How do christian respond to the problem of evil and suffering?

If you re asked this in the exam should begin by briefly stating what the problem of evil and suffering is (see previous post) Then you should divide your answer into two types of Christian response. Firstly what Christians believe and pray about secondly practical things that Christians do.

Belief and prayer

• Christians believe that evil and suffering is undesirable and should be fought against.
• Christians believe that prayer is an effective way of fighting evil and suffering.
• Christians believe that God has a reason for allowing pain and suffering (though we don't always know the reason)
• Christians believe that they should develp patience in life to endure suffering and that they will be rewarded in the nex life (heaven)
• Christian believe that jesus set an example of fighting evil and suffering through what he taught and by healing the sick
• Christians believe that most evil and suffering is caused by human action (free will)

Practical action

• Church services and personal prayer times will include prayers for those who suffer.
• Many Christians choose to work in caring professions (e.g. doctors, nurses) to try and reduce human suffering
• Christians have founded charities to try and reduce suffering
• A large proportion of aid and development work is carried out by Christian organisations
• Christians have always been on the frontline of bringing change in society to reduce suffering and evil (e.g. abolition of the slave trade, prison reform)

To see how one major Christian organisation is responding to the Burma crisis visit,
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/