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PAIN IS PAINFUL 

C.S. Lewis remarked in his book “The Problem of Pain,” that pain is God’s megaphone “to rouse a deaf world.” it is one way of getting our attention and anyone who has had severe pain knows why the expression is so poignant. Of course, Lewis was no stranger to pain: he had arthritic pain in his hands and was an invalid the last few years of his life. 

 

What seems to us to be good—such as not having pain—may not be good in God’s eyes and what seems to us evil may not be evil. Lewis tries to alert us to divine goodness and perspective. We do not see God’s reality due to the way we look at the outside of things, for example we discuss corporate guilt rather than our own as individuals. We also have the illusion that time will cancel sin and that we can take refuge in the fact that all men—not just us—are bad. We are in a mess when we cannot see the horror within ourselves.

 

As humans we often inflict pain upon one another but, as Lewis says, “we would like to know the reason for the enormous permission to torture their fellows which God gives to the worst of men.”  The kind of pain which Lewis discusses is any experience, physical or mental, that we dislike. And such pain requires attention, and it should be turned towards God—even if we find God an “interruption.” But what about “humble, pious, believing people” who suffer? Lewis rephrases it to ask “why do some” not suffer? Pain, like pleasure, can be a two-edged sword. Regardless, of how we act, God’s purpose will be carried out and it is better to act like John than Judas. “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” 

 

Lewis does not try to make the doctrine of Hell and pain “tolerable.” We must remember that “Finality must come some time, and it does not require a very robust faith to believe that omniscience knows when.” Jesus conveyed Hell in terms of three symbols: punishment, destruction and privation or exclusion (banishment).

 

Lewis also writes about animal pain and notes, “the Christian explanation of human pain cannot be extended to animal pain” because they are incapable of sin or virtue, so pain will not punish or improve them. Animal suffering cannot be traced to the Fall of man because, in Lewis’s view, animals existed long before humans. Animals are also not “immortal” because the word has no meaning for a creature without consciousness—in the same way as humans. 

 

When Jesus talks about pain and hell, he often associates both with suffering, as we might expect, but also with our actions. For example, in Matthew 5.22 he says: “But I promise you if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.”

 

That sounds harsh. I don’t know if I have called someone worthless, but I sure have thought that way. Am I in danger of hell? And if our hand, foot, or eye causes us to sin, we are instructed to take drastic action and get rid of them. Jesus is dramatically and forcibly making the point that sin is dangerous (painful) and will be punished.

 

Another story that includes great pain is about Lazarus the beggar and the rich man, a man who had expensive clothes and the best food. The poor beggar, who was covered with sores, was taken each day to the gate of the rich man’s house. There he hoped for any scraps of food that might fall from the sumptuous and extravagant table of the rich man.

 

The poor man died, and angels carried him to Abraham, who had great wealth on the earth, and was now in heaven. The rich man died, and we don’t know who took him to his terrible punishment in hell, but once there he could see Lazarus and Abraham. They were close, but there was a deep ditch or canyon between them. The rich man was in pain and Lazarus was enjoying his time with Abraham. The excruciating pain made the rich man cry out for help to Abraham—he didn’t call on Lazarus, perhaps still seeing him as a beggar.

 

The rich man had his chance when on earth but didn’t pay attention to the Law of Moses. Now there was no relief for his pain, not even a little water to quench his terrible thirst. The pain would go on forever.

 

Hell, then, is the place of pain, never ending pain, and heaven is the place of joy, never ending joy. It seems obvious which one we should want.


Karl Franklin


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