One of the most perplexing problems facing believers in God—one which has existed for eons—is the problem of pain. Philosophers, theologians, and others have discussed and written about this problem for millennia.

So, does it make sense to believe in a loving, all—powerful, good God given the terrible things that have happened through the centuries? Why would God allow all the pain and suffering to exist in the world—or in your life or mine? Are there reasonable answers to this dilemma?

The following are answers given by Dr Chad Meister, Director of Philosophy Program and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana at the recent Faith Articulation Workshop.

Humans have Free Will
A world containing creatures who are significantly free (and freely perform more good than evil actions) is more valuable, all else being equal, than a world containing no free creatures at all. Now God can create free creatures, but He can’t cause or determine them to do only what is right. For if He does so, then they aren’t significantly free after all; they do not do what is right freely.

To create creatures capable of moral good, therefore, He must create creatures capable of moral evil; and He can’t give these creatures the freedom to perform evil and at the same time prevent them from doing so.

As it turned out, sadly enough, some of the free creatures God created went wrong in the exercise of their freedom; this is the source of moral evil. The fact that free creatures sometimes go wrong, however, counts neither against God’s omnipotence nor against His goodness; for He could have forestalled the occurrence of moral evil only by removing the possibility of moral good.

God may use the evil in the world for our greater good and the good of others.
Romans 5:3-5 ― “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Romans 8:28 ― “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

James 1:2-4 ― “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

The purpose of our lives on earth may not be for us to be as happy as possible, but rather to help us come to know God and to mold our characters into His image.

Our minds may be too limited to understand it all.
The Christian message is that the goodness of God will, in the end, engulf all evils which have been experienced in this life.

Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 4:4

This command, to “be glad in the Lord always” tells us that God intends to help us rule our emotions rather than allowing them to rule us. That is a life-changing idea and Paul’s words in the following verses speak more to this important skill.

To be glad “in the Lord” means to:

1. Be glad about who He is. He is the all knowing, all powerful, absolutely good and sovereign ruler. He absolutely and perfectly loves you!
2. Be glad about who you are in Him―His! He will act on all things in your behalf for good (Rom. 8:28). One day He will give you all things (Rom 8:32).
3. Be glad under His influence―under His influence search for a new understanding, wisdom, and perspective.

Turn, be thoughtful, get smarter, and celebrate.

Why “Always”―gladness bridges the gap between present and future reality.

1. NOW . . . what we feel overpowers what we think, strong emotions eclipse what’s logical, demands overwhelm our sense of supply, difficulties trump blessings, the seen obscures the unseen.
2. BUT . . . His plan envelops every dilemma and every evil, His power makes His plan unthwartable, His goodness makes our good certain, His greatness shrinks every concern, and His concerns are our bulls eye.

ALWAYS engaging gladness will re-calibrate our emotions.

More than happy talk―positive thinking is based on what could happen. But being glad in the Lord is based on what the Sovereign Ruler has said will happen.

Listen to Bob.

Read Pastor Bob’s personal notes on this passage.

Pastor Preston Hancock
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

When starting over, we can easily look to the wrong places for inspiration, strength or confidence. When this happens, we can find ourselves distracted or losing steam. In order to stay on course, we must:

1. Direct our attention to the fact that we were invited to this relationship by God.
• We live in response to God’s activity in our lives.
• Our invitation was not offered based on what we could contribute in terms of understanding, influence, or social status.
2. Notice that God shows his power through reversals, triumphing over world powers through transforming “underdogs” despite:
• Any poor decisions we have made.
• Any weaknesses in ability or character.
• Occasional feelings of being a “nobody.”
• Our past decisions to pursue empty or worthless things.
• Our perceived absence of godly potential.
3. Remind ourselves that the whole reboot process (beginning, middle, and end) is the result of Godís active grace in our lives through Jesus Christ. Our part is to take the next step!

Listen to Preston.

Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 3:17-4:1

One of the most destructive mistakes we can make is to emulate the wrong people. So, we must often “reboot” in terms of who we look up to.

Being a Good Follower is essential if you are to have the full experience of God’s salvation. That means we must:

1. Join others—inter-dependence, not independence or dependence.
2. Imitate—be observant and meticulous.
3. Be mindful not mindless—there is a right pattern which you must find among many wrong ones.

Sort Christians—Many become enemies of Christ by their life choices. They talk good, but:

1. They engage in what leads to ruin.
2. They order their lives by the desire of the moment.
3. They champion their own ungodliness.
4. They are preoccupied with the normal chase.

Search Out a Certain Mindset—Attach yourself to people who eagerly shape their lives by heaven’s rule. They anticipate a big event imposed on earth by its Creator, when:

1. Jesus is revealed as their Savior.
2. Jesus isolates and confines evil.
3. Jesus finishes His rescue of them by transforming their bodies.

Listen to Bob.

Read Pastor Bob’s personal notes on this passage.

Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 3:12-16

God choreographs into our lives situations that show us our need to start over. When you find yourself needing to reboot, here’s what’s critical;

1. The Reboot itself―God’s roadmap for us unfolds in stages, each of which require new thinking and makes us more complete. We should expect change and get good at it.
2. Prevent the onset of emotional inertia―paralysis from what’s happened.
• Forsake your sins, embrace the lessons of them.
• Praise could be your enemy.
• Hold off bitterness, but not people.
• Do the same thing but freshen it.
• Deny confusion, delusion, or disillusion. Seek clarity.
• The outcome can be shaped long after the event.

Gain forward direction from your past.

3. Remember, it’s always about an upgrade. God’s provision for you has to do with you winning not just finishing. In our terms, He wants to move you from good to great.
4. Invite it―restarts have forever been the lifestyle of all who “get it.”

Listen to Bob.

Read Pastor Bob’s personal notes on this passage.

Pastor Tony Curtisi
Joshua 3:1-3

This chapter was to become a key passage in Israel’s self-understanding, for it taught them the greatness of God and what He required of His people who would move forward with Him.

First Step: Focus and Follow

Primarily, it meant following God’s presence. The Ark was a simple box 4 ft. long, 2.5 ft. high & 2.5 ft wide. It contained the tablets of stone upon which the finger of God had written the 10 Commandments. It held a pot of manna–which witnessed to God’s gracious provision during the preceding 40 years (Exodus 16:33,34).

The Ark was topped with a gold called the mercy seat over which two statures of the cherubim knelt (Exodus 25:18, 19). Everything about the ark exuded the presence of God.

What this means for us today is the same with one addition: Jesus Christ. We must focus on and follow Jesus, the living Ark of God, who was and is God of God, Light of Light, and Very God of Very God. He is the obedient One who kept God’s Law perfectly. He is the merciful One who makes it all possible for a holy God to show mercy to sinful men.

We must like the Psalmist who could say, “My eyes are continually toward the Lord” (Psalm 25:15).

Second Step: Consecrate or Sanctify Yourself

Here, on the eve of one of the great days in their history, when they would miraculously cross into the Promised Land, the people of Israel sanctified themselves.

Perhaps there was some external ceremonial washing, but whatever they did was essentially internal and spiritual. God’s people examined their lives, purged known sins, resolved to forsake them, and consecrated themselves to God’s Service.

Third Step: Step Out & Stand Still

Focusing on Jesus is good. Sanctifying ourselves is also good. Both are essential.

This is one of the great truths of life: nothing will happen unless we are, by faith willing to get our feet wet. If we are ever going to do anything for God, we must clearly be willing to take the kind of steps that get our feet wet.

But…it is also true that if we are ever going to accomplish anything for God, we must be willing to stand still just as those who stepped into the Jordan–as they awaited the power of God. In their activity of faith, they maintained a brilliant passivity. Their standing still testified to the fact that everything came from God.

Listen to Tony.

Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 3:4-11

When life shakes us, God wants us to be confident in our worth TO Him, our standing IN Him, and our success WITH Him. He does not want us to be confident that we are OK with Him apart from Him.

You know you need to reboot when . . .

1. Your spirituality consists primarily of outward stuff.
2. When your zeal is warped because you’re out of balance.
3. When you do Christian stuff to gain some advantage.

You know you’re processing right when . . .

1. You are analyzing and re-aligning your values and valuables in light of the truth of Christ. (“Consider” means to assign something a role or value in your life rather than letting it find its own)
2. You find former passions cooling and the desire for a more vital relationship with Christ heating up.
3. You are stirred up inside with a desire to be right inside.
4. You are on a quest for the full experience of Christ—the power and the pain.
5. Your expectation is to rise above the ceiling of human nature.

Maybe . . . the biblical term for reboot would be “consider.” Our willingness to “consider” and the means by which we “consider” will largely determine the outcome of our lives.

Listen to Bob.

Read Pastor Bob’s personal notes on this passage.