Last Sunday's Thought: Only the suffering God can help

For Dietrich Bonhoeffer the suffering God was not only a consolation in his own suffering. He also discovered that we are called ‘to share in the suffering of God in the world. Christians stand with God in God’s suffering’.

Christians sometimes make poor evangelists for a number of reasons, including excessive modesty and hesitancy or not knowing precisely what to say in response to questioners. Strictly speaking this response is incorrect, because Jesus tells us that when challenged by opponents we will not be left short of the right arguments (‘do not be anxious how or what you will speak, for it will be given to you…’ Matthew 10:19; ‘I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply…’: Luke 21:15).

Nevertheless, it is always prudent to have prepared your answers in advance. I thought that by taking Selwyn Hughes, What to say when people need help. A short guide (repr. 2009), I would be able to provide brief summary answers in booklet form. Little did I realize the challenge I was taking on, for much depends on where one is coming from in terms of churchmanship and spirituality; but there is also the question of whether the words that one might offer are likely to do more harm than good. Prayer before each meeting with an individual needing help of whatever kind is indispensable: ‘O God, give me the power to use words that you would wish for, not those which I might blurt out’ – or words to this effect – are in order. 

But there are also issues which we are likely to be questioned about which are deeply controversial in the church: ‘I am attracted to members of the same sex.’ Christians are divided on this point. We each can only offer such advice as is morally consistent with our own position as Christians. How would we deal with a family member who declares his or her homosexuality? There is no case for espousing a principle which we would not apply in practice in such circumstances.

One question is perhaps the most challenging of all: why does God allow so much suffering? In a philosophical sense (theodicy), there is no definitive answer to this question, one which causes many people a great deal of personal anguish. The only answer that works for Christians is the answer of faith. In John 8:32-36, Jesus teaches us that ‘those who sin are slaves to their sin whether they realize it or not’ and ‘they cannot break away from their sin’. Paul takes the argument a stage further, and argues in Romans 6:17-22 that to be ‘set free from sin’, we have to ‘become slaves of righteousness’. Unlike real slaves, however, we do so ‘willingly, joyfully, naturally’, and not by coercion. In Jesus’ words, ‘you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’ (John 8:32).

This does not mean that we will not encounter evil or suffering in this world; but we will be better able to deal with that we encounter. If Christians know anything about God from the cross, it is that the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). The cross does not make God a helpless victim of evil, but is the secret of his power and his triumph over evil (Richard Bauckham). This why, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote from Nazi prison, ‘only the suffering God can help’ us.

Jürgen Moltmann writes: ‘The encounter with the suffering God in Christ is a great consolation in our personal life when we are losing beloved ones and have to mourn at their graves. The pain of grief lies in the feeling of losing someone and of being lost oneself. The consolation therefore lies in the experience of indestructible community with God. This is, however, only possible when the Godhead is not an unfeeling, indifferent heavenly power named “fate”, but rather the eternal love who feels and suffers with us. That makes it possible for us to experience in our sorrow, also God’s sorrow and in the pain of our love, God’s pain present. God loves with those who love, God weeps with those who weep, God sorrows with the sorrowful…’