Why Do We Suffer? & Does God Really Punish Us?

[SDG]

I know there are many approaches to answering this age-old question asked by atheists and believers alike. Just this week one my Special Ed students asked me the same question .... If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen to us?

I couldn't answer his question right there and then because of laws that prohibit me... but told him his question has been asked by many and spoke to him a little in private.

I know there are some who answer this question w/ one, some, or all of the biblical reasons for our suffering. I wince when some preachers don't approach this topic without any balance ... either it's all "GOD IS LOVE" OR "GOD IS GOING TO TAKE YOU OUT FOR YOUR SIN"

I think some of the bible-based reasons for human suffering include:

1. It is a result of human choice ... [Namely our disobedience]
The Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep, of Luk.15.

They suffer because they run away from home, they do not keep the Commandments, which are like the Laws of Traffic: If you pass the red light or you come out of the road, you may hurt others or yourself... God is after them, and waiting for them, for their repentance, their change of life, not to punish them, but to bring them home, and receive them with a great feast, organized in person by God! (Luk.15:5-6, 22-24).

The wages of sins [our choices] is death.

2. Correction is part of God's Love/ He Molds Us - Hebrews 12:
They are like vaccine injections God gives to the ones He loves.

'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Rev. 3:19

The loving potter often needs to mold us and even break us to conform to His image.

3. We Participate in Fellowship of His Suffering, Colos.1:24:Phillippians 3
Christians share in the fellowship of His suffering. Of course, He will not give us more we can bear.

4- The Chastisements of God ... God's Righteousness demands punishment for sin and evil.

- In Judges: God uses other nations to punish Israel.
- The Flood of Gen.7:17: God uses a flood for 40 days (6:6-8).
- Sodom and Gomorrah of Gen.19:24: Burning sulphur out the heavens from Yahweh
- The 10 Plagues of Exodus 7-12: Ten different plagues from God.
- In Job, God allows Satan... but it was w/ God's consent! (Job 1:9-12, 21).
- Hell [don't wince Crakjak]... the worst punishment of God... eternal!

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How do you approach this subject?
What are the reasons why we suffer?
How do you answer this question when an unbeliever asks you?
Does your answer change when a believer asks you this question?
Why do you think some don't approach this question in a balanced way?



http://biblia.com/jesusbible/judges4.htm

[CC1]

As with most things in life there are no easy answers.

I do believe that much of our suffering is self induced. Many times we repeat either the mistakes we have made in the past or the mistakes that are in our family's history.

For example a person raised in a poor uneducated family may carry on being poor and suffering without enough resources because they do not, with the help of God, break free from their families low expectations in life and work hard to get an education and good job to better themselves.

Then even with more successful people many times stress and "suffering" is self induced by poor decision making and poor judgement in financial matters. I count myself in this group!

I also believe that God uses suffering to teach us lessons, mold our character, etc. Like DA though I believe this has to be balaned out with the Bible's overall premise that God desires to bless us.

[Ferd]

Good words Dan.

[SDG]

Sometimes it's hard to process that some our suffering is motivated by love.

It's wondrous to know that He bore all our suffering to give us new life.

It's difficult to accept that our actions have consequences.

[PastorDaniel]

And just think...Life is full of pain, sorrow, struggle, strife, and Jesus came to give us Life more Abundantly.

I agree that a lot of suffering is self-induced. I love to hear those dear old Saints get up and blame the devil for everything.

"Ol' Preacher...the devil's really been on me this week....my car engine blew up...my dog died...and my kid has really been hyper-out of control"

I just want to say...."Well Brother, your car had 300,000 miles on it and you hadn't changed the oil in 2 years, you let your dog chase cars all day, and you feed your kid cokes and candy all day"

"THE DEVIL DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

But seriously, some things are just life! We are daily dieing and live in a world where moth and rust do corrupt!

I feel that Daniel A. covered it really well. It's a little of all of the above.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Sometimes it's hard to process that some our suffering is motivated by love.

It's wondrous to know that He bore all our suffering to give us new life.

It's difficult to accept that our actions have consequences.

It is difficult to our human minds, but look at your gorgeous kids.

Their actions have consequences, and if you love them, they will suffer from your punishment when their actions do not follow the course you have for them while they are young. You are responsible for raising them into law-abiding, God-fearing adults and unfortunately, that means punishment is necessary along the way.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by PastorDaniel

And just think...Life is full of pain, sorrow, struggle, strife, and Jesus came to give us Life more Abundantly.

I agree that a lot of suffering is self-induced. I love to hear those dear old Saints get up and blame the devil for everything.

"Ol' Preacher...the devil's really been on me this week....my car engine blew up...my dog died...and my kid has really been hyper-out of control"

I just want to say...."Well Brother, your car had 300,000 miles on it and you hadn't changed the oil in 2 years, you let your dog chase cars all day, and you feed your kid cokes and candy all day"

"THE DEVIL DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT!"

But seriously, some things are just life! We are daily dieing and live in a world where moth and rust do corrupt!

I feel that Daniel A. covered it really well. It's a little of all of the above.

Herein lies part of the dilemma ... Pastor .... when we are faced w/ other believers who are going thru tough times ... and even in our inner discussions w/ self.

Sometimes we know them, and our ourselves, well enough to know that one of the reasons for they're/we're suffering are their/our poor decisions ...but it's difficult to face the facts... yet it's so easy for us to convince ourselves we didn't play a role and uplift them/ourselves w/ stock answers such as:

The devil's is a liar!
The enemy wants to get you down.
This is just test of your faith.
It rains on the just and unjust.
God's just testing you.
etc.

Can it be, at times, all of the above is at work plus our poor decisions and disobedience?

The tough part is presenting and learning this in a right, uplifting and balanced way ....

[Darcie]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

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How do you approach this subject?
What are the reasons why we suffer?
How do you answer this question when an unbeliever asks you?
Does your answer change when a believer asks you this question?
Why do you think some don't approach this question in a balanced way?



http://biblia.com/jesusbible/judges4.htm

1. Very Carefully

2. We need to grow and sometimes that comes thru suffering; this world is not our home so we'll never be really comfortable; without suffering we wouldn't need God; and the reasons you stated at first.

3. Very Carefully

4. Sometimes, depending on how much they may or may not believe in God

5. I think we can't really handle it, it shows in the numbers, this thread has had about 430 views with 6 responses

I agree with CC1 (which is no surprise, I usually do)...

I have a lot of thoughts on this but most are too personal to share so I will let CC1 speak for me.

[seguidordejesus]

Welcome back, SheltieDad. Perhaps you could generalize your thoughts somewhat...? I usually agree with you more than I should