Someone (a Christian) recently told me that children suffer because their parents aren't devout enough in their Christianity, & that no matter who suffers or how many suffer, Yahweh will not be "moved" by it... that he's only moved by faith, & only the faithful can attain for their children the blessings of God.
Is that true? Does "all the suffering in the WORLD" really not sway Yahweh in any way? Does He ONLY respond to faith? Are his hands tied when it comes to the children of all the non-Christians in existence?
2007-05-31 05:28:00 · 24 answers · asked by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes. Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Your friend is correct. Sin causes the diseases and the curses that come upon families.
Proverbs 26:2
as the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse causeless shall not come.
A curse, without a cause (sin), does not happen.
Often when the mother and father of a diseased child are saved, the child is healed immediately. We have a merciful God, but He is very orderly.
2007-05-31 05:37:49 · answer #1 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
A couple of things to point out.
1) This Christian is making a judgment on these other families about their faith when obviously only a god or the individuals themselves can make that judgment.
2) If Yahweh only responds to faith and doesn't care about suffering, why would he even do anything? If everything is part of his plan, answering a prayer for faith is going against his original plan. It just never stacks up no matter what way you look at it.
2007-05-31 12:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by The Bog Nug 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea where that person got the idea that only Christian's children are worthy of God's help and compassion!!
I've seen children of non-Christians helped and children of Christians die. The Bible says that the rain will fall on the just and the unjust.
While faith will move mountains, it is not about how much faith the parents have, because that would create a caste system. But it's about how much trust we have in God.
2007-06-02 03:08:56 · answer #3 · answered by Searcher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure what kind of person calling himself a Christian is attempting to say the sins of the fathers are visited upon the sons. But that is wrong. Also If the cries go out to God then are not those crying out crying out in faith? Just as the Israelites did in Egypt?
2007-06-06 04:33:44 · answer #4 · answered by David F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's not judge God to quickly. I'm not absolute, in very many things. I suspect God is absolute in all things. Consider yourself, walking through a ghetto. You see the misery, the abject poverty, and you go on about your business. Then, a child holds out his hand asks for help, food, money, etc. You respond. You were not moved by the scene, but by the petition. I may waffle, and change my mind from time to time, but God is constantly answering his childrens requests. Is that bad?
Petition the Lord with Prayer, have faith...
2007-06-01 03:09:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, this is not true. God doesn't "move" based on man's so-called "faith". This Christian is wrong & is believing in a theology of glory. God isn't some kind of gumball dispenser (e.g. put your two "faith" pennies in the machine & out pops whatever you think you need) & neither does He play favorites.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works (including "faith" that is not from God) so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"For God does not show favoritism." Romans 2:10
God gives us what we need, but not always what we want.
"And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:7-8
There are many, many Christians who suffer just as much as the rest of society.
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous & the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45b
(also see http://www.persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=vom)
And my personal favorite that speaks directly to your questions: 'As He (Jesus) went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or His parents, that He was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in His life."...' John 9:1-3...
This passage & that which follows proves that God is concerned with the suffering of people. He works in people's lives now through other people primarily, whether or not they believe.
God's hands are not tied, but He has His Bride, the Church (His Right-Hand Kingdom) on earth that He works through to alleviate suffering for Christians & non-Christians. He also works through even non-believers in His Left-Hand Secular Kingdom to alleviate the suffering of people.
2007-05-31 13:12:44 · answer #6 · answered by Sakurachan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that christian is an idiot...
God is Love.
He is not punishing the unfaithful.
He doesn't let bad things happen to us. He allows them to happen to turn us towards Him. And it works.
There's lots of bad stuff happening in the world & here we are talking about God and wondering if He's there...He's here. His hands are not tied. "We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do - Eph 2:10". We are called to help Him...believers & non-believers. We just need to stop complaining and get up and help.
2007-06-08 11:50:26 · answer #7 · answered by danielle:) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to say 'yes', but I can't help feeling that there is more to this than just that simplistic answer. I think that anyone would be better off if they trusted God, but that's only because I trust God and have found him to be trustworthy. Some other people might have everything turn sour for them, even face death, and still not give God a chance. Go figure.
2007-05-31 12:46:03 · answer #8 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He feels very deeply for all the people and that includes children. When Jesus was on the earth he loved all the little children. You have been feed lies and misrepresentaitons.
Children suffer when their parents are mean to them and that is not God's fault.
Children suffer when adults start and continue wars and violentence. Children suffer when governments refuse to feed the starving children.
Is it God's fault when he gave us free will and some people use it to hurt others?
Children suffer when men sell their little girls to old men.
When men beat and mistreat their wives and think of them as cattle and possessions.
when sucide bombers strap on a bomb and go into a market place to further their agenda of hate and demoralizeing others and blown up little children. It is religious leaders in false religion that hurts little children not god.
2007-05-31 12:37:23 · answer #9 · answered by cloud 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
MO...I believe that that is a way of rationalizing the situation for people who need litteral manifestations of the object of their faith and devotion.
Peace,
2007-05-31 12:43:24 · answer #10 · answered by Jamie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋