How can a loving God allow children to suffer?

Question

There are thousands of children, that are not yet at the age of 'free will', that suffer some of the most horrible illnesses and crimes. Why does God allow those children to suffer? The whole 'vengeful God' was done away with when Christ died for our sins. So there goes the, 'punishing society for its evils' theory. The children and the meek are revered in the Bible yet God allows them to be destroyed in such horrible ways at the hands of evil people. How can they inherit the earth if their blood is spilled on it daily? I am familier with my Bible and I do not want to hear about Gods will, I want something more than what I can hear from any preacher.

Someone asked what I am doing...actually I am getting a degree to help families who have lost children (my son died in my arms) and I constently do fund raisers for Invisible Children, March of Dimes, United mItochondrial foundation, and raise socially and morally aware children.

Answer 1

How can a loving God allow *anyone* to suffer? It's a hard thing to deal with, but Creation, and Destruction, are both the same process, we percieve Destruction, whether it be a Tsunami, an ill child, or a train wreck, from a perspective of being harmed by it. It has nothing to do with vengeance on the part of God. A tree must be Destroyed, in order to Create paper. The paper must be Destroyed, in order to Create a book. The book must be Destroyed, in order to return it to the earth as compost, and further the Creation of another tree. But we are affected by this process, perceive it as loss, and all the more so when it is personal to us. Dis-ease exists in part to clear the way for further creation, otherwise the world would be way overpopulated, even more so than it is today, and we would be suffering in other ways as a result. I don't know what to say that could comfort you in this situation, giving birth is painful, sometimes God has labor pains too..... Perhaps one reason it exists, is to help instill and Create human compassion, as it has for you, to Create a situation of motivating one to action in order to correct it, to give one a reason to be involved with one's fellow man....

Answer 2

Okay listen, I know this is gonna be pretty long but you can't just sum this kind of stuff into one sentence. This is why. Whenever Adam and Eve was living on the Earth it was a sinless place. But once they disobeyed God it brought sin to the earth, which brought sin into humans. If you don't know Judaism is the oldest monotheistic (belief in only 1 god rather than many) religion out there. Why is this? Because God was around of course whenever the Earth was starting out. Back then worshiping more than one god was the norm. Infact many religons had hundreds-maybe even thousands- of gods, each for different elements of nature and such. Someone didn't just say HEY LET'S MAKE A RELIGON WITH ONLY 1 GOD. No! God was there, not made up. This is why Judaism is so old, because God is so old. Back to Adam and Eve. God told them that if they disobeyed him they would die. Whenever they sinned they didn't die. If you read this your like what? I thought they were gonna die. Well infact they kinda did. God says that the payment of sin is death. Before Jesus the Jews would go find the purest and most beautiful animal-usually a lamb- that they had and would sacrifice it for God. This would be the death that they would have to pay for their sins because no one is perfect and it's impossible to be perfect in the sinful world Adam and Eve caused-really the devil caused. Once Jesus came, lived a sinless life he was concidered pure-like the lamb they had to kill. Once he died he alone payed for all the sins of everyone and that they would not die and go to hell because he payed the payment of their sin-death. That is why we worship him-because we are greatful. So to your question. I have a few theories to this age old question. One is that the Bible says that although the devil is not as strong and powerful as God, he is still very strong and powerful. He can do a lot of stuff-maybe even make people suffer. Another is that is world is full of sin. Once this world was perfect it is now not because of sin. Sin causes suffering-therefore suffering the people who inhabit the earth. All I know is that God has a plan in the grand scheme of things. Although people make their own decisions God can contol anything and everything. Everything will lead up to his grand finale. And your next question will be why doesn't God just show himself to everyone so that no one has to go to hell? That is because he wants his children to believe in him without proof. He wants your faith. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Free will comes at a terribly high price. Sometimes that price includes the suffering and death of innocents. Without the option to choose evil (the same evil which ultimately leads to the suffering of innocents), however, we are all but mere puppets, and God the puppeteer.

To witness the pain and suffering of a child is horrific, indeed. Often, there are no words that truly comfort, and logic is often no comfort, either.

Jesus (an innocent, Himself) knew suffering of the most profound sort. Jesus is waiting to hold those children in His arms and comfort them when the time comes.

Answer 4

Great Controversy:
All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the worldwide flood. Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation. (Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.)

Answer 5

And what are you doing to help those children? Ever think there was a special reason why God created you and I? We are to be His tools to stop all the injustice perpetrated onto children and adults. We can't just sit here lamenting the fact that things aren't happening the way "we" would like and in "our" time. We have to get out there and make things happen. remember, evil flourishes when good people do nothing.

Answer 6

This is one of the many questions that led me to the realization there is no God. An all knowing and all powerful God has the ability to act to prevent anything. Not standing in the way of evil makes him evil or in the least indifferent. A God who wants to act but doesn't isn't all powerful thus making him a liar and still immoral. "Evil thrives when good men do nothing." If God is supposed to be the prime example of a good man, where is he? Further, more evil is done in his name than any other. Every suicide bomber and religious genocidal maniac has invoked His name from the dawn of time. For me, the only logical conclusion is that He doesn't exist, and if he does is unworthy of my worship.

Answer 7

The better question would be why do we allow it? Humans are in a position to help but they look to a Divine to fix it. Ain't gonna happen. And I belive in the Gods, but I believe we got ourselves into these messes and we need to get out self out. We have compassion, yet we do nothing about it. If you don't want to see children suffer then do something about. THAT is free will.

Answer 8

Many people will argue with this,,but here goes,,, Satan is in charge of what goes on, on earth. Adam and Eve had Dominion here but they gave it all up to Satan when they went against God and sinned.Old Satan is the God of this world,and will be until God our heavenly father has had enough of this mess. God Almighty wants none to perish,but sooner or later his Patience will run out. Satan lets all those poor children die NOT GOD. He has no control over God's children,we are not of this world(hate,crime,killing,filth) we are of the kingdom of Gods dear son,JESUS CHRIST. All others belong to their God,, Satan....So can you see God in heaven does not let these things happen,he hates it,and he will put an end to it ,when the time he has appointed comes.

Answer 9

We do not know why God allows so much pain and suffering. However, when you see the big picture, His promises are kind. He has the whole eternity to make it up to us if and when we have suffered here. : )

Answer 10

It is Man who makes them suffer and not God so stop blaming God for he created mankind with the suffix kind but unfortunately well........