Why Do We Suffer? & Does God Really Punish Us?

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

9. Some love suffering and find it virtuous. Others find some gratification in others feeling sorry for them .... Psychologists .... I think call it co-dependency ... others call it masochism. Sick none the less.

I don't like suffering. Call me a wimp or whatever I don't care. I prefer things easy rather than hard. That's just the truth.

I really haven't had to suffer much really - especially in comparison with what many have had to endure and go through. I've been very blessed; I know that. I just thank God that He's been so kind and gracious to me.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

9. Some love suffering and find it virtuous. Others find some gratification in others feeling sorry for them .... Psychologists .... I think call it co-dependency ... others call it masochism. Sick none the less.

I call it the "suffering complex"...they aren't happy unless they are unhappy.

[PastorDaniel]

Came across this while studying this morning. It gives a very good answer to this topic of discussion.

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5 NIV

[RevBuddy]

Dan, Grandad Adam and Grandma Eve reduced perfection to imperfection with one act of disobedience...

...we've been living with the woeful results since the garden.

Sorry, but an old song comes to mind...

This world is not my home,
I'm just a passin' through,
My treasures are laid up,
Some where beyond the blue.

The angels beckon me,
From heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home,
In this world anymore.

What we're discussing in this post is the fact that "passin' through" is so very difficult...

...except for the mercy of God.....

[Scott Hutchinson]

All I know if you are married ,and tick your wife off ,boy she can make you suffer.

[JaneEyre]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I know there are many approaches to answering this age-old question asked by atheists and believers alike. Just this week one my Special Ed students asked me the same question .... If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen to us?

I couldn't answer his question right there and then because of laws that prohibit me... but told him his question has been asked by many and spoke to him a little in private.

I know there are some who answer this question w/ one, some, or all of the biblical reasons for our suffering. I wince when some preachers don't approach this topic without any balance ... either it's all "GOD IS LOVE" OR "GOD IS GOING TO TAKE YOU OUT FOR YOUR SIN"

I think some of the bible-based reasons for human suffering include:

1. It is a result of human choice ... [Namely our disobedience]
The Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep, of Luk.15.

They suffer because they run away from home, they do not keep the Commandments, which are like the Laws of Traffic: If you pass the red light or you come out of the road, you may hurt others or yourself... God is after them, and waiting for them, for their repentance, their change of life, not to punish them, but to bring them home, and receive them with a great feast, organized in person by God! (Luk.15:5-6, 22-24).

The wages of sins [our choices] is death.

2. Correction is part of God's Love/ He Molds Us - Hebrews 12:
They are like vaccine injections God gives to the ones He loves.

'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Rev. 3:19

The loving potter often needs to mold us and even break us to conform to His image.

3. We Participate in Fellowship of His Suffering, Colos.1:24:Phillippians 3
Christians share in the fellowship of His suffering. Of course, He will not give us more we can bear.

4- The Chastisements of God ... God's Righteousness demands punishment for sin and evil.

- In Judges: God uses other nations to punish Israel.
- The Flood of Gen.7:17: God uses a flood for 40 days (6:6-8).
- Sodom and Gomorrah of Gen.19:24: Burning sulphur out the heavens from Yahweh
- The 10 Plagues of Exodus 7-12: Ten different plagues from God.
- In Job, God allows Satan... but it was w/ God's consent! (Job 1:9-12, 21).
- Hell [don't wince Crakjak]... the worst punishment of God... eternal!

----------------------------------

How do you approach this subject?
What are the reasons why we suffer?
How do you answer this question when an unbeliever asks you?
Does your answer change when a believer asks you this question?
Why do you think some don't approach this question in a balanced way?



http://biblia.com/jesusbible/judges4.htm

Having considered these questions much lately, I would like to offer a few brief thoughts. I'm new to the forum, so bear with me. I believe that sometimes those in the Body of Christ suffer because of love - misplaced love.

We are told to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world in First John 2:15-17:

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Poets and artists tell us that unrequited and misplaced love is the cause of suffering. Their secular views are the bulk of literature and art.

Although I do not agree with all you will read on this website or community, you might find some value to this:

http://dangoldfinch.wordpress.com/a-...-of-suffering/

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I know there are many approaches to answering this age-old question asked by atheists and believers alike. Just this week one my Special Ed students asked me the same question .... If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen to us?

I couldn't answer his question right there and then because of laws that prohibit me... but told him his question has been asked by many and spoke to him a little in private.

I know there are some who answer this question w/ one, some, or all of the biblical reasons for our suffering. I wince when some preachers don't approach this topic without any balance ... either it's all "GOD IS LOVE" OR "GOD IS GOING TO TAKE YOU OUT FOR YOUR SIN"

I think some of the bible-based reasons for human suffering include:

1. It is a result of human choice ... [Namely our disobedience]
The Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep, of Luk.15.

They suffer because they run away from home, they do not keep the Commandments, which are like the Laws of Traffic: If you pass the red light or you come out of the road, you may hurt others or yourself... God is after them, and waiting for them, for their repentance, their change of life, not to punish them, but to bring them home, and receive them with a great feast, organized in person by God! (Luk.15:5-6, 22-24).

The wages of sins [our choices] is death.

2. Correction is part of God's Love/ He Molds Us - Hebrews 12:
They are like vaccine injections God gives to the ones He loves.

'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Rev. 3:19

The loving potter often needs to mold us and even break us to conform to His image.

3. We Participate in Fellowship of His Suffering, Colos.1:24:Phillippians 3
Christians share in the fellowship of His suffering. Of course, He will not give us more we can bear.

4- The Chastisements of God ... God's Righteousness demands punishment for sin and evil.

- In Judges: God uses other nations to punish Israel.
- The Flood of Gen.7:17: God uses a flood for 40 days (6:6-8).
- Sodom and Gomorrah of Gen.19:24: Burning sulphur out the heavens from Yahweh
- The 10 Plagues of Exodus 7-12: Ten different plagues from God.
- In Job, God allows Satan... but it was w/ God's consent! (Job 1:9-12, 21).
- Hell [don't wince Crakjak]... the worst punishment of God... eternal!

----------------------------------

How do you approach this subject?
What are the reasons why we suffer?
How do you answer this question when an unbeliever asks you?
Does your answer change when a believer asks you this question?
Why do you think some don't approach this question in a balanced way?



http://biblia.com/jesusbible/judges4.htm

Brother, I have some shocking news for you. Jesus suffered and He never once broke any commandments. We suffer because sin is in the world.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Rico

Brother, I have some shocking news for you. Jesus suffered and He never once broke any commandments. We suffer because sin is in the world.

WOW ... THAT IS NEWS .... SEE REASON #1 ... WHEN I ALSO STATED THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. MERRY CHRISTMAS. oloroid

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I know a short pier you can go take a long walk on, Dan.

You are the one who asked why it is that we suffer, not me. The reason for that is plain as the nose on your face, Bro. We suffer because there is sin in the world. There is a scripture that talks about the whole creation groaning:


Rom8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Romans 8:20-24 (KJV)



Suffering is going to be with us until God comes back.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Sometimes it's hard to process that some our suffering is motivated by love.

It's wondrous to know that He bore all our suffering to give us new life.

It's difficult to accept that our actions have consequences.

Daniel,
This is a very interesting thread, that I will spend more time on later. But one point I will make is: God's severity and His mercy serves the very same purpose. Just as a wise parent's severity and love serve to mold, guide and correct their children.

I will make another point as well: many folks died today the world over, therefore hell (the grave) has enlarged itself.

To my sorrow, my brother (also Falla's and Big-Larry's) were a part of the enlargement today. To my great joy I am very confident that he will be in that number that declare "....Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!" at the consummation of the redemption of "the whole creation", he is one of the elect, who believed without seeing, therefore he is "more blessed" just as Jesus explained to doubting Thomas.