Why does a good God promote suffering?

[thebagman]

1. For fun?

2. Because he is not a good God?

3. To teach us a lesson.

4. Because he wants more believers?

5. Because of some plan we will never be able to understand?

6. To teach us a lesson.

7. Maybe Satan and God were somehow switched and all of Christianity is a big joke?

8. God is a businessman.

9. God wants attention.

10. He has nothing better to do.

11. ?

[blithe spirit]

God doesn't promote suffering but he does allow it. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite massive webworking God has going in order to achieve his perfect plan for us. There are at least 100 reasons listed in the Bible. I'll mention a handful off the top of my head since that's all I have time for at the moment:

1. Some sufferings are natural consequences brought on by choices we make ourselves like smoking leading to cancer. This teaches us obedience.

2. God allows sufferings that aren't of our own doing like natural disasters to teach us patience as well as all those things listed here below:

3. To teach us self-control

4. To teach us kindness and love given and received

5. To show us God's faithfulness and God's love when miracles happen.

6. To show us that God is listening when our prayers are answered...but remember that the answer is sometimes "wait" or sometimes "no" if it's not the best for us.

7. Since life is all about giving and receiving love and caring for one another, then God allows us to suffer so that when we are face to face with someone who is experiencing the same type of suffering then we'll be able to empathize and we'll know what to say and how to help and how to understand.

8. To draw families into a closer relationship with one another.

9. To draw communities together as volunteers help others in many ways as teamwork.

10. To draw us into a closer relationship with God

11. To strengthen us so we'll develop courage and perserverance

12. To be an inspiration and an example to others

13. To prepare us for his kingdom just as a diamond in the rough is tumbled and polished until it sparkles and shines and is perfect.

14. To make it possible for us to experience blessings.

15. To soften our hearts and humble us enough to be able to open up to hearing and receiving all the God has for us.

[G L Wilson]

God is a S & M freak. He's drawn to suffering, he gets off on it.

[togre]

I consider our present suffering not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18


The following is the answer Scripture gives.

Fact: God created a world that was perfect--that is, without suffering and without any flaw.

Fact: Humans, when given freedom to remain perfect or to turn from God, turned from God.

Fact: This turning (Fall) changed each person and changed creation (the world). All now is marred. All now suffers and causes suffering.

Fact: All people who sin deserve eternal punishment in hell

Fact: Any suffering endured on earth, be it ever so great, is less than the suffering of hell.

Fact: God desires that people do not suffer hell. He went so far as to provide his Son as a Substitute with Jesus Christ willingly living and dieing to pay for our sins.

Fact: Because of this many, many people will rescued from hell and will dwell with God in heaven.

Fact: The joy of dwelling in heaven is greater than the suffering of living on earth.

Fact: In his desire that more people should trust his solution and be saved, God permits this world to continue, not because of the suffering that happens, but in spite of it.


Blithe Spirit makes some good points. God is able to make use of wickedness so that it serves good purpose. At the same time, suffering or even God himself cannot be comprehended apart from Jesus and his death on the cross.

[MarkBastable]

Interesting use of the word 'fact'.

[togre]

Interesting use of the word 'fact'.

Fair enough. I did preface it by saying this is the answer the Bible gives. The Bible is unapologetic in claiming to speak factually about truth and historic events.

[MarkBastable]

True.

On the subject of Romans 8:18, I'd say that Paul was a really talented sales guy in a start-up endeavour, but for that very reason it's worth looking askance at every thing he said.

[Panglossian]

11. Because He is dreaming. The universe is a vast dream in the mind of God. When He awakens - lights out Berty!*



*Disclaimer: this opinion is not necessarily true, it just pleases me at the moment.

[togre]

True.

On the subject of Romans 8:18, I'd say that Paul was a really talented sales guy in a start-up endeavour, but for that very reason it's worth looking askance at every thing he said.

Painting Paul as a 'sales guy' conflicts with many accounts of Scripture. He had been a rising star in the Pharisaic school of Judaism until he converted to Christianity (which he had previously opposed and persecuted). He refused to take monetary compensation while carrying out his missionary work, instead supported himself as a tent maker. He suffered all sorts of persecutions, arrests, imprisonments and beatings as he promoted Jesus as Savior. He was eventually executed for this.

My point? Rational people can disagree about whether Paul was/is right or not (I am strongly convinced he spoke the truth by the influence of God). But there exists no evidence that supports the position you appear to be taking--that Paul peddled something he didn't believe and therefore intentionally hyped it up shamelessly. Indeed, there is in fact evidence to the contrary implying that leaving aside the veracity of his claims, that Paul himself was convinced of them.

[MarkBastable]

My point? Rational people can disagree about whether Paul was/is right or not (I am strongly convinced he spoke the truth by the influence of God). But there exists no evidence that supports the position you appear to be taking--that Paul peddled something he didn't believe and therefore intentionally hyped it up shamelessly. Indeed, there is in fact evidence to the contrary implying that leaving aside the veracity of his claims, that Paul himself was convinced of them.

I didn't for an instant suggest he didn't believe it. On the contrary, I'm completely sure he did. Not all sales people are liars. But, equally, not everything they sell is worth buying.

[togre]

My apologies for assuming an inference you did not intend to make.

[V.Jayalakshmi]

Why assume God promoted sufferings?Instead it is we human beings, who promote suffering .

[MarkBastable]

Why assume God promoted sufferings?Instead it is we human beings, who promote suffering .

Yep, I don't know about you guys, but I know I go around promoting leukaemia and spina bifida all over the place, and I organise earthquakes whenever the opportunity happens by.

[Ecurb]

"As flies to wanton boys are we to the Gods." -- Gloucester; King Lear

[blithe spirit]

Why assume God promoted sufferings?Instead it is we human beings, who promote suffering.

Yep, I don't know about you guys, but I know I go around promoting leukaemia and spina bifida all over the place, and I organise earthquakes whenever the opportunity happens by.

Sometimes it's humans promoting the suffering such as choosing to smoke=cancer but the bottom line is that satan does the tempting and humans disobey God over and over even though we suffer the natural consequences of our actions, choosing satan over God. God says doing anything to excess is a sin.

Leukemia and Spina Bifida are not a creation of God's but God sometimes allows it for reasons listed above in posts #2 and #4 and/or millions of other possible reasons. You may ask, "Why does God allow a child to die so young?" God does not look at death as a bad thing for children because they are all headed for God's perfect Kingdom for eternity...forever in peace and harmony. And they won't miss their parents or siblings because there is no time there...it's as if we all step over that line at the same time. Death is only a bad thing for adults who have chosen to reject God...because hell for eternity is no fun.