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Why Does God Allow Christians to Suffer?
The Relevant Christian Magazine ^ | 7/31/14 | Chuck Ness

Posted on 08/10/2014 9:31:05 AM PDT by OneVike

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To: Junk Silver

I wish He didn’t allow us to make mistakes. I’ve made a few at my job and my boss is getting upset with me.

I’m beginning to doubt my abilities. I ask God every day for His help at work. It’s never the same each day...some days are better than others.


21 posted on 08/10/2014 10:14:11 AM PDT by hoagy62 ("Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered..."-Thomas Paine. 1776)
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To: OneVike

God is currently being deported from the United States..
At least Designer God’s are...

The real one.. must be laughing..
Barak Obama is indeed PUNISHMENT to the United States.. for it..
“God” need not punish anyone.. we do it ourselves..

The NEW God...... GIVERNMENT... fickle, stupid and a bully..


22 posted on 08/10/2014 10:15:25 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: OneVike

A couple of good books — one out of print.

“When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Rabbi Kushner

“Without Thorns It’s Not a Rose” by Father Jack Scott — you might find this is a used book store. Helped me tremendously.


23 posted on 08/10/2014 10:17:26 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Kartographer

Thanks, I have never watched it. What is the gist of the show?


24 posted on 08/10/2014 10:17:49 AM PDT by OneVike (I'm just a Christian waiting for a ride home)
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To: hoagy62

Maybe He is allowing those mistakes so that you will learn to eventually better handle mistakes by others.


25 posted on 08/10/2014 10:19:12 AM PDT by OneVike (I'm just a Christian waiting for a ride home)
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To: Salvation

Good books.

I read the first one. I’ll keep an eye out for the other.


26 posted on 08/10/2014 10:20:16 AM PDT by OneVike (I'm just a Christian waiting for a ride home)
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To: umgud
Apparently God only intervenes for some, not all.

He already intervened for all a couple thousand years ago.

27 posted on 08/10/2014 10:20:24 AM PDT by xone
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To: hoagy62

I wish He didn’t allow us to make mistakes....Being very, very serious, How do you expect to learn? The only job I EVER had that I didn’t want to make mistakes in was in VN as an EOD specialist. After that, OK, so I F’d up. I learned. Either you take yourself too seriously, or you take the job too seriously. A mistake is not incompetence nor is it failure. It is a learning experience. Sort of like high school.


28 posted on 08/10/2014 10:22:52 AM PDT by Safetgiver ( Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
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To: OneVike

We just had this lesson in Sunday School this morning.

“Think it not strange the firry trial that has come to test your faith…” i.e., to see what kind of faith you have - is it the kind of faith that “saves”, that endures to the end?

This isn’t a comprehensive lesson, but here are a few possibilities:

If you are suffering as an evil doer then suffering = God’s “reproof”

Suffering unjustly due to the sin in the world and the curse = God’s efforts to “improve” you, character development (no spoiled brats in heaven). Everything can’t always go your way and you become dependent on the Lord to fight your battles and to show grace and truth to others in your pain.

Suffering for godliness, i.e., being a Christian = God’s Approval as they say in AWANA - Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed and more importantly, God is not ashamed to call them his own!


29 posted on 08/10/2014 10:29:50 AM PDT by Lake Living
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To: OneVike

God does have creations that are without suffering. They are called angles. They have seen the glory and power of God directly. In his wisdom, God granted choice and the choice is very simple. Either follow God’s way, or be separated from God.

Some of the angles became jealous of God’s power and decided to not follow God and do things their own way. Thus they were cast out of heaven and separated. Since God is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, these angles (now devils) were separated from all that is good. In time, their spirit of hate, anger, discord, selfishness, etc. came to be the only expressions that they knew.

God brought a different creature into the world (Man) who while in the garden of Eden was without suffering and sin. But man was tempted by the devil and chose to bring sin into the world. It is NOT God’s fault that we suffer, it is MAN’s fault. This choice separated man from God and we were cast out of Eden.

But God loves us and does not want to be separated from us, so he first create the law so that man could learn right from wrong. But man still failed to choose righteousness so God provided an atonement for our sins through his son Jesus who was without sin, took on the sins of everyone and suffered the just punishment for sin. A perfect God can not allow sin to go unpunished. If that was allowed, then there would be no justice in the world.

So the really important question should not be “Why does God allow Christians to suffer” because MAN chose the path of suffering. The really important question is “Do I choose life or death; blessings or curses”.

Deut 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live


30 posted on 08/10/2014 10:37:54 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: OneVike
Why Does God Allow Christians to Suffer?
On Suffering as A Remedy for Something Worse. A Meditation on a Teaching from St. Augustine
What we can learn about suffering in the story of Joseph, the Patriarch
Where is God At Times Like These? A meditation in the wake of a violent atrocity [Prayer Ping]

Catholics, Get Ready to Suffer
Mood changes as pope, young people reflect on suffering in Way of CrossM
Following The Truth: Appreciating The Gift Of Suffering (Catholic or Open)
Cardinal Burke: suffering does not rid life of purpose
In historic TV Q&A, Pope Benedict speaks about suffering, comatose persons, persecution (Catholic)
Pope Addresses Suffering in Historic Television Appearance
(Why Am I Catholic?) For Peace While Suffering (A Few Words for Wednesday)
Praying in Sickness and Old Age
The Church as a Hospital
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] The Apostolate of Suffering Redux

Redemptive Suffering
Through church, Jesus ministers to all who are sick in the world
'Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer'
Pope Benedict asks sick to offer up suffering for priests (Catholic Caucus)
Why Must I Suffer?
On the Advantages of Tribulations by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Why Be Catholic? 3: Suffering [Ecumenical]
"Love Really Can Make Suffering Bearable": Woman with Spina Bifida
Experts at Euthanasia Symposium Stress Unity, Strategy, and the Triumph of Love over Suffering
Holy Father prays for peace and unity, encourages the suffering to trust in God

Joy-Filled Suffering, Laetare Sunday
Children 'Suffering >From Lack Of Two-Parent Family', Study Finds
Pope Says Euthanasia 'False Solution' to Suffering, Alludes to Comatose Woman's Fate
Excerpts from THE FRUITS OF HIS LOVE - The Value Of Suffering - Mother M. Angelica
Why Not You? (on suffering)
Vicar takes down crucifixion sculpture 'because it's a scary depiction of suffering'
The Value of Suffering in the Life of Christian Perfection
IN BRUSH WITH DEATH, PRIEST SHOWN HELL, PURGATORY, DEGREES OF SUFFERING
Prayers to Saint Agatha [For Those Suffering from Breast Cancer]
REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING(Catholic Caucus or by Invitation Only)

31 posted on 08/10/2014 10:38:08 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Thanks for adding this to your list.

:)


32 posted on 08/10/2014 10:41:50 AM PDT by OneVike (I'm just a Christian waiting for a ride home)
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To: xone

BAM!


33 posted on 08/10/2014 10:46:04 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: OneVike

Really a stupid question. Peter and Paul suffered immeasurably and both were executed, to say nothing of early Christians being fed to the hungry lions. “Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me.” That’s the short and only answer.


34 posted on 08/10/2014 10:50:06 AM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Steelfish

Interesting. Would that be the answer you give a young child who is suffering from cancer?

Just a short to the point answer that basically says, “Get over it and quit whining”, is that really how you expect to answer people who truly need an answer?

I agree the answer can be short and to the point, but Christians need answers that they can take to heart and maybe one day help others who may one day have the same question.

I can see that you have never been asked to teach a Bible study class, or even a Sunday school class to children.


35 posted on 08/10/2014 11:00:41 AM PDT by OneVike (I'm just a Christian waiting for a ride home)
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To: x1stcav

Attended Mass at a very prominent and rich Houston parish.

They prayed for the Pope (standard) and for many other things in daily live (commendable).

But nothing was mentioned about the terrifying plight that our Christian brothers and sisters are presently subjected to.

Truly shameful.


36 posted on 08/10/2014 11:02:34 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: bonfire

Just kicking it up a notch this Sunday.


37 posted on 08/10/2014 11:08:48 AM PDT by xone
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To: 353FMG

Can’t get over it. I am still vey annoyed.

Is the Church trying to be politically correct for fear that it may offeeeeeend muzzie Americans and for fear that it may take sides, politically?


38 posted on 08/10/2014 11:11:09 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: 353FMG

Was there any anoucement about the Catholic bishops calling for next Sunday to be a day of prayer for the Christians suffering in Iraq?


39 posted on 08/10/2014 11:14:57 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: 353FMG

At my parish there will be 30 minutes before the masses the praying of the rosary.


40 posted on 08/10/2014 11:16:15 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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