Why? Well, let's break this down!
Answers: These never seem to help. They only confirm, not comfort, the problem. Generally speaking... and I mean generally; the issues we face have more to do with the results of personal choices made in the past that took time and opportunity to develop. Often we don't see these things coming and when the circumstances of our lives reveal the choices we go into denial out of embarrassment or anger forming out of our expectation of fairness. Here's an example. My father-in-law, as a young adult was a smoker but later in life quit and though he volunteered in a place where there was much second-hand cigarette smoke, felt that having made the choice to no longer smoke was the proper decision to keep his body cancer free. Sadly, My father-in-law passed away many years ago from lung cancer. Unfortunately in the church, there is an added problem... when many folks in the church experience this same kind of issue, not only do they, in an Elizabeth Kubler Ross sorta way, go from denial and anger to blaming the devil and call the sickness an "attack." Even worse are pastors who promote this kind of misguided thinking. I believe they do this because of the next two concerns...
Emotions: Exploring them individually... Anger. Some folks find themselves where they are because they are selfish, stubborn and proud. I can't tell you how many times people have come to me for advise and use the time to define and defend their behavior only to walk out either ignoring my counsel or never giving me the opportunity to speak into their issues... Joy. Taking James at his word that we are to consider the trials of our lives as moments for rejoicing knowing these things will produce the needed character within us to do greater things; this is the least felt emotion during these times... Anxiety. This is an emotion based on selfish motive. Often your pastor is concerned that the answer he gives is the right one. There are no 100% guarantees on stuff like this. And, to your pastor, he's keeping a score card on wins and losses like the coach of a professional football team who worries whether the owner thinks it's good enough for another season... Compassion. Some things are just so horrible and so random the only emotion to feel is deep concern and hurt for the person. Where no answer fits and the only thing that might help is a hug and some tears. Which leads me to...
Questions of my own: This is another way of saying "I don't have the answer." It also, in my humble opinion, is why many people/pastors blame the devil for a lot of stuff he probably had little or nothing to do with. Like God the devil doesn't answer back when accused. Unlike God the devil probably enjoys it when we accuse him. After all his nature is to accuse and name means accuser. By acknowledging the enemy for who he is and attributing activities and results to him, especially those things he had nothing to do with, is nothing short of giving glory to the devil.
So, is this to say that the enemy of our soul has no power over our world and those of us who claim Christ as our Lord are to ignore him and his ways of darkness and look to all our problems as issues that have risen out of our bad choices and ignorance? By no means! God's Word commands us to stay alert, be on guard, know the ways of the devil and resist him. He is the ruler of this present world, of which we are in but not of, he roams around like a lion seeking to kill, steal and destroy and the enemy of our God desires to destroy anything good.
For a thorough view of who this enemy is consider these passages of scripture; Called Abaddon, Rev. 9:11; accuser of our brethren, Rev. 12:10; adversary, 1 Pet. 5:8; angel of the bottomless pit, Rev. 9:11; Apollyon, Rev. 9:11; Beelzebub, Matt. 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; Belial, 2 Cor. 6:15; the devil, Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:2, 6; Rev. 20:2; enemy, Matt. 13:39; evil spirit, 1 Sam. 16:14; father of lies, John 8:44; gates of hell, Matt. 16:18; great red dragon, Rev. 12:3; liar, John 8:44; lying spirit, 1 Kin. 22:22; murderer, John 8:44; old serpent, Rev. 12:9; 20:2; power of darkness, Col. 1:13; prince of this world, John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; of devils, Matt. 12:24; of the power of the air, Eph. 2:2; ruler of the darkness of this world, Eph. 6:12; Satan, 1 Chr. 21:1; Job 1:6; John 13:27; Acts 5:3; 26:18; Rom. 16:20; serpent, Gen. 3:4, 14; 2 Cor. 11:3; spirit that works in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2:2; tempter, Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4; unclean spirit, Matt. 12:43; wicked one, Matt. 13:19, 38. Kingdom of, to be destroyed, 2 Sam. 23:6, 7, with context; Matt. 12:29; 13:30; Luke 11:21, 22; 1 John 3:8. Synagogue of, Rev. 2:9; 3:9.
Swanson, J., & Nave, O. (1994). New Nave's. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.
Getting back to my own questions... When someone asks me why God would do such a bad thing (cancer, husband leaves the family, poverty, burglary, baby born with downs syndrome, innocent child raped and murdered... ) I have to differentiate between the sin of this world and the sin in this world. Think about it! One is active while the other is reactive. What power do we have over both?
In your discussion this week: really ask the hard questions regarding this one principle. What is my responsibility?
Take a look at Job 1:6-22 and discuss the practical application it speaks to us today.
Spiritual Warfare... it does exist and we must be prepared for the attacks but like soldiers in the foxhole the size, direction and type of attack will determine how you hunker down and when to respond. Unfortunately there are many roaming around in the open getting hit and wondering why. Every soldier enlisted in the battle has a role. They must take up arms and and fight as they have been trained! More on this next week.
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