his beloved wife dies a painful death from cancer.[1] Believers have a particularly difficult task in understanding suffering since they firmly believe that God cares and is able to alleviate suffering, yet he often does not. C. S. Lewis, the classic author on suffering, frames the dilemma for believers as follows: "If God were good, he would wish to make his creatures happy, and if God were almighty, he would be able

Pharos journal of theology, 2021

In this paper the researcher investigates the pastoral challenges experienced by the biblical character named Job. The main message of the book of Job is the theme of theodicy or why do bad things happen to good people. The central inquiry of theodicy is to clarify how an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God allows bad things to transpire in the world and this applies equally to those in anguish or to those observing suffering. In times of suffering, Jews and Christians alike may turn to the Book of Job where God permits Satan to test Job. Satan submits that Job would not adore God if God did not defend him. This research paper also sought to sight challenges encountered by Job with their description and analysis in the light of Job's faith in God. The research critiques the various pastoral care interventions offered to Job by different characters in this book of Job. Finally the researcher develops a theology of suffering and he focuses on this in the conclusion.

The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society , 2023

This article demonstrates that the phenomenon of righteous suffering, which in the Gospels is promised on account of Jesus's name only in John 15, suggests an ecclesial shift from the people of God in the Old Testament and between the testaments to the people of God in the New Testament. In other words, the phenomenon of righteous suffering distinguishes different peoples of God throughout history with the church being unique in being explicitly promised suffering for obedient faith.