Why Does God Allow Suffering?
"For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one the many will be righteous." - Romans 5:19
A common question is, "How can a loving God allow so much suffering and evil in the world?" It's a tough question that philosophers and theologians have struggled with forever. There is no completely adequate answer, but it's important to remember that God is blamed for a lot of things that man does wrong.
When God created man He gave us all a free will. He didn't program us as robots to always do what's right or what He wants. Robots have no choice, but humans do. We can choose to trust and obey God--or do things our own way.
From the first man and woman, each person has chosen to go his or her own way rather than God's way. The result of man's sin is disease, suffering, and death.
God has done something pretty dramatic to confront the problem: He humbled Himself to become one of us, in the person of Jesus Christ, to show us how to live. Even more, Christ came to die for us. Through faith in Him, we begin to reverse this cycle of evil and suffering.
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18 Comments
What a great way to put it. So many people blame God for our sins and suffering, but in fact, because we all have "free" will, we can either choose God or choose Satan. - Carl
This has got to be one of the first things that non-believers ask me. How can you say God is good when there is so much evil and suffering? What a great answer! It certainly seems like when a good thing happens society attributes it to mankind and when bad things happen it is God's fault. - Austin
How can people be so stupid? God told us how to live and we don't follow the instructions.
Most people don't bother to read the safety manual. Start with Genesis. Read it like you would a heavy machinery operation manual. Read to understand not critique. - Hal
Unfortunately if you believe in destiny and that God knows all, you find yourself questioning why does HE allow the suffering. - gary
I absolutely agree with all of this, but there is always the question of God-caused suffering such as hurricaines, tsunami's, etc. - eli
There was a guy in the Bible who asked this very same question. His name was Job. His friends gave the same answer Bryant does--that is, we suffer because of our sins. But God had a different answer- He told Job that it was none of his business, that God was the boss and torturing humans is just how He likes to roll sometimes. In Job's particular case God kills his family and showers all manner of abuse on him just so He can win bragging rights from Satan. Look it up if you don't believe me. - Erik
i really enjoy the one minute devotions. they make a nice addition to my facebook. i've been sharing it with friends. god bless-george icorinth. 15:58 - george spaulding
Bryant, all these messages seem to be just right for each day since Tom's death. Thank you for all you are and have been for us and our dear Anne and family, Our Love Mom H. - Marge and Bob Hoskins
The Bible verse quoted, Romans 5:19, gives an answer about the suffering of the innocent. The verse is specifically about the sin of one man (Adam) and woman (Eve) that released the consequences of sin into the world (disease, suffering and death). Therefore we all suffer from "one man's disobedience" onto which we may add suffering for our own disobedience on any given day. God covered the sin through the action of Jesus, "through the obedience of the one". For now that means death has been overcome with eternal life for believers. Disease and suffering are still in the world at the present time along with Satan doing his best to rule this world but in the end God wins and there will be no more disease and suffering for the believers. Jesus is a comforter for those who suffer the consequences of sin even if they are just innocent victims of the initial release of sin in the world. Have faith in Jesus and you will be blessed. You may still suffer but you will be comforted and feel loved like from no other earthly source. - Janice
Eli, I understand what you are saying, but I don't understand why you think God causes hurricanes, etc. Those types of things are called "acts of God" in insurance policies, but there is no reason to think God caused them to happen. We live in a fallen world and because of our sin things aren't the way God designed them. Romans 8 says the earth groans under the weight of our sin, waiting to be renewed. These goans can come in the form of hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. God may use a hurricane or earthquake for some ultimate good, but he doesn't cause all of them. - Austin
I agree wholeheartedly with Austin. - rocky
Thank you, Austin. I had forgotten about that scripture. You are exactly right. And thank you for making it a positive answer unlike Erik's very negative outlook. - eli
Erik simply re-stated what God Himself tells us about suffering in the book of Job. This is the clearest and most direct answer God gives on the subject and I'm sorry if some people don't like what The Lord says. - Erik
God didnt "kill his family and showers all manner of abuse on him just so He can win bragging rights from Satan" i believed Erik might have misintepreted the bible.
if i remembered correctly, we were the one scourging him and hurling abuse on him for dying for us on the cross.
He is perfect but humbled Himself to become one of us, He took the weight of sin for us when He is innocent. He isnt the egoistical God you made him out to be.
the gift of free will is indeed very beautiful.
the challenge is to willingly return the gift of free will back to God and have faith to follow His footpints in one's own life. - victor
God didnt "kill his family and showers all manner of abuse on him just so He can win bragging rights from Satan" i believed Erik might have misintepreted the bible.
if i remembered correctly, we were the one scourging him and hurling abuse on him for dying for us on the cross.
He is perfect but humbled Himself to become one of us, He took the weight of sin for us when He is innocent. He isnt the egoistical God you made him out to be.
the gift of free will is indeed very beautiful.
the challenge is to willingly return the gift of free will back to God and have faith to follow His footpints in one's own life. - victor
I have misinterpreted nothing. Re-read the book of Job and tell me what I have said that was incorrect. God made a bet with Satan. God lets Satan torture Job. Job asks God why. God says, essentially, it's none of your business. End of story. - Erik
How does having faith in God reduce your suffering? Just because God gave us free will doesn't mean that he couldn't stop suffering. People who choose to follow God still suffer; and so do people who don't choose to follow God. So how is following him supposed to help? You suffer either way. - Kelsey
Erik, I am disappointed in you. Come up with a better arguement than that one above. Everyone knows that is a very twisted and untrue summary of Job. Also - once again you are factually incorrect - Job's friends do not say the same thing as Brant says above. Your arguements are weak and sophomoric. - Austin