The Origin of Suffering is Sin

Suffering. A term that has plagued mankind for centuries - and it isn’t relieving to our consternation to seek an answer that no one has successfully unraveled. 

We certainly may try to ascertain the very depth of a mystery like suffering by using past events in a pattern of persuading ourselves that we will figure out the puzzle of our dilemma. But, as intellectuals for many years have tried and failed, we too will likely fall short of a perfect answer.

Genesis relates to us that God forbade Adam and Eve to eat from the tree in the center of the garden.  If they did, “the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.”  (cf Gen. 2: 17).  What is the word for this?  Disobedience!

A mother tells her child not to take any of the cookies she just baked.  The youngster agrees, until her mother leaves the room and guess what?  He finds a way to reach the cookie jar and consumes some of the succulent treasure.  What describes this act?  Disobedience! 

While driving, we might come to an intersection with a stop sign, look and seeing no other vehicles close by, and continue without stopping.  No police are around. Why stop if it's clear?  After all,  everyone does it.  No one is in danger of being hurt and it’s silly to follow rules that are outdated.  Disobedience to man-made laws doesn’t apply to me!

Listen to a sermon on following God’s commandments and you will hear the word 'sin' used frequently referring to disobedience.  Adam and Eve sinned through disobeying God and paid a price.  We have become heirs of the earliest Bible story, refusing to obey simple or major commands.  You might say, “why should we pay for their disobedience?”  If sin is the culpable reason for suffering why should we inherit the sins of others?

That is just the problem, because when a person disobeys any rule, be it social or religious, it becomes a punishable offense.  Now we all know there are degrees of justice according to the transgression, and must be paid.  But even though a penalty is administered an expiation is still required.  This at times may end up as suffering without understanding its adherence.

After the Resurrection of Jesus, he caught up with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus “and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”  (Lk. 24: 27).  We see that biblical understanding of Jesus was the Son of God, God himself.  Herein the real story of God’s Plan was taking place and scripture was bringing the realism about who Jesus is.   He is the answer to forgive the sin of Adam.  Without this action the sin remains with us.  The suffering of Christ forgives the sin, and the sin is the suffering we still face in all its entirety as an expiation for the penalty paid by Christ. 

A valid answer to the question of why this may not be understood, but it is sin that each of us has been part of and expiation is required to release us from what holds onto us in a world filled with hostility.  Hence, when one rejoices all rejoice.  When one sins all become part of the suffering brought about by the sin.  Therefore, when Adam disobeyed we all inherited the same disobedience and have absorbed the same suffering.  Since we are part of one family sin affects all of us and the effects of expiation will in fact relieve the present suffering when we enter a world with God’s forgiveness.  We may not comprehend the why of suffering, but will in fact overcome that need to be objective without becoming recipients with unreasonable results.  

Ralph B. Hathaway, Spring 2021