How long must I suffer? How long will You allow this evil? How long, God?
In a world of natural disasters, wars, and violence, we all look for someone or something to blame. Usually, this falls at God’s feet. How can a good God allow such evil to continue or even exist? It is a question for the ages and the subject of theodicy—which is a big word for a complex issue. We will all face trials and suffering in this world, but a deeper understanding of the term theodicy and its implications can help us look at the issue from a different perspective.
What Does the Word Theodicy Mean?
The term theodicy combines the Greek words theos (God) and dikaios (justification). It is an attempt to justify or vindicate God for the existence of evil. Theodicy was first used in 1710 by Gottfried Leibniz in his book Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil.
The problem of evil and suffering has been debated for centuries. It is the subject of great literature, such as The Divine Comedy by Dante), Paradise Lost by John Milton), Candide by Voltaire), and Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In Christian circles, one of the best-known discussions is by C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain. Lewis proposes that pain and suffering are not evil but the way God draws us closer to Himself:
“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Dr. Mitchell of Dallas Baptist University gives three key approaches to theodicy as follows: the logical problem, the evidential problem, and the existential problem.
The logical (deductive) argument states that God exists, and is good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, so how can a good being allow evil to exist?
The evidential approach argues that a good God would not allow so much unjustified evil that appears to have no good purpose, as evidence shows to exist in large amounts in the world.
The existential approach is the personal argument of, “Why am I suffering?”
What Are Some Places Where the Bible Talks about Theodicy?
While the term theodicy is not found in the Bible, examples can be found throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms. David often cried out to God about injustice and suffering, such as in Psalm 94:3:
“Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?”
Habakkuk also asked the question of how long. He could have been living in today’s time when he penned the following verses:
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4 NKJV)
However, the best example is found in the book of Job. God declared Job righteous yet allowed him to suffer physically and emotionally. If that wasn’t enough, Job’s supposed friends urged him to confess his sins, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Job asked God why 14 times, but instead, God answered him with a description of who God is. Job repented in ashes and vindicated God, saying:
“You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3 NKJV)
What Are Christianity’s Major Approaches to Theodicy?
There are many approaches to this topic, but according to Dr. Mitchell, some of the more common ones are as follows:
- The Free Will approach states that God wanted us to love Him of our own choice, allowing us to choose not to; therefore, evil is the unfortunate result of human free will.
- The Soul Making approach sees suffering as a means of growth and improvement, purifying our souls through trials.
- The Great Design approach focuses on how God uses all things to work together for a greater good, even if we can’t see it.
- The Eschatological Hope approach approaches the problem of evil and suffering as only present for a finite period, but justice will rein in the future.
- The Theology of the Cross approach looks at Christ’s suffering on the cross as not only the atonement for sin but also the victory over and judgment upon evil.
- The Faith and Trust approach affirms the basic truth that we must have faith that God is good and in control, so He is to be trusted even during trials.
Does the Bible Give a Definite Answer to Theodicy?
God’s only answer to Job is the same one we see throughout scripture: God’s ways are not ours. Even Jesus prayed for God to remove suffering, but only if it was God’s will. His prayer is the ultimate example of how we should respond to trials and suffering. Jesus asked for the suffering to be removed if it was his Father’s will, but he was willing to obey whatever the Father asked of him (Matthew 26:39-42).
What Are Some Practical Things We Can Learn from Theodicy?
We can learn many things from the concept of theodicy, such as the character of God and the purpose of pain and suffering. Here are a few things we can learn:
1. God is infinite, and we are finite, so there are some things we will never understand here on earth. Isaiah 55:8 tell us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord (KNJV). He also works on a different schedule than we do. Second Peter 3:8-9 tell us that God’s timeline differs from ours. A thousand years is like a day to him, but He does not forget. He is long-suffering in allowing people to repent before He brings down judgment
2. Faith by nature requires us to trust God even when we don’t understand. First Corinthians 13:12 tells us that “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
3. Suffering brings us closer to God and is a source of transformation. Paul and the other apostles all suffered for Christ. On the day Paul surrendered to Christ, God sent Ananias a message, warning that Paul would suffer many things in Jesus’ name (Acts 9:16).
4. Never dismiss someone else’s suffering. As Christians, we are called to support our brothers, sisters, and non-believers, through prayer and a listening ear. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (NKJV). It does not say to offer explanations or criticism.
5. We shouldn’t waste time in vain arguments. First Peter 6:5, Paul tells Timothy to stay away from proud people who like to argue over useless questions and cause strife in the church.
6. We should make the best use of the time we have. Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us that we should “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (NKJV).
There are some things in this world we will probably never understand this side of Heaven, but our faith is built on trust in God and not on what we can see. While we should diligently study the scriptures and prayer, we shouldn’t allow debates and philosophies to distract us from God’s assignments. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher; we should follow His leadership in everything.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Tero Vesalainen
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
