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What does it mean when bad things happen?

mike c

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A prudent course of action would be to say a prayer and then see a doctor or dentist. Your body is telling you something. Listen to it.
Unfortunately neither dentist nor doctor really has an answer as to what's going on. This is not the first time something like this has happened. I do my best to take good care of my body, but there are many things in our bodies and in this world that we cannot understand or control.I'm following up with the dentist, but there are no guarantees of an answer. Nor do i think theologians have a definite answer to why suffering exists It is tempting to become angry or cynical. For whatever reason,
suffering exists and probably always will as long as earth exists.I think of so many people in the world who have it much worse than I do and I have little power to change that., Nonetheless I need to try to focus on praying for them and on trying to do something good for others.
 
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1stcenturylady

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You have questions because you are not reading the Bible but rather are listening to fables about the bible.
God did not give one key to satan, neither will satan rule over anyone in hell. If you think so, please give us the reference.

She quoted the word of God that said God gave the world to Satan. That was because Adam sinned. Don't you know that Jesus took back Satan's domain when He sacrificed Himself for us?

BTW, it was you, and you only, who said Satan rules hell, so "where is your scripture," to quote you? I just never read that.
 
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joshua 1 9

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Why things always go bad once they go good?

Are there any bible passages to help me with these thoughts?
God can cause all things to work out for the best. We need to learn to trust in Him. They say what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Two steps forward one step back.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. proverbs 3:5

"Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10 11
 
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joshua 1 9

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there are many things in our bodies and in this world that we cannot understand or control.
That is why we trust God, He understand and He has everything under control.
 
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joshua 1 9

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Why would our punishment
If you break natural laws do you receive a "punishment"? If you break spiritual laws then you are going to reap the consequences for that. God's Laws in the Bible are just as valid as any of the Laws of Science.
 
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PropheticTimes

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Everyone has times of trials and sufferings. Look how much Christ suffered in life and death...should we have it better? The good comes in having God's love with us regardless of circumstances. When you find yourself getting down from life circumstances, think about all that is going right, and thank God for even the smallest things - a smile, a laugh, food, clothing, shelter, a family member. You'll find that once you cultivate a thankful heart, the stuff that goes wrong won't feel so heavy.
 
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crossnote

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She quoted the word of God that said God gave the world to Satan. That was because Adam sinned. Don't you know that Jesus took back Satan's domain when He sacrificed Himself for us?

BTW, it was you, and you only, who said Satan rules hell, so "where is your scripture," to quote you? I just never read that.
No you are misquoting me. I never came close to saying 'satan rules hell'.
Although sometimes on forums quirks happen where a post is ascribed to a person that never mentioned it.
Anyways, take my word. I do not believe satan rules hell. I responded to someone who held that view.
God has always been King of this world, satan is a temporary prince.
 
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razzelflabben

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Since reaching out to christianity, my life has gotten better. The problem is i cant help by link every good and bad thing that happens to me, to God.

For example things are finally going great with school, grades and relationships. However, on my way to school my exhaust broke off, dragged it in to student parking, and now im stressing getting to school. Luckily spring break starts saturday, so i have some time to figure it out. One problem is the money i know this fix will cost me. I tell myself im wrong, but i cant help but to feel like this has to mean something. Why things always go bad once they go good?

Are there any bible passages to help me with these thoughts?
It's a long and sometimes confusing question you are asking. On the one hand, Satan works in our life but on the other hand so does the world and God is not above allowing things, iow's God is sovereign. What we need to focus our attention on is not the suffering or even who is responsible for that suffering but rather on what God wants to do with that suffering. consider Gen. 50:20 and Romans 8:28. These are the great hope for the believer when things seem to be going "bad".

Short version and in order to deal with the entire subject of suffering we would have to look at many many version. Some suffering is at the hand of ourselves, we bring it on ourselves would be another way to say it.
Some suffering is just because that is how the world works. God sets things in motion and they happen.
Some suffering is at the hand of Satan or his demons. He wants to draw us away from God.
Some suffering is a "test" from God. There are several passages that talk about this or that being a test of God.
Some suffering is a correction or lesson from God. One great example is the Children of Israel when they ate quail and manna.

But no matter the source the great news and victory is that God is allowing it to come into your life to strength you and reveal Himself to you and the world around you rather than to destroy you or cause you grief.

Let me give you our example this week. My husband's glasses broke. We don't have the money to replace them and no insurance to cover the cost. Yet as it happens, last week we were able to get through the week with 100 dollars left over. The challenge is not to say, "hey, we got a hundred dollars we did great" but rather to say, "God gave us an extra hundred dollars because He knew we would need it before we did." I don't know if we can get him glasses for a hundred dollars since he has to have an eye exam too but I do know that God has and is providing and the truth is, He, the living God needs us to learn to trust Him with everything, no matter how big or small.

Hope that helps...may you see the God you serve in every situation not matter if you struggle through it or if you are soaring to great highths.
 
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1stcenturylady

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She quoted the word of God that said God gave the world to Satan. That was because Adam sinned. Don't you know that Jesus took back Satan's domain when He sacrificed Himself for us?

BTW, it was you, and you only, who said Satan rules hell, so "where is your scripture," to quote you? I just never read that.

You are absolutely right and I beg your pardon. It was littlebopeep who said that. Maybe she was referring to "ruler of the darkness of this world," but that just means Satan is the ruler of the demons, and every evil thing that man does on earth through him.
 
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toLiJC

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The whole post. From the first sentence to the last sentence.

"If there is evil in the world, then this means there is great enough spiritual wickedness therein, which is done especially in the form of ostensibly holy religion(s), because the spiritual unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness is the one that is the cause and (the) source of all other evils,"

What are you talking about? There is not one evil that is the source of other evils. Evil comes from the sinfulness (i.e. proclivity to sin) of the human heart and listening to the devil; and because sin is in the world as the result of the fall. You cite no authority for what you say, and your words are so imprecise as to render whatever you're trying to say unintelligible.

and if you say evil comes from such and such things, then why do you say there is no evil that is the source of other evils, aren't the thing(s) from which evil comes also some evil, or maybe there should/must be good that is the source of other evil (Matthew 7:17-19)?!, and why do you point out a proclivity of the human heart to sin as a main cause of the Fall, as if God made a mistake in the process of creating the human by having made their heart prone to sin (if He did such a thing, everyone would be able to accuse Him quite rightly of that)?!, and how is it possible that the Fall precede sin (as if the human fell from grace without there having been any reason, without having sinned, etc.)?!, so, without boasting about anything of myself, i am not who is imprecise and unaccountable here, as for the citation of authority, the Bible is full of testimonies to what you can read from my posts

Blessings
 
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outlawState

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why do you point out a proclivity of the human heart to sin as a main cause of the Fall,
I did not say that. I listed the fall alongside the proclivity to sin of the human heart as a source of evil.

Man learns to sin by imitation. Eve imitated the logic of the devil and sinned, being deceived, and Adam imitated Eve at her request and sinned, being not deceived. The result of the fall, was sin in the world, i.e. men sinning and teaching others to sin by their example. It is the practice of sin itself that causes the human heart to become wicked, such that it becomes deceitful and incapable of allowing the body to do good, or the mind which delights in good, to control the body.

The gospel is sown in the heart of a wicked man, and then the wicked one, often acting through wicked men, comes along and steals the gospel message.Mat 13:19.

Wickedness breeds ever more wickedness if left unchecked (Romans 1:29, the example of Sodom), but to say that there is one wickedness that is the source of all others? I don't think that is biblical unless cast in generic terms such as unbelief, pride, contentment with ignorance of God etc. This is the spiritual disease of mankind.
 
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JackRT

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Another very real consideration is that mankind evolved over millions of years in a very dangerous world where mere survival of self and clan was of paramount importance. Not only did our bodies evolve but our psyches did as well. The selfishness of "looking out for number one" is the source of all that we today call sin. We can overcome our inherent selfishness only with difficulty.
 
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razzelflabben

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Another very real consideration is that mankind evolved over millions of years in a very dangerous world where mere survival of self and clan was of paramount importance. Not only did our bodies evolve but our psyches did as well. The selfishness of "looking out for number one" is the source of all that we today call sin. We can overcome our inherent selfishness only with difficulty.
It's interesting that you talk about "selfishness" or pride being the source of suffering when the opposite of pride is Love that is biblical Love anyway. A Love that comes from the Living God.
 
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lben

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Since reaching out to christianity, my life has gotten better. The problem is i cant help by link every good and bad thing that happens to me, to God.

You haven't reached out to anything if you call yourself a deist. That's someone who agrees that something created the universe, but whatever that something was, is no longer involved in it.

A Christian is someone who believes that God not only exists but is actively involved in the lives of believers in Christ. It's someone who's repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. As a Christian, life will NOT get better and things will not go perfectly. I'm not sure where you get that notion from. Jesus said we would be hated and persecuted because he was hated and persecuted.

The closer we get to God the harder Satan fights us to turn our backs on God. It's a daily battle. Even though he knows that he can't pull us out of God's hands, he still gets a kick out of trying. Nothing pleases Satan more than watching a Christian curse God for some perceived slight or prayer not answered the way one wanted it to be.

You need to read the Bible to find out who God is and what he expects from us as believers. Thru the Bible Radio is a good place to start.
 
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toLiJC

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I did not say that. I listed the fall alongside the proclivity to sin of the human heart as a source of evil.

Man learns to sin by imitation. Eve imitated the logic of the devil and sinned, being deceived, and Adam imitated Eve at her request and sinned, being not deceived. The result of the fall, was sin in he world, i.e. men sinning and teaching others to sin by their example. It is the practice of sin itself that causes the human heart to become wicked, such that it becomes deceitful and incapable of allowing the body to do good, or the mind which delights in good, to control the body.

was there only an example/imitation?!, what was first, seduction or example/imitation?!, it is written in scripture that the "serpent" seduced eve into "eating" of the forbidden "tree", and only then they "ate" of it and "sewed fig leaves" together and made themselves "aprons", i.e. only after they were seduced by the devil into doing that, so, sin is not only an example and imitation, but also, and first of all, a seduction - it is actually one of the names of satan himself, albeit an impersonal one, yes, sin itself is satan himself, and the sins themselves are the devils/negative spirits themselves, which is why Jesus said the following to the scribes and pharisees that reasoned and said He (supposedly) spoke blasphemies when once He forgave the sins of one paralytic:

Luke 5:22-25 (NIV) "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the paralyzed man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, We have seen remarkable things today."

yes, forgiveness of sins is actually a removal of the negative spirits, which are also the primary cause and source of the symptoms and damages occurring in the process/as a result of the illness/diseases/disorders/disabilities/invalidities - Jesus and His true disciples thus healed many sick of all kinds of diseases/disorders/disabilities, i.e. just by forgiving their sins, and to forgive sins means to take the power of the negative spirits...

The gospel is sown in the heart of a wicked man, and then the wicked one, often acting through wicked men, comes along and steals the gospel message.Mat 13:19.

Wickedness breeds ever more wickedness if left unchecked (Romans 1:29, the example of Sodom), but to say that there is one wickedness that is the source of all others? I don't think that is biblical unless cast in generic terms such as unbelief, pride, contentment with ignorance of God etc. This is the spiritual disease of mankind.

if some robot is hacked at a most basal, system level so that it begins to do things that it should not do, what will the cause of its irregular behavior be?!, of course hacking, so the cause of all kinds of evil and unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness is the spiritual one, yes, (the) spiritual unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness is the cause and source of all other kinds of evil and unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness, as it is explained in Daniel 7:

Daniel 7:1-28 "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea(note: remember that the beast comes from the "sea" - Revelation 13:1), diverse one from another. The first was like a lion(i.e. it was dignified), and had eagle's wings(i.e. and had an impulse): I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it(i.e. i beheld until it started to realize its impulse - note: this is the physical activity and iniquity). And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear(i.e. it was affluent/consumptive), and it raised up itself on one side(i.e. and acquisitive/voracious), and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh(note: this is the economic(al) activity and iniquity). After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard(i.e. it was mental), which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads(i.e. which acted and thought with vigor); and dominion was given to it(note: this is the intellectual/mental activity and iniquity). After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast(i.e. the spiritual/religious iniquity), dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth(i.e. great spiritual mastery): it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it(i.e. it turned the things upside down and broke up them into smaller units in favor of its system, and seized the whole world): and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it(i.e. and it turned out that it has been the cause/root and the source/core of all other iniquities and evils since the very beginning of the reign of evil); and it had ten horns(i.e. it had at least ten chakras i.e. unclean/devilish spirits). I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn(i.e. the sixth chakra stood out among the other chakras), before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots(i.e. the first three chakras which primarily represent the sex(uality), and the other physical sensory activities, usually considered to be/marked for being the original sin in/by the system of (the) spiritual iniquity): and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man(or: the two remaining chakras - eleventh and twelfth, which are the highest ones appearing as a result of the deeper and more systematic occult/idolatrous process (of self-realization/self-knowledge)), and a mouth speaking great things(i.e. and a mind which prophesies satanic/unrighteous/guileful things). I beheld till the thrones were cast down(i.e. the reign of the "fourth beast" continued until the moment when the full number of the true Saints came in), and the Ancient of days did sit(i.e. and then the true God, the Heavenly Father, began to wake completely and permanently up from the state of incomplete wakefulness into which He had fallen since the seventh day), whose garment was white as snow(i.e. whose glory was perfectly good), and the hair of his head like the pure wool(i.e. and whose wisdom was full of perfect love for humans): his throne was like the fiery flame(i.e. His Reign and Spirit was completely righteous), and his wheels as burning fire(i.e. and Its four "winds" (were) all-saving). A fiery stream(i.e. a Good Word/Movement) issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words(i.e. of the false prophecies) which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts(i.e. as for the physical, the economic and the mental/intellectual activities), they had their dominion taken away(i.e. thus their satanic power had been removed, i.e. together with the removal of spiritual lawlessness/wickedness, the fourth "beast"): yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time(i.e. for a certain time)..... I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts(i.e. those great iniquities), which are four, are four kings(i.e. are also four natural activities), which shall arise out of the earth(i.e. the physical, the economic, the mental/intellectual and the spiritual/religious one, respectively). But the saints of the most High(i.e. the true Saints) shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast(i.e. about the spiritual/religious iniquity), which was diverse from all the others(i.e. which turned out to be the cause/root/source/core of all other iniquities and evils), exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron(i.e. whose word(s) was(were) like that(those) of God), and his nails of brass(i.e. and its power(s) of grace, but not of the true true God); which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet(i.e. with its activity); And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes(or: which leads to the highest two chakras), and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints(i.e. with the true Saints), and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came(i.e. began to wake completely and permanently up, including because of their faithfulness and prayer), and judgment was given to the saints of the most High(i.e. to the true Saints); and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces(i.e. and shall defile it and try to possess it by means of up to 33.3% of the Heavenly grace/bliss). And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(i.e. the chakras are devilish spirits) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them(i.e. among them, i.e. the main process of spiritual lawlessness/wickedness - e.g. the process of yoga); and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.",

in this(7th) chapter of Daniel, the four main (kinds of) iniquities are presented in reverse order i.e. in order of their noticeability/observability, because the physical iniquity is most noticeable/observable, the economic(al) iniquity is less noticeable/observable than the physical one, the intellectual/mental is less noticeable/observable than the economic(al), while the spiritual iniquity is least noticeable/observable though it is the main one that is the cause and the source of all others, including of all other evils

Blessings
 
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outlawState

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.....so the cause of all kinds of evil and unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness is the spiritual one, yes, (the) spiritual unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness is the cause and source of all other kinds of evil and unrighteousness/lawlessness/wickedness, as it is explained in Daniel 7:
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6;12.

You have correctly identified that what acts in organized human society as a source of sin is not only individuals, but world powers and authorities that are themselves not conformant to the gospel of Christ. Yet they being delusory to sinners and therefore a cause of sin is fundamentally no different from the garden of Eden concept of sin being spread by voluntary imitation of individual human wickedness. Whilst I freely concede that such world powers have a greatly enhanced capability to deceive the sinner, the root cause of the resulting sin lies still in the individual human, who refuses to love the truth.

2 Th3ess 2;11 "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"

The lie arises in the powers of wickedness in high places, but the reason that such powers have any power is because of individual sinners who listen to them and grant them authority over them.

Thus when we talk about the root cause of evil, the root cause remains in each individual human, notwithstanding the delusions of Satan external to every human, lying in authorities, principalities & powers. So if Paul advocates destroying the principalities & powers themselves, that is all well and good - albeit usually physically impossible - but the other meaning is that Paul was advocating dethroning those often physically inviolable principalities & powers over the individual human heart.
 
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razzelflabben

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The danger of the things being said in the last couple posts is that we will blame Satan and his demons for our sins. Satan and the demons tempt us, they invite us and make sin look appealing but the sin is our own not theirs.

As to Eph. 6 the powers and authorities talked about there are the demonic forces that tempt us...iow's our battle is against the tempters of this world, the accusers of the brethren, the liars, etc. that draw us away through enticements. It's an interesting study....
 
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outlawState

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As to Eph. 6 the powers and authorities talked about there are the demonic forces that tempt us...iow's our battle is against the tempters of this world, the accusers of the brethren, the liars, etc. that draw us away through enticements. It's an interesting study....
Vis-a-vis evangelism, Eph 6 is talking about dethronement.
 
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