MSI Press Blog

  A Multifaith Reflection on Suffering and the Sacred It’s one of the oldest and most unsettling questions in human history: If God is good, why does evil persist? Why do the innocent suffer, the unjust thrive, and violence echo through generations? Every major religious tradition wrestles with this tension—not to solve it neatly, but to live with it faithfully. Here’s how some of them approach the paradox: ✝️ Christianity: Free Will and Redemptive Suffering Christian theology often frames evil as the consequence of human free will. God, in love, allows choice—even when that choice leads to harm. Suffering, while painful, can also be redemptive. The crucifixion of Christ is seen not as divine failure, but as a profound act of solidarity with human pain. Evil exists, but grace persists. 🕊️ Islam: Divine Wisdom Beyond Human Understanding In Islam, everything happens by the will of Allah, but not all is meant to be understood. Evil and suffering are seen as tests—opportunities for pa...

Christian theology is full of paradox, but few are as quietly transformative as the “already and not yet.” It’s the idea that God’s Kingdom has already broken into the world—and yet, it is not fully realized. We live in the overlap: between resurrection and restoration, between grace received and glory awaited. 🌾 Already: Seeds of the Kingdom We see glimpses of the “already” in every act of mercy, every moment of clarity, every healing that defies explanation. In your household, Betty, it might be the quiet resilience of a caregiver, the laughter shared across generations, or the sacred rhythm of communal prayer. These are not previews—they are real. They are the Kingdom, here and now. 🌘 Not Yet: The Ache of Incompletion And yet, we ache. Bodies fail. Systems oppress. Relationships fracture. The “not yet” reminds us that the world is still groaning, still waiting. It dignifies our longing. It gives us permission to lament without losing hope. “We are living between the resurrect...

  Eschatology often conjures images of apocalypse, judgment, or cosmic upheaval. But at its heart, Christian eschatology is a theology of promise—a divine assurance that history bends toward restoration, not ruin. 🔭 The Horizon of Hope Eschatology invites us to live with the end in mind—not as a countdown to catastrophe, but as a compass pointing toward renewal. The promise of resurrection, the new creation, and the return of Christ reframes our present struggles. Pain is not the final word. Loss is not the last chapter. The horizon holds more than we can see. “The crucifixion of the subsequently resurrected Jesus… turns out to meet, in unexpected and suggestive ways, the puzzles of the ultimate questions asked by every culture.” —N.T. Wright, History and Eschatology source 🌱 Promise as Participation The eschatological promise isn’t passive. It calls us to participate in the unfolding of God’s future—through acts of justice, compassion, and community. In your household, ...