Why does God allow us to suffer?

[joshua 1 9]

No, I don't think capitalism is evil, I think unbridled, runaway capitalism is deeply problematic. Only someone living in a comfort which appears to be without cost could possibly think otherwise.

So do you think communism is problematic? Although they are becoming more capitalistic.

 

[SkyWriting]

What do you expect? If you talk about God to a Christian, then they will quote the bible.

There ya go!

 

[Locutus]

So do you think communism is problematic? Although they are becoming more capitalistic.

of course communism is problematic. or at least, the varieties tried thus far have been. the point is there is a vast area between black and white yet untried - or at least not tried on any large enough scale to significantly change things.

what do you mean by communists are becoming more capitalist? if communists are behaving like capitalists, then they're not communists.

 

[SkyWriting]

With suffering being around, we can conclude that God doesn´t do anything effective to remove it.

God cannot directly change our world. He must work through Spirit.

 

[joshua 1 9]

the Bible is as meaningful to the non-Christian as the Koran is to the Christian. ie, not even a tiny bit. your affection for Jesus does not determine this matter. it's frankly bizarrro that you seem to think it does.

This is the sort of thinking of people that do not understand just how important the Bible is. True God does not expect much from who little is given, still they will be accountable. The true sons of God do receive more discipline. This is still all based on His love: "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline," Rev 3:19 "But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

 

[joshua 1 9]

what do you mean by communists are becoming more capitalist? if communists are behaving like capitalists, then they're not communists.

China is filled with a lot of mom pop shops that you just do not see in American anymore because Walmart put them out of business.

 

[joshua 1 9]

God cannot directly change our world. He must work through Spirit.

He must work through us to some degree.

 

[Locutus]

There is only one God.

for you. there are other gods for other people. but of course you're entitled to and welcome to hold the opinion that your god is special and real, while all others aren't. the important thing to remember is that others hold exactly the same opinion about different gods. if you can embrace that reality (because it IS reality), then it really doesn't matter that most religious people are in direct opposition to each other in terms of opinion.

 

[Locutus]

China is filled with a lot of mom pop shops that you just do not see in American anymore because Walmart put them out of business.

China's 'in name only' 21st century brand of communism is a very poor example of communism. obviously.

 

[Locutus]

This is the sort of thinking of people that do not understand just how important the Bible is.

ah, yeah. that's two thirds of humanity.

and Christians just don't understand how important the Koran is, and norse mythology.

 

[Bsign24]

How do you know?

How do I know that God is good? Let us consider for a moment the Universe and the mechanics of the earth. Consider how in our solar system, everything has a distinct pattern. Science would say that is gravity and they would be correct, but how was gravity created? Furthermore, on earth life exists because there is oxygen in the air, plenty of sunshine, food, and water. Such things do not come to be just out of chance. There had to be something or someone who set it all in motion. I believe that someone is God. Now since God created all that I have mentioned and we can agree that everything that is provided on the earth is good for us, since we would not exist without them, then I can believe that God is inheritantly good just by looking at all that He had created.

 

[SteveB28]

I wasted my life on drugs. Such a waste. Years and years just wasted for nothing. Thats not living, that's dying. I also have very difficult things i must live with, things most people wil never have to face. Without faith in the Lord, i dont see how i could be happy. He makes me happy. He fills that void in my heart. You can say that i can be happy without him, but i know different. I know the suffering i brought on myself was more than a person can endure alone. Thats the truth. I have seen people kill themselves over less than i must live with. Jesus Christ is my everything.

Have you ever thought that perhaps you have replaced one addiction with another?

 

[Extraneous]

Have you ever thought that perhaps you have replaced one addiction with another?

I never claimed to be perfect. You only reinforce my argument more.

 

[SteveB28]

I never claimed to be perfect. You only reinforce my argument more.

Nor did I accuse you of such. I merely draw to your attention that many people who have had problems with addictions of various kinds will frequently translate that dependence to some other addictive behaviour.

It is possible that your devotion to 'faith' fits that bill.

 

[Extraneous]

Nor did I accuse you of such. I merely draw to your attention that many people who have had problems with addictions of various kinds will frequently translate that dependence to some other addictive behaviour.

It is possible that your devotion to 'faith' fits that bill.

If being addicted to Jesus is my problem then there is no problem. He gives me hope where i had none, and he taught me about love, mercy, grace. The scriptures have enhanced my life personally and have made me a better person as well. Not that im perfect or better than anyone else, but now i try to love people instead of being selfish. The world is a better place because i learned from Christ, and im happier as well.

 

[Extraneous]

When we accept Gods mercy for ourselves, it makes us more merciful towards others as well. Its not just about me, but about others too.

 

[Extraneous]

Without God grace, that dynamic isnt possible. Without his teaching, i would never have changed.

 

[Extraneous]

Actually, the percentage of Christians in American prisons is quite high. Higher than the broader population if memory serves.

You seem to be observing the outside of these people but not the inside. Thats what they themselves are doing as well. Despite your stats, i know differently. I have been around people who go in and out of prison their whole lives, and none of them care about Jesus. What you may be doing is making the error we see when gauging American religion. They say 70% of america is Christian. But 70% of america doesn't keep the words of Christ. They may say they believe in him, but they prove otherwise with their actions. If they actually followed the Lords command to love their neighbor, then they would never see the inside of a prison cell again. The pharisees were like that too, only a bit different. The pharisees, most of them anyway, looked like very religious people with their religious clothing and synagogue attendance, but in reality they were not religious inside themselves. They were hypocrites basically. They looked religious on the outside, but inside they didn't follow the Lord at all. These folks we are talking about may not look religious like the pharisees, but if they claim that they are religious yet dont follow the Lords teaching, then they are not truly religious at all.


Mathew 15:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]

 

[Extraneous]

ah, yeah. that's two thirds of humanity.

and Christians just don't understand how important the Koran is, and norse mythology.

I thought we already showed the difference between the Koran and the Gospel. They are different. Try to see the difference and maybe you will understand the difference between the two.

 

[Extraneous]

As far as i know, the Gospel is the only holy Scripture (religious text) which teaches saving grace. This is the power that actually changes people for the better. It humbles them instead of promoting religious pride which only causes more hate rather than love. You can say that many so called Christians are proud and unloving, but that is because they are either still learning and growing, or they just haven't actually received the true Gospel message into their heart.

I have observed that some people love religion, but not the Gospel. The Gospel teaches us to humble ourselves, to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to bear reproach . This is difficult but its also Gods discipline that helps us actually change and learn to love. You cant love another person as yourself until you see that you yourself are a hopeless sinner. When you judge yourself instead of others, as the Gospel teaches us, then you see that you are no better than anyone else, and its becomes much easier to love everyone else. Some people say that they love people , but in reality they dont know what love is. They love people who love them, but they hate people who hate them.

The Gospel teaches us to love even those who hate us. Not that we will be perfect at loving them, but we will not hate them either because we see how fallible every person is, and we understand why they hate us. We are not perfect but we become mature in our thinking. Thats what perfection is and growth comes from that which helps us become better and better at truly loving other people, in time. This isn't accomplished merely by following a command to love our enemies, but its accomplished by obeying the Gospel as a whole. It shows us our inner self, and shows us what our enemy is like from the inside as well. It helps us to understand the people we hate just as we understand ourselves. The Gospel opens peoples eyes and lets them see things that otherwise they would never see. It is quite remarkable, and very unique. It is truly spiritual.


Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.