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How can there be a God when life isn't fair?
- Thread starter edward237
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Dear edward237. God made us all in God`s image, and God Loves us. Some of us are more beautiful than others, and some are richer than others, but that is only on the outside. A beautiful person has many temptations, that may be nice to start with, but God`s enemy the Evil One, sets many, many traps and pitfalls. Let`s look at the rich person, here again, there are many, many pitfalls, richness is a great trap of God`s enemy. There are many pleasant and satisfying occasions, but the dangers of too much money are numerous. We may be sure, our Heavenly Father sees all and knows all, we were all given the same opportunities, and there are exceptions, but only in our eyes.
Jesus gave us good advice, when He told us: " Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. Also: Love our neighbour, (all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends) love them as we love ourselves.
The Bible tells us also: " Repent and be Born Again," give up our selfish and unloving ways of life, and treat all as we would love to be treated. God sees all our sincere love and compassion, and God will Bless us. Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY. Our lives on this Earth are only short, when compared to Life with God, and God is Loving and Fair to all.
I say this with love, Edward. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.
Jesus gave us good advice, when He told us: " Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. Also: Love our neighbour, (all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends) love them as we love ourselves.
The Bible tells us also: " Repent and be Born Again," give up our selfish and unloving ways of life, and treat all as we would love to be treated. God sees all our sincere love and compassion, and God will Bless us. Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY. Our lives on this Earth are only short, when compared to Life with God, and God is Loving and Fair to all.
I say this with love, Edward. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.
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Angelquill
Bard of Angels
One day, Jesus and His disciples were at the temple. People were bringing their gifts to the altar.
In came a group of men, whom, by your standards, would be "blessed". They were the lucky ones...wealthy, good looking, successful...they had it all. And they were here to give a good portion to the temple.
Shortly after, came another person. Again, using your standards, this woman was not so blessed. She may have been a pretty young wife once, but now, she was a widow...old, lonely, and poor, with no one to look after her. She came up to the altar, and put in her offering...two little pennies.
Jesus, watching his disciples, saw that they were impressed with the wealthy men and their great offering...and not so impressed with the poor widow and her two pennies.
As you probably would have been.
I think you know the rest of the story. It was the widow who was blessed. She had given the Lord all she had, while the wealthy men had only made a show for the people to see.
God doesn't see the way that we see. Remember, He sees us as we really are...on the inside.
In came a group of men, whom, by your standards, would be "blessed". They were the lucky ones...wealthy, good looking, successful...they had it all. And they were here to give a good portion to the temple.
Shortly after, came another person. Again, using your standards, this woman was not so blessed. She may have been a pretty young wife once, but now, she was a widow...old, lonely, and poor, with no one to look after her. She came up to the altar, and put in her offering...two little pennies.
Jesus, watching his disciples, saw that they were impressed with the wealthy men and their great offering...and not so impressed with the poor widow and her two pennies.
As you probably would have been.
I think you know the rest of the story. It was the widow who was blessed. She had given the Lord all she had, while the wealthy men had only made a show for the people to see.
God doesn't see the way that we see. Remember, He sees us as we really are...on the inside.
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It didn't seem very fair when my unborn son, was diagnosed with Trisomy 13 (Pataus Syndrome) incidence roughly 1:10,000 and we were informed that his condition was incompatible with life and that we could absolutely choose how we would like our son to die, but we could not choose for him to live.
Kinda like winning the $@!£ lottery, definitely not fair, definitely not a blessing in disguise (although of course my precious son is, despite his death), definitely not a worthwhile life lesson, or a result of poor choices.
Just pure, unadulterated and concentrated $@!£
Life really isn't fair, death even less so.
Is God still good? - absolutely, as far as I'm concerned yes, even in the darkest most senseless circumstances.
Do I always feel this is the case? No and rightly so.
Kinda like winning the $@!£ lottery, definitely not fair, definitely not a blessing in disguise (although of course my precious son is, despite his death), definitely not a worthwhile life lesson, or a result of poor choices.
Just pure, unadulterated and concentrated $@!£
Life really isn't fair, death even less so.
Is God still good? - absolutely, as far as I'm concerned yes, even in the darkest most senseless circumstances.
Do I always feel this is the case? No and rightly so.
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Interestingly and importantly, scripture itself poses that question and acknowledges that point.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
....
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. -- Psalm 73
Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! -- Luke 13
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -- Matthew 5
As a Christian, I'll give you an answer from a Christian view. Jesus Himself points out the randomness of events in this world, explicitly asserting that they have nothing to do with God meting out justice in this place and time.
This is a fallen world. We can discuss in some other thread theories of why God allowed it to fall--but the state of the world is "fallen." That's why events occur with no relationship to any sense of "justice."
If good things happened to "good" people and bad things happened to "bad" people, it would not be a fallen world, it would be a just world. But it is a fallen world, and one of the ramifications of "fallen" is injustice.
Right now, we're all riding the roulette table of a fallen world; God is not meting out justice at this point in time.
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God is the epitome of fairness and justice, so it becomes necessary to explain Gods justice and fairness in this world as you point out. The Bible explains it but not in just a short verse and gives lots of excellent examples.
Please take the time to look at an example that fits what you have seen:
Luke 16: 19 There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz′arus, full of sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich mans table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abrahams bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz′arus in his bosom. 24 And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz′arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz′arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. 27 And he said, Then I beg you, father, to send him to my fathers house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 But Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 31 He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.
Lazarus was about as bad off as you can get and the rich man is his perfect opposite.
So why did God not Love Lazarus enough to give him a fine home, good health, and good looks while here on earth?
If Lazarus is a Lover of God it would be his wish to serve God in this life as much as he could and that would be part of his pray, so God will allow Lazarus to do just that.
God also Loves the rich man like a child, but God has also provided the rich man with free will so God will allow the rich man to make the choices he needs to fulfill the rich mans earthly objective (becoming like God himself in that he obtains Godly type Love).
God will thus do all He can to help the rich man without forcing the rich man (since forcing is not loving and the Love God wants the rich man to have cannot be forced on him and must be the rich mans choice.
The best opportunity for the rich man to personally experience this Love is to stop and show empathy for the person he trips over every day that is in drastic need of charity (Love).
God at great sacrifice (the hardship God is allowing Lazarus to go through) is doing all He can to help the Rich man, so when the rich man refuses Gods help every day year after year, God will be upset with the rich man.
I am sure the Lazarus of this world are saddened by the results of their efforts while here on earth, but they will be rewarded in heaven.
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Ellwood3
Active Member
Hello edward237,
Jesus knows all about the unfairness of life.
Isaiah 53
2 My servant grew up in the lords presence like a tender green shoot,
like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
The whole of Isaiah 53 : https://www.bible.com/bible/116/isa.53.nlt
New Living Translation: the first chapter of the book of John:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth
All of the Gospel of John chapter 1: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/jhn.1.kjv (you can change it into another version if you like)
For the YouVersion Bible app: https://www.bible.com/en/app
There are many people I could tell you about, and many resources I could give you. Here is one. Phil Vischer grew up wanting to tell true stories about God as his lifes work. He created VeggieTales, a big hit among both children and grown-ups, for its humor. Then Vischer lost it all.
He had to declare bankruptcy. Mainly because of a lawsuita lawsuit that was later overturnedbut not before Vischer needed to sell off his work of over ten years. God might have saved him from losing his business, and his dream, but God didnt.
But when Phil Vischers dream died, God had a better plan. The author of Me, Myself, and Bob, Vischer began writing and performing with a new cast of characterspuppetsand went on to create his Whats in the Bible? series, that inventively uses humor, animation, and puppetry to teach kids about the Bible. He still does the voices of many of VeggieTales characters, working for the company that bought the business after circumstances required him to sell. And some of the money from that now helps to fund new creative endeavors.
Vischer does a podcast with two other follower of Christ. In the one below, he shows a clip from a show where a wealthy and famous comedian spoke about the emptiness, the loneliness that may be a reason people like to be on their cell phones so much.
Phil Vischer Podcast #71
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSz5U9MiKEU
There was a boy born into a pastors family, who, without any understandable medical reason, was born without arms or legs. Nick Vujicic wondered if God loves me, why didnt he give me arms and legs? How could I ever make a living and who would want to marry me? And even if I had a wife, I would never be able to hold her hand. Nick didnt want to live at one point.
And now? What has God done using his no arms and no legs, and how does he cope?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKTg_INHgpc
Life is not fair. That is the truth. Spending your youth becoming aware of that can benefit you in the end. It can help you hold tight to truth, to hold fast to faith. It can help you to continue ahead, even in the tired and painful times, and while both seeing and being a Light in this dark world.
Cherish Christianitys hope: we were created for more than this. And when the day comes when there is a new heaven and earth, and there is no more unfairness, and perfect justice will have been served, then this sometimes challenging, or even miserable time spent on earth, will have been for a purpose, part of a far greater plan, and we will see the many ways God brought triumph out of despair.
Life is not fair, but God is good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl06RN5zRxk
Cherish Christianitys hope: we were created for more than this. And when the day comes when there is a new heaven and earth, and there is no more unfairness, and perfect justice will have been served, then this sometimes challenging, or even miserable time spent on earth, will have been for a purpose, part of a far greater plan, and we will see the many ways God brought triumph out of despair.
Life is not fair, but God is good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl06RN5zRxk
When musicians Matt and Beth Redman suffered a loss, they wrote a song called Blessed Be Your Name. It once won worship song of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8
Matt Redman also wrote this about the song:
http://gospellightworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/blessed-be-your-name.pdf
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TheyCallMeDavid
Well-Known Member
It is like asking : 'How can trees be used to build homes when they also fall on people and kill them in a storm ?' The primary reason why life isn't always fair and why bad things occur is because God initially made a perfect Creation where everything was in total harmony including daily life routines, but mans willful sin entered the creation equation and threw it all into chaos, corruption, and imperfection. As a result, we have today many examples of a physical world gone array as well as many examples of Human Beings choosing to do heinous actions toward one another. Because of Gods love, he created us with freewill choice and trusted that we would do good with that and not suppress what is good and moral so we could do as we wished and so become our own authority . Sadly , Mankind failed the love and grace and purpose of God . Every one of us have gone their own way by suppressing God and his Moral Law that he placed in all of us to obey . When we do that, we reap consequences because it removes Gods hand of protection and safety on us. If we surrender our life to Christ and make him King and Authority, then we are essentially restored back to living for God, wanting his perfect standards in our life, and at the same time sever the self centeredness that once pervaded us which led to rebellion, immorality, and putting self on the throne instead of Gods rightful place. Anyone who has chosen to make Jesus their King has never regretted doing so because there is such a stark difference compared to the cultures standards of self absorption , and nothing could be better than knowing full well that Gods promises will come to fruition , especially eternal life one day when all unfairness, suffering, hardship, insecurity, etc...will be gone forever. The best part is that its totally free as a gift from God and cant be earned. It is simply accepted by trusting Gods plan of salvation for his Son paying the aweful price for your sins and you receiving that finished work . Then, you allow Gods power to work in your life as exhibited by turning from all known lifestyle sin and becoming a RE-created instrument of God for his using. Your life will never be the same , trust me on that one. Have you made Jesus your King yet ? Regards.
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oi_antz
Opposed to Untruth.
Hi Edward, you can see that people try to rationalize this in all manner of ways that achieves a necessary comfort.
Your key problem has not been addressed though, which is how is the concept of God compatible with the unfairness of this world? You seem to be saying that you expect God to enforce fairness. If that is correct, would you mind explaining how you think He might better do that?
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Not a test. Training. Being made ready to assume a future role.
Do you not know that we will judge angels? -- 1 Corinthians 6
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TheyCallMeDavid
Well-Known Member
Life CAN be unfair it seems at times. It is also sometimes amazing that more unpleasantness doesn't occur to us given the opportunities for it to be that way. What God does is he invites you to invite him to help you walk thru it together and trials in life will make you stronger and help others whom you may come in contact with later . Every person on earth goes thru trials so don't feel alone, and, be careful bvecause Satan will work hard at trying to get you down and stay down when they come along. The key is to keep close to God and to draw on his available strength and grace.
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orangeness365
Well-Known Member
I became an atheist for a year over this very thought that life is not fair so there can't be a God. I think you have to consider the beatitudes, which explain that those that suffer in this life are actually blessed.
Matthew 5:1-12English Standard Version (ESV)
The Sermon on the Mount
5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I also think that life is not fair, so that we have work to do for God, like creating heaven on earth, spreading the gospel, feeding the orphans, getting justice for widows, etc..
Isaiah 1:16-18
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widows cause.
18Come now, let us reasonc together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
That aside, all will be made fair at Judgment Day.
Acts 17:31
English Standard Version
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
Matthew 5:1-12English Standard Version (ESV)
The Sermon on the Mount
5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I also think that life is not fair, so that we have work to do for God, like creating heaven on earth, spreading the gospel, feeding the orphans, getting justice for widows, etc..
Isaiah 1:16-18
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widows cause.
18Come now, let us reasonc together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
That aside, all will be made fair at Judgment Day.
Acts 17:31
English Standard Version
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
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TheyCallMeDavid
Well-Known Member
Gods promise is that in eternity, life WILL BE completely fair / full of joy / no more physical or emotional hurts / no more disappointments . So, that is what he wants us to hang onto during our afflictions in this life. Remember, this life is just temporary....as we are just passing thru . The REAL life is yet to come and its forever.
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