Christians, how do you feel about abused or terminally sick children in the scope of God's plan?

Question

In context of religion- Why do innocent children have to suffer from disease or abuse? Do you feel that God allows bad things to happen to innocent babes? How does that fit into your view of God? When those terrible things happen and you hear about it in the news, how does it fit into your system of beliefs? Absolutely no offense intended, I am truly interested in your answers.

Answer 1

Christian theology teaches that sickness, abuse, disasters, death, etc., are a consequence of the presence of sin in the world. Think of it like radiation. If a company were to dump a bunch of radioactive chemicals into an area, people in that area who may be totally innocent and know nothing about the radiation could become sick or die because it is present.

That is the way "sin" works. Just its presence in the world causes problems. A person does not have to "sin" personally to be affect by "sin". (In Christian theology, this is different between the force of "sin" and the act of "sins".) An example would be an innocent killed by adrunk driver. His death is the result of anothers sin. Or a child being abused. His abuse is the result of anothers sin.

Why does God allow it? Some of it is the issue of "freewill". That means the God give each person the ability to make their own moral choices, but then they bear the consequences (good or bad) of those choices. For it truly to be a "free" will, that means God has to allow bad choices as well as good. Otherwise, it is all fake, and we are just robots.

Some of it is because Christians are not doing all the things they are suppose to do. (They have free will too). When we as Christians fail to pray, fail to care, fail to speak up, fail to share Christ, or fail to provide help, then consequences happen. Because we gossipped about a neighbor instead of praying for her, she stays in an abusive relationship and gets killed. Because we did not have time to help out a single mother down the road dealing with three small children, she gets depressed and drowns them all.

So when I see things like that, I realize that it is because of the effect of sin, and too often because a failure by the Christians to do God's perfect will. And I find myself going to him again to pray what Jesus told us to pray - that "his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven". And I ask God to use me to help in come.

Answer 2

First, I'm very sorry that you've had to endure those years of abuse. If you are in the USA, then the legal system really let you down. That's a tough question, but one that is very appropriate. I wouldn't call myself an Atheist, since I do believe in a higher power, but I DO NOT believe in organized religion. One school of thought is that if God is really creating your entire life, and everything is preplanned, then you would only experience tough situations that force you to rise above them. This makes you a better person, as I'm sure anyone who has faced difficult challenges in their life and made it through will tell you. And you would only face challenges that you are ready to handle. But there are problems with that argument... Yes, tragedy makes some people stronger but it also destroys others. I myself went through a difficult life that was filled with drug addiction, poverty and absolutely no future. But somehow I managed to overcome them, but many I knew did not. And that statement that God only sends you what you can handle, but some people just make bad decisions because God gives you free will, doesn't hold any weight when you compare it to other people around the world. Children born in Ethiopia, for instance, are starving to death day in-day out, and the AIDS orphans in Africa are basically in a dead end situation. That also applies to the brothels in Bangkok where kids are sold by their opium addicted parents into prostitution and brothels, where they are beaten and forced to have sex, which leads them to getting HIV and then AIDS and thrown out into the street. They get no help from their government or police. Those people, more than likely, will never see the other side of the tunnel. So where is God in those situations? Sometimes I feel that if Heaven and Hell do exist, it is right here on earth.

Answer 3

This is had to write about. I lost one daughter - Sharon. She died three days before she would have been 13. Not even a teenager yet. She died of A-plastic Leukemia - She was sick a LOT! Was it in the Lord's Plan - I believe - YES! I have Wonderful memories and the Peace in my heart of where she is - In Jesus Arms.

I was sexuality abused - I don't know how old / young I was when it started (a family friend). It ended when I was 12 - he had a massive stroke right in front of me! He was dead in 4 pain full months - If anything - It made me feel stronger about keeping children SAFE!

Children should NEVER suffer ANY TYPE of Bad Feeling! They should be Loved and Taught Wonderful things - Books - Nature (Camping, Fishing, plants and the like) have Fun with other children and Anything that they would consider fun!

Children should be kept safe from ALL Harm! ANYONE who hurts a child in ANY way Especially Sexuality (when it can be proved with DNA) they should NEVER get out of Prison - because when they do - they make new victims! It's Sick!

Children should be happy and have more Joys in childhood that they don't know what to do with all of them! That's the way children should be - Without a doubt!

Be At Peace - Please Keep Children SAFE! Accept God's Grace.

Take Care and God Bless!

Answer 4

Most Christians will tell you that innocent babies suffer and die because even at birth they are guilty of "original sin." That is, they are guilty of sin because Adam gave into temptation and partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. I am an anostic, but I have a couple of thoughts about this that I think will add to the discussion...

1. If the "original sin" justification for innocents suffering is true, and human life begins at conception, doesn't that mean that (in God's eyes) embryos and even zygotes (fertilized eggs) are guilty of original sin too, and therefore just as deserving of suffering and death as new-born babies?

2. I think that if God is so vindictive that He would punish, or allow an innocent new-born to suffer disease, starvation, abuse or death because Adam sinned thousands of generations ago, then that God is certainly not one that I would respect, let alone worship.

Again, like you, no offense intended, just an honest question of morality.

Answer 5

There is always something good to come out of something bad, even if it is something that people don't really notice. God allows good and bad to happen in this world, but He doesn't directly "cause" bad things to happen.

I personally know of many people turning their lives around and becoming Christians because of a child that was killed in an accident. It caused them to realize that your time can be up at any second and being prepared is of the utmost importance.

Also, when major disasters happen, it brings out the best in people. Those are the times when we see the most compassion and generosity. People learn that there is more to life than just living for themselves. What really makes a person's life worth something is making a difference in the lives of others....and what time is better to do that than when others are in need?

Answer 6

We have to go back to the beginning of suffering, sin. Adam and Eve sinned and were put out of the Garden. They were made perfect till sin came into play. They began to age, very slowly, once put outside of the Garden. They were no longer perfect. Therefore we inherit everything that comes with life outside of God's favor.

The Bible says that children are holy in God's eyes. They do die and have an automatic resurrection. Look at the pain Jesus Christ went through for us. God didn't stop it either. Children have their place in God's Kingdom.

I know it doesn't make it any easier but all our questions will be answered in His System of things. We just have to wait for it to come and live our lives according to His Standards and tell everyone of His Kingdom in the mean time.

Answer 7

some1 just wrote:
Would this world be better if no one ever died? A lack of negative, tragic situations would never give us the chance to develop empathy or learn the redeeming act of forgiveness. Tragedies often make people stronger and draw them closer together.


pathetic. Isn't the cristians who are claiming that if eve did not eat the fruit there would be never a problem? And what about heaven? there are no sick or anything bad there right? why would those idiots want to see something bad in this life ?
TO compare? so they are saying it was by design and not by Eve's fault.

Answer 8

Everything happens for a reason. The world is a terrible place, I don't understand why God has to be blamed for all the bad things that happen in the world.

Answer 9

God's ultimate plan at the beginning was perfect people in a peaceful paradise. it was not God who caused the horrific suffering we see today. Satan decided man did not need God or to do things God's way. when he got man to sin, he caused all the suffering and agony to happen, but God will have his peaceful paradice with perfect people. it wasn't God's power that was questioned but, God's right to rule. As the creator, don't you think He knows what is best for us?

Answer 10

Would this world be better if no one ever died? A lack of negative, tragic situations would never give us the chance to develop empathy or learn the redeeming act of forgiveness. Tragedies often make people stronger and draw them closer together. I was abused as a child, and it gave me certain kinds of strength that I wouldn't have otherwise to counsel others in my position and be a source of compassion for those around me.