On human suffering

L

libby

New Member
In response to RedHotMama's thread.
I participated in a Bible study a while back. There was an interesting thought put forth about suffering.
When God banished man from the garden and imposed the punishments that included suffering, why? It was suggested that we remember that, in order to "speak" to us through Scripture, God really is condescending. He's putting things on a plane that is so far beneath Him, so that we might understand in some part of His plan/way/will what-have-you.
Anyway, He imposes this suffering, and as a woman I'll use the "pains in childbirth" as an example. He's telling us that suffering brings forth a good. Obviously, without the pains of labor there would be no new life. Without the toiling in the fields there would be no new plant life, therefor no food, and so the cycle goes.
The suffering of His Son brought us a new and eternal life.
So, if we can view suffering as a way to greater love (and I think we would all agree that we appreciate our loved ones more when we've lost) then we can see how a good God might be trying to teach us something.
 
Dondi

Dondi

Dondi
I tend to think that these punishments are the result of the Fall, that the consequences of the sins caused a dynamic and fundamental change in Adam and Eve (and all creation for that matter) that they now experience pain and suffering. As further contemplation, consider that when Jesus rose from the dead, He had the two nail prints in His hands, yet did not feel pain. His body was restored to pre-Fall conditions, which is the hope of us all.
 
wxtornado

wxtornado

The Other White Meat
My question in the bible study would be "If God is God, why can't he get his message out? Is it beyond his abilities to communicate properly, even though he created "communication" himself? Why is he handicapped like that? "

There's clearly something missing that his message has failed, so we are all shooting in the dark about who and what he is in any case. Or, he's purposely obscuring himself for whatever reason, and of course that leads to all sorts of human conflict that has in turn led to a lot of bloodshed and suffering. All because he won't pick up the phone and let us know what's what. Is there any moral qualms about such a god?

And if you add a refusal to be communicative along with being incorporeal, untestable, invisible, and ineffable -- how is such a God distinguishable from no God at all?
 
Xaquin44

Xaquin44

New Member
blah blah one truth blah blah blah blah only ressurection blah blah blah blah leviticus blah blah blah blah blah born again blah blah blah blah blah no proof of evolution blah blah blah blah blah
 
M

Marie

New Member
wxtornado said:
And if you add a refusal to be communicative along with being incorporeal, untestable, invisible, and ineffable -- how is such a God distinguishable from no God at all?
Click to expand...

He's communicated just fine through his word, but you have to read it. He also communicates through pastors, and also faithfull servants that are willing to proclaim his word.

It reminds me of the joke. I gave you a boat, I gave you a helicopter....
What more do you want?

The problem isnt God communicatting, its man listening or wanting to hear!
Mans Pride getting in the way and acknoweledging there is a God makes him realize that he's less being the createe of the Creator. Thus God calls the shots and makes the rules not man.

Man dosent want to accept this because of his Adamic nature and his desire for self. So by refusing to acknoweldge God and serving Him, He's serving his own self fulfillment, and his father the devil.
 
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