• Re: Why Does God Allow Suffering?

    From Robert@.robert@mu.way to alt.bible on Sat Dec 13 23:18:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.bible

    On Dec 13, 2025, pyotr filipivich wrote (Message-ID:<ob8sjkpoo8fasuvu48bfv7oddbnukme29c@4ax.com>):


    The Real question is: why doesn't God make me be good?

    One can wash there dog, clean him up, but you cannot stop him from having fun in a mud puddle unless you lock him in, but that wonrCOt kill his desire to
    do so at his first opportunity.
    --

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  • From James to alt.bible,alt.religion.christian on Sun Dec 14 14:37:13 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.bible

    On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 18:37:16 -0800, pyotr filipivich
    <phamp@mindspring.com> wrote:


    The Real question is: why doesn't God make me be good?

    You want to be a mindless robot? God could have made you that way, but
    you would have to give up your free will. Your ability to make choices
    would be gone. Are you sure you would want that?

    "AWAKE!
    Coping With Rising Prices?uManage Your Funds Wisely
    Consider five money-saving tips that can help you manage your
    finances.
    Learn More".
    See jw.org (12/13/2025)
    James: zebrabible@proton.me

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  • From Christ Rose@usenet@christrose.news to alt.christnet.christnews,alt.bible,alt.religion.christian on Sun Dec 14 14:05:26 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.bible

    You prove that your objections are not based on Scripture. You have no Scriptural correction to offer here. All you have is emotionally charged opposition to the plain truth of the Bible.

    On 12/13/2025 7:58 PM, James wrote:
    On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:21:43 -0600, Christ Rose
    <usenet@christrose.news> wrote:

    Why does God allow suffering?

    1. God uses suffering to warn and restrain us from danger

    rCLBefore I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your wordrCY >> (Psalm 119:67, ESV).

    rCLFor the moment all discipline seems painful rather than
    pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of
    righteousnessrCY (Hebrews 12:11, ESV).

    Pain functions as a warning system. Physical pain alerts us to injury.

    We all know that. The question was why does God permit SUFFERING, not
    pain?

    Are children with cancer being disciplined for some reason? Is that
    supposed to improve their character? Honest folks want to know why a
    God of love permits such things. And that is a legitimate question.

    Spiritual and circumstantial pain alerts us to danger. Lepers lose the
    ability to feel pain, and as a result they destroy their own bodies
    without realizing it. In the same way, a painless life would allow us to
    wander into sin, pride, and self-destruction without restraint. God uses
    suffering to stop us, awaken us, and turn us back before greater harm comes. >>
    2. God uses suffering to discipline His children in love

    rCLThe Lord disciplines the one he lovesrCa He disciplines us for our >> good, that we may share his holinessrCY (Hebrews 12:6, 10, ESV).

    Scripture presents suffering for believers not as punishment, but as
    fatherly discipline. Discipline aims at correction, not condemnation.
    God applies pressure to train His children, reshape desires, and produce
    holiness. This suffering carries purpose, not wrath, and always operates
    within the bounds of love.

    Yes, sounds about right for your torturous hellfire god. God never
    intended for His children to suffer anything. And He will once again
    make sure that will be fulfilled. Rev 21:3,4,
    "3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the
    tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
    shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
    God.
    4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
    shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
    there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (KJV)



    3. God uses suffering to produce endurance and maturity

    The Bible God generally doesn't MAKE anyone suffer. That just comes
    with an imperfect life. Satan is running the works right now, so we
    are not surprised things are in a mess.

    Yes, tell that about suffering to the cancer children at St Jude's
    cancer center. Many by now should be more mature than adults. And as
    far as endurance goes, they don't have much of a choice do they.


    rCLYou know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastnessrCY >> (James 1:3rCo4, ESV).

    rCLWe rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
    endurancerCY (Romans 5:3rCo4, ESV).

    He is referring to mainly adults suffering from religious opposition,
    which in Paul's day could be fatal.


    Suffering strengthens faith the way resistance strengthens muscle. God
    uses trials to develop endurance, stability, and spiritual maturity.
    Without pressure, faith remains shallow. With pressure, faith grows roots.

    Actually, faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)


    4. God uses suffering to deepen dependence on Him

    rCLWe were so utterly burdened beyond our strengthrCa to make us rely >> not on ourselves but on God who raises the deadrCY (2 Corinthians
    1:8rCo9, ESV).

    Suffering exposes self-reliance as an illusion. God allows circumstances
    that exceed our strength so we learn to rest in His power. When we
    cannot rescue ourselves, we learn to trust the God who raises the dead.

    Yes, your god uses hellfire to sharpen their skills. (which don't help
    any) The churches' god seems to like pain and torture and agony and
    terrible suffering. No wonder why there is so many atheists. I would
    probably be one also if I believed the churches stagnated beliefs.


    5. God uses suffering to display His power through weakness

    You make him sound like a bully,which is exactly what the churches'
    god is. They don't know the REAL God of the Bible. A God who loved us
    long before we ever loved Him. And He gave His only Son for us
    sinners. Don't you think that caused God tremendous hurt? But His love
    for us was greater than thinking about Himself.

    rCLWe have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the
    surpassing power belongs to God and not to usrCY (2 Corinthians


    4:7, ESV).

    God intentionally works through weakness so no one mistakes the source
    of power. Suffering strips away pride and self-confidence, making it
    clear that any endurance, fruit, or perseverance comes from Him.

    6. God uses suffering to make Christ visible in us

    rCLAlways carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life
    of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodiesrCY (2 Corinthians
    4:10rCo11, ESV).

    Suffering conforms believers to Christ. As we share in His sufferings,
    His life becomes visible through us. God uses affliction to shape
    Christlike humility, obedience, and hope.

    7. God uses suffering to comfort others through us

    rCLHe comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to
    comfort those who are in any afflictionrCY (2 Corinthians 1:4,
    ESV).

    God never wastes suffering. He comforts us so we can comfort others.
    Those who have suffered under GodrCOs care become instruments of His
    compassion to others walking the same road.

    8. God uses suffering to advance the gospel

    rCLWhat has happened to me has really served to advance the gospelrCY >> (Philippians 1:12, ESV).

    God uses hardship to spread the message of Christ. Opposition,
    imprisonment, and loss often place the gospel where comfort never would.
    Suffering opens doors that ease keeps shut.


    9. God uses suffering to loosen our grip on this world and fix our hope
    on eternity

    rCLThis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
    weight of glory beyond all comparisonrCY (2 Corinthians 4:17rCo18,
    ESV).

    rCLWe suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with
    himrCY (Romans 8:17, ESV).

    Suffering reorients our vision. It teaches us not to live for what is
    seen, but for what is eternal. God uses pain to detach our hearts from
    temporary comforts and anchor our hope in the glory to come.

    10. God uses suffering to bring glory to Himself in Christ

    rCLThis illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God,
    so that the Son of God may be glorified through itrCY (John 11:4,
    ESV).

    The ultimate reason God permits suffering centers on His glory revealed
    in Christ. God displays His wisdom, power, mercy, and faithfulness
    through suffering in ways comfort never could. Even the darkest moments
    serve His redemptive purposes.

    Taken together, Scripture shows that suffering does not signal GodrCOs
    absence or indifference. God uses suffering to warn, correct, mature,
    humble, strengthen, comfort, witness, and glorify Himself in Christ.
    Pain is not meaningless. In the hands of a wise and loving God, it
    becomes a servant, not a master.

    The Scriptures above are full of wisdom, but you are slanting them in
    a direction they are not. You are implying God CAUSES suffering, like
    cancer children, deformed births, poverty, etc, etc. You don't know
    the Bible God very well.

    If you want to know the real reason why God permits suffering, see my
    latest posting.

    "AWAKE!
    Coping With Rising Prices?rCoManage Your Funds Wisely
    Consider five money-saving tips that can help you manage your
    finances.
    Learn More".
    See jw.org (12/13/2025)
    James: zebrabible@proton.me

    --
    Have you heard the good news Christ died for our sins (rCa), and God
    raised Him from the dead?

    That Christ died for our sins shows we're sinners who deserve the death penalty. That God raised Him from the dead shows Christ's death
    satisfied God's righteous demands against our sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John
    2:1-2). This means God can now remain just, while forgiving you of your
    sins, and saving you from eternal damnation.

    On the basis of Christ's death and resurrection for our sins, call on
    the name of the Lord to save you: "For 'everyone who calls on the name
    of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:13, ESV).

    https://christrose.news/salvation

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  • From pyotr filipivich@phamp@mindspring.com to alt.bible,alt.religion.christian on Mon Dec 22 12:13:37 2025
    From Newsgroup: alt.bible

    James on Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:37:13 -0500 typed in alt.bible the
    following:
    On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 18:37:16 -0800, pyotr filipivich
    <phamp@mindspring.com> wrote:


    The Real question is: why doesn't God make me be good?

    You want to be a mindless robot? God could have made you that way, but
    you would have to give up your free will. Your ability to make choices
    would be gone. Are you sure you would want that?

    Exactly.

    Since the fall, man has been free to chose good or evil. All by
    his lonesome.
    Which not only includes the option to chose stupidly, but badly as well.
    So, do you want to be a robot? Or would you rather be fully
    human, with agency to choose even the wrong option?
    --
    pyotr filipivich
    This Week's Panel: Us & Them - Eliminating Them.
    Next Month's Panel: Having eliminated the old Them(tm)
    Selecting who insufficiently Woke(tm) as to serve as the new Them(tm)
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