who sinned, this man or his parents

[Xeno.of.athens]

When a natural disaster happens is it because of the sins of the people who are affected? When you break your leg is it because you sinned?

"I must have done something terrible to deserve this!" was said by a friend just yesterday.

Can you make a bargain with God? "Lord, if you help me in my distress, I will praise you before all the people I meet"

How does suffering relate to godliness?

Some suffering comes from human habits. For example, tsunamis destroy towns, kill people, ruin businesses because people build their towns on the coast near to the sea for convenience but not knowing or not believing that any day a tsunami may wash it away. We build cities in earthquake prone lands and accept that a quake may destroy what we build. Taking the risk people do things that will inevitably end in some loss, some death. It isn't God punishing it's people taking risks.

Some people get cancer, a heart attack, diabetes, these may come from risk taking or may be accidental, is God punishing them with these "afflictions"?

Does God ever punish people for their sins in this life, I wonder. Could it not be the case that the risks taken by a person or by their parents or some other factors present in the world as the world is, is what causes their suffering?

 

[Clare73]

When a natural disaster happens is it because of the sins of the people who are affected? When you break your leg is it because you sinned?

"I must have done something terrible to deserve this!" was said by a friend just yesterday.

Can you make a bargain with God? "Lord, if you help me in my distress, I will praise you before all the people I meet"

How does suffering relate to godliness?

Some suffering comes from human habits. For example, tsunamis destroy towns, kill people, ruin businesses because people build their towns on the coast near to the sea for convenience but not knowing or not believing that any day a tsunami may wash it away. We build cities in earthquake prone lands and accept that a quake may destroy what we build. Taking the risk people do things that will inevitably end in some loss, some death. It isn't God punishing it's people taking risks.

Some people get cancer, a heart attack, diabetes, these may come from risk taking or may be accidental, is God punishing them with these "afflictions"?

Does God ever punish people for their sins in this life, I wonder. Could it not be the case that the risks taken by a person or by their parents or some other factors present in the world as the world is, is what causes their suffering?

God created the laws of nature and common sense.
If you go contrary to them, you will experience suffering.

 

[KevinT]

When a natural disaster happens is it because of the sins of the people who are affected? When you break your leg is it because you sinned?

"I must have done something terrible to deserve this!" was said by a friend just yesterday.

Does God ever punish people for their sins in this life, I wonder. Could it not be the case that the risks taken by a person or by their parents or some other factors present in the world as the world is, is what causes their suffering?

Maybe, instead of thinking of it as punishment, consider it as natural consequences. Every child, as they learn to walk, fall down at some point and skin their knees. God made the laws of physics and it would be possible to say that he was “punishing” the child for, not following the rules correctly. But that’s quite weird to think that way. Instead, God is being consistent and making allowances, and soon enough the child is running around, like crazy and not falling down.

The word “sin” has the connotations of willful disobedience. But I think it can be useful to consider the intersection between the concepts of ignorance and sin. If someone was raised following bad habits, and didn’t know any better, then it doesn’t meet the criteria for “sin“ in the classic sense, but it still is causing harm. So in a sense, it is still sinful. It might be sinful tendencies that they inherited from their parents.

So I see the “punishments” from God as more a consequence of God’s natural order and laws of physics.

Best wishes

 

[Dan Perez]

When a natural disaster happens is it because of the sins of the people who are affected? When you break your leg is it because you sinned?

"I must have done something terrible to deserve this!" was said by a friend just yesterday.

Can you make a bargain with God? "Lord, if you help me in my distress, I will praise you before all the people I meet"

How does suffering relate to godliness?

Some suffering comes from human habits. For example, tsunamis destroy towns, kill people, ruin businesses because people build their towns on the coast near to the sea for convenience but not knowing or not believing that any day a tsunami may wash it away. We build cities in earthquake prone lands and accept that a quake may destroy what we build. Taking the risk people do things that will inevitably end in some loss, some death. It isn't God punishing it's people taking risks.

Some people get cancer, a heart attack, diabetes, these may come from risk taking or may be accidental, is God punishing them with these "afflictions"?

Does God ever punish people for their sins in this life, I wonder. Could it not be the case that the risks taken by a person or by their parents or some other factors present in the world as the world is, is what causes their suffering?

And Christ does punish believers , and 1 Cor 5:1-5 tells it all for the world to see >

And verse 2 , many are n PUFFED up with pride and will not judge .

In verse 3 then I Paul will judge ,

To deliver up such a one to Satan for the death of the FLESH in order that the spirit may be saved in the DAY of the Lord Jesus !!

So how is the spirit SAVED ??

And what is the DAY of the LORD JESUS ??

dan p

 

[RileyG]

God does not punish us because of our ancestors sins, Jesus made that very clear.

As far as natural disaster and other tragedy, I have no clue.

God will ultimately give reassurance and comfort to those who are saved and experienced tragedy.

I don't have the mind of God, he is ultimately a mystery.

 

[RileyG]

And Christ does punish believers , and 1 Cor 5:1-5 tells it all for the world to see >

And verse 2 , many are n PUFFED up with pride and will not judge .

In verse 3 then I Paul will judge ,

To deliver up such a one to Satan for the death of the FLESH in order that the spirit may be saved in the DAY of the Lord Jesus !!

So how is the spirit SAVED ??

And what is the DAY of the LORD JESUS ??

dan p

I see it as more consequences of their own actions.

God says do not do XYZ because it will harm you. Person does XYZ, and they get harmed.

It's like telling a child not to touch a hot stove, for reference.