I have recently been asked a question by a friend, and am having troubles with it. I do know the answer, but its very difficult to put it all into the right words.
They were wondering how we can say that God is all-loving, merciful, and gracious, but can still let bad things happen to His people.
Hello Jannelle. This is one of those oft-asked profound questions to which there is no adequate well-informed answer. I think most of us have given this much thought at some point in our Christian walk, so various answers may well be correct.
Even as God has all Power to protect or shield His children from all harm, discomfort & disappointment in life, it seems He often chooses not to do so. Even with the ministry of Jesus to the sick & suffering, or those who died & He raised to life, there was certainly joy amongst them that their life had been restored but does that mean that they didn't have to face struggles, ill-health & calamity the next day? Or, even those in the Church so equipped with the Gift of healing, have certainly restored many to health by the Spirit's Power, yet there was never a complete removal of their other problems that would come to them later on.
So in my understanding, the root cause for our woes is simply because we live in a sin-ravaged corrupt world & living in bodies so affected. Indeed, our spirits might be renewed & refreshed by God's Spirit, & even healing can come to us during that experience & subsequent times in our lives, yet the fact remains, none of us has ever been freed from pain or calamity - Adam & Eve saw to it. And it would be nice if God would wave His Hand over us every time an impending trouble approaches us, but that doesn't happen.
Rather, for the one who has placed his trust in God through His Son, our sufferings, though just as painful as unbelievers might experience, can find a measure of relief, of joy & of perfecting that none else can receive. This is because we are His children - He cares - He gives Grace - He draws us closer to Him - He uses us for others. You can look at these few Scriptures to guide you: Romans 8:18-28; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; John 16:33; Romans 4:1-5; Philippians 4:11-13. In the midst of our suffering, we can always prove the Lord sufficient & gracious to us.
Your question is timely for me because I have been watching Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris pick Christianity apart word by word. I believe in God, but the way a neuroscientist lays down the argument is compelling and thought provoking. God gave us the ability to wonder, and the sense to question everything as best we can. It is surprising how much we do not know, and how much we will never know.
Wesly Masterson ,ive never heard such utter drivle as the theory of eviloution , even as a child i thought it was foolish ,the more they try to explain it the stupider and more desperate they sound .
They were wondering how we can say that God is all-loving, merciful, and gracious, but can still let bad things happen to His people.
Even as God has all Power to protect or shield His children from all harm, discomfort & disappointment in life, it seems He often chooses not to do so. Even with the ministry of Jesus to the sick & suffering, or those who died & He raised to life, there was certainly joy amongst them that their life had been restored but does that mean that they didn't have to face struggles, ill-health & calamity the next day? Or, even those in the Church so equipped with the Gift of healing, have certainly restored many to health by the Spirit's Power, yet there was never a complete removal of their other problems that would come to them later on.
So in my understanding, the root cause for our woes is simply because we live in a sin-ravaged corrupt world & living in bodies so affected. Indeed, our spirits might be renewed & refreshed by God's Spirit, & even healing can come to us during that experience & subsequent times in our lives, yet the fact remains, none of us has ever been freed from pain or calamity - Adam & Eve saw to it. And it would be nice if God would wave His Hand over us every time an impending trouble approaches us, but that doesn't happen.
Rather, for the one who has placed his trust in God through His Son, our sufferings, though just as painful as unbelievers might experience, can find a measure of relief, of joy & of perfecting that none else can receive. This is because we are His children - He cares - He gives Grace - He draws us closer to Him - He uses us for others. You can look at these few Scriptures to guide you: Romans 8:18-28; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; John 16:33; Romans 4:1-5; Philippians 4:11-13. In the midst of our suffering, we can always prove the Lord sufficient & gracious to us.
It was told to me one time that "God doesn't leave us but rather we leave God" we leave as in Galatians 5:15-21,
lusts of the flesh, but we also return to God as in Galatians 5:22-26 when we seek the fruits of the Spirit. I hope this helps.
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Your question is timely for me because I have been watching Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris pick Christianity apart word by word. I believe in God, but the way a neuroscientist lays down the argument is compelling and thought provoking. God gave us the ability to wonder, and the sense to question everything as best we can. It is surprising how much we do not know, and how much we will never know.
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