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How Can People Believe In God or Jesus? When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor? | |
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Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
I give this thread about three to five minutes before its moved. Just a guess. What do you mean Suffering, Weren't you taught that it's ok to kill in the name of your God? When will they ever learn | |
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Wrong forum and even in the right one it will get locked in a heartbeat. | |
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You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day? | |
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Zelaira said: You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day?
because the only thing guaranteed in life is suffering. plain and simple. now go and make the best of it! | |
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Zelaira said: You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day?
I wonder that myself, why go through the suffering. I think the reason is because living is better than being dead. Besides aren't you scared to think that there just might be some guy wearing white and have wings judging you after you die? | |
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irresistibleb1tch said: Zelaira said: You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day?
because the only thing guaranteed in life is suffering. plain and simple. now go and make the best of it! Oy Bitch ! Go easy on her, cant you see she is down in the dumplings. She needs love and understandin. | |
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Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
Well I cant really comment on God or Jesus cos it aint my thing but it is a fact of life that bad things happen and there are some people that arent very nice. But on the other hand GOOD things also happen and there are a few good people out there.... somewhere... You might bump into a few here on the org. | |
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petski said: irresistibleb1tch said: because the only thing guaranteed in life is suffering. plain and simple. now go and make the best of it! Oy Bitch ! Go easy on her, cant you see she is down in the dumplings. She needs love and understandin. sorry, i didn't make myself very clear here. i'm a buddhist (i believe Zelaira at one point considered that faith an option for herself). we do believe that suffering is universal, and that by moving toward a positive life (toward enlightenment) through wise action, thought and speech, this suffering can be overcome. but i didn't really want to go there - i figured Zel would understand what i'm talking about.  | |
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irresistibleb1tch said: petski said: Oy Bitch ! Go easy on her, cant you see she is down in the dumplings. She needs love and understandin. sorry, i didn't make myself very clear here. i'm a buddhist (i believe Zelaira at one point considered that faith an option for herself). we do believe that suffering is universal, and that by moving toward a positive life (toward enlightenment) through wise action, thought and speech, this suffering can be overcome. but i didn't really want to go there - i figured Zel would understand what i'm talking about. Cheers Misses, message understood. Anyway so erm... do buddhists approve of drinking vodka from a bottle and watchin abfab ?  | |
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petski said: irresistibleb1tch said: sorry, i didn't make myself very clear here. i'm a buddhist (i believe Zelaira at one point considered that faith an option for herself). we do believe that suffering is universal, and that by moving toward a positive life (toward enlightenment) through wise action, thought and speech, this suffering can be overcome. but i didn't really want to go there - i figured Zel would understand what i'm talking about. Cheers Misses, message understood. Anyway so erm... do buddhists approve of drinking vodka from a bottle and watchin abfab ?  well, not really...  | |
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"When they tell me 2 walk a straight line, I put on crooked shoes" | |
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what makes you think God creates all pain and suffering? in many cases, man is at the root of suffering...bringing it on others out of their own selfishness.
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Oh, then it's Man with Suffering and God and Jesus take away our pain and Dying is the ULTIMATE Relief. | |
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Maybe,I need to Pray more. I don't know. I suppose Miracles Can Happen. Maybe Indeed Religion will help. Not really sure . Faith Healing? Maybe.. | |
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Zelaira said: Oh, then it's Man with Suffering and God and Jesus take away our pain and Dying is the ULTIMATE Relief.
i suppose that's one way of looking at it. personally, i don't believe in death. just life cycles...death is just the beginning of a new cycle. | |
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I'll just Pray More. Maybe, Everything will be Better. Healing Through Religion.. | |
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Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
Because God is not to blame....Why would you even think such a thing? As far as why he has allowed it for a time, that answer is found in the Bible; however you may not wanna hear the answer. So...how's everybody doing?  | |
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Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
Good question and one I discussed a few months back. We as humans have a habit of blaiming God for the choices that we make. This is our world. God has given it to us and we have free will. You have to remember that all the problems of this world are of our own making. The rules for a harmonious society are written in a text that all can read. However when people read this text and are challenged to make changes in their lives they immeadietly beging to criticize God's holy word and logic and then you get what you get. I think the better question is. Why do we as humans allow such suffering. When we are a people of faith and know that we should not allow such things to happen. Peace THE CARDINAL HAS SPOKEN!!! | |
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chiltonmusic said: Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
Good question and one I discussed a few months back. We as humans have a habit of blaiming God for the choices that we make. This is our world. God has given it to us and we have free will. You have to remember that all the problems of this world are of our own making. The rules for a harmonious society are written in a text that all can read. However when people read this text and are challenged to make changes in their lives they immeadietly beging to criticize God's holy word and logic and then you get what you get. I think the better question is. Why do we as humans allow such suffering. When we are a people of faith and know that we should not allow such things to happen. Peace So, is God unable to intervene to stop atrocity? Or is he capable but just unwilling to intervene (to honor our "free will")? Or is this all part of some grand design and God just sees the big picture? | |
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deebee said: chiltonmusic said: Good question and one I discussed a few months back. We as humans have a habit of blaiming God for the choices that we make. This is our world. God has given it to us and we have free will. You have to remember that all the problems of this world are of our own making. The rules for a harmonious society are written in a text that all can read. However when people read this text and are challenged to make changes in their lives they immeadietly beging to criticize God's holy word and logic and then you get what you get. I think the better question is. Why do we as humans allow such suffering. When we are a people of faith and know that we should not allow such things to happen. Peace So, is God unable to intervene to stop atrocity? Or is he capable but just unwilling to intervene (to honor our "free will")? Or is this all part of some grand design and God just sees the big picture? I don't want to say that God is unwilling as you asked. We are unwilling to submit to his will and make this world a heaven on earth. All the pain and suffering on earth is man made and can me man handled. I do believe that God sees the big picture and to some degree I believe that God does intervene but I am not willing to blame God for 9/11 when our President could have done more to protect us. I am not willing to blame God for the Iraqi war when those of us that knew that was a horrible idea should have spoken up more forcefully! I am not willing to blame God for the way many Christians allow the bible to be perverted on a daily basis. These are things that we have to address and spiritually evolve so that we can save this world. So in answer to your questions. I believe God has already given us the tools to intervene in his name and right the wrongs on this planet. We are not holding up our end of the deal. Peace THE CARDINAL HAS SPOKEN!!! | |
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Zelaira said: You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day?
Some say a man ain't happy truly till he truly dies. Oh why? Sign of the times. Join the Peace Industry! | |
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MrSquiggle said: Zelaira said: You're a good person and people knife ya in the back for no reason and end up killing ya spirit so much ya don't wanna live anymore..Why Live if ya gotta suffer every day?
Some say a man ain't happy truly till he truly dies. Oh why? Sign of the times. How can you be happy when you die? The Bible say's that the dead are dead, they have no more thinking abilities. They sleep in death and will be resurrected after armageddon. Plain and simple. Zelaira I have never read your posts before, but this one caught my attention as I asked the same question after the terrorists attacks on 9-11. If you truly want some answers, please orgnote me. | |
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zkp2003 said: MrSquiggle said: Some say a man ain't happy truly till he truly dies. Oh why? Sign of the times. How can you be happy when you die? The Bible say's that the dead are dead, they have no more thinking abilities. They sleep in death and will be resurrected after armageddon. Plain and simple. Zelaira I have never read your posts before, but this one caught my attention as I asked the same question after the terrorists attacks on 9-11. If you truly want some answers, please orgnote me. Suffering is what makes life worth living. If happiness is defined as the absence of suffering, then true happiness is death. Join the Peace Industry! | |
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i'd love to hear from some of the jw thread participants on this subject?
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. | |
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Well, I'm a Vedantist and and Vedanta says that the reason for suffering is due to Maya -- the cosmic power which distorts and veils REALITY (God). God is real, the world is unreal. War, death, and destruction play themselves out in the mayic realm of dualities and are ultimately illusory. Our suffering is due to the fact that we all tend to believe the world to be real and are attached to it.
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sosgemini said: i'd love to hear from some of the jw thread participants on this subject?
you know the ones that creep out of know where to discredit the witnesses of this site..... (oh wait, this is just a thread against god...not just jehovah god.....oh darn, guess they wont be posting..-sos) OK Fine
SUFFERING NOT FROM GOD 3 The Bible assures us that the suffering we see around us is not caused by Jehovah God. For instance, the Christian disciple James wrote: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” (James 1:13) That being so, God could not have caused the numerous hardships plaguing mankind. He does not bring trials upon people to make them fit for life in heaven, nor does he make people suffer for evil deeds they supposedly committed in a past life.—Romans 6:7. 4 In addition, even though many terrible things have been done in the name of God or of Christ, there is nothing in the Bible to suggest that either of them has ever approved of such actions. God and Christ have nothing to do with those who claim to serve them but who cheat and swindle, kill and plunder, and do many other things that cause human suffering. In fact, “the way of the wicked one is something detestable to Jehovah.” God “is far away from the wicked ones.”—Proverbs 15:9, 29. 5 The Bible describes Jehovah as being “very tender in affection and merciful.” (James 5:11) It proclaims that “Jehovah is a lover of justice.” (Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 61:8) He is not vindictive. He compassionately cares for his creatures and gives all of them what is best for their well-being. (Acts 14:16, 17) Jehovah has done that from the very origin of life on the earth. | |
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zkp2003 said: sosgemini said: i'd love to hear from some of the jw thread participants on this subject?
you know the ones that creep out of know where to discredit the witnesses of this site..... (oh wait, this is just a thread against god...not just jehovah god.....oh darn, guess they wont be posting..-sos) OK Fine
SUFFERING NOT FROM GOD 3 The Bible assures us that the suffering we see around us is not caused by Jehovah God. For instance, the Christian disciple James wrote: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” (James 1:13) That being so, God could not have caused the numerous hardships plaguing mankind. He does not bring trials upon people to make them fit for life in heaven, nor does he make people suffer for evil deeds they supposedly committed in a past life.—Romans 6:7. 4 In addition, even though many terrible things have been done in the name of God or of Christ, there is nothing in the Bible to suggest that either of them has ever approved of such actions. God and Christ have nothing to do with those who claim to serve them but who cheat and swindle, kill and plunder, and do many other things that cause human suffering. In fact, “the way of the wicked one is something detestable to Jehovah.” God “is far away from the wicked ones.”—Proverbs 15:9, 29. 5 The Bible describes Jehovah as being “very tender in affection and merciful.” (James 5:11) It proclaims that “Jehovah is a lover of justice.” (Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 61:8) He is not vindictive. He compassionately cares for his creatures and gives all of them what is best for their well-being. (Acts 14:16, 17) Jehovah has done that from the very origin of life on the earth. A PERFECT BEGINNING 6 All of us are accustomed to seeing and feeling pain and suffering. It may therefore be hard to imagine a time without suffering, but that was how things were at the beginning of human history. Even the legends of some nations allude to such a happy start. In Greek mythology, the first of the “Five Ages of Man” was called the “Golden Age.” In it humans lived happy lives, free from toil, pain, and the ravages of old age. The Chinese say that during the reign of the mythological Yellow Emperor (Huang-Ti), people lived in peace, enjoying harmony even with the elements and the wild beasts. Persians, Egyptians, Tibetans, Peruvians, and Mexicans all have legends about a time of happiness and perfection at the beginning of mankind’s history. 7 The myths of the nations merely echo the oldest written record of human history, the Bible. It informs us that God placed the first human pair, Adam and Eve, in a paradise called the garden of Eden and commanded them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28) Our first parents enjoyed perfection and had the prospect of seeing the whole earth become a paradise occupied by a perfect human family living in lasting peace and happiness. That was God’s purpose in creating the earth and humankind.—Isaiah 45:18. Taken from 2003 WT CD A MALICIOUS CHALLENGE 8 To remain in God’s favor, Adam and Eve would have to refrain from eating from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” (Genesis 2:16, 17) If they had obeyed Jehovah’s law, there would have been no suffering to mar human life. By obeying God’s command, they would have demonstrated their love for Jehovah and their loyalty to him. (1 John 5:3) But as we learned in Chapter 6, things did not turn out that way. Urged by Satan, Eve ate fruit from that tree. Later, Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit. 9 Do you see the seriousness of what happened? Satan was attacking Jehovah’s position as the Most High. By saying, “You positively will not die,” the Devil contradicted God’s words, “You will positively die.” Satan’s further words implied that Jehovah was keeping Adam and Eve ignorant of the possibility of becoming like God, thus not needing Him to decide what was good and bad. Satan’s challenge therefore brought into question the right and validity of Jehovah’s position as the Universal Sovereign.—Genesis 2:17; 3:1-6. 10 Satan the Devil also insinuated that people would remain obedient to Jehovah only as long as obeying God was to their advantage. In other words, human integrity was brought into question. Satan charged that no human would voluntarily remain loyal to God. This malicious claim by Satan is clearly revealed in the Bible’s account about Job, a faithful servant of Jehovah who underwent a great test sometime before 1600 B.C.E. When you read the first two chapters of the book of Job, you can gain insight into the reason for human suffering and why God permits it. 11 Job, “a man blameless and upright,” came under Satan’s attack. First, Satan imputed bad motives to Job by raising the question, “Is it for nothing that Job has feared God?” Then, the Devil cunningly maligned both God and Job by charging that Jehovah had bought Job’s loyalty by protecting and blessing him. “But, for a change,” Satan challenged Jehovah, “thrust out your hand, please, and touch everything he has and see whether he will not curse you to your very face.”—Job 1:8-11. 12 Was Job serving Jehovah simply because of all the good that he received from God? Could Job’s integrity stand up under test? In turn, did Jehovah have enough confidence in his servant to allow him to be tested? These questions could be answered if Jehovah would permit Satan to bring upon Job the severest of tests. Job’s faithful course under the test allowed by God, as narrated in the book of Job, proved to be a thorough vindication of Jehovah’s righteousness and man’s integrity.—Job 42:1, 2, 12. 13 What happened in the garden of Eden and to the man Job, however, has a deeper implication. The issues Satan raised involve all mankind, including us today. God’s name was maligned, and his sovereignty was challenged. The uprightness of God’s creation, man, was called into question. These issues had to be settled. HOW TO SETTLE THE ISSUES 14 For the sake of illustration, let us say that you are a loving parent with several children in a happy family. Suppose one of your neighbors spreads lies, accusing you of being a bad parent. What if the neighbor says that your children do not love you, that they stay with you only because they do not know any better, and that they would leave if someone showed them the way. ‘Preposterous!’ you might say. Yes, but how would you prove it? Some parents might react in rage. Besides creating more problems, such a violent response would lend support to the lies. A satisfying way to deal with such a problem would be to allow opportunity for your accuser to prove his claim and for your children to testify that they sincerely love you. 15 Jehovah is like the loving parent. Adam and Eve may be compared to the children, and Satan fits the role of the lying neighbor. God wisely did not destroy Satan, Adam, and Eve immediately but permitted these wrongdoers to continue living for a while. This allowed our first parents time to start the human family, and it has given the Devil a chance to prove whether his claim was true so that the issues could be settled. From the start, however, God knew that some humans would be loyal to him and would thus prove Satan a liar. How thankful we are that Jehovah has continued to bless and help those who love him!—2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3. WHAT HAS BEEN PROVED? 16 During nearly all human history, Satan has had a free hand to work out his schemes of domination over mankind. Among other things, he has wielded influence over the political powers and has promoted religions that subtly direct worship to him rather than to Jehovah. Thus the Devil has become “the god of this system of things,” and he is called “the ruler of this world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31) Indeed, “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Does this mean that Satan has proved his claim that he could draw all mankind away from Jehovah God? Certainly not! While permitting Satan to remain in existence, Jehovah has proceeded to carry out his own purpose. What, then, does the Bible reveal concerning God’s permission of wickedness? 17 Wickedness and suffering are not caused by Jehovah. Since Satan is the ruler of this world and the god of this system of things, he and those on his side are responsible for the present condition of human society and all the misery that mankind has suffered. No one can rightly say that God is the cause of such hardship.—Romans 9:14. 18 Jehovah’s permitting wickedness and suffering has proved that independence from God has not brought about a better world. Undeniably, history has been marked by one disaster after another. The reason for this is that humans have chosen to pursue their own independent course and have shown no real regard for God’s word and will. When Jehovah’s ancient people and their leaders unfaithfully pursued “the popular course” and rejected his word, the results were disastrous. Through his prophet Jeremiah, God told them: “The wise ones have become ashamed. They have become terrified and will be caught. Look! They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have?” (Jeremiah 8:5, 6, 9) Having failed to follow Jehovah’s standards, mankind in general has become like a ship without a rudder, tossed about in a turbulent sea. 19 God’s permission of wickedness and suffering has also proved that Satan has not been able to turn all mankind away from Jehovah. History shows that there have always been individuals who have remained faithful to God no matter what temptations or adversities were brought upon them. Over the centuries, Jehovah’s power has been manifested in behalf of his servants, and his name has been declared in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16; 1 Samuel 12:22) Hebrews chapter 11 tells us about a long line of faithful ones, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Hebrews 12:1 calls them ‘a great cloud of witnesses.’ They were examples of unwavering faith in Jehovah. In modern times too, many have given their lives in unbreakable integrity to God. By their faith and love, such individuals prove conclusively that Satan cannot turn all humans against God. 20 Finally, Jehovah’s allowing wickedness and suffering to continue has provided proof that only Jehovah, the Creator, has the ability and the right to rule over mankind for their eternal blessing and happiness. For centuries, mankind has tried many forms of government. But what has been the result? The complex problems and crises facing the nations today are ample evidence that truly, as the Bible points out, “man has dominated man to his injury.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9) Only Jehovah can come to our rescue and fulfill his original purpose. How will he do this, and when? 21 Right after Adam and Eve fell victim to Satan’s scheme, God announced His purpose regarding a means of salvation. This is what Jehovah proclaimed regarding Satan: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.” (Genesis 3:15) That proclamation guaranteed that the Devil would not be allowed to do his evil deeds forever. As the King of the Messianic Kingdom, the promised Seed, Jesus Christ, will ‘bruise Satan in the head.’ Yes, “shortly,” Jesus will crush the rebel Satan!—Romans 16:20. WHAT WILL YOU DO? 22 Knowing the issues involved, on whose side will you stand? Will you prove by your actions that you are a loyal supporter of Jehovah? Since Satan knows that his time is short, he will do all he can to vent his wrath on those who want to keep integrity to God. (Revelation 12:12) But you can look to God for help because “Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial.” (2 Peter 2:9) He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and he will make the way out so that you are able to endure temptations.—1 Corinthians 10:13. You will not understand any of this unless you look up the scriptures It all really makes perfect sense. If you read the whole chapter of the verses, even better. | |
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Zelaira said: When Attrocities and Maiming and Death and Destruction Happens? Why would God Allow such Suffering? Should God want people to Kill themselves in His Honor?
Alot of these answers can be found here: www.ag.org Suffering What does the Bible say about suffering? Does the Assemblies of God believe Christians are to go through difficult times such as physical or emotional pain, financial stress, sorrow, relationship conflicts, and other difficult problems that bring about suffering? Is it possible to live victoriously, either above, beyond, or in spite of our circumstances? The Assemblies of God believes strongly that divine healing is included along with the many spiritual benefits in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV). But we also recognize that Scripture describes suffering as the lot of all humans, culminating in the ultimate suffering–death–the appointed physical end for every man, woman, and child (Hebrews 9:27). Suffering was not created by God. His original creation contained no suffering. But the entry of sin, through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, brought sickness and suffering. "By man came death [and sickness] . . . in Adam all die" (1 Corinthians 15:21,22). To Eve, God said, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children" (Genesis 3:16). To Adam, God said, "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread" (Genesis 3:17-19). God is sovereign in all human affairs and particularly so in the lives of believers. We must therefore conclude that suffering can touch the believer only as God permits it. Yet God is not responsible for illness and sickness just because He has divine purposes to accomplish when He allows Satan to afflict the believer temporarily. God works in the lives of believers by turning suffering into an agent for spiritual growth and by demonstrating that He has triumphed over the curse Satan has brought on the human race. Suffering can serve as a teacher to instruct us in deeper spiritual truth (2 Corinthians 12:7), as a disciplinarian to correct or call us back from a wrong pathway (Numbers 12:10), as a judge pronouncing a penalty for sin and wrongdoing (2 Chronicles 21:18,19), and as an example to others of God’s faithfulness in providing strength in the midst of suffering. People continue to struggle with the question, "Why do good people suffer?" or "How can a loving and personal God allow suffering, especially in His children?" Certainly, God has the power to exclude evil and suffering from the universe. Why then does He not do what He can do? Life, we assume, would be so much more pleasant. But machines do not experience pleasure. To take from humankind the power of choice, God’s special gift to human life, would make us robots doing only the things we were permitted to do. Instead of blotting out sin when it first reared its head in the Garden of Eden, God had a divine plan of sending His Son into the world to be our Savior and give us victory over sin. The daily routine of adversity and suffering we all face–emotional pain, financial difficulty, sorrow, grief, relationship conflict–is nothing compared with the sufferings of many in the 20th century. Two world wars (including the Holocaust), numerous bloody smaller conflicts, sophisticated weapons of fearful destruction, acts of savage terrorism, and natural disasters of unprecedented magnitude cause theologians and laypersons alike to cringe at the degree of suffering. But such intensified suffering was prophesied by Jesus, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains" (Matthew 24:6-8). This increase of global suffering impacts the suffering of individuals. Sin has exacted a great toll on the universe and is increasingly active as its reign of terror is coming to an end. But the Christian should not be alarmed. When God gives such instruction, it must be for a good reason. God can and does deliver His children from pain and suffering. Healing and deliverance are the hope of all who suffer. Yet because of universal laws and principles that God has allowed to rule the world since the entrance of sin, deliverance from suffering is not a blanket benefit experienced by all believers. But there is always available a special help in the time of suffering. Although God’s Word does not explain why deliverance from suffering does not always come the moment it is requested, it does describe the life of faithfulness that waits patiently for deliverance. It also gives some important instruction for those in the midst of suffering: 1. Pray. "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray" (James 5:13, NKJV). 2. Enjoy communion with Christ and His sufferings. "Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Philippians 3:8,10, NIV). 3. Wait upon the Lord for His strength. "He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength... But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength" Isaiah 40:29,31 NIV). 4. Be encouraged in God’s faithfulness. "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope... Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed...His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:21-23, NIV). The members of the Assemblies of God admit they do not have all the answers to the many questions concerning suffering. But we cling fast to the truths of God’s Word. We know that God heals and delivers; Scripture affirms that, and we have seen miracles of healing and deliverance in answer to prayer. Though God heals and delivers, many continue to suffer through no fault of their own. The Bible gives sufficient evidence that suffering is a natural part of life. Deliverance from suffering that does not come immediately is no proof that God does not heal and deliver; God’s timing of answered prayer is His prerogative. With all these uncertainties and unanswered questions, our faith is still firmly planted in His right to do as He pleases. Abraham asked the rhetorical question, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25, NIV). We affirm that God, the great Judge, does right in these areas where we do not have all the answers. We trust Him and His ways implicitly. Lovesexy Funkateer | |
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heartbeatocean said: Well, I'm a Vedantist and and Vedanta says that the reason for suffering is due to Maya -- the cosmic power which distorts and veils REALITY (God). God is real, the world is unreal. War, death, and destruction play themselves out in the mayic realm of dualities and are ultimately illusory. Our suffering is due to the fact that we all tend to believe the world to be real and are attached to it.
In contrast, the Atman (our soul) is eternal, blissful, ever-present, omniscient, etc. etc. and can not be touched by anything of this world (Water can't wet it, Wind can't dry it...) It is beyond good [/i]or[i] evil. Yes, this is theoretical. But there are methods -- as the Buddha once said There Is A Way Out of Suffering -- which involve devotion, study, meditation, detachment and other practices; usually with the aid of an illumined teacher. om peace  very interesting!  | |
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