I love theology. Fire away, I’ll try to join in if (and only if) I have something valuable to add.
Undoubtedly you do!
So, do you bellieve the story of Adam and Eve is literal (history)or metaphorical (parable)?Why do you believe this? Do you see any counter-evidence for this in the world?our Father is a being of love
I hope this is helpful.
So the question is this: Is God evil and, if not, why then does God allow suffering?I believe it starts in Genesis. Our Father created Adam (man) and Eve (woman) and put them in a place where there was no suffering and it was, so to speak, Christmas for them every day. How did our brother and sister respond? Lacking appreciation, gratitude, and especially wisdom, they rebelled against our Father!I can only speculate that, without experiencing pain, suffering, and loss, Adam and Eve could not appreciate their idyllic existence nor the enormity of our Father's gift of life and love. And so after they rebelled against our Father he kicked them out of Paradise and told them the following:Genesis 3:16-1716 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.Experiencing pain, suffering, and loss is necessary for us to learn humility, compassion, love, gratitude, and most especially to put our hope, trust, and faith in our Father and to obey and follow him perfectly! Hence, our Father is teaching and refining us through the affliction of hardship. The following verse describes our Father working on Israel but I believe it applies as well to all humanity.Isaiah 48:1010 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.So, no, our Father is not evil. Our Father created us out of love. He disciplines us out of love so that we can become truly great in his Kingdom. All I can say is, thank you Father!
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So, do you bellieve the story of Adam and Eve is literal (history)or metaphorical (parable)?
Great question. I believe literal. Let me show you why. The Gospel of Luke lists Jesus's genealogy all the way back to Adam.
Luke 3:23-28
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,[e] the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Why do you believe this? Do you see any counter-evidence for this in the world?our Father is a being of love
I hope this is helpful.
So the question is this: Is God evil and, if not, why then does God allow suffering?I believe it starts in Genesis. Our Father created Adam (man) and Eve (woman) and put them in a place where there was no suffering and it was, so to speak, Christmas for them every day. How did our brother and sister respond? Lacking appreciation, gratitude, and especially wisdom, they rebelled against our Father!I can only speculate that, without experiencing pain, suffering, and loss, Adam and Eve could not appreciate their idyllic existence nor the enormity of our Father's gift of life and love. And so after they rebelled against our Father he kicked them out of Paradise and told them the following:Genesis 3:16-1716 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.Experiencing pain, suffering, and loss is necessary for us to learn humility, compassion, love, gratitude, and most especially to put our hope, trust, and faith in our Father and to obey and follow him perfectly! Hence, our Father is teaching and refining us through the affliction of hardship. The following verse describes our Father working on Israel but I believe it applies as well to all humanity.Isaiah 48:1010 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.So, no, our Father is not evil. Our Father created us out of love. He disciplines us out of love so that we can become truly great in his Kingdom. All I can say is, thank you Father!
and what about the innocent kids born with cancer or other illnesses? Some never know anything but suffering. How is god fair to them, those too young to understand, let alone appreciate?
how about the victims of the school shootings, particularly the Christian school shootings?
and what about the innocent kids born with cancer or other illnesses? Some never know anything but suffering. How is god fair to them, those too young to understand, let alone appreciate?
how about the victims of the school shootings, particularly the Christian school shootings?
God allows it because it's necessary for the development and refinement of their souls. Our sufferings here are infinitesimal compared to the extraordinary ecstasy and incomprehensible glory that we will realize FOREVER as a result of what we do here. I will add that the Bible speaks of incredible rewards for those who faithfully follow and serve Jesus in this world right now. We serve Jesus by, in part, serving others.
Below are a couple of verses that demonstrate that our Father has an amazing existence for us in his Kingdom!
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Revelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
@littlebitchbuckeye How old is the earth and universe? Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
and what about the innocent kids born with cancer or other illnesses? Some never know anything but suffering. How is god fair to them, those too young to understand, let alone appreciate?
how about the victims of the school shootings, particularly the Christian school shootings?
God allows it because it's necessary for the development and refinement of their souls. Our sufferings here are infinitesimal compared to the extraordinary ecstasy and incomprehensible glory that we will realize FOREVER as a result of what we do here. I will add that the Bible speaks of incredible rewards for those who faithfully follow and serve Jesus in this world right now. We serve Jesus by, in part, serving others.
Below are a couple of verses that demonstrate that our Father has an amazing existence for us in his Kingdom!
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Revelation 21:4
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
I'd be a little more judicious with the word "necessary." Because if it's not necessary for the refinement of YOUR soul (i.e., you're not facing the same suffering), then it's not necessary for the refinement of the infant dying painfully from a genetic disorder before they've formed even a minimum level of awareness. And if it's not necessary, then it's by choice. If the pain thrust upon babies is to teach their parents a lesson through secondary suffering, then that's really awful because (1) you'd assume a god would have the power/ability to choose to edify someone outside of causing the suffering of a different person and (2) it's manifestly unjust to use the suffering of an innocent to make a point.
Scriptures certainly can make someone feel better about the suffering in the world by instilling a belief that everything will be better some day. It clearly does for you. The rub is that every religion does that. Even other flavors of Christianity that may not believe that yours is "true" Christianity and who you may not believe there's is true either. To some extent, all religions have to appeal to some level of divine revelation. They all can't be right, although they all can be wrong.
@littlebitchbuckeye How old is the earth and universe? Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
Incredibly meaningless prattle.
Do you know the answers? I bet you do.@littlebitchbuckeye How old is the earth and universe? Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
Incredibly meaningless prattle.
Even other flavors of Christianity that may not believe that yours is “true” Christianity and who you may not believe there’s is true either.
Yes brother. I believe that the following scriptures succinctly summarize what it means to be a "true Christian". Love God. Obey God. Love one another. That's it.
@littlebitchbuckeye How old is the earth and universe? Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?
Proverbs 9:7-8
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
I’d be a little more judicious with the word “necessary.” Because if it’s not necessary for the refinement of YOUR soul (i.e., you’re not facing the same suffering), then it’s not necessary for the refinement of the infant dying painfully from a genetic disorder before they’ve formed even a minimum level of awareness.
My brother, I believe in and trust our Father's plan for all people. I know that he has a purpose for everything that happens, especially and including the suffering of an infant. Being a faithful follower of God means putting our faith and trust in him and living our daily lives in a manner pleasing to him and that is what I strive to do.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.