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
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