That God allows 'evil' to exist in the world because of the existence of free will. We are given good and bad choices in the hope that we will make the right one, and eventually go to heaven. If that is true, then what is the justification for the victims of those bad choices? For example, in the case of child abuse, the abuser has obviously made an immoral choice, and would presumably therefore be punished in the afterlife. How would a Christian justify the child's suffering, however? The abused child has not made an immoral decision. Their abuse in not the result of poor choices on their behalf. Please don't just say "it's part of God's plan" or "God gives us nothing we can't handle", I would like a logical answer as to how Christians can justify the suffering caused to the victims of other people's immoral decisions.
2007-10-29 22:32:00 · 20 answers · asked by katie_london 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nufoundglory82: If your God doesn't intervene in any way, then what is the point of him? If he simply creates and then sets the system running, then you might as well call him the Big Bang, for all the spiritual worth he has!
2007-10-29 22:43:22 · update #1
Nufoundglory82: Actually, when YOUR morality becomes MY law, it does affect me!
2007-10-29 22:45:02 · update #2
logic + christianity = ?
2007-10-29 22:35:32 · answer #1 · answered by AlCapone 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Okay... BRIEFLY I synopsize from the article cited below....please read in it's entirety for all the details. I do this "cut/paste" because this website is so good at explaining things, I could not put it any better... so why reinvent the wheel? So here goes....
In answering this question, the first thing to consider is whether such a thing as “the innocent” even exists. According to the Bible, “the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), and “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, no one is innocent in the sense of being sinless.
He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. He proves His faithfulness to us and ensures that we will stay close to Him.
He proves to us that our faith is real through the suffering and pain that are inevitable in this life. How we respond to suffering is determined by the genuineness of our faith.
God uses suffering to take our eyes off this world and put them on the next. The Bible continually exhorts us to not get caught up in the things of this world, but to look forward to the world to come.
===now, as for the last part of your question, and your RESTRICTIONS on how we can answer it... SORRY... but that's not the way it goes. That would be like saying "Prove the theory of evolution but don't give me anything about natural selection!" But since you have MADE this restriction, I will "comply" by saying NOTHING more about it... since YOU are the one cutting out the TRUTH.
Have a blessed day.
2007-10-29 22:57:07 · answer #2 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't allow evil to happen to people. When God cast satan out of Heaven, God placed him here on earth. Since then, the devil has become the dominate force. Anything bad is straight from the devil. There is not any good none what so ever in the devil. God gives people the chance to make a difference in someones lives, if they just do it. Like the abused child, someone somewhere knows about it, but simply refuses to do or say anything. That's not God's fault, and that also isn't a Christian way to be either.
2007-10-29 22:50:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
There is no justification for a child being abused under any circumstances. I do feel however, if that child is caref for properly his life will be a testamony for others. The only thing any person can do when they have committed a crime or sin is to repent and ask forgiveness.And be thankful that there is a chance to be forgiven.
And for the record God does not give you more than you can handle. The key is how you choose to deal with whatever you are going through because He said praise him during times of dispair and if you can't do that it will be harder to see and recieve your blessings when they come. Again this has nothing to do with a child being victimized.
2007-10-29 22:39:21 · answer #4 · answered by cinnamon35 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Our choices and those of others don't always only affect us, the suffering resulting from humanity's choices cannot be justified. We are responsible for the consequences of our actions and choices, especially those that affect other people.
If God intervened every time to prevent someone suffering from the poor choices that someone else has made, would we ever learn to take full responsibility for our actions?
2007-10-29 22:41:50 · answer #5 · answered by Nebulous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever looked at the lives of the people in the Bible? They were loosers and God chose them for a reason. If you haven't Been through anything You cannot be used to tell the story of how God will deliver you and make you the head and not the tail end of other peoples snide remarks and rudeness. Each and every one of the prophets were reluctant , shy, stammered, speech impediments, some were polygamists like Solomon were adulterers like David, prostitutes like Rahab, idolaters like Abraham. Rahab is in the geneology of Jesus in Matthew 1. They repented and Changed not just their lives they were a testimony enough to encourage others to follow God.
2007-10-29 22:59:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
People abuse children not God and that's a bad thing. The good thing is that children are immediately brought into the presence of God. Children are the most honest, righteous, and pure people and that's what he wants us all to be like. He also knows that can never happen, that's why he sent his son to die for our sins. The other thing is maybe it was best that the child leave now so they wouldn't have to spend this lifetime in torment and torture. You wouldn't want to see that would you? GOD BLESS!!!
2007-10-29 22:53:28 · answer #7 · answered by Allan C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps, before God created anything, the rules have been set, that some will have good quality and others will have to be destroyed. But, before actually bringing one into existence He wouldn't know its future. For what is the future of nothing? Then, once a being is brought into existence, well, sorry if it will turn out bad. Perhaps He just have to do it in order to produce the best company that He somehow longs for. Now, among us, we don't know who's graduating with honors.
2007-10-29 22:47:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK, here is my logical Christian answer.
Perfection and Imperfection are binary opposites. Indeed, they are complete states. You can't have a world of perfection where imperfection exists. They cancel each other out.
An example-A "perfect world" would have no "suffering". So, once an action is taken that strays from the perfection, there is an imperfection. Once you introduce imperfection into perfection, perfection no-longer exists.
Since God is (as we percieve) a perfect being (since he created the world, and has ultimate ability), it is impossible for him to exist in his perfect form, alongside our imperfect form. So, this is why humans and God became seperate.
Why? because two humans decided to use their free-will. We don't know if the biblical account of Adam and Eve is factual, or just metaphorical, but either way, it tells us that we don't co-exist with God, because we can't exist alongside perfection.
This is why God came to earth as a human, as an imperfect being. Yes, when God became Jesus, he became imperfect, yet because he was God at the same time, he was also perfect. The first occurance of perfection and imperfection in one body. Its no wonder Jesus had quite a tormented existence.
When Jesus was slain, his imperfect self died, as did his perfect self...but his perfect self would be resurrected, because death does not affect perfection. When he died, he took on the imperfection of ALL mankind. This is why we called Jesus the Son of Man. Just as we inherited our ancestors imperfections, Jesus inherited the imperfections of all mankind.
In essense, the human part of Jesus was the most sinful being ever to exist. SO when it died, it took the imperfection of the world with it.
We still suffer today, because God has not yet restored the world to its prior perfection, and there are biblical reasons for this (I can't go into it now, but there are whole books in the bible devoted to it).
The choices we make and the actions we do are NOT what get us into heaven. The only way for us to do that is to accept that all our sinful actions have been accounted for by Jesus.
You see, its not that God see's US as the ones who have done the action, its that God see's nothing but Jesus. All our sins have been blamed on Jesus. This is why it was such a sacrafice. Jesus didn't do anything.
The only way for us to get into heaven is to accept that Jesus is standing in our place in "court". We do not get blamed, Jesus does. This is why we as Christians want to live the most "pure" life we can, so we don't put anymore blame on Jesus.
It doesn't stop the suffering, but it does explain it. God doesn't "allow" suffering, He has done something about it. He has taken the blame, and said "I take the blame for it, and you can live in perfection if you acept this gift"
We are not held accountable if we accept Jesus. It is an open invitation, if we say "no" to Jesus, then so be it. When we die, that will be it. No hell. If we say "yes" so be it. We will go to live as the perfect beings Jesus' death has allowed us to be.
And if you don't understand, I understand. It is not the most easy of things to hear and know. Jesus made this clear himself when preaching about it, all that time ago.
2007-10-29 22:53:52 · answer #9 · answered by treemeadow 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some children are born in child abuse.
Some children are born in hunger.
Some children are exploited.
Some children are aborted.
Some children are abandoned or sold.
The human state is one of sin. We are separated from a perfect, righteouss, and just God, because of sin. Our state has changed little from ancient times in the Bible. What about children born under the Israelite's 430 years of slavery in Egypt? What about the practices of child sacrifice to false gods?
God hates sin. And, perhaps we do not give enough consideration to how bad...how loathsome...how detestable...we all are as sinners. Perhaps we do not recognize how filthy our sins have plunged our world into such a state of suffering and filth, that the most innocent of us...our children...are born into such misery.
You approach the problem from the wrong perspective. The truth is that we should see what we are as God sees our state. We need to repect God's patience, kindness, and longsuffering. Remember, He loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into this pit to make a way, through His death and resurrection, for us all to be saved. His Son lived a sinless life and suffered and died for sins He never committed! It was not fair...rather it was love.
God will provide for these children - and all of His children - both now and in heaven. Some will have a harder life than others...sin has a way of ripping fairness from our lives. Still, God knows their struggles...and God knows who tortures them. Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord. Our job is to pray for, love, and help these children. Thank God, that love is not fair either, and in the end it is God who triumphs.
2007-10-29 22:50:25 · answer #10 · answered by BowtiePasta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
stop trying to start a atheist christian debate. Damn, leave us be. I leave you (assuming you're atheist) be. But since you inquire, I am christian, i believe god created us, but i believe that god lets us be. He lets us make choices, choices not only affect yourself but of those around you. That's it. I believe god does not intervene. With choice comes freedom and destruction. We make the world what it is. We're all sinners, we are born with sin. Jesus died for our sins, those who accept him will live forever, sucks that you had a shitty life on earth but you have a chance for something better.
You seem to be attacking us so i'll say
What does it matter to you, we (christians) are happy, the inteligent ones who don't go attacking people. Let us believe what we want. It doesn't hurt you.
Because life is a test. What would be the point of life if we couln't make the wrong decisions. We are judged by what we do here.
What laws? There is a seperation of church and state. But a lot of things in christianity are common sense that can be laws. What laws are there that justify you to attack religion, that are meant for your well being as well as others, and stop you from living a full, happy life?
Stop walking around pissed at a certain group of people because of your shortcomings. It doesn't get you anywhere.
2007-10-29 22:39:44 · answer #11 · answered by Corey the Cosmonaut 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋