Does Human Suffering

Disprove the Existence

of God?

“Gideon said to Him, ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?’”

Judges 6:13

Epicurus - 342-270 BC

Epicurus - 342-270 BC

• “If there is a God who wishes to prevent evil, but cannot, He is not all powerful, and thus is not God.”

• “If He has the power to prevent evil, but will not, then He is not good, and thus is not God.”

• “If there is a God who has both the power and desire to eliminate evil, then why is evil and suffering present in the world today?”

Free Will

• God created man with the freedom of choice.

• God respects our choice, even when we choose to sin.

• Suffering is not the result of God’s impotence or indifference. Suffering is the result of man’s sin (Rom 5:18).

1. Our Wrong Choices

1. Our Wrong Choices

“Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years.”

Judges 6:1

1. Our Wrong Choices

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”

1 Peter 4:15

1. Our Wrong Choices

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Galatians 6:7

1. Our Wrong Choices

“Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.”

Prov. 13:15, KJV

2. Wrong Choices of Others

3. Wrong Choices of Past Generations

3. Wrong Choices of Past Generations

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image… you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”

Exodus 20:4-5

3. Wrong Choices of Past Generations

Why are innocent children starving?

• Idolatry• Poor Agricultural Practices - Lev. 25:1-7• Cruel Dictators

Is this God’s fault?

4. We Violate God’s Natural Law

4. We Violate God’s Natural Law

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 13:4-5

4. We Violate God’s Natural Law

“I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

Eccl. 9:11

4. We Violate God’s Natural Law

Why doesn’t God step in and do something?

Why Do We Suffer?

1. Our Personal Wrong Choices

2. Wrong Choices of Others

3. Wrong Choices of Past Generations

4. We Violate God’s Natural Law

Benefits of Pain and Suffering

1. Alerts Us To Danger

2. Learn Right From Wrong

3. Discipline - Heb. 12:5-6, 11

4. Builds Character - Rom. 5:3-4

5. Comfort Others - 2 Cor. 1:3-4

6. Long for Heaven - Rev. 21:4