Therefore, we must trust Him that He knows what He is doing. After the final day of creation, God declared, It is very good (Cf. Everywhere humans have gone, they have invented gods. Should God then make us robots or restrict our freedom so much that we have no choices at all? If God exists there is hope. Answer (1 of 22): You are posing a 'thought experiment,' but this experiment has already been conducted thousands of times in history, by nearly every tribe, village, or isolated island population. There is strength we never thought we had. Adam, who represented all humanity as well as creation, rebelled against God and brought suffering into the world (Rom. Biblically speaking, pain and suffering are the results of sin in the world. Even though there is sickness and death, God does love us (John 3:16). Can He or is He weaker than we think? Will you choose him this Easter? I Dont Have Enough Faith To Be An AtheistReally? Yet, one thing is certain: The existence of evil does not eliminate God. Suffering is a result of the original sin. And invariably, Gods view as I imagine itof me and my challenges is more compassionate than my own view. How do you fix a story that is broken? God allows evil to occur partly for reasons we do know and partly for those we do not. ||1|| Thaakur sarabe samaanaa ||The Master is pervading in all. kiaa kahau sunau suaamee too(n) vadd purakh sujaanaa ||1|| rahaau ||What should I say and hear, O Master? We are fallen and we live in a fallen world. Everyone's got to go sometime.'. It has attracted the attention of some of the greatest minds across every philosophical tradition. A philosophical debate spanning creation, free will, and a sneaky teapot. I have read a lot about the Divine Mercy and I recite the Chaplet every day. With mass shootings and natural disasters filling the headlines, it's normal to wonder why a sovereign God allows suffering. The Hebrew wordruahmeans both spirit and wind. Imagine youre making a sandwich. Why cant all established traditional Christian religions join together? Suffering can fall into three simple categories: emotional, mental, and physical suffering. Thus, the idea of the innocent suffering is a false one. Apologetics Press If God Exists, Why Do We Suffer? People are, of course, far from blameless. If free will explains human disasters, what explains natural disasters? God may be allowing sin to take its natural course in the world so that on the day of judgment God can say Do you see what rebellion against my words brings? This may seem overly simplistic but it may prove to be one of the reasons that God allows pain and suffering. God encourages us to care for the orphans, widows (James 1:27), prisoners (Heb. In some sense, questions like this are what keep philosophers and theologians up at night. Christianity Explored is registered in England. In your mind, how does the acknowledgement of realities such as evil and injustice prove God exists? While the Bible asserts the fact that God is all powerful and He is all loving, it also declares that God is all wise. Privacy When people ask it, we have an opportunity to present the gospel to them. David Hume argued that while we assume that everything in our lives has a cause, that assumption does not necessarily apply to the universe as a whole. However, it would have been one of robots and puppetscreatures who could not love Him or anyone else. Russells point was that anyone making such a claim is the one who must prove it not the person objecting to it. Anne Graham Lotz: What Impossible Situation Are You Facing? Where is he when I suffer? God provided us the freedom to choose and that includes choosing rightly and wrongly. Rather, it cries out for Him. But if God made the world perfect, and the Paradise lost will become the Paradise regained, how did this one get so messed up? 'Satpal Singh explores the good and bad, good and evil, as well as the importance of acceptance of universal law, natural law or divine flow known as 'Hukam' in spirituality. Until then, we look to Jesus and trust Him to give us strength to overcome. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. ||1||Pause||We believe everyone should know and experience spiritual bliss for themselves. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. American philosopher John Rawls abandoned Christianity after witnessing the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust. Its worth noting that the problem of evil only applies to certain conceptions of deities notably all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent ones. Just consider the core habits needed for a healthy lifestyle: healthy eating and, InLive Like Jesus, Sonlifes founder, Dann Spader, does an excellent job diving deep into the rich truth to be found in Jesus, Is There Really a Difference Between Making Leaders and Making Disciples? Though it may be that God might use some suffering to prevent even greater suffering, this explanation cannot answer all issues concerning it. Of course, this does not mean that God is the author of evil, but it does mean that God is above it all and can use it to accomplish a greater good. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You can blame the victim and assume that the suffering is a punishment for something she or he did in this life or in a past life. The idea of getting something from nothing potentially including the entire cosmos is unsatisfying. He is called Almighty fifty-eight times. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. So, in order for the world to be morally good, it must be morally free. 5 Biblical Reasons Why God Allows Suffering - Beliefnet But, there are a variety of causes for suffering: morally corrupt (evil) people, disease, earthquakes, floods, famine, etc. What is his response to my suffering? They just GET IT especially when words are not enough. When going through difficult times we prefer to be around people who have suffered similarly. I dont. Why might people believe their suffering is proof that God does not exist? 1. Views on human suffering and God's role in it Suffering can fall into three simple categories: emotional, mental, and physical suffering. If God exists does he care about MY suffering? New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations [NSPPD] || 6th - Facebook Evil people have freewill too. The Scripture promises that God is moved when we suffer (Psalm 34.18 ESV), Jesus prays for us to the Father when we go through seasons of suffering (Romans 8.34 ESV) and ultimately God will put an end to suffering once and for all. If god is real and loves us why does he allow suffering? The Bible talks about the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7, KJV)and thats what evil is: a mystery. Rolando R. dela Cruz, Rector of the Manila Cathedral. God is powerful. As you gather the ingredients you, As a lead pastor, grandfather, and national leader, I am becoming increasingly concerned about discipling our children. Paradise Lost God Will Make Everything Right If God Exists, Why Do We Suffer? Elie Wiesel, a Hungarian Jew, tells a story from this very death camp in which he was incarcerated. But people dispose of the evidence due to the hardness of their hearts, i.e., their presuppositions that negate God's existence. How does our free will explain the presence of evil and suffering? or 'Why do bad things happen to good people? (5) Suffering is a Process. In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Yet, I have joyfully learned that the poet was right when he said, God is good when He gives supremely good, nor less when He denies. So God, because of his love, has done something about the suffering in this world. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,(John 16.33 NlT). Hear how others have explored Christianity. Why Christians Suffer | Bible.org In the Wake of Las Vegas, Why Does God Allow Suffering? First published Mon Sep 16, 2002; substantive revision Tue Mar 3, 2015. Long branded a conservative campuswith notable right []. From a biblical perspective, we must also reject the idea that if God loves us, he cannot intend for us to . In his book Mere Christianity, former atheist C.S. If God exists, then Four attempted proofs against God's existence So, it could be said that suffering in the world is necessary in order to bring about the cross which in turn demonstrates the great and awesome love of God. Meanwhile, other thinkers have argued that the analogy between man-made objects and the entirety of reality is invalid. Is he able but not willing? This is the world in which we live. In short, in a free and fallen world, tragedies happen to people who are no more sinners than those to whom such events do not happen. If you're going through a tough time, take heart. Have you ever felt this way? Therefore, it is probable that a powerful being designed the universe. Therefore, at least one of the premises about God must be false. Several years ago, I saw Martin Bashir, a news anchor for MSNBC at the time, interviewing a pastor on national television following a tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people in japan. His answer was instructive: I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3, NKJV). Transcript Why is there so much suffering in life? He suffered brutality at the hands of Roman soldiers. 'Why do these things happen?' At the same time, Jesus emphasized the fact that we live in a world full of sin and its effects; therefore, everyone must repent. we may not understand everything that happens to us. Jesus is described in the Bible as, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering [53:3]. Here, we look at five of the major arguments both for and against the existence of God. The problem is less of a concern for many Eastern religions, too. Many people have claimed that such suffering is a proof that God does not exist. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Compare 1 Peter 1:6-7 where the same Greek words are used along with the verb dokimazo which means, "put to the test," "prove by testing as with gold.". by Matt Slick | Dec 28, 2022 | Defending the Faith, Apologetics. You can affirm the mysterious inscrutability of Gods ways, so that we cannot fathom divine wisdom and cannot view events from the larger, cosmic perspective. Learn how the Momentum Campaign is reconstructing Judaism . If there is an ultimate moral standard or law of justice, then there must be an ultimate moral Law Giver. We then could glorify God during and after our suffering by proclaiming the truth of His word that urges us to follow God and His ways. An atheist that rejects God removes God from the equation, but suffering still exists. Even Job, who suffered more than anyone, confessed, WithHim[God] are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding(Job 12.13 NASB). An unimaginable force that underlies all things. Have you ever felt this way? For one, its in her blood quite literally. Nonetheless, I was able to cry out to God like Job: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21, KJV). The question then: Is it on you to disprove the impossibility of this teapots existence, or is it his responsibility to prove it is real? The Bible teaches us that God works through people and history and that there is evidence for his existence. If God exists, why does God exist? - Quora Many people ask the question 'If God exists then why do bad things happen in my life?' Norman Geisler Solicitation Disclosure Statement Addressing God out loud, nevertheless, changes things. The primary counterargument is that existence is not a part of the concept of something, a quality, or a predicate. (1 Chronicles 16.34 NASB) says. How can I get the confidence to talk to others about Jesus. Reposted here with permission. Since suffering exists, the assumption is God is either loving but impotent, or powerful but calloused. The human spirit is always looking for an excuse. What does the Bible say about God and suffering? When Satan sought to destroy Jesus and make Him suffer on the cross, God worked even that for our good and for His glory. Review of Suffering: if God exists, why doesn't he stop it? If God is love (1 John 4:8) and love gives (John 3:16), can it be that God must demonstrate the greatest act of love? The God I believe in possesses an infinite number of attributes at every moment, in every place. Heaven Will Not Be Like This Answer (1 of 3): god is imaginary and superstition thing. Isnt it better to face lifes problems with God rather than without Him? But unless you repent, you too will all perish" ( Luke 13:4-5 ). This is an extraordinary description of the tenderness of God and of his plans to put right all the wrongs in this world. Why does he allow tragedies? We are free to choose the extent to which we will allow evil to reign in societies, neighbourhoods and in each human heart. Evil was defeated on that first Easter, and one day it will be removed altogether. And like any member of the British aristocracy in good standing, the third Earl Russell invoked tea in his argument. Home I am reminded of John Humphrys' conversation with Rev. What is the difference between an internal and external critique? If God Exists, Why Do We Suffer? - YouTube The Christian faith uniquely makes sense of this. This approach was first formulated by Immanuel Kant, a Christian himself. We know that God is not the author of evil. If God Exists, Why Does He Allow Evil, Pain, Suffering, and - Medium The Problem of Evil - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy God loves us dearly and has already suffered himself in order to bring us out of this suffering world. Therefore, suffering in the world easily serves as a demonstration of the need to follow Gods words thereby vindicating what God has said. Last week I was in Denver for meetings with our ministry partner, Dare 2 Share, when the words of a respected Christian, Healthy things are created and sustained by need-meeting habits. (Ephesians 6.12 NIV) says. What is happening in North, You were created to know God in a deep and personal way. Those who believe in Jesus will enter a new world where there will be no tears and no suffering. It seeks no advice while giving or taking. aapanee kudharat aape jaanai aape karan karei ||It alone knows its creative power; It itself does all deeds. sabhanaa vekhai nadhar kar jai bhaavai tai dhei ||4||It behold and sees all. The God I believe in permeates the universe as the ground of all being. Suffering is that which proves one's character and integrity along with both the object and quality of one's faith. Here at Nanak Naam charity we're on a mission to transform lives worldwide through Mantra-Mindfulness. But how could this account for natural disasters and sickness that brings suffering? We are seeing millions displaced and thousands ravaged and killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as violence escalates once again. But in 1989, it separated itself from the college to show that the new denomination could survive. But let me tell you three very important truths about evil that might help you. So this is a very simply outline of just some of the things the Bible talks about suffering, and is by no means complete. Evil and suffering present a problem for believing in an all-loving and all-powerful God. This is where hanging here from this gallows.'. Further, God is going to fix it up, but He hasnt done it yet. For one thing, God could have made a world with no evil in it. One common objection is it would be difficult to hide the evidence of sending a teapot to space. - Quora Something went wrong. This is a good question to ask, but it assumes several things . If God Exists, Then Why Is There Suffering? That being said, I will try my best to outline a brief answer in the space available on what the Bible says about suffering. If He is all-powerful, then He could do it. But even a casual look at the evening news, to say nothing of the Virginia Tech tragedy, informs us that He has not defeated evil. 29 2006 Not long ago I received a most poignant letter from a man named "Mr. Weaver," who poured out his heart on a subject that touches all of us at one time or another: the mystery of innocent suffering. Others have pointed out that even if the cosmological argument has merit, it doesnt tell us anything about any creator. 12:6) and that no true child of God is without discipline and instruction. But more than suffer LIKE US, God has also suffered FOR US. There are different explanations for why God allows suffering, but none of them can satisfy everyone. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? Jesus was Gods son, he was a perfect man, who did not deserve Gods punishment, and yet he took our punishment by suffering and dying a most unjust death on the cross. As Rene Descartes put it: This is based on a similar argument advanced by St. Anselm. If you have enjoyed reading this, please consider joining our email list! Whatever begins to exist must have a cause for its existence. In our suffering we share in the suffering of Christ (Col 1:24) so in heaven we may share in His glory (1 Peter 4:19). John said it best: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. It is not logically necessary that since God has not stopped evil and suffering in the world, that He cannot. Because God has not yet defeated all evil does not mean that He never will defeat it. One day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. In other words, if God does not exist, there is no point asking why, because there is no-one to ask. He also asserted that we cannot say if this universe is well designed as we havent seen any others.
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