Matthew 7:3 “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
It seems to me that lately I’ve been noticing people being much more critical of each other. Present company included (that’s the fancy way of saying “me too”). It’s like the cool weather went straight to hot and people have lost their patience with each other. I’d like to attribute this outbreak of love lost  to the weather but unfortunately  we all know its Satan busy doing his work. I look forward to the day that he will pay for all this insanity that seems to be the new normal. But I digress for now …
I’d like to talk about something that’s been stuck in my craw for a bit. Yea,  this Jersey boy threw that one out there). Seriously, I’m not sure when I started to notice this particularly puzzling expression but it just kind of  popped up all at once and seemed like it came from every other person I was talking to. Its  actually more than one expression but they all say the same thing.   What expression could this be??????
You know the one…
“He calls himself a Christian” (aka “He claims to be a Christian”) – Yes, you’ve heard this one before…. Probably said it several times, maybe never, maybe a lot.
You know, this is the one where a person is judging another by implying  they don’t believe another person is a Christian. Seriously, that’s what they’re saying because if they didn’t think that they wouldn’t have implied it by saying “He calls himself a Christian”. Just consider this for a moment. We are saying that we don’t believe someone is acting, walking, talking, looking, or thinking like a Christian. Yes, perhaps  we now have Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) and know what others can think. Pretty dangerous stuff if you ask me.  Then again right now you may be saying “I didn’t ask you”, followed by a judgmental thought?
Please keep reading because there is a happy ending to this story but let’s get through all of the ugly first…
In addition to “He calls himself a Christian” here’s a couple more of the accusatorial greatest hits (now available on a 45 record). {Google it!}
Side 1
A fellow believer, regarding another Christian family, says,
“They say they’re Christians” (this is a particularly stinging comment as the word “say” usually rolls off the speaker’s tongue as if it poisonous and can’t stay in their mouth one second longer. You can almost feel the sting of the word as it is coming out). Now it appears we have graduated from judging one person over an entire family. I will never forget the time one of my lifelong friend’s wives said this regarding another family that were believers who struggled like the rest of us. The look of disdain was particularly disturbing.
Here's another one that’s always an attention getter-
“So called Christians” (followed by an eye roll). Contemplate this for a minute. That eye roll speaks volumes of contempt. I guess I could figure out quickly what a so-called Christian is. Down the hallway to the bathroom and a quick look in the mirror. Seriously, I reflect inwardly on all my thoughts for the past 24 hours. I can’t hide my sins - past, present, and future from the Lord. Well, I’ve graduated. I’m qualified to be a so-called Christian. Who isn’t? Please understand I am not trying to put all of us in the same basket, I’m not trying to make you defend yourself and I’m definitely not implying that YOU are the reason I am writing this.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when these types of statements have their place (I guess). Perhaps a Pastor, preaching from the heart on a subject that calls for it. Perhaps watching the nightly news and seeing that a member of a church has done something abominable or stolen money from the congregation,  perhaps I lose my patience on the 101 and can’t control myself when I am sticking out trying to make a U-turn and someone lays on that horn without interruption…… BUT, then again who are we to judge? Our sins are surely no less than theirs?  Our Christian walk outwardly may appear to be better but inwardly where are you and how can you reconcile judging them and not yourself? Really, is your walk so solid that it’s time to be translated uptown on the express train? Does your chariot of fire await you?
It’s sad that I have had the displeasure on several occasions to be the recipient of someone saying to me, “so and so” claims to be a Christian and they don’t know it but the person they are talking about has also said the same thing about them to me. Talk about awkward. It’s a gut punch to the body Christ.
Allow me to be clear, I am a sinner and can’t go two minutes without being convicted of a thought, a look, a judgement. I wish I could, and I endeavor to try harder. However, there’s one thing I can be certain of and that’s that I have never said any of the above statements. Perhaps I am not secure enough in my Christian walk yet and honestly, I hope I never feel I am entitled to say such things. I already have a hard enough time trying not to judge others and I guess this is just a whole new level to me.
Ok, by now you’re probably saying what is up with Mitch. Why so harsh? OK, let’s take a trip back in time to King David. You know the one, blood line to our Lord and Savior and all! Praise the Lord for King David and his leadership and perseverance through so many trials but as many of you know, King David was a murderer and adulterer and that was way after the Lord gave Moses the 10 commandments / the law. Most of you also know that before King David was ruling, King Saul attempted to take David’s life numerous times. David could have easily killed King Saul but didn’t due to his knowing that the Lord anointed King Saul and David knew it was definitely not his place to get in the way of the Lord.
All that said, my point is, King David was a murderer and adulterer with the law in hand---Did the people of his day call him “a so-called Hebrew”? Did they say, “he claims to be a Jew?" I’m sure I could find more examples to share but honestly, it’s disheartening to continue.
So, I ask you my friend, what is a so-called Christian?
Oh yes, need a happy ending? It’s my, your, and perhaps the other so called Christians personal relationship with the only One worthy to judge us. That’s the happy ending for now.
I need some pretty big tweezers to get this splinter out of my eye!

 Easter egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, jelly beans, candy eggs, Easter baskets, and Peeps! All of these are fun and enjoyable parts of Easter, but what if that is all? What if the Easter dinner and the fun were the only things to celebrate? What if Jesus Christ didn’t rise from the dead? What if there were no resurrection from the grave?
 
In 1 Corinthians 15:12-13, the Bible actually proposes this question. Paul writes, 
“…how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.” Paul then goes on to describe the negative consequences of an Easter that is only about eggs, bunnies, and candy. He describes what life would be like without the truth and reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Let’s remember the following 3 realities of a universe and life without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These can be found in 1 Corinthians 15.

1. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there is no forgiveness of sin.The purpose of Jesus’ sacrificial death was to provide a completely holy substitute for our sinful failures. God requires the punishment of death for the forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9). No mere human can provide a sufficient sacrifice before God for the sins of others, because each person must die for his or her own sin. However, Jesus, as God and man miraculously combined, could live a completely holy life and thus provide a perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind through the shedding of His blood and His death on the cross.  Romans 1:4 says that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” If Jesus didn’t rise, He was not the Son of God, and thus His death was simply the death of another good man. If He is still dead, then He died for only His own sin but not ours.  If this is the case and there is no resurrection of Christ, then we are left surrounded by, captive to, and dominated by our sinful desires and deeds. We are left in our struggle to live with our own guilt and to die condemned by our sin.  

2. Without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith is worthless. Our belief in hope, a brighter tomorrow, that God is somehow working all things for good, that death is not the end, and that all wrongs will be made right would all be in vain without the resurrection of Jesus. There would be no reason to hope. We might die in the next moments, and then what? There would be no belief in eternal life, including eternal reward or eternal punishment.  If our faith is worthless, there is no hope, no joy, no peace. If our faith is worthless, we should, “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”  (That advice may initially sound good to some until you combine it, for all humanity, with the next point that there is no real right and wrong without the resurrection.) If our faith is worthless and there are no moral absolutes, and if others’ merriment includes your detriment, then the world becomes a horrible place. If our faith is worthless, we are, as Paul describes, a most miserable humanity.  

3. Without the resurrection of Jesus, the Bible is a lie and there is no ultimate truth for life, living, and death.Paul says that if the resurrection didn’t happen, then truths about God, the Bible, and good versus evil all fall apart. If the resurrection didn’t happen, those who believe the Bible and teach it to others are liars. God, if he exists at all, would be a liar. There would be no bedrock truth for humanity.  If there is no bedrock truth, then there is no right and wrong and no true justice for the hurts done to us or those we love. Every person could do that which is right in his own mind.  If there is no resurrection, we cannot provide answers for why bad things happen to good people. We cannot teach our children not to kill, steal, lie, etc., nor expect that others should not sin in those ways toward us. ISIS isn’t wrong in their efforts, serial killers aren’t really wrong, corporate greed is fine, and the list could go on to include every horrific crime or sin we could imagine. Without the resurrection, man is left alone in his quest to determine his own way, and there is no direction.  
Certainly there will always be those who deny and mock the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do not have to look far or type too many letters into Google to find them and their arguments. However, we must consider the far-reaching implications of their beliefs and decide for ourselves.
 
If you are a believer, as you consider Easter this year, don’t underestimate the power of the resurrection or fail to celebrate it. Share the good news of the Gospel confidently, because Jesus did rise and conquer death! Our sins can be forgiven. We can have a relationship with God. We can believe that the Bible is true and an unfailing guide for life and the future.
 
If you are not a believer, please consider the far-reaching implications of your denial and consider once again the story of the Bible. Please consider the following resources that will at least give you some more information and help you to not make a careless decision.
 
 
More Resources on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Answers in Genesis – Did the Resurrection Really Happen?  

 
The Case for the Resurrection – Lee Strobel. An investigative reporter studies the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

We can often live in fear and anxiety because of Satan's lies. He seems to use tricks of “smoke and mirrors.”  Jesus said that the devil is a liar—and the father of lies.[1] The devil cannot “make” us do anything, but he is a master deceiver who is very much experienced at making people believe anything that interferes with God’s plan. Jesus Christ, in contrast, is called “the way, the truth, and the life,” and his plan is for each person to experience life “more abundantly.”
 
Here are five lies that cause us to fear and the Biblical truth that sets people free from those fears if they will believe and trust God’s word.  
 
You can’t Do What God Wants You To Do.

The worst thing about the “I can’t” lie is that it stops us before we start. It fills us with fear as we face our biggest obstacles and challenges.  “I can’t overcome alcohol.” “I shouldn’t expect to have a good marriage.” “Everything I touch turns out wrong.” “I’m a failure.” “I can’t follow God.” “I can’t start that business.”
 
In contrast, God is the creator of potential—and the completer of fulfillment.   “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me..” [2] Yes, that verse is specifically about Paul’s learning to handle both plenty and poverty without being distracted from his life’s purpose by either. Still, if God is the great creator, if he knows us, if we will one day be rewarded for what we have done, then we may assume he has a plan for us—something we can do. No, we can’t do everything, but we can do anything he wants us to do. That includes overcoming our sins and failures by his grace and with his help and accomplishing his will for our lives.
 
Whether it is something people consider to be great or small, God looks on the heart, and the very act of seeking to serve him is a success. And failure is an essential part of success. “ For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” [3] The only way to never fail is to never attempt. So don’t be afraid to attempt that which God is leading you to do through prayerful and Biblical wisdom. Don’t fear and believe the lie of “I can’t.”
 
God Won’t.
 
“God won’t help me.” “God won’t forgive me again.” “God won’t hear me.” God won’t love me.” These are real cries of the hurting heart. And God is ready for that: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” [4] God is not frustrated at our weaknesses and failing. Ask Peter after his denial of Christ. Ask the woman who was so ashamed that she could not even look up, but washed the feet of Christ with her tears. But he is severe to those who stubbornly persist in rejecting his grace. It’s Okay to be weak, but we must guard our hearts against being willfully and stubbornly resistant of God’s grace. The key differences? Sincerity and repentance. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.t.” [5]
 
Nobody Cares.
 
This is a lie from Satan, “the accuser,” much too close to the first recorded lie. His approach to Eve was that God did not have her best interest at heart. She could have more than God was offering. Although she had known only good, she could know both good and evil. And that experiential knowledge of evil brought pain and misery.
 
God cares. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things??” [6]
 
And people care. It is natural to retreat from people when we hurt, to hide, to isolate ourselves. It is natural, but it is counterproductive. The healing comes as we choose the supernatural, God’s plan. And God’s plan involves accepting the provisions God has made, including people. That is one function of the church: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching..” [7]That may take letting some people inside your life, opening yourself up, sharing your hurts when you just want to hide. But God intends to use his people. Will everyone respond rightly? Maybe not. In fact, probably not. In any group of people, some will let you down, but in a good church, there will be someone with whom you can connect. One function of pastoral leadership is to help people make those connections. If you are in our area, we would like to help. Please feel free to contact us or come for a visit to a service soon. We are here to listen and we care. 
 
You Don't Matter.
  
You matter to God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [8] You are worth God assuming human flesh, dying on a cross to take the punishment for your sins, and rising again.
 
You matter, not because of what you can do, not because of who you are, but because of whose you are, if you are a child of God. A loving parent cares for the child, even in the child’s failures. Your own parents are, or were, fallible. But your heavenly father is not.
 
Yet we know by observation and by scripture that God’s children—and all people—suffer. The “why” behind suffering is a topic of its own, and has been a lifelong passion of Phillip Yancey, who wrote the book Where Is God When It Hurts.”  This is a good source for deeper consideration of this topic. 
 
It’s Too Late.
 
This is a powerful lie of the devil. The feeling of urgency which should prompt us to action becomes his tool to intensify despair and fear. The feeling of guilt which should prompt us to repentance, this the devil uses to make us hide from God because of fear instead.
 
But what does God say? The mercy of God is “new every morning.” [9]  I love Psalm 103:8—“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
—because it begins and ends its description of God with his mercy.
 
And lost opportunity? True, yesterday cannot come again. But should we throw away today because of that? You might be surprised at how encouraging it is to do something rather than to stagnate in yesterday’s sorrow.
 
 
This has all been written for the perspective of a person who has a relationship with God. It’s never too late to start. The first step in truly dealing with fear based on the lies of Satan is to begin a relationship with God. For more about knowing for sure of the forgiveness of God, having a real relationship with him that can bring peace and relief from fear,  click here.  
 
[1] John 8:44
[2] Philippians 4:13
[3] Proverbs 24:16
[4] Psalm 103:13-14
[5] Psalm 34:18
[6] Romans 8:32
[7] Hebrews 10:25
[8] John 3:16
[9] Lamentations 3:23 

Listen in as Pastor Carnahan talks about God's forgiveness even when we don't feel like we are forgiven.  

Confession and Forgiveness - Sermon from C.H. Spurgeon that is full of God's comfort for those who know they are sinners and pray for God's forgiveness and mercy. Click Here.

Read and Meditate on Psalms 103.  What a wonderful passage of God's love, forgiveness, and mercy. Click here to read online. 

The most popular Christmas special of all time next to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It has been shown every year and often twice a year since 1965.  It is the only Christmas special to clearly present the true reason for Christmas and point us to God.

Here are 5 facts about the show you probably didn’t know AND
5 Truths About God that Linus’ quote from the Bible teaches us about God.
 
1. The show was developed in less than 7 weeks on an extremely small budget.
2. The show almost never aired. CBS executives originally didn’t like it for reasons ranging from not having a laugh track to the Biblical passage recited by Linus.
3. The first special was commissioned by the Coca Cola Company as an exclusive advertising opportunity.
4. The final program was finished just 10 days before the premiere.
5. The negative view of aluminum trees presented in the show ruined the aluminum Christmas tree market. They were no longer manufactured after 1967.
 
As mentioned above, the Bible quotation has caused some controversy over the years. However, Charles Shultz, the creator, said that it had to be included since it was the true meaning of Christmas. The inclusion of the passage from Luke chapter 2 reminds us that the perfect answer to the question “Who is God?” is found in the Christmas story.  
 
Here are 5 key truths about God’s revelation of himself through Jesus’ birth and what practical significance that has for our lives.

1. God wants to be known.  

The entire Bible is filled with hundreds of accounts and stories of God revealing himself to people and communicating with them. Many people wrongly believe that God is distant and inactive in the world or in our lives. They believe that he is real, maybe even that he created the world and set it in motion – but that he has been “hands off” ever since (Deism). This is false. Scripture teaches us that God is actively involved both in world affairs and in our personal lives. He is both transcendent and immanent. That is, he is above and beyond all that we can comprehend and imagine, and yet he has chosen to be active among us and communicate with us and seek relationship with us. God wants to be known. He wants humanity to know him and has proved himself willing to go to extreme lengths in order for that to happen.

2. Through Jesus, God reveals his identity. 

We know that God wants to be known because of the many ways that he revealed himself to his people throughout the Bible. God walked with Adam and Eve. He spoke to Noah. He called Abram to uproot his life and move to the place he had for him – and so on and so on throughout the Old Testament. He spoke through visions and dreams. He spoke to Judges and through prophets. He gave his written Law. He spoke in a still, small voice; and he spoke through thunder on Mt. Sinai. The Psalms declare that God can be known by the great things he has done in our lives and Romans even tells us that creation itself proclaims the identity of God to the world. And the list could go on for hours, but none of these, NONE of these – even if you added them all together, come even close to the fullness of God’s revealing his identity that exists in the person of Jesus Christ. God wants his identity to be known and Jesus’ is the ultimate proof of that.

3. Through Jesus, God reveals his character.

Throughout the Gospels, we see God’s character made vividly clear in the person of Jesus. The Old Testament gives us a taste of God’s character and heart – but Jesus is the perfect and complete picture of God’s character. Sometimes it can be difficult to read through books like Leviticus and Numbers that contain chapter upon chapter of laws. But even these laws, along with the entire rest of the Bible, give us a glimpse into the character and heart of God. But Jesus himself is the ultimate revealing of God’s character. In Jesus, we find the heart of God. We find him caring for people, loving people, rebuking the hypocritical religious people, healing the sick, setting the demon possessed free of spiritual oppression, letting children come to him, bringing people back from the dead, and much more. In each teaching of Jesus and in the life of Jesus; in every story and every parable; every healing and every exorcism; we see the character of God clearly made known. As we read through the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings, we see the heart and character of God on display.

4. Through Jesus, God reveals his purpose.

There is perhaps no clearer description of Jesus own mission and purpose in this world than we find in Luke 4:16-21 – Jesus’ mission statement:
Though many of the people of Jesus’ day thought his purpose was to set them free from Roman oppression, Jesus came to set them free from something far more powerful and far more oppressive – sin, evil, and death – an oppressor that only God could conquer and overcome. Jesus came to set humanity free from enslavement to sin once and for all. He didn’t do this just to do it. He didn’t set us free for freedom’s sake – he set us free so that we might be in relationship with him and know him and love him. In short, Jesus’ purpose in coming was to do what was necessary to set us free from sin so that we could enter into a loving relationship with him. In Jesus, God made his purpose known, not only for the world at large, but also in our individual lives. His overarching purpose was to set each person AND all of humanity free from enslavement to sin and to provide a way for his people to be in healthy and holy relationship with him. Through Jesus’ teaching and his death and resurrection, we have the perfect revelation of God’s purpose.

5. Through Jesus, God reveals his love.  

The love that Jesus exudes throughout the Gospels is the perfect display of love. Jesus himself said that the greatest and purest form of love is to lay down one’s own life for the sake of others (John 15:13). In Jesus life and especially in his death, God’s deep and unfathomable love was perfectly revealed as he laid down his life, not just for his friends, but for his enemies – those who hated him (Romans 5:8) – and for all of humanity. Even though we were still sinners, Christ died for us so that we could be made right with him – so that we could know him and commune with him forever. He was willing to endure the punishment we deserved and die the death we should have died, simply so that we could know and love him. His birth, his life, and his death are the perfect revelation of God’s love to humanity.

Christmas is an important time for believers to reflect on these truths and their importance for their faith. Christmas reminds us in ways that few other things can, about the true identity, character, purpose, and love of God. Only in the person of Jesus can we see all these things in their full and complete form. During this Advent season, as we approach Christmas Day, there will be nothing more spiritually meaningful than to reflect on and grow in our understanding of who our God is and what he has done for us.

We hope you affirm these truths and celebrate Christmas not only as a special time of year but in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you have questions about these truths or about a relationship with Jesus Christ, please contact us here or visit us for a service.

We also have some wonderful Christmas events this month at our church. Follow the links below for more information and we hope you enjoy a very Merry Christmas.

Information on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” gathered from Wikipedia. Read more at this link.

We see often see in Scripture the saints of God in times of suffering.   Adam and Eve suffered the murder of their son by his own brother.  Job suffered the loss of almost all he had. The faithful Christians in Revelation suffered and even in Heaven seem to question why they were not being avenged for their suffering. Hebrews 11 has a whole list of suffering saints.  We are faced with the question of why God’s children suffer if an all-powerful God loves and cares for them. Though that seeming dilemma is not the point of this article, a few quick notes may lead you to further help and study.

 

1.      Sin. We live in a sin-cursed world. Romans 8:22 reminds us that all Creation groans because of sin.  In addition, the consequences of our own personal sin often bring pain. The sins of others can bring heartache, too.

2.      Strangers. We are strangers in this world. Hebrews 11:13 reminds us that this world is not our home. This is not our place of rest. We can’t expect to be too comfortable here.  Heaven is our resting place.

3.      Sons. We are sons of God. Therefore God, as a loving Father, brings suffering at times to discipline us in order that it may yield the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives (Hebrews 12).

4.      Satan. Job 1 allows us to see that Satan and his minions are allowed by God to bring about hard times for God’s children in order to bring glory to God.  Always remember though, that God’s glory and the good of his children are eternally bound together. Our good does not suffer to bring God glory. 

5.      Selfishness. Although a derivative of #1 above, it still should be mentioned, because the selfishness of those we love (as well as those we don’t even know) can cause great pain.


So, Here Are The 5 Ways We Can Learn to Give Thanks Even When Life Is Hard
 

1.      Relinquish control to God’s sovereign plan, knowing that He is never out of control. Even with the problem of sin and evil, God overrules and works all things for our good as we become more like Christ.

2.      Rest in God’s wisdom and love.  God is all-wise. He knows the end from the beginning and is always acting in love toward us, His children. We often cannot see that when in suffering, yet we can understand it when we compare parenting to God’s love.  As a parent allows a non-understanding, crying baby to undergo surgery, an immunization shot, or other pain for ultimate healing or good, so God does the same.  As the parent would not love the child if he/she stopped the pain, so God would not fully love us if He did not allow what was best. 

3.      Run to His Word. God’s Word, the Bible, contains “all things that apply to life and godliness.” We open it to find the truths we need, and we depend upon His Spirit to lead us in applying it to our situation and to our hearts personally. Click here for a topical reference to various Bible verses or download our Bible Promises e-book below.

4.      Reach out to others.  In the midst of our pain, it is helpful to serve others.  Serving helps us get our focus off of our suffering.  It is an encouragement to know that we have helped others and been used by God to bring joy to them.  Even during Jesus’ suffering on the cross, He was mindful of His mother’s needs.

5.      Share your burden.  Don’t substitute fellowship with others for time with God; but if at all possible, find a close Godly friend who will faithfully listen and point you back to God’s truth when your faith begins to waiver. Confide in your church family to find healing and strength. God works through the body of Christ, the church. If you don't have a church home, we would love to fellowship with you and strive to encourage you during these hard times. 

Download a Free PDF of Bible Promises Divided into Categories for Easy Reference.

Question: "What does the Bible say about PTSD?"

Answer: The Bible does not say anything specifically about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. However, we can glean much guidance from some indirect teachings in the Bible.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder develops in some people following a traumatic event. The event, or “stressor,” could be exposure to death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. The sufferer may be directly exposed, indirectly exposed through a family member or close friend experiencing the event, or extremely or repeatedly indirectly exposed through his or her work (such as first responders, police officers, military personnel, or social workers). Common trauma experiences are combat, car accidents, natural disasters, abuse, rape, and mass violence. (It should be noted that combat PTSD is a bit different than other forms of PTSD; this will be discussed in more detail below.) After such an event, most people will show signs of stress such as feeling on edge, anxiety, fear, anger, feelings of depression, a sense of detachment, desire to avoid trauma-related reminders, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, headaches, changes in appetite, irritability, self-blame, “survivor’s guilt,” or a sense of numbness. For most people, these reactions lessen and eventually subside with time.

Those who develop PTSD have persistent symptoms for more than one month. Other symptoms for PTSD sufferers include intrusive re-experience of the trauma such as through recurrent, involuntary memories, nightmares, or dissociation; avoidance of trauma-related thoughts or feelings or external reminders; negative changes in thoughts or behavior, including an inability to recall details related to the trauma, persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, loss of interest, feelings of alienation, or inability to express positive emotions; and changes in arousal or reactivity such as irritability, aggression, hypervigilance, reckless behavior, or sleep disturbances. In PTSD sufferers, these symptoms cause significant impairment in work or social functioning. The United States’ National Center for PTSD estimates there are 5.2 million adults suffering from the disorder in any given year.

The situations that cause Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are different for different people, and not everyone responds in similar ways to similar situations. It is unclear why some develop PTSD and others do not. It seems that biological make-up, type of support received following the event, presence of other life stressors, and having effective coping mechanisms may contribute to whether a person develops PTSD. Interestingly, though symptoms of PTSD usually emerge immediately following or within a few months of the traumatic event, that is not always the case. PTSD can develop years later. How long the PTSD lasts also varies—some suffer for years, whereas others recover in several months.

PTSD resulting from participation in combat seems to be unique from other forms of PTSD. In combat situations military personnel are often both victim and aggressor, a dynamic which adds complexities to the issue. Often those with combat-specific PTSD will exhibit depression, extreme feelings of guilt, hypervigilance, and low self-esteem. It can be particularly difficult for combat veterans to process through the atrocities they have witnessed, come to a place of acceptance over the things they have been tasked to do, and readjust to non-combat living. For Christian military personnel, it can be especially difficult to accept taking the life of another, even as an act of war. Christians know the deep value God places on human life and often feel extremely guilty for taking the life of another, even in what would be considered a justifiable circumstance. Many times Christian combat veterans are more deeply aware of their sinful state than are other Christians. They may feel unworthy of God’s love due to the things military service requires of them. Those who suffer from combat PTSD may find accepting God’s forgiveness to be extremely difficult. They may agonize over decisions they made in the many no-win situations in which they were placed during war. They may also have persistent flashbacks of the gruesome realities of war as well as consistently feel on high-alert from months of living in life-threatening situations.

Regardless of the circumstances, there is hope. First and foremost, that hope comes from God.

The treatment process should involve a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Many will require professional help. For those with combat-related PTSD, it is likely preferable to receive help from someone experienced in treating combat-specific PTSD. There are multiple therapeutic remedies for PTSD available, ranging from talk therapy (often Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to cognitive reprocessing to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other methods. Medication may also help alleviate symptoms. Certainly, a network of support—counselors, doctors, family members, pastors, the church community—is important in the recovery process. Of course, the most important support is God, our ultimate Healer and Counselor. David wrote, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, / I call as my heart grows faint; / lead me to the rock that is higher than I. / For you have been my refuge, / a strong tower against the foe” (Psalm 61:2–3). It is our responsibility to exercise faith in God, to stay in the Word, to cry out to God in prayer, and to maintain fellowship with other believers. We go to God in our distress and make use of the resources He provides.

Those who suffer from PTSD from any experience should recognize that treatment will take time, and that is okay. Some have compared this to Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). God does offer healing, but in the way and the timing He sees fit. In the meantime, He gives sufficient grace to bear up under hardships. Thorns are painful, and PTSD is certainly a big thorn. But we can continue to go to God and remind ourselves of His faithfulness (Lamentations 3; 1 Corinthians 1:4–9).

Truth is a key component to coping with or overcoming PTSD. Reminding oneself that God loves, forgives, and values His people is extremely important. Knowing who God says we are and defining ourselves by His standards rather than by what we have done or what has been done to us is important. We need not identify as either victim or perpetrator. In God, we can identify as beloved child (Romans 8:14–17; Ephesians 1:3–6; 1 John 3:1–3), sealed in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14), forgiven (Romans 5; Ephesians 1:7–10; 1 John 1:8–9), and redeemed. Losing a close friend or family member is incredibly difficult, and many can feel unworthy of being spared. But those with “survivor's guilt” can remember the truth of God’s sovereignty and that He has a purpose for everyone’s life. God loved the ones who were casualties of war or another crime or tragedy just as much as He loves the ones who survived. His purpose for each person is unique. Replacing the lie that we are unworthy to have lived with the truth that God has a plan and values our days on earth is key (Ephesians 2:10; 5:15–16).

Speaking truth about practical things is also important. Often, those with PTSD will feel endangered when the situation does not warrant it. Reminding oneself that this is not the traumatic event but is a new and safe situation is important. It is also important to speak the truth that PTSD is not an excuse for bad behavior. Likely, PTSD will contribute to some negative thought and behavior patterns. This is understandable, but it should be resisted.

Having a community of support who offers grace and forgiveness and speaks truth in love is incredibly important. And it is vital that the community who supports the sufferer of PTSD is also receiving support. Remaining connected to one’s local church is crucial. Time with God through prayer and reading His Word is important for both the sufferer of PTSD and his or her family. Self-care and doing things that are relaxing and refreshing are also important. PTSD often feels as if it overtakes one’s life. Doing things that are enjoyable and life-giving is just as important as confronting the PTSD head-on.

PTSD is a difficult challenge that will require strong faith in God and willingness to persevere. But God is faithful, and each day we can choose to surrender to God’s love, battle the PTSD as best we can, and ultimately rest in God’s grace and compassion. PTSD is not something to ignore but something to turn over to God and actively engage with. We are invited to approach God boldly and to pour out our hearts to Him (Hebrews 4:14–16). We are assured that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35–38). God can restore the mental health of the PTSD sufferer. In the end, God can even use the situation for His glory. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).

Recommended Resource: Psalm Twenty-Five & PTSD: A Journey Into the Darkened Realms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Robert Scholten

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There is so much suffering in the world, and it is felt by everyone to one degree or another. Sometimes, people suffer as the direct result of their own poor choices, sinful actions, or willful irresponsibility; in those cases, we see the truth of Proverbs 13:15, “The way of the treacherous is their ruin” (ESV). But what about the victims of the treachery? What about the innocent who suffer? Why would God allow that?

It is human nature to try to find a correlation between bad behavior and bad circumstances and, conversely, between good behavior and blessings. The desire to link sin to suffering is so strong that Jesus dealt with the issue at least twice. “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus” (John 9:1–3). The disciples made the mistake of assuming that the innocent would never suffer and assigned personal guilt to the blind man (or to his parents). Jesus corrected their thinking, saying, “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (verse 3). The man’s blindness was not the result of personal sin; rather, God had a higher purpose for the suffering.

Another time, Jesus commented on the deaths of some people killed in an accident: “Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:4–5). In this case, Jesus again discounted the notion that tragedy and suffering are the result of personal sin. At the same time, Jesus emphasized the fact that we live in a world full of sin and its effects; therefore, everyone must repent.

This brings us to the consideration of whether such a thing as “the innocent,” technically speaking, even exists. According to the Bible, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, no one is “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. We were all born with a sinful nature, inherited from Adam. And, as we’ve already seen, everyone suffers, regardless of whether or not the suffering can be linked to a specific personal sin. Sin’s effects permeate everything; the world is fallen, and all creation suffers as a result (Romans 8:22).

Most heartbreaking of all is the suffering of a child. Children are as close to innocence as we ever see in this world, and for them to suffer is truly tragic. Sometimes, innocent children suffer because of the sin of others: neglect, abuse, drunk driving, etc. In those cases, we can definitely say that the suffering is the result of personal sin (just not theirs), and we learn the lesson that our sin always affects others around us. Other times, innocent children suffer because of what some might call “acts of God”: natural disasters, accidents, childhood cancer, etc. Even in those cases, we can say that the suffering is the result of sin, generally speaking, because we live in a sinful world.

The good news is that God did not leave us here to suffer pointlessly. Yes, the innocent suffer (see Job 1–2), but God can redeem that suffering. Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Trials and distress are not something unusual in life; they are part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. In Christ we have an anchor that holds fast in all the storms of life, but, if we never sail into those storms, how would we know that? It is in times of despair and sorrow that we reach out to Him, and, if we are His children, we always find Him there waiting to comfort and uphold us through it all. In this way, God proves His faithfulness to us and ensures that we will stay close to Him. An added benefit is that as we experience God’s comfort through trials, we are then able to comfort others in the same way (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Second, He proves to us that our faith is real through the suffering and pain that are inevitable in this life. How we respond to suffering, especially when we are innocent of wrongdoing, is determined by the genuineness of our faith. Those with faith in Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2), will not be crushed by suffering but will come through the trial with their faith intact, having been “tested by fire” so that it “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7, ESV). The faithful do not shake their fists at God or question His goodness; rather, they “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2), knowing that trials prove that they are truly the children of God. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Finally, God uses suffering to take our eyes off this world and turn them to the next. The Bible continually exhorts us to not get caught up in the things of this world but to look forward to the world to come. The innocent suffer in this world, but this world and all that is in it will pass away; the kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and those who follow Him do not see the things of this life, good or bad, as the end of the story. Even the sufferings we endure, as terrible as they can be, “are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Could God prevent all suffering? Of course He could. But He assures us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, KJV). Suffering—even the suffering of the innocent—is part of the “all things” that God is using to accomplish His good purposes, ultimately. His plan is perfect, His character is flawless, and those who trust Him will not be disappointed.


Recommended Resource: Everything Happens for a Reason? God’s Purposes in a World Gone Bad by Paul Enns

Used with Permission from GotQuestions.org. Please visit their site for great Bible answers to thousands of questions. Click here. 

Watch as Pastor Carnahan addresses the problem of pain.  We realize that this is only a short video and does not answer all of the angles, questions, and concerns about pain and suffering in this world, but it will be a start as you consider this question in the light of the realities in which we live in our world today.  Be sure to check out the other resources at the bottom of this page for further study and learning. 
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