Because Satan's free will is more important than all the suffering of the whole world.
Why?
__________________ I believe in a loving Creator who created us for the purpose of being capable of receiving and responding to the love of the Creator. Our first gift of life is temporary. If we attempt to fulfill our purpose of loving others, we have the hope of receiving a second gift of eternal life. There is no pain in the after life. If we do not receive the second gift, we are simply left with the first gift and will not exist after we die.
Good question. What good comes out of the tragedity of a child dying of starvation and/or lack of care unknown to anyone--simply dying alone?
I have to repeat: Death is the way good people go home to rest and the way bad people quit doing bad stuff. It is hard to know how much “pain” God allows a child to go through prior to taking them home. Just like in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, there is suffering and pain for the sake of the rich man to have the opportunity to experience Godly type Love which did not happen but could have. Why am I not taking the time and effort to find out about these starving children and do something about it?
Because Satan's free will is more important than all the suffering of the whole world.
[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']From your sarcastic statement we would have to assume tragedies are allowed by God to provide opportunities for good people to accept, express, extend, give, receive, show, see and grow Godly type Love.[/font]
The enemy is no longer taunting God : "The prince of this world has already been judged." and "By death, He conquered death." When Christ rose, the enemy let out his first shriek, it just might be his last.
I have to repeat: Death is the way good people go home to rest and the way bad people quit doing bad stuff. It is hard to know how much “pain” God allows a child to go through prior to taking them home. Just like in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, there is suffering and pain for the sake of the rich man to have the opportunity to experience Godly type Love which did not happen but could have. Why am I not taking the time and effort to find out about these starving children and do something about it?
If you did, that would not mean there are no starving children suffing and dying alone. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is about not being correct to assume if one is suffering in this world they are wicked and not be correct to assume if one is blessed in this world they are righteous. What was the point of the rich man being tortured? Was that going to get him to the bossum of Abraham after a certain amount of torture? There is nothing to indicate that in the story.
__________________ I believe in a loving Creator who created us for the purpose of being capable of receiving and responding to the love of the Creator. Our first gift of life is temporary. If we attempt to fulfill our purpose of loving others, we have the hope of receiving a second gift of eternal life. There is no pain in the after life. If we do not receive the second gift, we are simply left with the first gift and will not exist after we die.
I wasn't being sarcastic at all, I'm deadly serious. What other reason is there?
Why? Because God gave Satan free will, the most precious gift in the entire universe.
John 6:70
Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?"
So when you talk about Satan's free will you are talking about Judas or us? I understand how our having the ability to chose to love is very important, important enought to allow the suffering that comes from our chosing to not love, but that has nothing to do with much of the suffering that occurs in this world. What does the suffering of a child in Africa through disease or for that matter even here through disease that we cannot treat successfully have to do with our free will? I think eternal life with God is the most preceious gift in the entire universe, but I agree our have the ability to love is connected to that hope of receiving such a precious gift.
__________________ I believe in a loving Creator who created us for the purpose of being capable of receiving and responding to the love of the Creator. Our first gift of life is temporary. If we attempt to fulfill our purpose of loving others, we have the hope of receiving a second gift of eternal life. There is no pain in the after life. If we do not receive the second gift, we are simply left with the first gift and will not exist after we die.
So when you talk about Satan's free will you are talking about Judas or us? I understand how our having the ability to chose to love is very important, important enought to allow the suffering that comes from our chosing to not love, but that has nothing to do with much of the suffering that occurs in this world. What does the suffering of a child in Africa through disease or for that matter even here through disease that we cannot treat successfully have to do with our free will? I think eternal life with God is the most preceious gift in the entire universe, but I agree our have the ability to love is connected to that hope of receiving such a precious gift.
Christ chose Judas knowing that he was "a devil", in the same way that God created Satan, knowing Satan would choose evil, in the same way God refused to annihilate or imprison Satan the moment after he fell from Heaven, knowing he would inflict untold suffering upon humankind. God has sovereignty over all things, including the evil powers. Jesus can by a word exorcise them from human beings - doesn't that show that he is sovereign over them?
The child starves in Africa because God permits Satan, by his free will, to bring it about, just as He permitted Satan, by his free will, to crucify his Son. However what we currently cannot comprehend, but which must be the case, is:
Gen 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Why don't we believe it? Because we're not omniscient, we only see what's in front of our noses. We can't see all ends. We have no knowledge to depend on. But we do have the faith that is given to us.
The old forest being burned thinks that the forest fire is not such a good idea. But ten years later the new forest springing up may have a different perspective.
If Jesus can command the wind and the waves He certainly could have stopped the tsunami if He wanted. Why didn't He?
Because at the end of the day we will understand that all things occur to display the fullness of the glory of the Son of God, whereas now we don't.
Col 1:16 (ESV)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
__________________ To be reprobate is to be left in sin, not pushed or forced to sin. R. C. Sproul.
Last edited by Yab Yum; 5th November 2009 at 11:56 AM.
Reason: Clarification
If you did, that would not mean there are no starving children suffing and dying alone. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is about not being correct to assume if one is suffering in this world they are wicked and not be correct to assume if one is blessed in this world they are righteous. What was the point of the rich man being tortured? Was that going to get him to the bossum of Abraham after a certain amount of torture? There is nothing to indicate that in the story.
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Wait a minute: How much good can God do through one person? The method God presents is one of: Deity mentoring a small group through one person so at least some of them get to the point deity can mentor others through them. If this system can just average one trained servant per year starting his own small group, then we would run out of people on this earth in 36 years (all 6 billion+ would be in small groups). [/font] [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']The rich man did not say he was being treated unfairly. At great pain and suffering to God, Lazarus suffered to provide an easy daily opportunity for the rich man to repent. The story does give all of us an understanding of the huge debt sin creates. If we are to Love much (the true desire of all of us) than we need to realize we have been forgiven much (…he that is forgiven much will Love much…)[/font]
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