The Relation of Human Suffering in God's Grace

  • David Ming Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Alkitab Surabaya
Keywords: Relation, Human Suffering, God's Grace

Abstract

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's mercy. The source of God's mercy is God's goodness and love expressed mysteriously. God's mercy is stated to guide someone to live righteously. People who receive God's mercy are living in godly living conditions and they need God's protection or care. Third, God's mercy cannot be stopped by humans. Instead humans can be made to not understand by God. God is free to act surprisingly, correcting human deviation. God is free to allow the test of Satan and not to tell anyone about it that was tested. God is also free to regulate

 

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References

[1] C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1994) 88.
[2] Paul J. Lindell, The Mystery of Pain (Jerman: Editions Trobisch, 1982) 12. But it differs from the opinion of M.M. Thomas, The Christian Response in the Asian Revolution (London: 1966) 12 sees in contrast what Lewis and Paul thought. Thomas did not see suffering metaphysically. Instead, he understands it as something that exists among people in the form of poverty, as an unjust social structure, which gives rise to the situation of the oppressed. This suffering is getting worse, because the people themselves - for example in India - are fatalistic in their oppressed position. This was proven during the period of Western domination when the people believed that domination by Western imperialist power belonged to Providentia Dei.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Paul J. Lindell, The Mystery of Pain 20-21. Bdk. Ralph W. Sochman, The Meaning of Suffering (Malang: Gandum Mas, tp. Th) 1-19 says that human suffering is divided into two, as follows: first, suffering that can be understood by humans such as: sin, individual mistakes, shared suffering, caused by enemies Second, suffering that we cannot understand such as: fate or fortune (Eccl 9:11; Fate (fortune) likes a trained mind and does not rely on faith. For example in gambling, gamblers usually emphasize "fate" for indeed or lose.) , accidents, and God's destiny (An inevitable event that occurs due to the workings of nature without human intervention or without caused by human neglect. Which is classified as God's destiny events such as: earthquakes, lightning, storms).
[5] C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1994) 89. Compare with Ralph W. Sockman, The Meaning of Suffering (Malang: Wheat Mas, tp. Th) 23 says that Suffering is a pain as a tone of feeling that is the opposite of pleasure. Unpleasant circumstances in all forms and levels.
[6] Ibid., 20.
[7] Paul J. Lindell, The Mystery of Pain 41-48.
[8] Ibid. 110.
[9] C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1994) 117. Lewis said that pain does not leave germs that are poisonous or that live continuously. When it's over, it's over, and the natural result is joy. After making a mistake, someone not only has to negate the error. After sinning, a person not only takes away his temptation, but must return and repent of sin itself. In each case, "deletion" was requested. Pain requires such "erasure". Maybe, someone has to cure the disease that caused it, when it's over, then the pain becomes sterile.
[10] C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1994) 36. C.S. Thought Lewis was also part of Ralph W. Sockman's support, The Meaning of Suffering (Malang: Wheat Mas, tp. Th.) 22. However, M.M. Thomas, Man and the Universe 95 see differently. He said that the only choice humans can make to avoid alternative self-destruction in freedom (conquering messianism) and survive through resignation to "spiritual" rest that is not free, according to Thomas, is to accept the messianism of the suffering servant. Therefore, we need to recognize the crucified Christ as the only Lord of life - the "new pagan situation" in the world today. However, Christians are called to show their help in repentance openly, so that it can become a community of witnesses who serve the life pattern of this suffering servant.
[11] C.S. Song, “Jesus Christ – The Life of the World – an Asian Meditation” East Asia Jurnal of Theology, Vol.1 No. l 1983, 117.
[12] C.S. Song, Third-Eye Theology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1979) 119.
[13] Ibid., 118.
[14] Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993) 14.
[15] Ibid. 15.
[16] Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: W.M. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1976) 72.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Lewis Sperry, Chafer Systematic Theology (Dallas: Dallas Seminary Press, 1980) 1: 207.
[19] Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God 14.
[20] W.S. LaSor, dkk., Pengantar Perjanjian Lama 2 140.
[21] Werner H. Schmidt, The Faith of The Old Testament (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1983) 248. Allah Mahatahu (Mzm 147: 4-5; Yes 40:13-14; Ibr 4:13). There is nothing hidden from God. God transcends all knowledge in the world. God sees everything (Am 15: 3), knows everything (Ps 147: 4; Mt 10: 29-30). Know everything about humans: the human mind (Ps. 44:21; 139: 2), human matters (Ps. 139: 4), human work or the human condition (Ps. 139: 3; Rev. 2: 2,9,13,19) , human suffering (Ex 6: 4), human needs (Mt 6:32), human worship (Ge 22: 11-12; 2 Chron 16: 9), human weaknesses, and the whole human existence he created.
[22] Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God 14.
[23] Henry C. Thiessen, Teologi Sistematika 131.
[24] Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: W.M. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1976) 72.
Published
2019-10-09
How to Cite
Ming, D. (2019) “The Relation of Human Suffering in God’s Grace”, Theological Journal Kerugma, 2(2), pp. 67-73. doi: 10.33856/kerugma.v2i2.133.

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