I actually heard a Christian say that HIV was God's punishment for homosexuality. I thought, "Are you for real?" So I asked her what prompted SARS and Avain Flu and what exactly was God using them to punish us for. She didn't seem to have a clear answer.
2007-04-02 18:11:42 · 31 answers · asked by St. Tom Cruise 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Unfortunately, some believe in this.
I once watched a preaching segment by Jerry Falwell, who attributed childhood cancer for the work of the devil, or a punishment from god (!) for some sin the family may have committed in the past. Horrible.
Superstition has NO place in modern medicine. None at all!
2007-04-02 18:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Look at it like this. When you buy a new car there is an owner's manual that tells you how to best take care of that car. If you go out and totally disregard the book and don't take proper care of the car then you run into problems. We are God's creation and He gave us a book to follow for our best physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It is pretty simple really. Just look after our health by not being a drunk or a glutton, be rested and moderate in all things including study. Don't be unloving to anyone and be quick to forgive as that will help with stress which is a killer. It also advises us to work 6 days and rest one. So you see, being a good worker is advised as it helps with self-respect which once again means less stress. The Bible says the sleep of a working man is sweet. He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us and that also reduces stress. It rains on the good and bad alike which means bad things happen to good people, so, Christians do not choose God because they think they will get special privileges. They do get to have the peace that passes understanding. AIDS when it is contracted by illiciet sex is a result of disobedience to Biblical standards. Many other illnesses are also contracted by disobedience to the health standards set up in scripture. Most people know the saying, "Things Happen". It is nice to know that God is loving, forgiving and with Him we never have to walk alone. God bless. Mmm
2007-04-03 01:47:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Before Jesus was brought to Earth, God did punish people for their sins by disease, death, etc. But Jesus was brought to be the sacrifice for our sins so that we would no longer be punished. He bore not only the pain and suffering of being nailed to the cross, the beatings, and for those he loved turning their back on him, he had to bear the pain of all the sins of everyone.
God loves us so much that he gave his only son so that we may have everlasting life. Now how can that be a God who is cruel? He loves us enough to give us a way out from the Hell that we rightly deserve.
So no, I don't believe those people are acually Christians - or maybe they are just trying to use some kind of scare tactic which isn't right. My God is a loving God but I must also remain fearful of him. I look at it as a relationship of a parent and a child. No matter what your child does, you will always have love for that child.
2007-04-03 01:24:17 · answer #3 · answered by danceteacher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible pretty clearing states that God will punish the wick in judgement. As far as I can tell we have not yet reached that point, so why would God be punishing people now? As a loving God homosexuals (who are sinful in God's eyes), still have a chance to repent. That theory also applies to any other sin.
I know that some people believe that way because the the actions that God used in the Old Testament, but I don't see that applying today. Hope that was helpful! God Bless!
2007-04-03 01:20:22 · answer #4 · answered by Karen M 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm a Christian and I don't believe that for a minute. God is good and loves us. I don't believe he punishes us with disease. If the HIV thing were true....why would babies be infected with it? There are many many straight people who have it too. It's just part of this earth, not brought on by God for punishment.
2007-04-03 01:21:41 · answer #5 · answered by debrenee211 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that. Sin and sickness is a direct result of man's disobedience to God. God does discipline His children on occasion as Scripture teaches us in Hebrews 12:5-6: “ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
But God disciplines His children in love. God never desires evil upon anyone. He doesn't He want us to go to hell. That's why He sent Jesus. Read John 3:17: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
To believe that God would spread disease to punish people for sin is just not Scriptural.
2007-04-03 01:22:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to the bible, one of the 10 plagues that God created to punish the Egyptian was precisely that. Even though there is no evidence of such a thing as the exodus happening in Egyptian history.
And yes, to answer your question there are some Christians that actually believe that God spread diseases to punish people. Sad but true.
2007-04-03 01:22:34 · answer #7 · answered by Wadi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure some do. It doesn't mean every single affliction is from God, some may just be natural, others may be meant to effect some certain result. For instance my first girlfriend died of a brain aneurysm when she was 16 (I was 17), that is a very early age for those but I figured it might have been God's punishment because I did not pray every night, or maybe I would have driven her away from faith and her dying in the faith ultimately saved her.
We actually talked about this in my Philosophy of Religion class today. Its just a natural response people take, something happens that we were not prepared for and we look for a lesson, whether it be to pray more, to quit persecuting the Quakers, or to get a new FEMA director.
2007-04-03 01:24:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't believe that God spreads disease for any reason, but I do believe that there is consequence for our actions and choices. Such as, if we have unprotected sex we can get STD, aids,etc. I also think there is a lesser case of the same thing, such as if we mistreat people that will come back on us or if we steal we may lose something of our own.
2007-04-03 02:54:21 · answer #9 · answered by tnlstn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's absolutely not true.
There's Christianity, and then there are people who put their own opinions out there and remark that it's "God's will."
That girl has a very big opinion and completely not speaking for the rest of us Christians.
Disease happens because of poor hygiene and other biological factors...nothing to do with God.
2007-04-03 01:27:40 · answer #10 · answered by Querida 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋