The Theology of Suffering

In "The Mystery of Suffering: How Should I Respond?" Kenneth Overberg shares three important points about Jesus and suffering. These three points were: 1) Jesus rested and eliminated suffering, 2) Jesus rejected suffering as punishment for sin, and 3) Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God. Together, these three points explain how Jesus specifically responded to suffering. The first point, Jesus rested and eliminated suffering, explains that Jesus traveled and tried to eliminate suffering wherever he went. He was brave enought to go to towns where everyone was sick, but he wanted to heal them. By eliminating a person's suffering, Jesus was able to increase the happiness and faith of those around him. The second point, Jesus rejected suffering as punishment for sin, explains that God did not use suffering as a punichment. During Jesus' time, many people thought that suffering was a punishament for their sins. Jesus rejected this notion and proclaimed that bad things do happen to good people and is not a reflection of their sins. The third point, Jesus trusted a compassionate, present God, explains that Jesus truly trusted that God would save those who earned it. Jesus also understood that his suffering and death was part of God's plan and trusted that his suffering would be for the benefit of all people. 

"A Theology of Atonement/Ransom" portrays God as angry, harsh, and even boodthirsty. This was a very common bleief of many people during Jesus' time. The Hebrew people did things such as animal sacrifices in order to please God. The people believed that pouring an animal's blood onto an alter would make those people be and connect more fully to God. "A Theology of Incarnation" has the complet opposite view point. In this article, the people view God as a blessing. The blievers view God as someone who loves everything equally, forgives for sins, and is a devine presense. This is the view that many students, including myself, have grown up being taught. I believe that this is the true God because God gives so many people strength who have none and if He wanted people to suffer, he would not give those men and woman strength. I know many people who have found a devine but 100% present faith and strength in God, so those stories make me believe that God does not want us to suffer but it here for all people to love, forgive, and be present.