Posted on 09/20/2019 12:22:50 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
No one knows the mind of God, except for God himself. He is infinite; we are finite. We are not entirely clueless about his character, however, because God speaks to us through his Word. According to the Bible, one reason bad things happen is because the whole world is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). That’s why Jesus taught us to ask God to deliver us from the evil one when we pray (Matthew 6:13). Even in the Garden of Eden — in paradise, before Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit — Satan was already there, waiting to tempt them to disobey God (Genesis 3:1–6).
Another reason bad things happen is because people sin. The reason why God allows people to sin and be tempted to sin is not for us to know — at least for now (Deuteronomy 29:29). What we do know is that when bad things happen, we should not rage against God. To revolt against God is to fall prey to the devil. The devil is a liar (John 8:44) and wants us to believe that God is blameworthy. But the Bible says that God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). God is not the enemy; Satan is the enemy. Through his Spirit God empowers us to war against the enemy by following Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior — during good times and bad times.
(Excerpt) Read more at biblegateway.com ...
Because "the world is in the control of the Evil One". Really? God has no power and can't intervene?
I'm glad you've got it figured out.
But then, tell me - If you could intervene to prevent a baby from dying... or a dog from suffering for that matter... wouldn't you?
“Adam, by intentionally disobeying Gods only command”
Did God abandon us and create a better world somewhere else?
The NASB (New American Standard Bible) took the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts from as far back as they could find and had them translated word-for-word then rewrote into a sentence structure that’s understandable to English speakers while striving to be as verbatim as possible to the original texts.
The NIV was an attempt to make the Scripture as readbale and understandable as possible but it is lacking sometimes in veracity.
When I question what I am reading in either, I go to my Greek New Testament to look up the meaning of the Greek word and how it is used in context. There are also references for Old Testament passages as well.
I honestly don’t know where the King James version came from other than that it was originally produced soon after the printing press was invented so it is considered the most authentic English-language version. However, it uses many terms now considered archaic to our modern language which leads to misunderstandings regarding its meaning - not because KJV is wrong but because the meaning of English words have changed over time.
Certainly, but where does that sort of thinking stop? Seems that, taken to the extreme, that train of thought turns us all into little gods.
No evil can overcome God’s ability to literally undo it. Hitler destroyed nothing God did or created. Nothing. God let’s men do as they will because men are utterly powerless to do or damage anything, they only reveal their true selves to God.
Just be aware that the NLT is a revision of the paraphrased TLB “Living Bible” with dynamic, not equivalent translation.
Recommend you add a NKJV and a NASB to your arsenal of the Sword, too.
No offense intended. Just some info.
Psalm 51:5 5: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Think about it, we often get our perspective on God backwards. When do you grow the most in your faith? Is it during trials and tribulations or during the good times?
My Mom has an excellent scripture quote on the guest bathroom mirror at home -
“The grace of God will not lead you where the strength of God can not keep you.”
BFL
We are all born with original sin. The only one who didn’t was Jesus himself.
Please see the first reason: fallen world, ruled by Satan.
Nice for a sampler (I like it so much I might even make one), but not Scripture, AFIK. (I could be wrong.)
Romans 8:28 All things work for good to those who are fitting into God’s plan.
For me this verse means even though we often focus on the misery and pain and hardships, God sees the ideal path that will lead to the greater good for all his loved ones so I accept it all as a challenge to live stronger in Christ no matter what fortune or problems come my way.
Just keep on striving never thinking you’re arriving until you see our Jesus’ smiling face saying “Well done good and faithful servant!”
Why do bad things happen to good people?
3/29/2006
There is no real answer to this question, because it is a flawed question! The question assumes we are good. There really are no “good” people, so how in the world could any of us tell “bad” things from “good” things? The question we actually need to ask is: “Why would a good God let those trying to do His will suffer?” This question has real answers.
First, we need to review where we stand. We are fallen creatures, inclined to do wrong, and wrong thoughts and acts have bad consequences – sometimes for us – sometimes for others. And if God removed the bad consequences, we would never learn anything. Free will without consequences would just be a game, and God does not play games with our eternal souls. God is pretty firm on this – He did not make an exception even to relieve the suffering of His Son! The real wonder is that a world full of fallen creatures, making bad choices, doesn’t have more suffering in it than it does.
Secondly, who says suffering is bad? Not God. When a child is being punished, both he and his parents suffer: is that good or bad? And when he fails in school or in a play or in sports; works harder, then succeeds; we call that character building – but did the child suffer? Of course! A child’s frame of reference is today, ours is limited to this life – but God’s time frame is eternity. His training – His discipline – His focus – is eternal. Thus, we, like the child, are in a very poor position to weight the relative merits of temporal suffering.
And thirdly, what kind of a world would this really be if God’s people never suffered? Not one I would choose to live in. Just think: people would flock to be “God’s people” just to avoid suffering. They would all, of course, be very sincere! And if someone were suffering, it would be their own fault. Who would help? Who would care? All this sufferer has to do is join “God’s people”, and He will fix it! True love – real compassion – all empathy – would cease to exist. It is only as God’s people share in the lot of the world’s suffering that we can share His compassion and His empathy and His love with the world. It is a pity, but no other way will work.
But there is even a better reason we are sometimes tested in uncomfortable ways. God knows the strength of our faith, but we never will until it is used, or tested. This is the same principle as a runner or weight lifter working out before the competition – we will not be strong enough to rely on God when we really need Him if we have never had to trust upon Him along the way.
Finally, it really is through our weakness that God’s strength is revealed. For He will always provide the added measure when our reservoir is empty, and fills us with His grace and strength. Suffering, like death, holds great promise of God’s divine intervention into our lives – but never such that I would seek it. His future for us is far better than the life we have built here on earth. But for those enlisted to endure, there is a great and abiding promise that He will hold, nurture, and comfort us; and through it build us up and prepare us for eternal blessings.
So what are we left with? How do we respond when it is our turn to suffer? First, praise God that He cares and is in charge! That gets our mind and spirit started in the right direction. Then, give Him the problem and find others to support you in prayer. And be prepared to accept whatever He offers. Finally, share your hurts and blessing with others in the same boat. And who knows, you may be building your eternal character in God’s image, strengthening your faith muscles, and bringing a stranger to learn of His love.
Not bad. Not bad at all!
Thanks. Another helpful viewpoint - the sin and misery of this world helps break my old rotten love affair with sin and allow more of God’s ways in.
You’re the second person who recommended NKJV to me. I must admit, I do like the original KJV’s eloquence, even though the terminology was confusing at times (example: lying down with dogs = consorting with male prostitutes).
Thanks for the info! I mis-spoke, my OT Interlinear is Hebrew/English with NIV... I also have a NT Interlinear that is Greek/English which has both the NIV and NASB texts. I do like the NASB also and that was what my initial choice was between, We have older King James versions around, but they were so hard for me to read, I was stuck on the words instead of what the bible was telling me. I just picked the NIV for some reason after reading Ezekiel in Both versions.
After I saw that video and it mentioned the Geneva Bible, I went and found it online to look at it...
http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html
Really kicking myself, after looking it up on Amazon, I saw this bible at Goodwill on half price day and passed it up because I had never heard of it... The Patriot on the cover just seemed wrong at the time I saw it, but I could have got it for a couple of bucks, hindsight is 20/20
I am thinking that might be the direction I want to go or at least read that version next time through and see.
NKJV is great, my Brother. Last I saw, about $11.38 or so at WM for a large-print version (which I need these days).
Godspeed in your search!
John Polkinghorne
“The problem of evil and suffering is the deepest perplexity that faces religious belief. I do not want to suggest that there is some simple ‘one line’ answer to it. Nevertheless, science does offer theology some modest help here. Theologically we understand an evolving universe as a creation that is allowed by its Creator ‘to make itself’, to explore and realize its God-given potentiality in its own way. Such a creation seems a greater good than a ready-made world. It is a most fitting creation of the God of love, whose creation could never be just a divine puppet theatre. Yet such a creation has a cost. The same cellular processes that have driven the fruitful history of evolution through genetic mutation, must necessarily allow other cells to mutate and become malignant. The anguishing fact that there is cancer in creation is not gratuitous, something that a more compassionate or competent Creator could easily have remedied. It is the necessary cost of a creation allowed to make itself. I think this is mildly helpful in relations to the problem of evil and suffering.”
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