Christian Suffering?

By Ron Craig

Why do Satan and religion keep people in the dark about the issue of suffering? Is there really such a thing as Christian suffering? And if there is, how does it benefit Christians? Could it be that many Christians suffer needlessly?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543442908

Ron Craig

I was called into the Gospel ministry in 1970, at the age of 25. I got a Bachelor of Arts degree and then attended a Charismatic Bible School. For twenty years now, I have been a home-church pastor, and have published 9 Christian books; and plan to keep writing. I also have two YouTube video channels, presenting more Bible-revelation truth.

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Copyright © 2017 by Ron Craig.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2017912154

ISBN:                   Hardcover                     978-1-5434-4288-5

                           Softcover                      978-1-5434-4289-2

                           eBook                           978-1-5434-4290-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture references are from the King James Bible (with some updating of the wording for clarity). Within Scripture quotations, words in italics and/or all CAPITALS are this author’s emphases. Also, some words of this author’s own comments are in all CAPITALS and/or italics for emphasis.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/14/2017

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

First words

Chapter 1   Does hell benefit its inhabitants?

Chapter 2   Does hell benefit people still living?

Chapter 3   What does creature pain do for God? I

Chapter 4   What does creature pain do for God? II

Chapter 5   New Covenant examples of God’s wrath I

Chapter 6   New Covenant examples of God’s wrath II

Chapter 7   Sufferings which produce no benefits I

Chapter 8   Sufferings which produce no benefits II

Chapter 9   Sufferings with liabilities or benefits I

Chapter 10   Sufferings with liabilities or benefits II

Chapter 11   Sufferings that are of ultimate value

Chapter 12   Why suffer what Christ suffered for us?

Chapter 13   Sufferings that do have redemptive value

Chapter 14   Some of those redemptive benefits

Final Comments

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge first of all Jesus Christ, Who is my Lord, and Who has given me the revelations contained within this book. I also want, of course, to thank my wife and all of the other members of Living Way Fellowship for their sustained patience and support. May this work honor all of you!

First words

Over many centuries, numerous books have been written about human suffering—Some from a purely secular point of view, others incorporating at least some Christian elements. I will waste none of your time or mine by dealing with secular concepts per se, but will focus on the tragic consequences of mixing the biblical position with secular views in attempting to explain WHY humanity suffers. Searching Holy Scripture, we will simultaneously expose those murky religious waters, and discover true biblical truth regarding that misunderstood subject. Honest Bible research always pays rich dividends!

Within many works written by famous Christian authors, we discover inexcusable errors concerning both the purpose of human sufferings, and their cause. The prevailing point of view within many volumes is that, SUFFERING IN GENERAL IS THE SECRET WILL OF GOD FOR HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE, and therefore MUST be accepted as NORMAL for the believer on this side of heaven. That view erroneously claims as well that, although Satan is usually involved, the primary reason for suffering is God’s permission, or even command, of such, as He works out His SECRET design for our spiritual benefit. Such teachings serve the devil’s EVIL purposes, rather than promote the Creator’s plans for faithful followers. Multitudes of believers have suffered many needless hardships because of such UNGODLY DOCTRINES dominating religious theology for centuries. In 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul called them doctrines of demons; prophesying they will be prominent in the last days because of Christians paying heed to seducing spirits. In the modern church, that prophecy is being fulfilled as you read.

The purpose of this volume is to obtain proper scriptural understanding of the causes and effects of different kinds of suffering, so we will know what hardships to EXPECT in our Christian life, and those we must NOT tolerate. The book title does NOT imply that Christian suffering does not exist, but it does challenge fanatical religious concepts surrounding that issue. Many Christians think that all suffering glorifies God, although, in reality, not every kind of suffering contributes to either the believer’s welfare, or the glory of God. In fact, most miseries (even those suffered by many devout believers) are actually unnecessary; therefore, NOT beneficial. Most tragic!

Controversial as that subject is, we must search until we discover the true biblical teaching on suffering; focusing upon how it does or does not affect our standing with God, both in this age, and the next. Let us believe what Scripture teaches about suffering over all time-honored, manmade, traditions.

Confusion is NOT the work of God, but rather the strategy of the Adversary to wreak havoc within the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:33; James 3:15-16). Erroneous doctrines on human suffering, tracing back for thousands of years, have become a rich field of CONFUSION within the church today. Without going into the tedious historical details, let me only point out that, centuries ago Roman Catholicism assimilated into its ecclesiastical conscience a conglomeration of Grecian and other pagan beliefs about the human body that demean its intrinsic worth: After which, suffering became accepted as the norm for the newly-rated-almost-worthless human body. Religious energy was redirected toward the spiritual welfare of believers, to the neglect and even punishment of the body. Thus, the concept developed that physical suffering actually promotes spiritual health! The devil has had a heyday in the church over that satanic mutilation of the biblical teaching on human worth—Especially the part our physical body plays in the overall scheme of things. But, is flesh not as much a part of human existence as the soul and spirit? What part of man sinned? Did not his spirit and soul err, as well as his flesh? Where does the Bible say that human flesh is more evil, and therefore less worthy of bother, than our soul, or spirit? Why would Deity want His creatures to be at peace within, while writhing in agony without? Believers need to learn to think!

If physical hardships really did produce spiritual benefits, then our bodies would be most important—Implying our inner person depends upon physical sufferings for its growth and development. IF such were the case, flesh would actually be indispensable. Our bodies would NOT be branded worthless, if our spirit and soul were benefited by what bodily suffering provides. The utter foolishness of such a fabrication becomes obvious when it is taken out to its logical biblical conclusion. Cowardly, hypocritical theologians cannot have it both ways. If our physical body has so little value, then how may bodily suffering produce spiritual health? If physical suffering truly did mature the saints, then human flesh would be of greater value than those theologians and their theologies allow. The church must begin believing Bible Truth, instead of that gross error; which has been BLINDLY ACCEPTED as Bible Doctrine in many church denominations. UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE!

Rather than peddling such erroneous concepts, this book investigates both the causes and purposes of different kinds of suffering; noting their spiritual impact on Deity, the devil, other fallen angels, demons and all human beings—Both lost and saved—Trusting Scripture to forever settle the issue.

To properly understand suffering, we must determine if a particular incident of suffering has a redemptive quality; or, produces negative results. Does the suffering do anyone any practical good, or, is it A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES for everybody involved? After finishing this book, you will no longer evaluate suffering by the age-old religious standards.

All confusion is eliminated from the suffering issue when we understand the merits of the different kinds of suffering. Everything which transpires on earth has some value in the estimation of those personalities connected with a particular event. The key to understanding the value of any incident of human suffering is to learn what impact such suffering has upon the victim in proportion to the purpose of the perpetrator of the suffering. In other words, ask: "Whose purpose does it serve, and how well does it serve that purpose?" The biblical answers to those two questions will determine how believers are to conduct themselves in different circumstances.

I have learned by observing the religious realm that many preachers tend to CONVERT MINOR DETAILS of certain Bible events into unchangeable doctrines, while on the other hand, they REDUCE UNCHANGEABLE BIBLE COMMANDS down to insignificant details. Physical suffering is one example of that observation. Many theologians have developed the bad habit of lumping EVERY sort of suffering under the same umbrella; contending that suffering in general serves divine purposes; refusing to acknowledge that in different painful events there exist different underlying CAUSES of what is suffered by one or more of the participants. Sometimes, suffering is deserved, being a fit reward for one’s rebellion. Suffering in other cases occurs because of one’s righteous stand—Satan opposing the person with destructive attacks. Those two kinds of suffering do not share the same perpetrator, or hold the same value for God or man. Preachers engaged in perversion of Bible Truth will answer to God for their perversions of Bible Truth!

Many theologians have the audacity to dismiss passages that clearly reveal miracle-healing was established by Christ for THIS ENTIRE CHURCH AGE; claiming that miracles in the early church were just DETAILS of events for that time period and not permanent Bible principles. Therefore, in that sphere of Christian experience, they have reduced Bible principles to unimportant details, which they claim God purposely caused to cease after the first century—Known as Cessationism.

Do you see how those two issues affect one another? The biblical truth that miracle-healing is for today discredits the time-worn religious doctrine that fleshly sufferings are good for the soul. How would suffering sickness or disease, which our Savior took upon Himself on the cross to deliver us from, be God’s will for us today? Such sufferings have NO merit or value for either believers or unbelievers. Christ having borne ALL our sickness and pain, what value would there be in our bearing the same sufferings He suffered TO FREE US FROM?

Hence my observation that most theologians tend to turn incidental biblical details into unalterable religious principles, and, unchangeable biblical principles into temporary details: Discouraging believers from believing DIVINE HEALING WAS INSTITUTED BY GOD FOR THIS ENTIRE CHURCH AGE.

Chapter One

Does hell benefit its inhabitants?

Our Redeemer has recently opened my understanding to recognize multiple categories of suffering; each one rated at a different value-level. The degree of value of each depends on whose purpose it serves and how well. Naturally, our Lord’s purposes are always on a higher plane than either man’s or Satan’s plans (Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11; John 10:10).

The Lord has shown me how to rate the various levels of suffering, based on the degree of redemptive value contained within each type; beginning with the lowest, then working up to the highest degree of REDEMPTIVE suffering. Christ alone, of course, holds that unique position by virtue of His extreme sufferings on Calvary’s cross, and in the depths of Hades. In this chapter, I first introduce the subject, then deal with the lowest value-level of human suffering. In later chapters, we will work our way up the scale to those higher value-levels.

The very first quality we must consider in estimating the value of any suffering is whether or not it renders a blessing to the victim; either immediately, or sometime in the future. Next, we must determine if that misery achieves the purpose of the one perpetrating the misery. And finally, if the purpose itself is a worthy project for any or all of the parties involved.

As I indicated earlier, every type of suffering serves some purpose of some personality. But, the character behind some types of suffering has not in mind the GOOD of all concerned;

or of any concerned. Nevertheless, Deity has both ability and wisdom to cause all events, even Satan’s dirtiest tricks, to, in some manner, advance divine purposes. The all-wise Creator knows how to make everything display His glory and power (eventually) without violating any creature’s free will.

The following Scripture passage bears that out. Proverbs 16:4 says: "The LORD has made ALL things for himself: Even THE WICKED for the day of EVIL." At first glance, that might sound like the Creator made certain people wicked from the beginning of their existence, but upon closer examination of that passage, plus comparing it with other passages, we will understand it simply to be teaching that Deity is in ultimate control over everything—That every creature is subject to His Supreme Sovereignty. Though the Creator did NOT build evil into creation, He does have divine ability (and has sworn) to make all events fit His ultimate purpose for creation. Romans 3:4: "Let God be TRUE, but every man a liar: As it is written, that You [Deity] might be justified in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged." NO being can successfully accuse God of wrongdoing, for: "The LORD is upright…There is no unrighteousness in Him (Psalms 92:1)." Thus, God can never fail (Zephaniah 3:5; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 John 4:16). God always wins, because He always does what is right!

From that biblical viewpoint, then, let us consider what is THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE LEVEL OF SUFFERING, because it produces the LEAST amount of good for multitudes of created beings, even though our Creator gains some glory out of that set of unfortunate circumstances! Your curiosity having been aroused, let us now biblically investigate that touchy topic.

By far, the most extreme misery, yielding the least degree of advantage for a tremendous number of creatures, must be that which they will experience in the Lake of Fire throughout eternity. I cannot imagine any suffering to be more intense or perpetual, or which affects more angels, demons and people. When our Savior comes back to end this age and set up His Kingdom, "Then, He will say also to those on [His] left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).’" Although that miserable, eternal habitation was prepared for angelic rebels

and not man, Christ assured us in that verse that rebellious human beings face the same destiny. Revelation 20:10 holds some of those details: "And the devil who deceived them [all sinners] was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast [the Antichrist] and his false prophet already are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:12-15 reveals the eternal fate of lost mankind: "I saw the [wicked] dead, small and great, stand before God: And the books were opened: And another book was opened; being the Book of Life: And the [evil] dead were judged out of those things which were written in those books, according to their works. Then the sea gave up the dead which were in it. Death and Hades delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged, every man, according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire: Which is the Second [eternal] Death. And whosoever was not found written [by name] in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." No redemptive value for any victim of that judgment!

What will be the forever-fate of the unwilling inhabitants of that fiery lake? Revelation 14:9-11: "If ANY man worships the BEAST [Antichrist] and his image and receives his mark in his forehead or in his hand, he WILL DRINK of the wine of the WRATH of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of God’s indignation: And he will be TORMENTED by fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb [Jesus]. The smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever: And they will have NO rest day or night, who worship the BEAST [Antichrist] and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Bad decision!

The Lord got very graphic in Mark 9:43-48: "If your hand offends you [causes you to SIN], cut it off: It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell…FIRE that will not be quenched: Where the WORM dies not, and the FIRE is not quenched. If your foot offends you, cut it off: It is better for you to enter into life [lame], than to have two feet, and to be cast into hell…FIRE that will not be quenched: Where the WORM does not die and the FIRE is not quenched. And if your eye offends you, pluck it out: For it is better to enter into that [heavenly] Kingdom having only one eye than it is to sin [to keep both eyes] and be cast into hell:

Where THE [tormenting] WORM DIES NOT, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED." Christ obviously wanted us to get the full impact of the UNENDING TORMENT suffered in that infernal place. Therefore, we have been adequately warned!

But, those are not the only torments of hell. In Matthew 13:38-42, Christ provided more information about the fate of the wicked: "The field is the world: The GOOD SEEDS are the CHILDREN