God used Assyria and Babylonto judge his people for their idolatry and hard hearts. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Why does God Surely anger, greed, addictive behavior, pride, jealousy, violence, sexual perversion, selfishness, jealousy, lack of self control, the ungodly desire for power and other sins are the cause of most of the emotional suffering and even much of the physical suffering we experience. Few understand the basic tenets of Islam. Why does God allow That certainly has been the case with the suffering of Jesus Christ! Cancer is the result of Satan's power to hurt people in the world. Andrew Kneier, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who specialized over the course of his career in helping patients and families touched by cancer. Not all suffering is the result of sin. Through suffering we come to know Christ and to fulfill his purpose. Some argue if god were real then no one would It is the natural response of love. When we are confronted by cancer or other serious illness, our sensory experience is often heightened, both in regard to the beauty of life and its more frightening, ugly, and painful side. At times of serious illness or crisis, it is to one of these systems that we may turn for solace, comfort, and meaning; for the inner strength to endure the physical and emotional challenges of illness; and for guidance in our personal response to it. But there is a key part that seems to get glossed over, freedom. These are the kinds of questions that lie at the heart of religion, faith, and spirituality. In the face of a serious illness, we are often challenged by a range of emotional reactions that can be unfamiliar and more intense than anything we have ever encountered. How can a good God allow innocent people to suffer? How is a believer to hold onto their theology in view of this apologetic question? Logically, wouldn't it be better if we all just died as babies and went straight to heaven? We want to give and to receive love freely. Why does God let innocent people suffer Prayer evokes memories of our youth and of our family and long-standing relationships. We show compassion to those who suffer because that is what God does. In spite of the fact that culture defies Jesus as the Savior, they have made him a pop icon. That may not be the case at all. Tell people who are in the midst of great suffering that it is good for them. Why did God let my loved one die It says God allowed the fall because he wanted to make room for human free will. St. Paul taught us this in his letter to the Colossians: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church (Colossians 1:24). Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 7. Why Does God Allow Cancer to Exist? - Natural Deals Permissions Before we speak to the question of why God allows children to suffer, we need to ask the bigger question: Why does God allow suffering to happen to any person, whether hes two years old, two months old, or twenty years old? He created us in his image. In fact, there is little if any discussion of what we call free will in the Bible. We recall the stories of great sages and saints who also faced hardship and death. In order to discuss how religion and spirituality can help in dealing with cancer, we must first review some of the religious and spiritual issues, questions, and problems that cancer presents. Suffering may not be evil, but it is real. But if you have an all-powerful God he can do whatever he wants without babies being born with cancer. May my sickness not weaken my faith in you, nor diminish my love for other human beings. Although you may be separated for a time, you and she (and all of us) are meant to live forever with Christ. We know that evil exists not because of God, but because of Satan, sin, and the fallen condition of mankind. And then there is suffering of an emotional or physical nature. But the Bible reveals that God is good and that He allows suffering. In the Bible, God takes the issue of suffering head-on. Sin causes suffering. Nevertheless, the idea that suffering in this life is punishment is generally not true. WebFirst lets clear a few things up. When presented with physical needs, either meet them, or find someone who can. Why do snakes appear designed to kill? Much suffering is the result of forces set in motion by God, without which there would be no life. Why did God allow evil in the world? God has words for those of us who are left behind when a loved one departs as well. Catholics and Cancer: The Dying of the Light. WHY surprisinglyevils existence is one of the strongest proofs of Gods existence. We should suffer with those who suffer. We usually associate the love of God with the benefits we receive from Him and the blessings that come from His kind and merciful hand. How could a loving and holy God allow a baby to suffer a debilitating disease? 6. Job responds that he is righteous and does not deserve the suffering. Rouse me with the strength to overcome my weakness, and brighten my spirit with the assurance of your love. A brand new love is made all the more delicious because we have waited in loneliness for so long. It has been argued, for example, that if patients heal themselves, or heal their lives, then physical healing will follow. If one suffers a sprained ankle, it is a very good thing that this is painful. We will discuss a better response to suffering in the second part of this essay. We learn from the Old Testament that not all suffering is caused by evil. Before this career change, he was on the road to becoming a professor of religious studies through the University of Chicago Divinity School. It is hard to think of pain as a good thing. Let us not avoid suffering. Like you, our Mother of Sorrows watched helplessly as her Son died a slow and painful death. The physical world is not inherently evil. At the very least, it certainly is sad, and it unquestionable leads to suffering, at least on the part of those who are left behind to mourn the loss of a loved one. She was greatly distressed, but not only from her physical ailment. It Punishment From God As cancer patients reflect on their ultimate priorities, they often identify changes that they wish to make in themselves or their lives. -- Mrs. D.McK. It is through life, reproduction and death that species change, adapt and improve. This is something we will have to consider carefully. God I propose to bring these two issues together. challenge to God when arrogance blinds minds Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. To the one who says suffering is evil, I ask whether they believe that joy is good. Paul said in Philippians 1:21-22, For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. The agnostic, or even the believer asks, why, if God is all-powerful and completely loving did he allow two hundred thousand people to die in the great tsunami on December 30, 2004? Having read a fair amount on the subject, I have found that most writers deal either with the intellectual or with the human problem. Thus, many people speak about being spiritual but not necessarily religious. We have considered free will and subsequent sin as well as natural causes of suffering. We could live in a world in which we do not have freedom of choice, but is that the world we would choose for ourselves? How can Jesus be the first born son of Israel and also the only born son? Jesus made the same point as recorded in John chapter nine. They influence through example, love and discipline, but they do not manipulate or remove choice. When we experience hatred and anger, it is painful. In the words of David, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Iwill make the case that suffering is not a bad thing. - Quora. 2023 BGEA Remember: God knows what its like to suffer, because His Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died on the cross for us. We find in Exodus 20:5 the statement that, I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation. Do we suffer the punishment for the sins of others or not? So you argue that your god created bone cancer. Why does He allow cancer, hurricanes, pandemics, heart-break, war, etc.? Even if we can somehow simultaneously defend the omnipotence of God and his love, we are still left with a lot of pain and suffering in the world. Used by permission of Tyndale. We experience a sense of divine presence and divine love as we pray. He has showed you, O man, what is good. Dr. Kneier (pronounced near) became a cancer psychologist after living through a serious cancer scare that occurred in his late twenties. I beg you to take away my hopelessness, comfort me with your presence, and uphold me with your strong right hand. God did not order the extermination of these people to be cruel, but to prevent even greater evil from occurring in the future. For many, these questions take on a central and compelling importance, which is why cancer is commonly referred to as a wake-up call. This may be true, but if we think that this Christian mothers self esteem is not affected and that it has absolutely no effect on her children, we do not understand the consequences of sin. Sometimes Gods blessings come in other ways besides physical healing. Life on earth is not predestined where God chose before the earth was created who would live, and when and how they would die. A religious perspective can help us as we grapple with these issues and seek to keep our bearing through the mental and emotional turmoil that comes with having cancer. The Hindu world view is that the physical world is an illusion. I have not yet met anyone who gets fired up about suffering. A toothache is a warning to favor that tooth and to seek care for it. - Quora. It is at the very core of how God deals with his creation. If anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (John 7:17) If anyone would come after me he must take up his cross and follow me. (Luke 9:23) Jesus clearly called people to make a decision of their will to follow him. But more often than not, cancer has a way of capturing our attention, deepening our reflection on what is important, and causing us to live with more awareness of our ultimate priorities. Is this an evil thing? I know it is for me. Again, the answer is a resounding yes. To love in a world full of sin, Jesus taught us, takes the form of the cross (see Matthew 16:24). One of the five pillars of Islam (along with confession, prayer, fasting and pilgrimage) is almsgiving. Why Does God Allow Pain in 90 seconds! We have already considered free will and, more directly, sin committed by those given their freedom as the cause of a great proportion of the suffering of human beings. Lots in the Bible and in Christendom is said about God's love, God's justness, his power, etc. Why did God let my loved one die Would we fault God in this? On the other hand, we see in Genesis chapter one that when God finished his work of creation he saw that it was good: very good (Genesis 1:31). In some cases, they have a point. Is it because God lacks the power to prevent pain, suffering and evil? They falsely presume God should never allow pain, suffering and death. Virtually every church in the history of Christendom has had to develop some concept of what we call original sin because the Scriptures teach us so clearly that we are born in a sinful state and that the curse of the fall attends every human life. If you or someone you love has cancer I don't need to persuade you that pain and suffering is real, that it can strike at anytime, or that no one is immune to it. Their action just came upon themselves a million times over in death. If they break a bone without feeling pain, permanent disfiguring injury is the likely result. When Judah was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, the righteous people suffered right along with those whose gross sins caused God to bring physical punishment on Jerusalem. Is there some ultimate reality that finally provides meaning to everything else? I would likely harbor a great deal of rage towards God, holding him We do this, not because suffering is evil. The conclusion that the death of a conscious being is an evil thing requires the assumption that physical death is the final end. However, in the big picture, suffering is not evil. WebFirst lets clear a few things up. Paul tells us in Romans 5:3, Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Suffering is good. That sounds grim and dreadful until we realize that in that judgment on fallen humanity comes also the tempering of Gods wrath with mercy and grace and His whole work of redemption. We did not appreciate it when our parents quoted this proverb, but almost all of us have realized its truth by now. He now works part time with patients through the Sierra Nevada Comprehensive Cancer Center in Grass Valley, California. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. God gave us free will and we abused it. Im sure youll be surprised to learn that your ability to make tumors comes factory installed your body is genetically programmed (using oncogenes) to create tumors. We looked at the causes of suffering, which include the God-given gift of free will and the subsequent sins committed by human beings. ! This is so true! It is extremely difficult to support such practices using the Bible. The dichotomy between the teaching on almsgiving and the theology of fatalism has caused the response of Islam to suffering be hard to stereotype. 2. This is not just a problem of the intellect. But let us go to him." When we ask the question with respect to infants, sometimes lurking behind that question is the unspoken assumption that babies are innocent. Unlike other apologetic questions, the problem of evil and of suffering does not lend itself to fairly easy answers. Again, each of us should ask ourselves individually, what am I doing about those around me who are hurting? Let us consider the world view of Buddhism, Hinduism and other Eastern religions. Some ascetics have taught that physical pain is a positive spiritual good, leading one closer to God. Others seek to deny or downplay it, while some try to rise above it. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. (Psalm 73:13-14). No one will be happy about that, including God. Very simply, each of us has the power to make someones day a little better, and this makes us better. Why does God Allow Cancer Even sincere, intellectually honest Christians often find this question to be very troubling, despite their willingness to put their faith in God. Even if our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, they still have consequences in this life for those who perpetrate the sins and for those caught in the cross fire. That is a clear and obvious truth. But there often is an emotional poignancy to this issue that cannot easily be dismissed. Before we fault God for causing earthquakes, we better propose a universe and an environment in that universe which does not include plate tectonics. Perhaps the perspective most widely known in our culture is the Judeo-Christian one, according to which suffering serves the positive purpose of deepening ones spirituality. In the first part, I tackled the apologetic issue. Next, consider another passage which, at first glance, seems to contradict Ezekiel 18. Jesus said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Matt. Islam has traditionally produced an extreme attitude of fatalism. Without the natural heat distribution systems in the oceans and the atmosphere, the earth would be uninhabitable to advanced life forms due to the extremes of temperature. Many people feel a great sense of confidence and assurance in the belief that an all-powerful, all-knowing deity controls the world. There is no easy answer to the problem of pain and suffering, but there are answers. These moral laws are about as easy to avoid as the law of gravity. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Paul is not teaching a new doctrine that our suffering saves us. The ultimate example of this, of course, is the life of Jesus Christ. Human pain and suffering raises an apologetic problem. It is a gift from God. Sometimes, the illness is regarded as only a temporary bump in the road of life, as opposed to a stark reminder of lifes fragility. God wants to hear. One popular answer among Christians is superficial and deeply flawed. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Even the agnostic recognizes the truth of what Paul says here. Additional causes of suffering still to be considered include aging, pain and death. Q: Does Satan know that he will one day be defeated, and if so, why does he tirelessly work to undermine Almighty God? Another of the many passages along this line is Philippians 3:10-11. Because they chose to suffer so that they could make a difference. Why do you make me look at injustice? God's plan is to fix the heart of mankind. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 26:38, 39, 27:46). Suffering produces growth and maturity (James 1:2-4). Jesus felt this same safety in expression his fear and his suffering to his father. We will begin by considering the range of the question. God hates cancer because it is in opposition to what he is all about: life. Why does God allow things like cancer and natural disasters The good will go to life. Remember abortion is murder. One teaching of Islam which is relevant to the problem of pain and suffering is predestination. 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Pain is a good thing. May the Psalmist's words become yours: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Life on earth is not predestined where God chose before the earth was created who would live, and when and how they would die. Why Does God Allow Tragedy David expresses this truth in Psalms 30:5. Some hold that God has created an imperfect world and that it is our task and responsibility as humans to work toward the worlds repair or perfection. A person may sincerely pray and truly have faith that God can heal, but if it is not Gods will to provide the healing at that time, then no healing will come (see 1 John 5:14 ). 3. What is the biblical view of death, and is that view reasonable? Either good, or bad. Suppose there is some realm or cause within or beyond evolution. The Lord was grieved and his heart was filled with pain. (Genesis 6:6). Why Does God Allow Tragedy Broken relationships, unrequited love, lost friendships. To somebody who smokes a pack a day, I can see the justice in getting lung cancer. This means that we share an obligation to help one another face the struggles of human existence, including illness and death. It is not that we thank God that loved ones have been taken from us, but that our loved ones are in Heaven Suffering and the Glory of God What is the Christian world view, and how ought it to affect the individual Christians response to suffering? We may believe in a personal God or in a Divine Clockmaker (that is, a God who created the world, set it in motion, and then left it alone). Even when sickness is not directly from God, He will still use it according to His perfect will. Remember that this essay is on the biblical theology of suffering and evil. Let us consider two Old Testament passages which discuss the consequences of sin. Selfishness, greed, anger, jealousy; these sins hurt innocent people. Let us look at it from Gods perspective (if that is possible). Centuries ago Job (who knew what it meant to experience suffering that just didn't seem to make sense) penned these words: "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people. This passage tells us that the son does not suffer the consequences of the sin of his father. Cancer Patients Pain and Suffering show their faith in action to you. We do not respect those who are not willing to suffer for a cause, yet some people say that suffering is evilthat it is a sign that God is either not all-powerful or not all-loving. Why Does God Allow Suffering? - Hope Has Arrived They are part of Gods plan for working in this world. Either way, suffering is not inherently evil. The agnostic asks the believer two questions. Chronic fear, much of which is created by the items in point #5. Like the apostle Paul we can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). Disappointment, feelings of failure, loss of hope, loss of a job and others. Is it because he does not love us enough to step in and prevent the suffering that happens in the world which he created? Turn your past suffering into an opportunity to show compassion. The biblical response is a definite yes. I believe that every one of these people would state with all their hearts that it was worth the suffering if it led them to knowing Christ and ultimately to heaven. Despite the reality of death, I still believe that life is better than non-life. This can cause a cavalier attitude about the suffering and even death of those who are not in ones immediate family. WebAnd I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. Not all our pain can be traced to sin, but consider the amount of suffering, on an individual, family, community and even nation-wide level is produced by sin. We feel ourselves vulnerable and in need of a stable and solid support. Cell replication allows our bodies to grow and develop, yet can result in cancer when natural processes misfire. In Christ, God himself wishes to share this path with us and to offer us his gaze so that we might see the light within it. Because he knows God well enough to anticipate receiving Gods compassion. Cancer is not one of those things. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Notice that God is not telling us that all things are good. WebMy husband is dying of cancer, and I can't help but wonder if God is punishing us, since we've never gone to church or been religious or anything. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:7,8) When we suffer, God does not mind at all if we cry out to him. Acute pain, boken bones, etc., chronic and debilitating pain, cancer, etc. Does this mean God is weak or not loving or not intelligent enough to solve the problems? Prayer reveals a side of ourselves that may be needy, that we may not want to reveal, and that struggles with uncertainty. At the end of this emotional appeal, God pleads with his people, Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. Similarly, at the end of his life, Joshua left this charge with the people of God, But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. The most powerful relationships are created through suffering. It is killing of an innocent life. This Christmas Eve we look at the question behind this question; "What kind of God allows Do not be afraid of what may happen tomorrow; (See the article: Does Your Attitude Make a Difference?) Many patients feel that if they can fix whatever is wrong in themselves, or adopt the right attitudes and behaviors, then the malignancy will be stopped. Help me to sustain the hopes of my loved ones as they strive to strengthen and encourage me. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. If we believe healing is included in the atonement and is always God's desire for His children, then why do we see so few cancer healings today? We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. It produces a spoiled, ungrateful, selfish brat. Many conventional religious resources and practices help us cope with To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you and example that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:20-21). This is how we were made. And what does the Lord require of you? ), Rapid Response Team Offers 5 Tips on Dealing with Trauma, Will Graham: A Story on Social Distancing from the Old Testament, Help Others Find Peace: 10 Bible Verses to Share, Why Should I Be Thankful for Hard Times? This is the Christian response to the problem of pain and suffering. Anyone who pours their life into a person with free will risks being rejected and hurt. A person with cancer is challenged to respond to suffering in some way. Human nature causes us to want to pull backto protect ourselves from experiencing the suffering of others, but that is not what Jesus did. Why Did God Allow My Husband To Cheat And He will lead you safely through all things; The Word on Fire Show is a weekly discussion in which Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt take a deep dive into all things faith and culture. Be thankful that God is with us in our own grief. What is important is what is good for the community, however that is defined. Or cry out to you, Violence! but you do not save? Why doesnt God heal everyone Let each person reach their own conclusion in the matter (but be thankful for being able to reach your own conclusion!). It is not always Gods will to heal a person physically. The bad will go to hell. But why do Read More, Q: An article in the Scientific American astounded me saying that astrology is founded on the position of the stars, but there isRead More, Q: I heard a song that says, I thank God for unanswered prayers. It troubled me because I believed that God answers all prayers and that we often think that the prayer is Read More, Q: Does God determine everything that happens to us or can we make our own decisions regardless of what God would prefer we do in life? I answer this in my lesson on the problem of suffering. So, you and your niece will live forever. Most theologians and religious leaders today acknowledge that there are no simple answers to these questions. In making these changes, these patients have found some positive meaning in their illness. Physical suffering is more obvious, but emotional painchronic fear, loss, loneliness and mourningthese are more prevalent and often more devastating. But we still wonder why bad things happen -- although we know God is still in control, even if evil sometimes seems to be winning. Your niece may die (we, of course, pray and hope for a miracle if that be Gods will), but as we know from our funeral liturgy, for Christians death is not the end but a transformation to a fuller life in Christ. God is ready and able to help us fight. The Western religious tradition includesbut is not limited toJudaism, Christianity, and Islam. Why? 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. We will question this assumption. The religions of the world all contain, in one way or another, a philosophy or perspective on the meaning of suffering. But knowing this does not necessarily make our pain less. He knows us better than we know ourselves. The book Manners and Customs of Bible Lands says that many in Christs time believed that sickness was caused by either the sin of the sick person, or of his relations, and that it was sent as punishment for that sin..
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