e s problem for christians

8/9/2019 E S Problem for Christians

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Why is the existence of Evil andWhy is the existence of Evil and

Suffering a problem forSuffering a problem for

Christians?Christians?

Because they believe that God is allBecause they believe that God is allLoving, All Powerful and All Knowing…Loving, All Powerful and All Knowing…

So, Why is there Evil and Suffering in theSo, Why is there Evil and Suffering in the

world?world?



Maybe God doesn’tcare about Humansuffering

Maybe God isn’t all-loving

Maybe God can’t doanything about humanSuffering

Maybe God isn’tall-powerful

Maybe God doesn’tknow about HumanSuffering

Maybe God isn’tall-Knowing



Conclusion?Conclusion?

Maybe there isn’t a GodMaybe there isn’t a God

Hang on!

What does theBible say…maybe itcan help, sort out

this problem!



1)1) SUFFERING IS A TEST SUFFERING IS A TEST

God is allowing us to be tested to see if weGod is allowing us to be tested to see if weloses faithloses faith

2)2) SUFFERING IS PUNISHMENT SUFFERING IS PUNISHMENT

God is punishing us for sinsGod is punishing us for sins

3)3) SUFFERING IS ALL PART OF THESUFFERING IS ALL PART OF THEMASTER PLANMASTER PLAN

God has a large plan which we don’tGod has a large plan which we don’tunderstand, but it involves suffering.understand, but it involves suffering.

“ “ God works in mysterious ways”.God works in mysterious ways”.



Like the creature you created at theLike the creature you created at thestart of the lesson, would you want it tostart of the lesson, would you want it to

be free?be free? To defy you, and treat other of its kindTo defy you, and treat other of its kind

badly? What would you, as God do?badly? What would you, as God do?

How would you want your creature toHow would you want your creature tobehave? How would you make it do whatbehave? How would you make it do what

you want? you want?

Freedom of choice?Freedom of choice?



So instead he made humansto have a choice; to chosehow we want to behave.

Basically he wanted us tohave the FREEDOM to beGood or Bad.

When God made humans he did not want us tobe like puppets on strings, only doing what hewanted.

The Freewill defenceThe Freewill defence



Unfortunately humans often choose to behave

badly,And this, Christians say, is why there is somuch pain in the world.Therefore pain is our fault for misusing our

FREE WILL.

I wouldn’t

lie!

THIS IS CALLED ‘THE FREE WILL DEFENCE’



What do you think?What do you think?

Write a paragraph explaining theWrite a paragraph explaining theproblem for Christians and one of theproblem for Christians and one of thereason they give for the existence ofreason they give for the existence ofEvil and Suffering.Evil and Suffering.

Remember to use your KEY WORDSRemember to use your KEY WORDS



Peter, Edmund, Susan & LucyPeter, Edmund, Susan & Lucyevacuate to an old house in theevacuate to an old house in thehouse they find a wardrobe thathouse they find a wardrobe thatleads to a magical country Narnia.leads to a magical country Narnia.

..



In Narnia Edmund meets theIn Narnia Edmund meets theevil White Witch and decidesevil White Witch and decidesto betray his brother andto betray his brother andsisters.sisters.

Edmund is rescued by the LordEdmund is rescued by the Lordof Narnia, Aslan, and hisof Narnia, Aslan, and his

brother and sisters. brother and sisters.

The next day the Witch says that Edmund must dieas he is a traitor.

Aslan agrees and makes a secret deal with the

witch.



Watch ClipWatch Clip Who do the characters represent.



Aslan represents___________ ______ __ Aslan represents___________ ______ __

because___________________________ because___________________________

The White Witch represents ___________ The White Witch represents ___________

because___________________________ because___________________________

The Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea represents ________ The Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea represents ________

because__________________ because__________________

Extension :

Stories/Films often about the fight between good and evil. Write down

three heroes and three villains. Explain how do the studios show the

character is evil/good. Think about how they look.



Task 2: Answer the following questionsTask 2: Answer the following questions

How was the treatment of Aslan like that of Jesus?How was the treatment of Aslan like that of Jesus? Why did Aslan come back from the dead?Why did Aslan come back from the dead? Why did Jesus come back from the dead?Why did Jesus come back from the dead? What is similar about what happened after Jesus’ death and whatWhat is similar about what happened after Jesus’ death and what

happened after Aslan’s deathhappened after Aslan’s death



The Witch represents SatanThe Witch represents Satan& Aslan represents Jesus.& Aslan represents Jesus.

The treatment of Aslan justThe treatment of Aslan just

before he is put to death is before he is put to death issimilar to way Jesus wassimilar to way Jesus wastreated.treated.

Aslan chose to die inAslan chose to die in

Edmund’s place so thatEdmund’s place so thatcould survive, so Christianscould survive, so Christians believe Jesus died for believe Jesus died for people’s sins. people’s sins.

Aslan rose from the deathAslan rose from the death

just like Jesus did. just like Jesus did.

After the battle (which theyAfter the battle (which they

win) Aslan brings hiswin) Aslan brings his

followers back to life.followers back to life.

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