This document provides an overview and materials for a workshop on Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and Disability. It includes an introduction, overview of workshop topics, recaps of previous workshops, and content on the question of God and the problem of evil. The workshop addresses why bad things happen to good people from theological perspectives, including examining the nature of God, problem of evil, and developing a "theodicy". It discusses types of evil, classical and contemporary Christian responses to theodicy, and the redemptive understanding of moral evil through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. BIL 113:
Biblical
Perspectives on
Suffering and
Disability
Glenn Johnson
WS4
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil
WELCOME!

2. Devotion/Prayer: Psalm 34:1-10
I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his
praises.
I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are discouraged
take heart.
Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his
name together.
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me
from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no
shadow of shame will darken their faces.

3. Devotion/Prayer: Psalm 34:1-10
I cried out to the LORD in my suffering, and he heard
me. He set me free from all my fears.
For the angel of the LORD guards all who fear him,
and he rescues them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of
those who trust in him!
Let the LORD's people show him reverence, for those
who honor him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but
those who trust in the LORD will never lack any good
thing.
(Psalm 34:1-10)

4. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
Workshop Overview
4
Workshop 1- Beginning to Talk About Pain and
Suffering:The Context of the Goodness of Creation in the Old
Testament
Workshop 2- The Fall in the Garden and The Lament of
Creation
Workshop 3-The Prophetic Response to Suffering and
Disability (Micah 4:1-10)
Workshop 4- The Question of God and the Problem of Evil
Workshop 5-The Jesus Story of God: Paul and Suffering
(Rom. 8:28)
Workshop 6-What Has God Done? Suffering and the Hope of
Jesus As Our Rebellion (1 Cor. 15:1-58)

5. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
Previous Workshop
Questions?
5
• Recap: Be sure and review resource content in the
Discussion Assignments (Video, Documents, etc.). This
will help rounding out content and assignments.
• TONIGHT: We will examine the nature of God, the problem
of evil, and work out a “theodicy.” Think: “why do bad
things happen to good people.” We will interpret these
ideas into our growing understanding of God, the Christ
event and pain, suffering and the theological problem of
evil.

6. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
6
THEODICY
The Problem Of Evil
Theos=“God”
Dike=“Justice”
God is all good and all powerful (and, therefore, all knowing).
The universe/creation was made by God and/or exists in a contingent
relationship to God.
Evil exists in the world. Why?
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil

7. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
7
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil
-ISSUE: How can we justify what we believe about God in relation
to evil in the world?
-2 Kinds of Evil: MORAL & NATURAL
-Both Types Highlighted in Luke 13:1-5
13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus
answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all
the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But
unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died
when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more
guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you
repent, you too will all perish.”

8. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
8
THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING…What Do We Mean When
We Say……..
OMNIPOTENCE?
GOODNESS?
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil

9. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
9
“Active Will vs. Passive Will”
Limited Creatures
Live In Violent Energy System
Chance Factors
God’s Purposes Elsewhere…
Not A Hedonistic Paradise
Redemptive Possibilities….
Christian Hope…..
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil
Moore, OK 1999 Tornado

10. The Problem Of Evil
MORAL EVIL
ISIS and Purported
Egyptian Christian Martyrs
Genuine Free Choice
Required
God Respects Freedom
God Does Not Create/Will
Moral Evil
God CONCURS in the
Natural…..
Demonic Influence?
BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil

11. ISIS and Purported
Egyptian Christian Martyrs
BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and Disability
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil
Classic and Contemporary Christian Responses
I. The Free Will Model:
II. The Soul Making Model:
III. The Great Design Argument
IV. The Eschatological Hope
V. The Suffering of God Response
VI. A Theology of the Cross
VII. Faith and Trust
VIII. A Theodicy of Protest
IX. Disavowal of Theodicy
X. Sapiential Theodicy
XI. Mystical Theodicy

12. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
12
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil
Freedom Required for
Goodness to be Possible
Human Guilt
Individual Sin
Intensifies Impact of Natural
Evil

13. BIL113 Biblical Perspectives on Suffering and
Disability
13
Redemptive Understanding of Moral Evil
-CROSS: provides a solution….God enters into our human experience
of sin and suffering and Jesus takes it on himself
-CROSS AND RESURRECTION: suffering transformed and taken
into God’s higher purposes in ways we can’t understand (Rom. 8:28)
-HOPE IN THE END: scales of justice will be balanced
-WE ONLY SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, and trust that
when we see God, we’ll understand
The Question of God and the
Problem of Evil

14. Discussion
Discussion 4.3 assigns and article and
video for you to read/watch that focus on
responses to theodicy. There are
Christian responses as well as non-
Christian responses, by definition, to the
question of God and the problem of evil.
• What aspect of theodicy is
most challenging to you?
• What aspect of the story of
Jesus as an answer to the
problem of evil is most
satisfying?
14
WS2: The Fall in The Garden: The Lament of
Creation

15. WS5: The Jesus Story of God: Paul and Suffering(Romans 8:28)
REVIEW(March 31)
• Watch/Read WS 5 Associated Materials
Workshop 4 Session: The Question of God and the Problem of Evil

16. Thank You and
See You Next
Week!
April Hansson
Glenn Johnson
Glenn.Johnson@indwes.edu

17. WS 1 VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS

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