Why Does God allow Pain and Suffering to exist in the world?

Question

Why God Allows Pain & Suffering



This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and



suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.




A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.



When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:



"I don't believe that God exists."



"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.



"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?



Would there be abandoned children?



If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.



I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with Long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.
.


The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, Like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me ."
"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.

That is why there is so much pain and suffering in the world

Answer 1

This is beautiful. I am impressed, and I am moved by it. While the specific story doesn't ring a bell in my memory, the style and the message reminds me very much of something that could have come out of one of the Conversations with God books by Neale Donald Walsh.

Although, this same kind of really great stuff can come from lots of different sources, because we are all one, and we are all connected to each other and to God. All the pain and suffering in this world is basically caused by the fact that most people forget this basic truth. We are all one, and there is enough to go around. Separation (from each other and from God), and scarcity are only illusions. Everything in this world belongs to everyone and is meant for all of us to share, that is why you have to right idea when you say "Take what you need and leave the rest"

Answer 2

Free Will.
I don't wanna rape anywone, but someone out there does. I don't want to kill anybody, but someone doesn't mind doing it.
Is God supposed to go ballistic and zap every evil-doer with thunderbolts? Whose morality would such judgment be based on? Compared to God, we're all f'd up as far as righteousness is concerned.
If you've read the Old Testament or at least went to Sunday School as a kid, you'd know he tried that before. Noah and his kin were the best he could find. Not much would stand if he tried that again.
An important part of Christianity is to take a conscious stand for people who are being abused, ignored and taking advantage of. God gave us a free will and he's not going to take it back. It's up to us to use it as an instrument to serve him and do what's right. Not just in our personal lives, but also in accordance to serving others and help make this world a bit less messed up. Anyone can complain about things not being right. Few people can show the strength to make a difference. It's a big task, so we're going to need help. That's the part where courage, faith, love, and ultimately, God all come into play.
God has given us more power than we realize, but nothing will ever come of it if we sit around asking God 'whys' and 'why nots' while we don't even try to do anything.

Answer 3

God allows suffering and pain because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. Satan challenged Jehovah's right to rule over mankind when he told Adam that he would not die if he ate the forbidden fruit. However, Jehovah had already given Adam his command and told him what the outcome would be, which was death. Jehovah could have very well just destroyed Adam, Eve, and Satan at that time. However, Jehovah had to prove that he alone has the right rule over mankind. Over the years, men have been alienated from Jehovah and look at the results. God allows this suffering to take place to prove to Satan and the other Angels that he alone is the most sovereign God. Very soon he will end all suffering and pain. The innocent people who has suffered at the hand of evil will be rewarded with everlasting life. We all must repent and follow Jesus so that we will be on the right side of the issue between Jehovah and Satan. Which one would you like to rule you. The one who caused suffering and pain or the one who will bring an end to it? The choice is yours. Choose wisely!

Answer 4

God exists, satan exists. When you have a world filled with God the Almighty, and satan who is running around after God trying to be better than Him, which satan can never do. But the real reason we have so much suffering and pain is two reasons 1) Man sins, yes, we choose to sin, the wages of sin is death the bible says 2) The devil rules this earth, yes God is in control, but you got to remember if God is going to be a just God, he can't dictate our actions, if He were to do that, we would be robots, and no there would be no pain or suffering. God does not stop people's free will. People choose to bring other people pain, the devil plants the seed of evil into a mans heart, if that man chooses that path, God had no part in it, God gave that man the choice, to do good or to do evil, once he decides, it's the man's fault, not God's. Would you rather our free will to be take from us, and we just mindlessly do what we our told. Inside of beating God down, people need to realize that it was all perfect in the beginning, but man choose to sin, and as the bible says the wages of sin is death. So then God had to make a sacrifice, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, Jesus is the way to the Father. But without Him, were free game. And just because you become a Christian doesn't mean you'll never get sick, Christians sin too people," Were not saved because were perfect, were saved because were forgiven!" I think it's time that the world realize that we as humans, need to stand up for our own actions and not blame God, when it's not His fault. As for sickness and stuff like that, it happens, it's not how long you live, but what you do with your life that counts. You can be so sick and near death, and blame God, and just die, or you can thank God for the life you have and pray that He heals you, your more likely to get healed and live longer than by if you sit there and blame Him for everything. It's not His fault, were human, we have imperfect bodies, we can do nothing without Christ, so by knowing this, why don't we put blame were blame is do, ourselves for not following Christ as we should, and the devil for leading us astray, that's who you should be pointing the finger at, not God!

Answer 5

This is the most beautiful and so to the point question I have seen yet! God Bless you and hope you keep up with what you are doing for GOD! I wish more people can see all the many things God has given us. God Bless again and Good Night! =)

Answer 6

Pain and suffering are the result of our collective "Fall" from grace.

In the Biblical account of Creation when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God...the result was physical death and spiritual separation from God for our "parents" and for their offspring--you and I. Pain/suffering for us and even the earth suffers as a result of their tragic decision.

Today I learned of very tragic news of a young teenager in my neighborhood who was struck by a car and is in very bad shape. I know this family and remember this young person when she was a beautiful child...a terrible accident, a nice family/kid. Why do these things happen to nice people? I believe the answer to this questions goes back to our origins.

I believe that God grieves with us...but allows tragic events such as these--pain and suffering--so that we might seek Him.

The perfect will of God is that these things should not happen, but the permissive will of God allows pain and suffering so that we would be drawn to the One who can help us cope with the pain/suffering/trials of this existence and rescue and save us from an existence apart from Him...through Christ Jesus.

Answer 7

That's a cute story but poor analogy.
There are many people who do go to god, live pious lives, believe in Jesus (or pick you deity), follow all the rules, and still suffer greatly in all different ways.

There is no correlation between belief in a deity and the amount of suffering that people undergo.

Answer 8

I can't explain the suffering of the world but yes I can tell you have the mission to heal the suffering of many people in this world, let's work for africa and for those nations that we need our help

Answer 9

God didnt allow it. God gave men free-will. Men choice his path not God's path. God's path has no pain & suffering. Its men who dont follow in God's path get themselves in lots of pain & suffering. They bought these upon themselves...

(God's path)
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
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about sickness: your tongue is the root of this problem.

(dont curse and dont speak bad about anyone, it will come back to u)
Psalm 34:13
Keep your tongue from evil,And your lips from speaking deceit.
Psalm 52:4
You love all devouring words,You deceitful tongue.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. ( stop saying "die, die, we'll going to die" cause something bad IS going to happen)
Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. ( why do keep saying i'm sick, sick, sick, sick , sick more than "By his stripes I'm healed" if u see healed with a "ED". change that I am sick to I am healed!
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about the abandon children, Its their parents who made the life for the children. That why God has made good parents who adobt those abondon children.

(parents fault, children suffer)
Exodus 34:7
... visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.

This whole pain & suffering started from Adam's fall in Eden. Its the devil playing with u!
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. "In the world you will have tribulation"; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”.............. ( so stay in The Word)

*ps: u need to read the bible before judging

Answer 10

pretty cool. Pray for all those who suffer and hunger, especially those children in poor countries. God bless.