Renaissance Church NYC Suffering: The Problem of Evil and Suffering
Nov 20, 2023
Exploring the contradiction of evil and suffering in relation to an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God. Understanding the reasons behind why God allows suffering. Finding strength and endurance through suffering by rediscovering faith. Navigating pain and suffering by reflecting on Jesus' experience in the garden of Gethsemane. Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and embracing true feelings instead of over-spiritualizing suffering. Staying connected to the community and the cross as a means of comfort and faith during times of suffering.
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Personal Loss That Shaped His Doubt
- Jordan recounts his wife Danielle's sudden illness, emergency surgery, and diagnosis of an inoperable tumor.
- He describes carrying her lifeless body into the ER and watching doctors work as a turning point in his struggle with faith.
Ask How To Persevere, Not Just Why
- The sermon reframes the question from 'Why does suffering exist?' to 'How do you persevere through it?'.
- Scripture, the speaker argues, focuses more on endurance and navigation than on providing full explanations.
God As A Fellow Sufferer
- God doesn't answer suffering with a lecture but with incarnation: Jesus becomes a fellow sufferer.
- That presence models perseverance because God experienced pain personally in Jesus.