Apostolic Friends Forum - Why does God Allow _____

Apostolic Friends Forum (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/index.php)

- Fellowship Hall (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

- - Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank (https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=32289)

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks (Post 986855)

"If it was in my power." SO many times, I've wished it were in my power! First of all, everyone on this forum would agree with me. No, I take that back. I have a lot of fun tweaking certain people. Strike that.

Ok, I would, FOR SURE, hit idiots with lightning and make them robots, but that would suck when *I* act like an idiot. But yeah, a child rapist would be a good start. I don't understand and I'm afraid that most, if not all, of our explanations end up sounding religious.

Serial killers. There's another one. If we're going to make some robots and make some free willers, where is the line drawn? That could....no, that would get messy.

At the end of the maze of questions and mostly bad explanations, there's really only two choices in this one.....either we all get complete free will or none of us get any free will.

Which is better? Do we want our existence to be that of a robot, in which case, why exist, or do we want to have free will in which case, we'll have some suffering as a result?

And, if God did decide to interfere in "certain" cases, where would it stop? Should He also interfere when a man is about to commit adultery? That isn't a victimless crime; his family will be devastated. How about if a person is about to tell a lie? Should He strike that man with lightning before the words can even come out of his mouth? How about a thief who's going to steal a car? Should God allow him to be hit by a bus to stop the theft? People would question that, too, since they would have no way of knowing that God had just stopped a thief, and it would still look like random acts of violence. No one would credit Him with preventative measures.

Free will = imperfect choices = pain
No free will = perfect choices = pointless existence

Other than this, I don't think there really are any good answers to this question, because it's all theorizing and supposition, and no one really knows the answer. However, for some of the best answers ever written, Timmy and the OP's friend should just read everything ever written by C.S. Lewis. I'd start with Miracles.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 986879)

So how do we explain the huge difference in our own behavior and God's? Any one of us would prevent a rapist if we could, but God does not. Are we better than God? More powerful than God? More loving? Smarter? What explains this particular difference?

I don't have any good answers and I'm not going to try to make it sound as if I do. There is imperfection in every explanation. You're asking valid questions and I don't have a valid explanation and I'm not going to tell you, "We'll understand it better by and by."

However, does my lack of valid answers cause me to doubt God? No. But it does cause me to desire better explanations than I have. It does make me wish God would have done things differently, but as soon as I think that, I have to acknowledge that I'm unable to count the number of times things have happened in my life that made zero sense to me that made perfect sense in the aftermath.

I do trust in eternity. I do trust that my understanding from that angle will be different than it is now.

Ultimately, my trust is in God, not in His operational logic.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandie (Post 986843)

As everyone else I've had some very difficult times.
I've asked why.
This was the answer God gave me at one time.

Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

I've heard it preached at a teenager's funeral that God alone sees the end of the parade.

I don't think anyone has the answers, but He alone is God and He has promised to those who are His that He would never leave nor forsake.

There's a good deal of wisdom in what you've said here.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 986862)

If robots in heaven will be a good thing, what would be wrong with robots here on earth?

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks (Post 986873)

Will we be robots in heaven? I don't think so, but I see what you're getting at.

I see what your getting at too. It is a thought to ponder though. Could one opt out of eternity as 1/3 of the angels did ?

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

God gave man a choice in the garden. And man made the wrong choice. But if God limited man's choices, it's very likely He would be not only limiting man's ability to do evil, but also his possibility to do good.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

I don't think any human being can answer this question. Only God can.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks (Post 986914)

...
Ultimately, my trust is in God, not in His operational logic.

I like that.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 986744)

If God can "help her through it", why couldn't He just prevent it? God's rules of engagement are just weird. A man wants to rape a little girl. God knows this, lets it happen, and watches. But He's "helping her through it". If a human were to witness something like this taking place, and just watch, calling out encouraging things to her, but not interfering with that rapist's free will, he would be nearly as evil as the rapist!

*shrugs*
Don't like it?
Take it up with God.
I 'spect He knows somewhat better than you.

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 986801)

I'd make him a "robot", in a heartbeat.

I didn't... I flung him through the air and got ready to feed him his blade
when my neighbor got the drop on him.

But then again, you have this problem of God knows the end from the beginning and you do not.

mark

Re: Why does God Allow ______? Fill in the Blank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flutecrafter (Post 987091)

Yeah, let's kill him.

These two "explanations" are just the thing that makes guys like Timmy even more fortified in their positions.

*shrugs*??? Please.