Why does God give some people cancer but not others?

Question

Why does God handpick who will delibertely suffer cancer for there sins?

Answer 1

I challenge your basic assumption. God did not GIVE me leukemia.

Chemical companies "give" people cancers more than God does.

Where on earth did you get the idea that cancer is some form of divine retribution?

Perhaps God chooses people to be stupid to cause them to deliberately suffer for their sins.

Answer 2

I'm not sure where you get that God "handpicks" who will suffer. The world is full of sin, and something is drastically wrong between God & man. Sin, like gravity, is a law with consequences. Individual cancer is not an individual punishment for individual sin, but sickness in general is a natural occurrence stemming from the death brought into the world by our sin.

Answer 3

I don't think of God as deliberately making individuals suffer. People get cancer for a variety of reasons --some environmental, some hereditary and some due to habits (smoking) and sometimes just because a cell mutated.

I do believe that God does help those that help themselves and that at times were tested by life events but never do I think, why is God punishing that person because they've got cancer or some other disease. While we don't always know his reasons for not intravening and curing someone of a disease, I have to believe that he/she has a reason for allowing the disease to progress. Sometimes we may never realize the reason why. We just accept on faith that God has a plan for all of us and I try to live life each day to the fullest and try to do unto others as I'd want to be treated by them.

Answer 4

God doesn't cause cancer... there is a plethora of things that do, though. From carcinogens used to treat wood to the pesticides on commercial crops to genetic mutations, cancer is a purely scientific thing.

The idea that disease is a consequence for sin is a very antiquated one. It dates back to the time of Christ and even before (perhaps you are familiar with the story of Jesus curing the blind man at the pools). That's not to say that all ancient ideas are bunk, but this one is. It's been scientifically proven that karma is not a carcinogen.

Answer 5

Why does SO many people blame God for all bad things that happen, and give Him no credit for the good??!! Why does no one ask "Why does MAN allow for starving people, when Paris Hilton spends $3 million on clothes for her DOG?????" Give me a break, man! Look at some of the CAUSES for cancer? You think mankind's arrogance and greed plays no part in this? Seek Him, man, I told Ya!! I love You and God loves You...He sacrificed His own Son so that we all didn't have to suffer the second death!! What's the second death? That comes after the final judgment of every man--great and small.

God be with You

Answer 6

Who said that all suffering was a direct result of a particular sin? Job was pure, but God decided that it was in his best long term interest to suffer anyway.

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What are some good reasons for suffering?

A. It enables us to cope in a sinful world.

1. Pain can keep us from a greater physical evil. A burnt finger warns us to avoid worse danger.

2. Pain can keep us from greater moral evil. A spanking does that.

B. It teaches us to turn to God for solution.

1. For eternal deliverance from evil – Heaven

2. For temporal deliverance from evil – Safety or holiness

3. For spiritual strength to endure suffering (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

C. It produces character improvement (holiness, maturity, etc. James 1:24) which in turn produces eternal rewards (crown of life – James 1:12).

D. It gives God the opportunity to show His grace, love and care for our sinful condition.

1. Through Christ’s life and death for our sake (Romans 5:6-8).

2. Through providing a place where there is no more suffering, sin or death (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Revelation 21:4).

*Credit for many of the ideas in this study belongs to Dr. Norm Geisler

Answer 7

God does not handpick who will get sick or not, we do. The Devil as well as God knows of our sins, but the devil punish us for them not God. When we give into sin God tells us not to do it because he wants to protect us unlike the Devil who will try to temp us in to doing something were are not suppose to do. Plus you have a higher risk of getting cancer if you Smoke or do something your not suppose to be doing. Don't blame GOD because of your sins, because if you ask him to forgive you he will. We punish ourselves by doing what were not suppose to do. An each time we give in to sin the devil will be present to tell you to go ahead an ruin your life, but GOD will also be there to tell you not to do it because it's wrong and it could damage you forever, it is your choice to follow which ever you want.

Answer 8

God doesn't give people cancer most of the time. Sometimes it is a judgment of God though. Diseases are because of own sin, others sin or environmental sins. Satan is at the root of it. He tempts people to sin to destroy. God allows people to make choices. These choices, whether it is the person with cancer or not, cause sicknesses.

God sent His Word & healed them of their diseases. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus came that we could have life more abundantly.

Answer 9

He does not "give", he "allows" some to have cancer. It is like a plant with one caterpillar, and the caterpillar eats 4 of the 12 leaves.

The gardener did not tell the caterpillar to eat the 4 leaves nor prevented the caterpillar from eating the 12, but just allowed the caterpillar to eat what it wanted.

Answer 10

God is trying to teach believers a lesson, while punishing disbelievers. See, it works out both ways!! Christianity has an answer for everything! oh, yeah, and it's all God's will in the end no matter what suffering and injustice go on...