Why Does God Allow Suffering

[Johny Joe Hold]

Atheists often say they "don't believe there is a God because there is too much suffering." This is atheist hogwash.

Suffering is part of the package God provided us. He wants us not to sin. To help resist the temptation to sin he introduced suffering. If does not take a PhD in religion to understand God's clear and logical reasoning.

We could run through the categories of suffering if we wished. Just to mention a few, millions were drowned in Noah's flood. Wars kill and disable millions. Lots of people suffered and died from covid. Children are born without arms and legs. This is all God's simple system for our improvement. Less sin, less suffering. Suffering does not disprove God. Just the opposite, it proves there is a God.

Chris Cree | Crossmap Blogs

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

I think the problem started when decadent layabouts in Parisian cafes and Viennese coffee shops decided they had inalienable civic rights. This was the beginning of the decline, for me. Now look where we are - welfare queens, social security, unemployment benefits. All of these stem back to the idea that man has an inherent dignity that must not be violated.

Nonsense! Life is brutal and you better shape up. Winners will breed a race of Ubermensch that will crush losers. We need to go back to the good old days.

[Johny Joe Hold]

All of these stem back to the idea that man has an inherent dignity that must not be violated.

Nonsense! Life is brutal and you better shape up. Winners will breed a race of Ubermensch that will crush losers. We need to go back to the good old days.

Great and deep observations, Dr. Toole. When we study the Bible carefully, we can see that once there was a Garden of Eden. Then God required no suffering. So, to say God causes suffering is contrary to the facts. Eve then sinned and we now have to work for a living and some have had to suffer and die. The cause of suffering is sin, not God.

[Dr. Anthony J. Toole]

Yes, yes, that's it. God sets a high bar and those that can't meet it get cast naked into the world. This is exactly what I've been trying to express. Nobody can save you except holding on tight to God and trying to please Him. Or if He's not answering, a strong Leader who claims to be acting on His behalf. This is the path to salvation, not some wacky notions of humanitarian law.

[Isabella White]

I so vividly remember sermons that were preached by my beloved father (a famous evangelist who held tent meetings across the country every summer.) Dear Daddy would preach that people suffer because the is testing them. Yes, will cause suffering and tragedy to occur so that people will turn to , to seek will in their lives, and to deepen their faith in .

Take, for example, the thousands of souls that were stuck up at the top of the towers in New York on 9/11. Some will ask, "where was when He was needed?" Well, the answer is quite simple: He was there with the people, assuring them that He had made mansions for those who had trusted in (but NOT for the Unsaved Trash who deserve to burn in eternal !) So, that visitation from the — in the midst of their great suffering — would have been something to give encouragement and anticipation of greater things to come. What could possibly be better than being taken to Heaven and being given the keys to a mortgage-free mansion on gold-paved streets — particularly after having been crushed to death due to falling from so high in the sky? And, being that those who are suffering are being tested for their faith, their rewards will be great!

John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

Revelation 21:21 "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."



Matthew 6:19,20:
¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Oh, what a blessed assurance we have when we trust in the ! I pray that many more shall come to know , and to receive wondrous

[Johny Joe Hold]

Thank you for that blessed response, Sister Isabella. It explains so much of why God approves of our suffering.

We can also learn from the smart way God used suffering to make people feel guilty about their sins. He had a Son and made him suffer. But he used his Son, Jesus, to communicate the evils of sin. He had Jesus say, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Look you sinners out there. I'm suffering here on the Cross because of your terrible sins. Cut it out." That has worked well, we at Landover Baptist avoid sin entirely.

But the God had a dilemma. Jesus is a great communicator but if He remains dead He will not be able to help God in the future. God brought Him back to life in case He might be needed for another war against sin. Now, I'm going a little far into the theological weeds here, but all of this explains why God allows suffering. God explains it all a little more in 1 Peter 3:14 "Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed."

[DarwinFishTrueChurch]

God does not only allow but even ENDORSE suffering!

[Johny Joe Hold]

If one reads the Bible like we do here at Landover Baptist, one learns the benefits of suffering through events called trials and tribulations. We are improved by them. James 1:2-4 tells us about the trials we will face. Here at Landover Baptist we are told by trollers, "Have a little sin. It's fun." We reply collectively, "Nope. Won't do it." These trials have made us the leading anti sin church in the United States.

Paul instructs us about tribulation in Romans 5:3-4. We learn there the terrible threats from homerism with be overcome by God himself.

Trials and tribulations have turned Landover Baptist into a disciplined sin-fighting armored tank.

You can't love God if you don't embrace His discipline (christianpost.com)

[handmaiden]

If one reads the Bible like we do here at Landover Baptist, one learns the benefits of suffering through events called trials and tribulations. We are improved by them.

One of the most painful trials that we face on a never ending basis is seeing the Christian way of life attacked in the media. Everything good and holy is mocked with same sex couples in advertising and mixed race families on TV. It's a terrible, disturbing thing for us to have to watch. . . And the news! Don't get me started on how much pain we endure watching the Lamestream Media mock our beliefs and our lawful representatives on a regular basis.

It is harder to be a Christian nowadays than it was when Nero was the emperor of Rome.

[Johny Joe Hold]

One wonders how much more suffering we True Christians^tm can endure. Prayer in schools seems to be gone. Homers frolic everywhere. Races are intermarrying. Women are getting jobs outside the home. The public is criticizing the tax breaks given our Godly churches. I'm praying this suffering will strengthen us and we will persever.

The persecuted Church and the power of a faithful witness (christianpost.com)

[Romeo Rovagnati]

Because everyone, including Christians themselves, as to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ. Take Justin Martyr for example.

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Because everyone, including Christians themselves, as to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ. Take Justin Martyr for example.

The boy was weird - he stole most of his stuff from pagans like Plato.

We suffer on this earth so that we will appreciate heaven, where there is no suffering. (Revelation:21:4)
We suffer on this earth as an advertizement for God's Power - it shows us what He can do to others and keeps us on the straight and narrow path. (Romans:9)
Suffering is essential to know when you are not suffering,
Suffering gives us a strength of character.
Intense and incurable pain reminds us that when we are dead we will go to heaven if we have accepted Jesus ... Unless you are one of the ones whose purpose in life is merely to stoke the fires of Hell - (Rom 9:22)
Suffering also allows us time to repent.
God never gives you more suffering than you can bear.
Suffering is caused by God - because everything is - and therefore criticizing suffering is blasphemy.

[Johny Joe Hold]

Talk about suffering, the entire area of Los Angeles, CA, is burning. It has been tinder dry and now a strong wind is blowing a raging fire. And, what has been going on in Los Angeles? Sin, that what. Homers roam the streets. Nudes frolic on the beaches. California went for Biden. Do I need to point out God is angry?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pacific-palisades-wildfire-california_n_677e0e84e4b0dbd92b10151b

[MitzaLizalor]

Because everyone, including Christians themselves, as to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ. Take Justin Martyr for example.

There are two categories in your interesting post.

1. Christians
2. Everyone else

You have "Christians" in the third person plural, as is correct for someone who is not a Christian. For example, if I said “everyone, including cannibals themselves,” rather than: “everyone, including cannibals like me,” the third person, they/them, tells us there's more than two of them (plural) and I'm not included.

Then you introduce Justin Martyr. I doubt that was his real name—in the same way that Bergoglio's real name is not Frank—but help me out here. Is Justin Martyr in the set of persons who are NOT Christians, including yourself (as underlined) in the quote, or does he belong to the Christian set?

That would be very helpful for me.