Posted on 09/17/2014 7:06:26 PM PDT by impactplayer
Why do bad things happen to good people?
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. And 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!
Thank you for doing such a beautiful job of articulating what we believe. It broke my heart for the Anglicans that their Archbishop can’t make any sort of cogent statement about this subject. It is foundational.
God bless you.
Mrs. AV
Jesus isn't on the cross any more. HE was buried and rose again, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His own.
he wishes his strongest to join him,
It's only Satan who wants to see a powerless, impotent Jesus, still nailed securely to the cross and wanting to put us into bondage by placing us there as well.
Jesus didn't come to make us suffer. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
He came to set us free and whoever He sets free is free indeed.
to help purify the world.
Nobody is purifying the world until God creates the new heavens and the new earth where sin is banished forever.
Until then creation groans, longing to be released from the bondage that it's in.
he will not make your suffering unbearable; he promised us so in the Bible, but he skates very close to that line.
Oh really? Chapter and verse?
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and testimony, dear sister in Christ!
No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. -1 Corinthians 10:13
JOY = Jesus Others You
God does not make us suffer at all, much less make our suffering unbearable.
True that He does not let us be tempted above what we’re able to bear, but that’s different from Him inflicting suffering on us, allegedly to purify us or the world.
There’s not one Scripture that supports the notion that suffering purifies anything.
“Didn’t Jesus’s suffering help purify you?”
His death actually, which is substitutionary atonement and unique.
I serve the RISEN Lord.
I don't celebrate *baby Jesus*.
And at Easter the focus is on the resurrection, not the suffering. The suffering didn't save us. The dying and rising again did.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
Suffering doesn't cleanse us from sin. It doesn't please God. There is nowhere in Scripture where we are told to offer up anything to God, must less our suffering.
I have never heard the term "impotent Jesus." It sounds horribly disrespectful. Is that the intent? We have parishioners who touch and kiss Christ's wounds on the Cross every day [for comfort]. I couldn't get by very well without the Cross either. We have a crucifix in every room. You know all the saints suffered, in one way or another as well, actually desiring to do so for Our Lord.
Why do people want to suffer *for Jesus*? Do they think that pleases Him somehow? That they're more spiritual for it? What?
Nope. The shedding of His blood, His death and resurrection cleanse me from my sin.
Suffering doesn't because it can't. Nothing atones for sin but death.
Yup. That's true.
Look at Ted Kennedy. I don't know if he repented on his deathbed, but he was allowed a long time to suffer by Jesus, to help purify his soul. Suffering is Jesus's border collie.
Suffering can get our attention, but it does nothing to purify us. It can't because that's not it's job. If that's what it took, then Jesus didn't need to die. All we'd have to do is suffer ourselves and it'd be a done deal.
Thank you metmom. I covet prayers. There is no way that I can keep my home, but I do have my eye on a much smaller and affordable one that I strongly feel is for me. I just don’t know how that will happen - yet. But the Lord will provide. Of that I am certain.
Suffering happens. It’s part of this world. And people have been asking that question for ages and still not come up with a good answer for it.
Perhaps that’s why some have developed the mentality that it serves a purpose and that it somehow makes us worthy, or shows God how spiritual or pious we are if we *endure* it and *offer* it up to Him.
Sometimes we suffer because of the consequences of wrong doing in our lives. Other times people suffer for righteousness sake.
It happens in this world, but there’s NOTHING in Scripture that says it has any ability to cleanse us, purify us, that we should offer it up to God as a kind of sacrifice or offering.
Our debt for sin was paid for in full by the death of Christ. Suffering cannot add to it. I know people like to feel that somehow they can contribute to their salvation somehow, but if they can, then the death of Christ was not adequate to attain salvation for us.
About the only reason that I can see for suffering, is that it draws us or leads us, or pushes us to God. And that’s just an observation I’ve made from my own life. It’s the times of suffering that have pushed me into seeking Him.
I don’t know anyone who thinks, “Gee, life is pretty good. I have a good thing going. I can see that I need God.”
Often it’s only when we reach the end of ourselves that we turn to Him.
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