Probably the most common question related to suffering is “What did they do wrong?” This view is based in those who see God as the God of judgement and punishment. That is a dominant image of God as the angry, “I’ll get you for that” type of being. It is a truly one dimensional image based more on our behavior than on God. Labels are one dimensional and limit complex people, or God, to an unrealistic cage. It is easy to simplify things to their point of greatest distortion because some people take comfort in uncomplicating complicated things. Thinking and dealing with complicated is hard work.

Doing wrong can cause suffering. The Germans and Japanese performed all forms of despicable cruelties in WWII. The response to them was in like kind. You get what you give or reap what you sow is a common proverb.

All cultures have value systems of right and wrong and justice systems that deal with punishment for wrongdoing. Criminal justice is a piece of every culture. It should not be a surprise that the Kingdom of God would have a justice system as a part of its total culture. It is not the whole of heavenly culture, but it is a part. How could heaven be heaven without justice and the other high values, which are perfect there.

Children have a tendency to reveal things that we, as adults, like to think have gone away as we got older. They remind us that we may not have as much a problem with doing wrong as we have with being caught. We watch people in power and influence get away with things, seemingly for extended periods of time, without being caught and punished. We are offended. (God often takes the blame for this. It seems He gets blamed when we get caught and when others don’t.) We want Justice. We want it fair and consistent (sometimes as long as it doesn’t include us).

Suffering is a complex issue because it doesn’t just involve crime and punishment. We want our justice system to be as near perfect as possible, but not as the fascists and totalitarian governments provide it. We want some compassion and balance with the potential for forgiveness and making things right, which is the subject of the next blog. Stay tuned, and give God a break. He is far bigger than crime and punishment. You are already caught when you fail because you know it when no one else does. He is interested in you as an entire being, not just measuring you on the scale of right and wrong.