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Lesson OneSuffering Comes With The Freedom To Choose5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoSuffering Reveals What Is In Our Hearts5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeSuffering Takes Us To The Edge Of Eternity5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourGod Can Turn Suffering Around For Our Good5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FivePain Can Warn Us Of Danger5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixIn Times Of Crisis We Find One Another5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SevenSuffering Gives Opportunity To Trust God5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson EightPain Loosens Our Grip On This Life5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson NineGod Suffers With Us In Our Suffering5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TenGod's Comfort Is Greater Than Our Suffering5 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 227
Discussion Questions
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Douglas Geivett said, “A great deal of responsibility for suffering or for evil generally in the world today is rooted in how we exercise the freedom we have.” What are evidences you have seen of the connection between the freedom to choose and human suffering?
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Freedom to choose has given us the freedom to respond to a matter in the manner we see fit in the heat of the moment. I have seen in my life time tragic consequences due to man responding to matters that resulted in death.
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When we are given the freedoms to choose, we are given the opportunity to make a right choice or a wrong choice. Either choice will have a consequence attached to it. Being made in the image of God gives us the ability to use common sense and will to decide if the risk of a bad consequence is worth the fun or enjoyment of a certain choice. The ability to weigh the decision is where exercising responsibility comes into play. If we were not given the choice, then typically, there is not a risk of consequence to follow, removing responsibility. Speed limits on roads and speed limits in vehicles allow us the choice to go the posted speed limit, or to go the speed limit of our vehicle. It’s our choice, and then our consequence that is our responsibility to make and fulfill.
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This evidence is displayed in people’s lives daily. The adulterer that chooses to have an affair exercises their free will and has to deal with the consequences and suffering as a result of breaking up the family. People are making choices daily that result to their own suffering.
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This is a difficult question to answer, as it puts the responsibility right back on us. We are given the ability to decide, for instance, how we spend our time, and what we make a priority. That personal decision not only impacts us, but the people around us. And it can lead us, or them down the wrong path.
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Looking back over my life, my many weaknesses (and powerlessness) have led me to make bad choices. This is a tough question for me. I’ve needed support, strength and guidance.
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In response to Dr. Paul Brand’s statement, would you exchange your freedom to choose in order to enjoy freedom from pain?
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No!
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From someone who lives in pain 24/7/365 – absolutely! I am often heard saying I cannot wait until the Lord calls me home so I can have my new body.
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Susan Sawyer: If we had no freedom to choose, a different sort of pain would be experienced – in the form of frustration or desire to rebel, similar to a child who is told not to do something.
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I love the freedom of choice and I wouldn’t give it away because that pain makes me who I am
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No. I value my freedom of choice and I understand that even though I don’t like suffering, that that is the cost of my freedom.
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Ravi Zacharias said, “Love cannot be brought about by robotic coercion; it has to be done by freedom of will.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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I believe only creations made by God have the power of love