2007-09-05 08:28:19 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of it is due to man's free will. Some just happens.
When countless millions of people starve to death while a minority of others have so much to eat that they're overweight, that's suffering caused by our free will.
When a zebra is crippled and eaten alive by a lion, that's the "nature red in tooth and claw" thing: why does the zebra have to suffer?
When a person who has been good and loving all his life suddenly gets bone cancer and suffers awfully before he finally dies: why did he have to suffer?
For that matter, why did Jesus have to suffer to complete God's plan?
The answer is always: I dunno. This question has been batted around for millenia by philosophers and theologians and I doubt we'll solve the problem here on R&S.
Google "theodicy" for more information.
2007-09-05 08:33:28 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
When God created the world there was no death and no suffering.
God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil - the punishment for disobedience would be physical death.
Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying and eating the fruit, and that is why we now have death and suffering.
But death is a temporary intruder - the last enemy. There will come a time when there will again be no death.
We have to put up with the temporary intruder whilst looking forward to the pain and death free eternity.
A sample of references:
But you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.
Gen 2:17. The Hebrew says literally 'dying you will die'.
For dust you are and to dust you will return. Gen 3:19
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Rom 5:12
The last enemy to be destroyed is death. . 1 Cor 15:26
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.. Rev 21 4-5
No longer will there be any curse. Rev 22:3
2007-09-05 09:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by a Real Truthseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brother Michael should be awarded the points.He got the closest.Death,pain,suffering,famine,etc,etc comes from living in a fallen world brought on by the original sin by Adam and Eve in the garden.All they had to do was follow one simple rule.They chose human reason over God's instructions.Nothing has changed.Humans,myself included,are guilty of following their own agenda instead of trusting in God.All of us are conceived in sin,born in sin,and will die sinners unless we make Christ the center of our lives,and trust in him.The first death was the lamb God slaughtered to make clothing for Adam and Eve.We live in a sin cursed world.But,praise the lord,one day Jesus will come back and make all things anew.Death will be destroyed,and there will be no more pain and suffering.No more tears,for the former things will have past away.Read the link.These guys explain it a lot better than I ever will.There is also plenty of answers to common questions many people ask.
2007-09-05 09:40:43 · answer #3 · answered by Derek B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pain, suffering and death are the result of sin, and living in a fallen, broken world. As a believer, we know all things work together for good, even the pain and suffering. It is a truth that suffering will bring you closer to God, seeking relief and an answer. For the believer, suffering and pain brings about spiritual growth as we learn to trust Him, even in the darkest of nights.
Suffering and pain can also bring out the best in us when we show compassion and kindness to those who are going through it, it allows us to share in their suffering and hold them up through it.
Rom 8:18 For I calculate that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to compare to the coming glory to be revealed in us.
2007-09-05 08:41:26 · answer #4 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Prayer, scripture, faith and endurance.
My spine was collapsed when a refrigerator fell of a lift on to me in 1994.
I have arthritis, gout, diverticulitis and diabetic neropathy.
I live everyday with varying degrees of incredible pain... but the longer I rely on God, the more miracles I am able to witness in this life.
All humans go through trials and tribulations.
No one is immune.
Only in Christ, have I found joy and peace in the midst of suffering.
The Holy Spirit is ever with me.
Peace, dear one.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
James 1:2-4 My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
2nd Peter 2:9 This shows that the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish evil people while they wait for the day of judgment.
2007-09-05 08:39:02 · answer #5 · answered by Depoetic 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
first, that it has been with people since the beginning and is a curse not intended by God for humanity... it is a result of a fallen nature, and fallen man. death, disease, brokeness etc are all parts of a persons life where they can draw closer to God and find strength they didnt have before. Also, Jesus to relate and lead people as an example came to earth as God manifest and went through every trial man goes through,m even death on a cross. He felt the pain we feel and knows the comfort we need. So in pain and suffering He said to call out to the Father in His name, seek Him in the gospels and He will be a Comfort to you. "I have come to give you Life and life more abundantly."
2007-09-05 08:43:29 · answer #6 · answered by shadedmoss 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
ALL the evil and suffering you see going on in the world today is by mans making ,NOT Gods!,When man stops wanting things their own way and starts coming back too God for answerers then all these evils and sufferings will disappear forever.-Jesus Christ
2016-03-18 00:27:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we'll eventually come to recognize that WE caused all pain and suffering on this earth; that our choices and the choices of all our ancestors to disregard God's instructions for us is the direct cause of earthly pain and suffering!
2007-09-05 08:37:01 · answer #8 · answered by KAL 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
What is the Christian response to pain and suffering?
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!
.for Grace, for Mercy, for your Love!
2007-09-05 08:39:53 · answer #9 · answered by lewbiv 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
We believe that suffering in life brings about character and gives a person a chance to persevere. Anybody can have faith in God when things are going great. But our faith is best tested when things are not going great.
2007-09-05 08:46:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋