Posted on 11/08/2009 8:11:33 AM PST by OneVike
-- St Bernard
I know His desire is for us to trust him and rest in the knowledge that he has an eternal purpose for all things "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose." Romans 8:28
I truly believe he wants our trust and love to come from a spirit of gratefulness and never fear. Amen!
The Prophet Joseph Smith asked the Lord a similar question and Joseph received an answer from the Lord.
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
May I suggest that God does not “allow” or “permit”, nor “cause” suffering? Ever since the Fall, however you interpret it, Free Will and therefore Probability, rule this world. To expect God to intervene would incur the question: When does He intervene or not? On what basis? Therefore; the only sensible hypothesis is that “All is chance” (in this world). For those who accept the Bible an answer is found in the poetical Book of Ecclesiastes 9:11-12. You can pray for protection, but there is no guarantee. The true guarantee is that it will not forever be thus: Revelation 21:1-4.
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I know I wouldn't want to spend eternity with a group of folks who have no love for me. Why would God?
It is impossible to force someone to love you. It is a choice to love.
I like your answer, it is very well put.
You have freepmail by the way.
We’re HERE to grow spiritually. In the real world - the one we go to when we die - there is no evil.
[[We look at this world as if it is something great to hold onto because it is the only thing we know.]]
Yep- I think that’s it- this life is all we know, and I guess it’s natural to think ‘why does it have to be so difficult osmetiomes?”
[[I think of a child, and how they cannot fathom adulthood, so they want everything now.]]
again- spot on- I was acting pretty childish actually- just focussed on me
[[If that means we must suffer a lifetime debilitating disease until we dies unknown and unloved by this world, well then so be it.]]
That was one of hte big issues with me- knowing I’ll probably go out without making an impact, and I guess I just wondered why God woudl even create me to go through life obscure and unimportant-
[[When man realize that,]]
Well, I think I got a glimpse of it today- thanks to your post about how Job, even during his suffering, how he prayed for OTHERS insteasd of himself- made me realize how focussed on myself I’ve been for far too long now
The surest, easiest, and shortest way to heaven is by martyrdom for the Faith.
One has to be in a state of grace to receive the Holy Eucharist so if one is ‘afraid of penance’ (the sacrament of Confession), one cannot worthily receive the Body and Blood of Jesus.
The salvation of souls is a surprisingly mechanical process.
The ONLY way to heaven is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the Islamists believe in martyrdom, yet they trust in a false god and a false leader. You can see what they are willing to do for a “sure, easy and short” way to paradise.
You can be killed because you say you believe in Christ but only God sees the heart. Salvation is by grace through faith and not because we earn it or can in any way deserve it.
He tests those He loves. I just sometimes wish He didn’t love me so much.
My answer is, what would the world be like if only evil people suffered? Can you imagine? Everyone would always be nice to everyone else.
Unsustainable.
Wow, I it is a shame that you feel this way. Don't you realize that God loves ALL of us just the same? God's love for ALL humans is the same, regarless of the persons short comings or sins. We are all sinners and he loves all of us just the same.
Wow, I it is a shame that you feel this way. Don't you realize that God loves ALL of us just the same? God's love for ALL humans is the same, regarless of the persons short comings or sins. We are all sinners and he loves all of us just the same.
A few thoughts on that.
It isn't that it's unsustainable, but rather it would take away our freedom of choice. If we saw there was a understandable and visable link between our actions and the result, no one would ever do evil. The creater is hidden in this way from us. We do not see a tangible revelation of the creator's will so that the choice looks the same. It is a long discussion, but the subject of freedom of choice, divine will, and our own perceptions are at work here. (IMHO)
Why Does God Allow Christians to Suffer?And ALL othes are exempt?
Get real ... it's more about how you handle it (accept it, work though it, open the dialog with God etc b/c it too is part of life here on earth) ...
I'm not trying to be hurtful, but what is there to be afraid of? Penance is usually saying some prayers after confession, it's not like you're going to be flogged for your sins.
All sin is sin - there is only one payment for any sin. The "wages of sin is death" - not prayers, not receiving communion (which is meant to be done in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice), not good works, not anything but DEATH. Jesus paid the price for our sins by his death in our place. Salvation is God's gift of grace (undeserved mercy).
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