[Kylan's Blog] The Reason for Pain

Another song in my quest for deeper praise and worship songs. This one covers a serious question that many people find quite troublesome.

The idea for this subject came to me after listening to an interview on NPR's Fresh Air. It featured religious studies professor Bart D. Ehrman, an individual who "converted" from Christianity to agnosticism after he couldn't reconcile the problem of pain ('If God is Love, why do people suffer?'). On the show he stated his arguments and rebutted common explanations, but I was surprised that he didn't consider the possibility that we deserve at least as much pain as we get in our lives.

There was no pain before the Fall, and the Bible is very clear that the consequences of sin are pain and, eventually, death. We are depraved creatures who don't deserve to live in God's world. The Bible teaches that God is just and that He hates sin. It is only by God's grace and love that we are saved from His awesome wrath. We are unworthy of everything we have in our lives, especially since we should be experiencing the ultimate punishment of Hell. With this point of view, we should even rejoice in our worst suffering because it is still better than what we really deserve.

Of course, my arguments rely on a number of presuppositions, so atheists and others will be quick to discount them. Fine, I can argue the merits of my assumptions later. But Mr. Ehrman was a Christian before he lost his faith in God. This means that he shared my basis for thought. I just don't see how we as Christians can have the audacity to expect a cushy life from God. Instead, we should realize how blessed we are and praise God for the overly gracious gifts He's given us.

Mr. Ehrman, I think your should reconsider your position. This song's for you.

"The Reason for Pain"

If our God is a God of Love
what's the reason for all this pain?
Our days are long, our lives are rough
we're just tired of toil and strain

Chorus:
The truth is that we're sinners
and we deserve so much worse
Father, save us from ourselves
forgive us, wicked and perverse

Almighty God, consume our hearts
apart from You, no one is good
We still do what we should not do
and keep avoiding what we should

But God alone has the power
to transform and renew your life
Call on Him to receive freedom
and meaning deeper than your pain