The Role of Human Suffering in Christian Life: A Theological Reflection on Biblical Teaching
Keywords:
Human suffering, realities of suffering, Christian life, theological reflectionAbstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of human suffering in Christian life: a theological reflection on biblical teaching. The researcher used secondary data collection that is theological books, articles, and the Bible. The research was carried out in the library of Africa International University. The study adopted the Biblical perspective and Theological reflection of human suffering. The main methodology was a pastoral circle of sharing the experience of different people going through suffering while providing social analysis, theological reflection, and pastoral action. Suffering in the Old Testament was linked to the disobedience of the first human beings who were Adam and Eve. This proved that Christians suffer due to their sins and disobedience to God. In some cases, however, suffering is neither a punishment from God nor due to disobedience but is sometimes experienced so that God’s name may continue to be glorified. The study concluded that suffering is a core part of a Christian’s life and it always has a purpose. God uses suffering to manifest Himself to His people, teach His people a lesson, and glorify His name among nations. Suffering happens to connect Christians with God. Prayer helps Christians to experience suffering with courage and hope. The role of suffering in a Christian’s life was to reveal God’s presence, power and glory. The study recommended the Church focus more on teaching Christians about suffering so that they should understand the meaning of suffering with perseverance in their Christian walk. The thesis recommended future studies to focus on the role of the church in Christian suffering. This would help to unravel how the Church responds to the suffering of its followers and how it helps in building its followers’ faith and development through challenges and suffering. This will help to place the Church in a good position to be partaker of its followers’ suffering thus building a strong and permanent relationship with its members.
References
Alyward Shorter and Joseph Njiru, New religious movements in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya: Pauline’s Publications Africa, 2001,10
Biography of Pastor Alph Lukau – Founder of Alleluia Ministries International (AMI) – Wikipedia, voice of dominion.com, 2021 Accessed Feb 9, 2021
Carlsmith, Kevin M., and John M. Darley. "Psychological aspects of retributive justice." Advances in experimental social psychology 40 (2008): 193-236.
Charles. E. Hummel, The prosperity gospel: Health and wealth and the faith movement: Intervarsity Press, 1991, p 15-17
Chulumanco Mahamba, Former false prophets lift lid on how cult churches operate in SA, iol.co.za, 2020 Accessed Feb 9, 2021
David Oyedepo, Breaking Financial Hardship: Dominion Publishing House; 4th edition, 1995, p 107
Dilworth, John. (2020). Theology of suffering: Africa International University.
Femi. B. Adeleye , The Preachers of a Different Gospel: A Pilgrim's Reflections on Contemporary Trends in Christianity, Zondervan Academic, 2011
Funchess, James Davis. "Application for the Sake of Transformation: A Study of Thomas Manton’s Categorical Approach to Sermon Application." PhD diss., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2023.
Geyser-Fouchè, Ananda B., and Thomas M. Munengwa. "The concept of vicarious suffering in the Old Testament." HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 75, no. 4 (2019).
https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/republic/themes/ Accessed on 14th April, 2024
Humanism, Non-Religious views- GCSE Religious studies: Bbc.co.uk. Accessed on November 28, 2020
John Mbiti. African Religions and Philosophy. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books, 1969.
John Stott, The Cross of Christ: Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1986, 311
Jonathan L. Walton, Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism: NYU Press, 2009
Joseph, Jo. "Christian Persecution in Worldwide–detailed observation in the top 50 countries." Available at SSRN 4399873 (2023).
Justin Martyr, First Apology, in The Fathers of the Church. volume 6, translated by Thomas B. Falls. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1948, 57.
Justin Martyr, Second Apology, in The Fathers of the Church. Volume 6, translated by Thomas B. Falls. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1948,8.
Kaiser Jr, Walter C. "Eight kinds of suffering in the Old Testament." Suffering and the goodness of God (2008): 65-78.
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) (2020) Business Perspectives on the Impact of the Coronavirus on Kenya’s Economy, KEPSA, Nairobi.
Kyle. Richards,As an atheist, why do you think there is pain and suffering in life?quora.com. Accessed on November 28, 2020
Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain: HarperCollins Publishers; 1st edition, 2001
Marcus, Joel. Jesus and the Holocaust: reflections on suffering and hope. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2017.
Marius, Nel. The Prosperity Gospel in Africa: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2020
Michael D. Fortner, The Prosperity Gospel Exposed and Other False Doctrine: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, 2011
Motyer, J. Alec. The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 2015.
O’Reilly, Matt. "Paul, Apostle of Pain:“One of Us-ness” and the Question of Suffering in 2 Corinthians." Journal of Early Christian History 12, no. 1 (2022): 80-95.
Paul Hartog and Polycarp, Polycarp’s Epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp: New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, 49.
Paul. Gifford, Prosperity: A new and foreign element in African Christianity, Religion, vol.20:4, 1990, p 373-388
Plato. Plato's The Republic. New York: Books, Inc.,1943
Robin Routledge, Old Testament Theology: A Thematic Approach (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008), 147.
Scherschligt, J. (2023, March 16). Five Kinds of Suffering | Categories and Different Types of Suffering — School of Faith. School of Faith. https://schooloffaith.com/rosary-archive/five-kinds-of-suffering
Stanley J. Grenx and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 9.
Terence. H. Irwin. “The Parts of the Soul and the Cardinal Virtues (Book IV 427d–448e) from the book Platon: Politeia. https://doi.org/10.1524/9783050089935.89. Accessed on 12th, April 2024.
Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering: Penguin Books; Reprint edition, 2015, 31
Willmington, Harold. "The Temptation of Jesus Christ." (2017).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Anne Wairimu Kimani, Dr. Henry Mutua, Prof. James Nkansah-Obrempong
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
