Gift of Faith

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Ewald

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I was recently approached by a good friend, but non-believer, who had been reading a book called ‘Lucifer’, (Michael Cordy, Bantam Press, Corgi edition Great Britain 2002). In this book the author describes a funeral scene. It was a tragic death. The officiating priest is quoted as follows:

“O almighty, all-knowing, compassionate Lord . . .”.

The story continues:

“The priest’s words cut through Fleming’s thoughts and dark rage rose within him. As far as he was concerned , here in front of him was the essential conundrum of faith. Either God knew about suffering and could stop it but didn’t care, in which case He wasn’t compassionate, or He knew about suffering and cared about it but couldn’t do a damn thing about it, in which case He wasn’t almighty, or He could do something about suffering and cared about it, but didn’t know about it, in which case He wasn’t all-knowing. It was impossible for God to be almighty, all-knowing and merciful”.

I don’t think this argument is original but has been stated many time over the years. My friend asked for my response, and I was groping for an appropriate anwser.

God gave us his greatest creation, the gift of free will . To trust us with the ability and opportunity to choose between good and evil, even in the face of our harshest trials and tribulations. Adam and Eve (Mankind) ate from the forbidden fruit and were banished from paradise. Then things got out of hand so we had Noah and the flood. Through Moses He gave us the ten commandments and we ignored them. He sent prophets with instructions and we killed many of them. Finally He sent his Son to show us the way, and we crucified Him. I believe this largely explains the evil done my mankind. He gave us the gift of free will and told us what to do. We know what we should be doing, but then don’t do it.

Then we have so called ‘natural’ disasters which, I believe, are a result of on-going creation. Floods, erupting volcanoes, earthquakes etc. Even knowing the risks we still inhabits dangerous areas and suffer the consequences.

Then there is the suffering of the innocent. Babies suffering from fatal meningitis, people born with handicaps, many diseases such as cancer, etc. This is the more difficult question to answer. Paul Johnson, the author of ‘The History of Christianity’ admits he cannot answer this one and states we should accept that God, Our Father, knows best. I have suggested to my friend that he reads Job, especially chapters 38 to 41.

The big hurdle however is FAITH, or rather the lack thereof. Without it the explanations above are meaningless. Is faith a gift of God? Do we have to ask for it? How can an agnostic ask for a gift from someone he does not acknowledge? Will everyone, and knowingly, with a free and informed will, have the opportunity to either accept or reject this ‘gift of faith’?

I believe in an ‘almighty, all-knowing, compassionate Lord ‘ and hence I believe everyone will be given this chance. Like Paul Johnson and with faith, I believe God our Father knows best. Have I got this right?

God Bless

Ewald
 
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Ewald:
I was recently approached by a good friend, but non-believer, who had been reading a book called ‘Lucifer’, (Michael Cordy, Bantam Press, Corgi edition Great Britain 2002). In this book the author describes a funeral scene. It was a tragic death. The officiating priest is quoted as follows:

“O almighty, all-knowing, compassionate Lord . . .”.

The story continues:

“The priest’s words cut through Fleming’s thoughts and dark rage rose within him. As far as he was concerned , here in front of him was the essential conundrum of faith. Either God knew about suffering and could stop it but didn’t care, in which case He wasn’t compassionate, or He knew about suffering and cared about it but couldn’t do a damn thing about it, in which case He wasn’t almighty, or He could do something about suffering and cared about it, but didn’t know about it, in which case He wasn’t all-knowing. It was impossible for God to be almighty, all-knowing and merciful”.

I don’t think this argument is original but has been stated many time over the years. My friend asked for my response, and I was groping for an appropriate anwser.

God gave us his greatest creation, the gift of free will . To trust us with the ability and opportunity to choose between good and evil, even in the face of our harshest trials and tribulations. Adam and Eve (Mankind) ate from the forbidden fruit and were banished from paradise. Then things got out of hand so we had Noah and the flood. Through Moses He gave us the ten commandments and we ignored them. He sent prophets with instructions and we killed many of them. Finally He sent his Son to show us the way, and we crucified Him. I believe this largely explains the evil done my mankind. He gave us the gift of free will and told us what to do. We know what we should be doing, but then don’t do it.

Then we have so called ‘natural’ disasters which, I believe, are a result of on-going creation. Floods, erupting volcanoes, earthquakes etc. Even knowing the risks we still inhabits dangerous areas and suffer the consequences.

Then there is the suffering of the innocent. Babies suffering from fatal meningitis, people born with handicaps, many diseases such as cancer, etc. This is the more difficult question to answer. Paul Johnson, the author of ‘The History of Christianity’ admits he cannot answer this one and states we should accept that God, Our Father, knows best. I have suggested to my friend that he reads Job, especially chapters 38 to 41.

The big hurdle however is FAITH, or rather the lack thereof. Without it the explanations above are meaningless. Is faith a gift of God? Do we have to ask for it? How can an agnostic ask for a gift from someone he does not acknowledge? Will everyone, and knowingly, with a free and informed will, have the opportunity to either accept or reject this ‘gift of faith’?

I believe in an ‘almighty, all-knowing, compassionate Lord ‘ and hence I believe everyone will be given this chance. Like Paul Johnson and with faith, I believe God our Father knows best. Have I got this right?

God Bless

Ewald
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Ewald,
You bring up a sensetive subject with me. My son asked these same questions in his 20’s and I failed him miserably in my answers. He is now agnostic. Yes, Faith is a gift from God. Can’t bring myself to talk anymore. Thanks.
 
Ewald,

Your friend seems to be asking the popular question of why God lets bad things happen to good people. You’re right on track with the free will concept. God gave us free will, and thus we are free to make choices regarding our behaviors.

Yes, faith is a gift. Yes, we do need to ask for a stronger faith. If an agnostic asked for faith from someone he supposedly didn’t believe in, he would be admitting the possibility that there is a God. God wants believers to pray for the unbelievers, and there are many nuns, priests, and lay people doing just that. Since faith is a gift, yes, it can be accepted or rejected. I believe you are right that everyone will be given this choice.

Why does God ALLOW bad things to happen to good people? Check out John 9:1-3. When Jesus was asked why a man was born blind, He said, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

See Sirach 2:4-6. “Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and he will help you.” So even though God allows bad things to happen, He also gives you the graces you need to get through it.

See Colossians1:24. Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…” This is partly where we get the idea of “offering it up.” We are following the example set by St. Paul.

See Romans 5:3-4. “affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character.”

Of course, for your friend to get anything out of these verses, he would need to believe in the Bible. You could just explain that God’s ways are not our ways. Humans are not capable of understanding all the mysteries of God. Our intellect is below His. We have to trust that God knows best, as you said.

God Bless!
Kathleen
 
One thing that bothers me is our perception that death is somehow a bad thing. Death to a true Christian is a wonderful thing. It isn’t bad. Keeping me on this earth separated from my God in heaven is the hard part. I had this same problem in 1971 when I came home from Viet Nam to attend my father’s funeral. He died while I was over there. I was really taken back by all of the tears and grief. He lived a good long life, why would we be so grief ridden upon his death? I understand I was perhaps a little more numbed to death at that time, but, I still feel the same way. Are we afraid to meet God? If so, then, well yeah, maybe it’s sad. Similar thoughts on suffering here on earth. Jesus teaches us we will be blessed in heaven for our sufferings on earth. Which is more important our earthly life or our spiritual everlasting life?
Perhaps we should consider it a gift of suffering.
 
We suffer because of sin. This doesn’t have to be a direct relationship to our own sin. Some of the greatest saints suffered greatly, and of course Jesus set the standard.

God knows about suffering and cares greatly about it. He has intervened at times. He chooses not to intervene many other times because
  1. He is allowing the blessing of temporal pain on earth for a quicker path to heaven (i.e. shorter purgatorial stay), and/or
  2. He is expecting us to offer that suffering up for the redemption of others by accepting that suffering in union with Christ’s sufferings, or
  3. He is allowing the effects of our own sin to take place in the form of temporal suffering.
#1 is entirely an act of mercy. We just may not realize how merciful it is until we die and realize that we will see God shortly! #2 is also incredibly merciful in that God is asking a faithful servant to cooperate in the redemption of someone he/she does not know. It is merciful and compassionate to the redeemed, and the one who embraces suffering will be greatly blessed.

#3 is suffering brought upon by our own selfishness, or our own actions. There may be an element of justice with this kind of suffering.

The simplest and most concise answer is that in the end, God is perfect and His judgments are perfect.

As a side note, I find it unusual that people use this argument for being agnostics or atheists. Suffering in the world is in no way an argument for or against God. It is an argument about the nature of that God, and how He works in the world, but in itself has no bearing on His existence whatever. Those who reject God’s existence on this basis alone are basically making a faulty argument. It would make more sense to say, “Well, if this is the way God works, I simply want nothing to do with Him.” But to deny His existence based on the existence of suffering? It’s just not a sensible logical argument.
 
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