Why does God allow suffering?

Justified112

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You know, karma has been taken from you reap what you sow, which is biblical.

With all due respect that is not what Karma is. Karma is about punishment and rewards and is NOT anything close to "reaping what you sow."
 
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Justified112

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To be honest, to me God doesn't seem too concerned about the animal He put His spirit into.
Wrong. God is very concerned. He gave His Son to die for us so that we could have eternal life. The Bible says that God wants us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. Jesus says that God cares for us more than the rest of created order. He loves us with an everlasting love. So your comment does not agree with Scripture.
 
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devin553344

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This is a popular question among non-believers and a reason why many claim there is no God. Or, why they believe in another God or religion such as Buddhism which explains this away as "karma". But as a Christian, what do you think is the reason God allows suffering?

So that people can enjoy even more when they're not suffering and be happier? "It could be worse"!
 
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zoidar

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This is a popular question among non-believers and a reason why many claim there is no God. Or, why they believe in another God or religion such as Buddhism which explains this away as "karma". But as a Christian, what do you think is the reason God allows suffering?

1. Suffering and death is a consequence of sin.

2. The fall of man is the reason for suffering and sin.

3. Suffering is needed for us to turn to God, repentance.

4. God has taken the world's suffering and sin on himself, to create a new earth free from sin and suffering.

Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
 
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timewerx

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This is a popular question among non-believers and a reason why many claim there is no God. Or, why they believe in another God or religion such as Buddhism which explains this away as "karma". But as a Christian, what do you think is the reason God allows suffering?

I think the question should really be this instead:

Why do we (or you) allow suffering?

Jesus and the Disciples gave a lot of teachings that we must help our brothers and sisters who needs help or in need of rescuing with our resources and God-given abilities (not only in prayers). We must also stand up and act, put some muscles or money into it or even influence and power to helping our brothers and sisters in distress.

Instead of wasting our resources and time in worldly leisures and comfortable and expensive mortgages, etc, etc, that we should pool our resources, use our God-given abilities to make money and our time to help the brothers and sisters in need or suffering.

This is actually clearly taught in the Bible, with examples given and many verses about it (that are sadly rarely preached). A fruit of belief / faith and love of God.

It's not entirely God's responsibility to alleviate or even possibly eliminate suffering in this world. Part of the responsibility falls unto us. Jesus and the Disciples taught these very clearly. Even just praying about it is not enough, we actually have to try everything including using our skills, money, power, influence, etc...

Whatever you do unto the least (the weak, the poor, the oppressed) you do unto Him (Christ).

Would you just only pray for Him or would actually stand up, rescue Him, feed Him, give Him shelter?
 
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tdidymas

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This is a popular question among non-believers and a reason why many claim there is no God. Or, why they believe in another God or religion such as Buddhism which explains this away as "karma". But as a Christian, what do you think is the reason God allows suffering?

Because Adam and Eve didn't appreciate the goodness of what God gave them, nor did they appreciate the good state in which they were created. And let's face the fact that since Adam was our perfect representative, that we all would have done the same thing had we been in his (or Eve's) place. So when it was whispered in their ear that they could have more, they wanted it.

This is why we gripe over every little thing we think goes wrong. This world is full of gripers who are never satisfied or content with who they are or what they are given. We've all done it, because we lack faith that God is in control and plans the best for us. Everyone who gripes is self-centered, and that's why we have so many conflicting "free wills" that cause so much suffering between us. People want more power, more control, more wealth, more comfort, more laziness, more entertainment, more fun, more excitement, more etc.

Paul wrote: 2 Co 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Notice he says "momentary light affliction." This is the one who was beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, snake bitten, hated, threatened, and rejected by his own people. He says it can't even be compared to eternal glory. We need the eternal perspective to appreciate suffering.

And since God didn't have a "Plan B," God meant for us to experience suffering in this world to teach us faith in Him. Suffering causes the glory of God to shine the greatest, because it causes love to shine the greatest, and causes faith to shine the greatest. Therefore, this world full of suffering is the best possible world that could be created for us.
TD:)
 
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All4Christ

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I think the question should really be this instead:

Why do we (or you) allow suffering?

Jesus and the Disciples gave a lot of teachings that we must help our brothers and sisters who needs help or in need of rescuing with our resources and God-given abilities (not only in prayers). We must also stand up and act, put some muscles or money into it or even influence and power to helping our brothers and sisters in distress.

Instead of wasting our resources and time in worldly leisures and comfortable and expensive mortgages, etc, etc, that we should pool our resources, use our God-given abilities to make money and our time to help the brothers and sisters in need or suffering.

This is actually clearly taught in the Bible, with examples given and many verses about it (that are sadly rarely preached). A fruit of belief / faith and love of God.

It's not entirely God's responsibility to alleviate or even possibly eliminate suffering in this world. Part of the responsibility falls unto us. Jesus and the Disciples taught these very clearly. Even just praying about it is not enough, we actually have to try everything including using our skills, money, power, influence, etc...

Whatever you do unto the least (the weak, the poor, the oppressed) you do unto Him (Christ).

Would you just only pray for Him or would actually stand up, rescue Him, feed Him, give Him shelter?
Not all suffering can be remediated by us following God’s commands, though certainly we need to follow those. Some examples of this include aggressive cancer, debilitating depression diseases, etc. Like I said, we should follow God’s command listed above - and often we don’t pay enough attention to it. It doesn’t, however, take away all suffering.
 
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Unnamed Guy

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Bud God knew that Adam would fail. He knew that Jesus would do His work on the cross. So He planned for suffering. Correct?

Incorrect. You are assuming things. If God had known that Adam would fail, the whole story becomes pointless. If God had known that Jesus would do this or that, there would have been no reason to threaten him as in 2 Samuel 7:14.
 
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All4Christ

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Incorrect. You are assuming things. If God had known that Adam would fail, the whole story becomes pointless. If God had known that Jesus would do this or that, there would have been no reason to threaten him as in 2 Samuel 7:14.
Are you suggesting that God (God the Father doesn’t know what He (God the Son) is doing?
 
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tdidymas

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Incorrect. You are assuming things. If God had known that Adam would fail, the whole story becomes pointless. If God had known that Jesus would do this or that, there would have been no reason to threaten him as in 2 Samuel 7:14.
This passage is talking about Solomon, not Jesus.

You seem to not believe in God's omniscience. Are you an Open Theist?
TD:)
 
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The Righterzpen

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our suffering is deserved as a punishment for our sin; so who are we to question why we suffer?

The ominous thing about all this is, that the suffering we go through in this life is not payment for sin. That happens on the other side of eternity; and there - there is no presence of God to help us through it. If one wants to shake their fist at God because they want Him gone / "Leave me alone." Be careful what you wish for; because that's exactly what those who endure wrath get on the other side of eternity!
 
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The Righterzpen

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He doesn't allow it, he is responsible for it. He set up the world in such a way, that there would be suffering.

God did not act arbitrarily out of some desire to bring about suffering. Actions that God took that caused destruction (like Noah's flood or destroying Sodom and Gomorra) were necessitated upon wickedness having become exceedingly great and God's like "OK, enough is enough / you're done here!".

So therefor God's reaction to sin still does not make Him responsible for it!
 
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quintessentialramble

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The ominous thing about all this is, that the suffering we go through in this life is not payment for sin. That happens on the other side of eternity; and there - there is no presence of God to help us through it. If one wants to shake their fist at God because they want Him gone / "Leave me alone." Be careful what you wish for; because that's exactly what those who endure wrath get on the other side of eternity!

Oh I'm not saying that our punishment is "atonement" for our sin, but rather any suffering we go through would have to be deserved on the whole due to our nature of sinfulness. I'm only merely stating that while there may be an instance that seems like undeserved punishment, such as persecution for spreading the Gospel, it actually in a way is deserved for how much we sin against God. But, this is the good news, that though we deserve eternal punishment, Jesus took away that eternal punishment
 
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The Righterzpen

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said to husband couple hrs ago, wish there was somewhere to go to step out of this body and get a new one

not complaining, just don't feel having daily pain leads to any growth (for me, anyway)
maybe it does for others

I live with a lot of physical discomfort too. I'm quite seriously physically disabled. I have Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Migraines from Desert Storm; plus a lot of damage to my legs from an accident. Some days are really good. Some aren't. Most are "OK". I'm "disabled enough" that I'm retired; so I have more ability to sit down and do stuff like this. (Talk to people on the Internet / Bible studies etc.)

Pain doesn't "help me grow" in "learning to accept pain". But it does help me grow in learning to focus on other things. I've been through a lot and yet God is still good; so I'm "cool" with my life; despite what happens / has happened.

Suffering never goes away in this life. I have a 17 year old son who may die of liver failure after being on epilepsy meds for 13 years. That aint a happy thing. But God can take better care of him than i can; so if YA take him, I will accept that.

I know it's hard to "do life" when you don't feel well. Be encouraged by the fact that this is a temporary state!

 
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The Righterzpen

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Oh I'm not saying that our punishment is "atonement" for our sin, but rather any suffering we go through would have to be deserved on the whole due to our nature of sinfulness. I'm only merely stating that while there may be an instance that seems like undeserved punishment, such as persecution for spreading the Gospel, it actually in a way is deserved for how much we sin against God. But, this is the good news, that though we deserve eternal punishment, Jesus took away that eternal punishment

I did gather that you were not saying suffering is punishment for sin in this life; it's ominous to think though, that for those who will face His wrath, what we go through in this life isn't even a drop in the bucket! That's scary!
 
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All4Christ

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I live with a lot of physical discomfort too. I'm quite seriously physically disabled. I have Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Migraines from Desert Storm; plus a lot of damage to my legs from an accident. Some days are really good. Some aren't. Most are "OK". I'm "disabled enough" that I'm retired; so I have more ability to sit down and do stuff like this. (Talk to people on the Internet / Bible studies etc.)

Pain doesn't "help me grow" in "learning to accept pain". But it does help me grow in learning to focus on other things. I've been through a lot and yet God is still good; so I'm "cool" with my life; despite what happens / has happened.

Suffering never goes away in this life. I have a 17 year old son who may die of liver failure after being on epilepsy meds for 13 years. That aint a happy thing. But God can take better care of him than i can; so if YA take him, I will accept that.

I know it's hard to "do life" when you don't feel well. Be encouraged by the fact that this is a temporary state!

So sorry to hear that, especially about your son. I understand the frustration and fear with it. I had a strong possibility of that with Depakote - for years we couldn’t find a drug that worked well, let alone not having serious side effects. I was only on it for about 7 years though. Thankfully I was able to get on a different medicine that worked. Prayers!
 
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salt-n-light

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Bud God knew that Adam would fail. He knew that Jesus would do His work on the cross. So He planned for suffering. Correct?

God knew that it was possible for him to fall, just as much as God knew that it was possible to him to obey, man have free will to choose. God never just left Adam to figure that’s out either, he informed him what would happen if he chose wrongfully.We wouldn’t need a savior, if Adam didn’t create a situation for which we would need saving from.

What’s fixed is God’s will which is being able to fully dwell with His children, everything else is within those ramifications.
 
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timewerx

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Not all suffering can be remediated by us following God’s commands, though certainly we need to follow those. Some examples of this include aggressive cancer, debilitating depression diseases, etc. Like I said, we should follow God’s command listed above - and often we don’t pay enough attention to it. It doesn’t, however, take away all suffering.

Not exactly God's commands. Acting to help our brother and sisters in dire need of help is one of the fruits of faith and belief - John 14:12, 1 John 3:17-18.

We can actually make a huge difference to this world if even only half of the professing Christians actually manifested the fruits of belief and faith.

Sure, we can't yet, cure all kinds of diseases.....But think there are probably a billion people out there who don't even have access to modern medicine. Mostly due to poverty, poor country infrastructure. Many of these would die even though their illness is easily curable, they simply don't have access to modern medicine due to poverty.

Not to mention, giving safe refuge for our brothers and sisters fleeing from persecution in other parts of the world. I guess only few can do this, most have their hands tied up to expensive mortgages and leisures.
 
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All4Christ

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Not exactly God's commands. Acting to help our brother and sisters in dire need of help is one of the fruits of faith and belief - John 14:12, 1 John 3:17-18.

We can actually make a huge difference to this world if even only half of the professing Christians actually manifested the fruits of belief and faith.

Sure, we can't yet, cure all kinds of diseases.....But think there are probably a billion people out there who don't even have access to modern medicine. Mostly due to poverty, poor country infrastructure. Many of these would die even though their illness is easily curable, they simply don't have access to modern medicine due to poverty.

Not to mention, giving safe refuge for our brothers and sisters fleeing from persecution in other parts of the world. I guess only few can do this, most have their hands tied up to expensive mortgages and leisures.
I’m thinking of personal experiences with family dying from aggressive incurable cancer, experiences myself with conditions that can be alleviated but not healed without supernatural intervention, other issues where tons of doctors appts, diagnostics, surgeries just don’t take care of it. Sometimes the doctors just say “We don’t know why”. At some point, human intervention can’t fix things - and God does not guarantee that He will heal us physically on this side of our life here on Earth.

And Jesus did teach for us to do that, and the second greatest command is to love one another as we love ourselves...hence I consider it to be a command - and a fruit.
 
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