CHRISTIANS please only....confused..?

Question

okay so i dont get why people in the world suffer? like why is the world such a cold place?

i mean its good for some people, but its also really horrible for others,
like
divorice
abuse
killings in familys
alcoholic parents
war
poverty
ect all that bad stuff

so i understand how thats all from sin..but i do not get why some people/christians have a really good life and then go to heaven, but then some people have a horrible life and the go to heaven....its just so unfair, life on earth is very bad for some, but not for everyone, for some its super good, i think thats so unfair, and i dont understand why God can't put a stop to it, why dosent sin effect everyone(not that i want it too) but, it is so unfair how it only hits some people, why is this?

Answer 1

life isn't fair, that is why people created the concepts of God, heaven, and hell. This way they fell like there is justice in their existence.

Answer 2

The answer lies in free will.

Biblically speaking, the moment Adam and Eve took a bite into the apple they gained the knowledge of what could be deemed good and what coul dbe deemed evil. This knowledge was further exaggerated when Cain slew Abel.
While the Lord could intervene, and does on occassion, he chooses mostly to stay out of it, leaving us to our own free will and/or his grand design.

Outside religion, it sounds like you personally are really suffering. How or why I can`t be sure. So I have this to offer:

Yes there is a lot of suffering in this world, and yes nothing seems fair, and it might not seem like you can do anything, but you can.
Rid from your heart hatred. If someone slaps you, do as Jesus says and offer them your other cheek. Do not hate them.
Offer to help those less fortunate. If you see suffering, then take it upon yourself to halp relieve that suffering. In turn, when you are suffering, you might find there are many sympathetic ears.
Be the change. Make an example of yourself the life you want people to lead. Don`t be too pushy with ideals and religion, as that can be offputting, but when people see what an amazing person you are, and they ask why or how, tell them truthfully what you believe.

Hope maybe this helps a little.

Answer 3

Sin does effect everyone- either our own or sin perpetrated on us from someone else, Where did you get the idea that sin does not effect everyone. We all are born into sin. Having a "good" life does not mean that they are free from sin, anymore than having a horrible life means they sin more than others. Some of those good people you talk about will not be going to heaven, because they chose not to accept Christ for the forgiveness of their sin. If things happen in a person's life is bad, that can be caused by many things- either their own sin, the sin of someone else- or for reason we will never know until we face our maker. God allows things in our lives to strength us and draw us closer to Him. God sees things so much differently than we do. When a person is happy, that does not mean he or she is living a life that pleases God, anymore than bad things happen mean you are living in sin. EVERYONE who lives is a sinner- the only way to heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus. You are right life can seem unfair, but remember God is just.

Answer 4

I can appreciate your question, but sadly I do not believe anyone here has a valid answer... including myself.

Scripture says "It will rain on the just and the unjust..." and they're right. Ten years ago, I left my home, my friends and my girlfriend to follow what I thought was God telling me to become a youth minister. Within the year, I lost two beloved members of my family within two weeks of each other and dropped out of Seminary. I was bitter and confused for a while... I couldn't understand how God could let something so hurtful happen to me and my family, who have spent their lives trying to serve God.

It turns out, I don't know why He would let it happen. But I do know that since then, I have watched four new lives enter my family. I may not have ever become a youth minister but I have a decent job and a decent life and I try my best to serve Him and speak honestly to Him... even if that means I'm railing against Him.

Sin does effect everyone. If it didn't, we would live in a much different world. It's important to remember that God is still in control when it seems the entire world is crashing down around you. Don't be afraid to come to Him honestly and as you really are. Yell, cry, scream... it won't knock Him off the throne. He knows your heart and He knows your pain and He is always willing to listen to whatever is on your heart.

I can't answer this for you... I wish I knew myself. The secret to living is not in the answer to these questions, it's finding peace in the fact that there is no real answer.

Answer 5

Ok, well, there are several things I want to say.
First, my view is that God created the Universe, then stepped back and let us discover life ourselves.
I once heard someone say that in Biblical times God seems more present and in touch with humanity because we needed a hand then, much like a child needs training wheels. Then God, the parent, let us go, and we ride on our own, but God still looks on and intervenes when He chooses. I believe this more and more now.

But sufferimg like war and poverty are not punishments from God, but rather human conditions; some we start ourselves, like war, others come naturally from the earth, like tornadoes.
Natural disasters are completely natural and sometimes cyclical and others random occurences that has nothing to do with God. So really God made a world that sometimes has natural disasters.

God has let the world run iteself, and He gives us a choice whether or not to follow him when we enter into the next, because He doesn't make anybody do anything. So why would God put a stop to it? People have to want to do good.

It all boils down to this, the more good you put out to others, the more good you will get back. Sometimes good people get stepped on, and bad people get ewarded, but eventually everyone will get what they truly deserve.

Just live your life the best you know how.

Answer 6

That's an excellent question. I've often thought along these same lines myself. I usually think along the lines of people who have vast material wealth, while other people languish in extreme poverty. It just seems totally out of balance to me that some people use solid gold sinks, while others don't even have access to fresh water and die of malnutrition, after living horribly difficult lives.

Even as a Christian, I wonder why God doesn't put a stop to it also. Even as I write this, the wind is howling outside. Not so much in the area I live in, but in communities not all that far away, people are homeless! And it is really COLD outside! I don't care what mistakes people make, no one should have to be homeless. Much of the time, people end up homeless due to one setback after another, not through their own mistakes.

About 22 years ago, I had a near death experience during surgery. I know there are people who won't believe me, but, for a few short seconds, I was in heaven. I was welcomed home and told I couldn't stay, that I had to go back. It was the most precious experience of my life.

Since that experience, I've really begun to wonder if we choose our life experiences in heaven before we are born. I wonder if we choose whether we will experience a relatively easy life, a very difficult life, or something in between. No one enjoys going through difficult times and experiences in life, but, we have to admit, difficult experiences do seem to strengthen us and teach us more about who we are. Still, some people experience life events that are so horrible, so heartbreaking, that they never recover from them. I wonder why some people experience such heartbreak, while other people never come close to going through such pain and just go humming through life. It really makes you wonder.

Thanks for asking a really thought-provoking question. I wish I knew the answer. God only knows.

Answer 7

The devil and imperfections in the human character and body cause these things, not God. It does seem unfair.. but God has a plan for all of us in his new world and perhaps those of us that have been tested more are meant to have some duties in the heaven that require the strength that we have learned while on Earth while those who have not been tested will have other duties. Thinking of it that way, it's kind of an honor.

Answer 8

I think if you looked at any one life, you wouldn't see smooth sailing from one end of it to the other; there is no one who has ever lived that hasn't suffered, in one way or another, by life's tribulations. Yes, some people have it worse than others....that's just the result of a fallen world. Life isn't "fair", dear, surely you know that? Some of the nicest people have hard lives; some of the most selfish have easily lives. This life is very short compared to all eternity. It is the fortunate person who knows, whatever their circumstances, that we will one day be with Jesus Christ forever in His kingdom.

Answer 9

The mystery of suffering - the answer (if you want to call it that) in the Book of Job that God gives us is, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements--surely you know!"

That could be seen as God saying, "none of your business", but perhaps it hints at something more. Suffering serves some purpose, and its reasons are as hard to find as the farthest reaches of space, or the deepest depths of the sea.

A lot of our suffering is self-authored. Divorce, abuse, war, even poverty are things that are effectively deliberately done by people to one another. God gives us free will... and free will isn't free if it can't be exercised. The terrible thing that implies is that, yes, God does let us our free will to hurt others.

Christianity does not offer a guaranteed respite from suffering in this life. Quite the contrary, Jesus says, "pick up the cross and follow me!" We are meant to transcend our suffering (just like he did) and not evade it.

But in the life to come, our suffering is transformed into its opposite. Every tear becomes a tear of joy. Every hurt becomes a blessing.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

You see? This is the promise of seeing the face of God. All those who suffered, will suffer no more. And all those who worked to take away that suffering will be called his children.

You can start that now. Do you know someone who is suffering? Be Christ to them. "The Kingdom of God is at hand," Jesus always said, and he meant YOU.

So get out there, and get started. There's a lot of suffering to heal...

Answer 10

Most people don't understand that you(as a Christian),have to help those that are hurting.(As Jesus did). Jesus came to save us and show us how to live. Some people don't realize the last part of that. Not all rich people get into Heaven and not all poor go to Heaven either. God lets things happen because he lets us have choices. Some choose poorly.Some do not ask for him to help.

Answer 11

Sin does affect everyone to some degree. I've read before in Dostoevsky the sentiment that "we are all guilty before God for everything and everyone." Everything is interconnected. We do not understand everything now, but I believe that we will better understand in the future. The life experiences we go through now were planned for us to teach us something...primarily about ourselves. The trials of life are there to smooth away our flaws and to perfect us. That is why we have suffering. It is just hard to accept this simple and easy answer while we are going through whatever we are going through.