Aren't there problems that faith in God doesn't solve?

Question

If faith in your religion is the answer to all your problems then what prevents you from flying a plane into a building or burning people at the stake?

Why are there alcoholic preists?

Why are there more churches in economically depressed communities? Why don't those communities seem to get better?

I am a person of faith (Buddhist), so this is only constructive criticism. I will not pick anything hateful as a best answer.

Answer 1

Aren't there problems that faith in God doesn't solve?
-It depends on how you look at it, sometimes having problems to face is really a blessing. I tend to look at struggle as being spiritually beneficial.

If faith in your religion is the answer to all your problems then what prevents you from flying a plane into a building or burning people at the stake?
-It would contradict my faith to do those things. God is truth and truth does not contradict itself.

Why are there alcoholic preists?
-Priests are human beings and subject to the same entanglements that we all are.

Why are there more churches in economically depressed communities?
-There are more people looking for help and comfort from God in economically depressed areas. When you are poor, God is free. When you have wealth, you tend to feel that God asks too much of you. The rich tend to be more interested in either spending their wealth on acquiring material possessions or leisure activities and in accumulating more wealth. This is a big time commitment.
Why don't those communities seem to get better?
- I guess that depends on your definition of better. If by better you mean spiritually better, who says they have not already reached perfection? If you mean economically better, I think what happens is that if individuals become econimically better off, they leave the area. So, the area doesn't change.

Answer 2

It's a good question.

The thing is, no amount of faith will remove sin from the world.

All people have sin, and it is my faith as a Christian that this is the reason why everyone needs the Grace of Jesus to redeem our spirits back to God.

I do have deep faith, but I don't beleive in blind faith. The Bible is a long text which does require interpretation. Sadly through the years not all interpretations have been following in Christs love.

Alcoholic Priests should take some time off to get their own "houses" in order before they lead again. It would be a shame to lose their knowledge but when you are impaired deeply by your own struggle with sin it is irresponsible to try to give others advice.

Maybe people in economically depressed communities need Churches more, since their lives are so close to "the edge". It's true the Churches should be a place for elevation, but God has his own timing. One of the great struggles of my life is patience for God's will.

Your right though, Right now our Church is discussing what it should be doing in terms of community outreach. Sometimes people in the Church get distracted trying to solve their own problems and forget to be a servant. Again, we all have sin.

It is a little like the story of the Master and his pupil on the sea shore...
They come accross countless sandollars washed up on the beach, stranded and beging to dry out. The pupil asked the Master, "What can we do?". The master picked one up and put it back in the sea. The pupil said with despair, "What does that matter, there are thousands more!"...
The Master calmly said, "It matters to that one."

There is always sin in the world, but you can touch one life and make it better.

Answer 3

Very good question. I will simply say that the Bible says "faith without works is dead" Many religions today say they have faith but they are not really doing what God ask of them, therefore there are no good results. God does not condone violence or murder especially in his name. Most religions today are not really interested in bettering the community, only their own circumstances. If they were interested in the people then they would do what Jesus ask of them which is preach the good news of the kingdom to the most distant part of the earth. Jesus did this by going from town to town, city to city and door to door. Teaching people what the bible really teaches and not false doctrines that scare people into service. Most priest have not really learned anything about the Bible, only in church traditions.

So to answer your question, faith in God is the only hope for mankinds problems. He will solve all mankinds problems at a time already appointed but not known by man or even the Son of God, Jesus. Something must first take place however to his satisfaction and that is in Acts "preach the good news to the most distant part of the earth and then the end would come." We are at the brink of this happening just read 1 Timothy 3:1-5. Also their is one religion that has taken this seriously and is active in 235 lands, has publications in more than 400 languages even in languages that are spoken by a few thousand people. They have the works spoken off in the bible and are doing what God asked of them by following Jesus' perfect example. They are truly bringing praise to God's name.

Answer 4

I would say that the only condition that faith in God solves is the condition of the heart and the soul. In my belief, faith in Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God and the only way to get to heaven. However, that faith alone doesn't solve life's problems (or an individuals problems). That's why we still have church splits, fights over the color of pews, hymns or guitars, pastors having affairs, alcohol as you mentioned. I've met many people who were "born again" in the Christian sense, but yet it didn't necessarily change their bad habits.
However, once the issue of faith solves the issue of the soul, then we can deal with our character, integrity, honor, the way we treat people, the way we love people. All of which are teachings of Jesus.

Answer 5

We can call ourselves as Christians, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we are following God's ways. We can say that we have faith but doesn't necessarily mean that we do have faith. It is not God's will for people to hurt one another or themselves. It is not God's will for pride to settle in and stop us from helping one another out. No one in their right mind should be flying their planes into building to destroy people - it wasn't God telling the Muslim terrorist to fly into buildings. There should not be alcoholic priests. The reason why many churches are built in economically depressed community is to bring spiritual help to those help. You are right in saying that those communities should come together and help one another out. But due to pride issues, they don't want help from others. With God's help and his faith in us, we are able to come together and develop stronger communities, destroy our addictions and help each other out. It is a matter of choice - do we follow our faith in God in doing good or do we persist doing things our own way where lives around us will be hurt?

Answer 6

In this world, good and evil coexist. God gave us freewill, knowing that some people will have faith in him and some will not. Even those of us who have chosen to have faith in God have to battle the evils in the world every day. Maybe you are looking at the glass as being half-empty. It is still also half-full. If we stay close to the word of God and remain faithful, we will be blessed.

Answer 7

Faith is simply a belief in a thing despite lack of factual evidence. For that reason, faith in God might solve personal problems like one's own fear of death, doubt, confusion about one's place in life, not knowing how to live, etc. but it won't solve problems outside of ourselves. If there is a God or Gods, then that would solve certain problems in and of itself, but FAITH as a feeling or idea doesn't solve anything not within in our own minds.

Answer 8

The Good Lord helps those who helps themselves. He gives us free will to follow or not, his plan for us. Instead of asking for specifics, we really should be asking for God's will to be done & for acceptance of it. If someone dies, it is because He has decided that he needs that soul to "come home" to him. It is our selfishness that asks God not to take them. Free will also fits in the alcoholic Priest question. They need to use it to say no to the alcohol (or other destuctive behaviors) instead of giving in to it. As far as Churches in poor areas: Even our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that it is "easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven". Money is meant to be used to help others. "The love of money is the root of all evil". You are supposed to put no other gods before The One True God & too many folks put their love of money in top spot. Poor folks generally like to go to Church because it brings them peace in their hearts. It is also the one place they can go & not be looked down on. It is the only social outing they get or can afford. It is safe for their families(most of the time). I sure hope this helps answer your questions. I don't know all the "correct" answers. I'm not a minister but I am a very proud Christian.

Answer 9

We are a fallen race. That is the point of Jesus coming in the flesh. He did not come to save happy people with no problems, but to save sinners. Just as doctors exist to heal the infirmed, not those who are already well.

The ones in need are the ones He reaches out for and calls the rest of us to reach out for as well. By serving our fellow man, we are serving Him and fulfilling our own purpose in life.

Faith does not solve problems, it is simply a way to live so that your problems are not overwhelming. Faith without works is dead.

Answer 10

Consequently, as Christians, we never know what may happen next because God, who works all things together for good, uses our trials as tools to promote spiritual growth and maturity.
Typically, growth is hard. It stretches us and often hurts and we naturally look for what is comfortable and easy. Maybe you have heard the song that has a line, “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” Similarly, there is a book entitled, Looking Out For Number One.

If these words don’t illustrate man’s typical approach and outlook to life, I don’t know what does. People look for what they want or think they must have to make life work, but they typically look for it in all the wrong places whether it’s love or security or happiness or significance.