If god loves us so much, why did he create cancer and other illnesses?

Question

I'm not talking about cancer from smoking, I'm talking about genetic cancers which humans have no contral over, and why does he let an innocent child in Africa starve when they haven't even lived yet? Why doesn't he intervene? I'm sure Christians will say these things were put here to "test" our love for god, in which case god is selfish and egotistical. Would YOU let someone die just so you knew that YOU were loved? No, there is a word for that kid of thing, evil.

are you seriously trying to tell me that god wants to make others gratefull towards him by starving and torturing others? I thought you'd come up with better arguments than that.

Answer 1

When sin was introduced into the world so was sickness and death.

Who comes to steal kill and destroy mankind? Satan.

Why? Because mankind was created in God's image and whenever satan looks at us, it reminds him of who he was before he was kicked out of heaven.

Luk 9:56 For the Son of man (Jesus) is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them].

Jhn 10:10 The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

1Jo 3:8 He (mankind) that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1Pe 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Answer 2

I don't believe these things are created by god but I'd have to admit god allows them. I don't believe many christians would say they are a 'test'. This idea might come from the story of Job in the old testament, but this seems to be a specific story, not a general principle, and is not part of mainstream christian theology. I guess the problem is we can either have a god who allows joy and suffering, or one who intervenes to prevent every instance of suffering. Where would you draw the line? This would have some interesting consequences which are explored a little in the film 'Bruce Almighty'. Suffering is a huge issue, and theologians in every age have, and continue, to grapple with it. However, it's ironic that those who are suffering sometimes have a greater trust in god, and inner peace, than those witnessing their suffering. I'm thinking of an elderly woman I know who is greatly suffering with cancer right now. Alongside the problem of suffering is the much neglected problem of joy: if there is no god and everything is so meaningless, how come there is so much joy and beauty in this meaningless world?

Answer 3

Who says that God created those things? Do you realize that living on earth for even a hundred years is like a second in the universality of time. Those things (although we might think like you from time to time) are meant to test us, and might be part of a grand scheme of things.

I used to feel so angry when I saw lions, for example, destroying those little gazelles or other "innocent" animals, but if this were not done then the gazelles would over breed and the lions would die.

I firmly believe that we will understand all these things by and by, but as St. Paul, I think said, "We now see though a glass darkly."

Answer 4

Some christians think the way you are suggesting, although mainly people in "old line" denominations.
I think though if you regard Jesus as God incarnate you can't think of disease as a test or something put on humans.
This is because Jesus in the gospels spent a lot of his time healing people, and casting out demons (that bit is hard for the modern mind to appreciate). The only person he even vaguely looked like turning away was a Phoenician when He was on a rest and recuperation break away from Galilee. He healed all the sick in crowds at times, and also many individuals, with none turned away.

Acts 10:37-38 "You know what happened throughout Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

Jesus himself several times got annoyed as the religious authorities wanted to stop him healing people on the sabbath (ie Jewish rest day), since that meant a day more of pain for the victims.

In the christian view I believe we are to regard the world as messed up. Disease, decay and death itself are ultimately part of this mess. There is a supernatural explanation in terms of Satan and his rebel angels messing it up, but you won't believe that unless you are a believer. Many of the "old line"denominations have seemingly forgotten that Satan has stuffed this world somewhat, in my opinion, hence their attributing the breakages to God.

Answer 5

I had asked myself the same thing at one time or another and was not satisfied with the answers either. It's God's will or "To test us" was the lamest one, and coming from a religious source was too much to swallow, as I was so sure that God is the personification of love. To say He caused these problems was something I could not accept. I was told that scripture would give the answers. So I looked for myself by reading and comparing into different Bible translations and I found this:
The first human sin or rebellion against God, is in Genesis, where Adam and Eve broke a simple commandment. They in effect were saying they could make all their own decisions, to set their own standards of good and bad, therefore turning away from the guidance of their Creator. So even though he gave them perfect life there were boundaries as to how they would use their free will of conscience. Their sin lead to death and they passed on death and imperfection to the entire human race. It was at that time when God vowed to reverse the "flaw" that would be passed on and inherited from the first human couple. God promised He would send a "seed". Ge 2 & 3; De 32:4,5.
The nation of Israel whom the "seed" would be born from, were given laws to follow which would set them apart from any other nation on earth. Anyone who had the desire back then were welcome to join themselves to this nation if they embraced those God given commandments.
The "seed" was Christ who was born through this nation, he being the one to redeem mankind from sickness and death. Ga 3:16; Isaiah 53; Lu 23:42-46; He 10:12-14; 1Co:15:22.
Throughout scripture it gives us examples of the consequences of wrongdoing and even how sickness can be genetically passed onto offspring. When people abuse their health they suffer. War can cause famine and hunger and disease. History proves that too. Jer 10:23
Only God has the power to completely end sickness, starvation, war, etc.. and he promises to do so. Psalm 72.
Is "this a test" as so many would claim. The scriptures say no. It says, God allows it for now because he wants to prove to us without a doubt that His way is the only way to follow. It has actually only been a short period of time in his eyes and approximately 6,000 years since Adam and Eve rebelled against His way of ruling. I believe we are in the time period called the "last days of man rule and rebellion against God." 2 Ti 3:1-7. So will the earth always be this way? The Bible gives the answers in Rev 21:3-4; Rev 22.
Let the Holy Bible speak for itself.

Answer 6

We were created in God's image and then we sinned. Our flesh is representative of that sin. Prior to that we were sinless and lived forever. Now, because of sin, we have suffering, disease, pain etc.

God allows it because it is the consequence of which mankind was warned. Sin has caused cancer.

The thing you need to do is look at creation as a whole and not just from your limited point of view. God sees all...the beginning and end of the earth, the fall of man, the death of Jesus on the cross, the resurrection, the second coming, the defeat of Satan...he see all of this at the same time, his perspective is different from ours. Our view is finite...we do not know all and therefore are in no position to tell God what he should be doing.

It's extremely difficult to explain it to someone coming from a completely human perspective. You are judging God by your standards of compassion and that's dangerous. God is far more compassionate then any of us are capable of. You are saying "I wouldn't allow suffering..." but you aren't a perfect and omnipotent being.

Answer 7

1st you should ask , why did he creates us and what does he want from us?As we know God is the greatest doesnt have starting and doesn't have ending. He doesn't have children or His not son of anyone or anything we are his creatures , and everything exist because of Him and because He wants them to exist. He is unique and doesn't ressamble to any creature which we've seen or we can think with our mind. No one has ever seen Him, even the prophets. but we will see him in the paradise if u believe that and work for it.
As he said Himself there will no be a sickness there nothing at all, only happiness a real happiness.we will stay there forever, eternel. no death , no sorrow, no sadness no fighting... absolutly nothing .only eating drinking and mariage. that is what he has created us for. and he send us in this world to test us , we are here for short time pass the exam and go to our real place. pass the exam by respecting and following His order. the one who will succeed will be lucky to live in happiness forever and who will lose will be in punishment forever(in hell) he will neither die or live. ask God no to put you among those who will lose.God has made everything clear for us.
and for small children don't worry about them God loves them more then we do.they die in sadness but they go in good place. help them if you can , that will lead you to be accepted to God the almighty.
So the sickness and many bad thing we see here in the world are the test from God and they are there to purify us. and by his will all the problem we face may be the cause to enter in paradise.

if not satisfied with my answer i am ready to tell you more [e-mail] i will be waiting for yu.plz feel free to contact me.

Answer 8

All your points are answered in detail in The Bible. I am not claiming it is fact, merely that there are explanations which all fit together in that book. But it has taken me several years of supervised study and a few hefty textbooks to appreciate this. And I am fully aware that I have only just scratched the surface. After all, these are bronze age writings, much translated from a culture much given to symbolism and exaggeration. Beware popular writings and individual opinions. They will only lead to confusion. For what it is worth I used to feel exactly as you do. I now feel a lot less angry.

Answer 9

The consequences of a sinful universe. That was the reason God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden, so that they would not eat of the tree of life and live forever. It would be terrible to have eternal life and never be able to die in a place of sin and suffering. Jesus came to prepare a better place for us, one where there is no sin, or suffering or disease or death. The trouble is people like the sin, but they don't like the consequences,, so they want to blame it on God for taking them out of this place.

Answer 10

Christian theologians have always maintained that diseases like cancer are the result of the Fall, and the products of satan, not of God. I'm not saying you don't have a legitimate argument - but the reason so many people believe in the devil is so that they can blame him for things like this.

Answer 11

Okay.... Joseph was a righteous man but his brothers decided to beat him up because his father favored him. God could have interferred and had an angel protect Joseph from his brothers, but he did not. So his brothers threw Joseph in a well. God could have magically made is so the well disappeared so Joseph could not be thrown in it, but he did not. Then Joseph was sold in slavery; God could have struck all the slave-traders with lightning to keep Joseph from being sold into slavery, but he chose not to. Joseph worked honestly for his master, but his master's wife lied and got Joseph in trouble and had him thrown in prison; God could have made the master's wife a mute or killed her, but he chose not to. God could have magically opened the doors to the jail, but he decided not to. In all these cases, you may say that God was being mean for not helping Joseph out, but all of this was leading up to a greater good: Joseph was able to save his family and countless lives.

Every circumstance, I believe, is capable of producing some good consequence, even if we cannot see it, in the long-term there is some positive gain that will result. It is specifically because God sees everything that he is able to let these things happen. If God could only see the short-term, he would have certainly helped Joseph out, but being all-knowing, he knew that there was some light at the end of the road for Joseph.

So how can you condemn God for something when, little do you know, he is actually trying to help you in some great way but being narrow-minded and narrow-sighted as you are, you decide to condemn him instead of trust that he will not forsake you.