THIS PREACHER I STRUGGLE WITH.

 THIS PREACHER I STRUGGLE WITH

You listen to some preachers several times, sometimes even within the same sermon, and they seem to go full circle, contradicting what they said earlier.

They will say that death is of the devil and pray for God's protection against death, only to turn around and say that death is of God, who picks His “fruits” whenever He wishes.

They will say that suffering is not of God, only to turn around and teach that God causes suffering to teach spiritual lessons, test people, and break their pride.

They will say that God delivers from poverty but that at the same time He distributes poverty to his people as He wishes.

They will say that God knows what we need before we ask and can answer even before we pray, only to turn around and insist that we must pray harder, shout louder, fast longer, and demonstrate desperation to receive from Him.

They will say that the death of Christ broke the power of every curse, only to turn around and tell people that they are still under a curse, which can be broken through a good offering or other services rendered to the pastor or his or her church.

They will say that disease is of the devil, only to turn around and teach that it is an instrument in God's hands to accomplish His purposes.

These are some of the teachings I struggle with because they can leave believers confused about the true nature and character of God.

I appreciate the books I have read that present a God who is not the author of evil but is working to deliver, restore, and ultimately save those who put their trust in Him.

Although the Bible may appear to contain contradictions on these subjects, I believe many of these difficulties can be resolved through careful study, proper interpretation, and a deeper understanding of God's character and purposes. We must distinguish between what God causes, what He "permits*, what results from human choices, and what comes from the destructive influence of evil.

The Bible cautions us against carelessly attributing evil to God. James 1:13 says:

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”

Although this verse specifically addresses temptation, it challenges us to examine teachings that portray God as the source of evil without carefully considering what Scripture actually says.

First John 3:8b declares:

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

In the broader biblical context, the devil's work includes sin, hatred, and the absence of love, which contribute to much of the suffering people experience. The Gospels also portray Jesus confronting sickness, pain, oppression, and other forms of human suffering through His healing and liberating ministry.

Matthew 4:23–24 tells us that Jesus went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people. People brought Him those suffering from various diseases, severe pain, seizures, paralysis, and demonic oppression, and He healed them.

Jesus' ministry therefore gives us a powerful picture of God's compassion towards suffering humanity. Rather than teaching us to view every sickness or tragedy as evidence of God's displeasure, His example invites us to respond to suffering with compassion, prayer, practical help, and hope.

Of course, not every question about suffering can be answered with a simple explanation. The Bible contains passages about divine judgment, discipline, testing, human responsibility, and the consequences of wrongdoing. These must be studied in their proper contexts rather than used indiscriminately to explain every tragedy that occurs.

If we believe that God is good, we should seek to understand His actions in a way that is consistent with His revealed character. Rather than using fear, suffering, sickness, death, or curses to manipulate believers, spiritual leaders should help people understand God's Word, grow in faith, exercise wisdom, and find hope in Him.

The pulpit should bring clarity about God, not confusion; freedom, not spiritual bondage; and hope, not fear-driven dependence on religious leaders.

May we study the Scriptures carefully, examine what we are taught, and hold firmly to what is true.

“Test everything. Hold on to what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Elijah Mutua Kirima

Pastor

THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD