(July 16, 2013 at 6:19 pm)k2490 Wrote: "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
I would like to say first I'm sorry others did not take you seriously, I hope these answers will help.
The simple answer is there is evil in the world, man has evil tendencies. Sickness is a part of life, it seems no one is immune to disease and if we are blessed enough not to get sick, old age will get us. Why do accidents happen, mostly through carelessness on someones part, not intentional though. But I suppose you're wanting to know why God allows bad things to happen, the best answer I know to give, is to allow us to see sin in action. Do I believe all bad things that happen is due to sin, no, this has to do with God's desire to show people He's there to help. God does not want to interfere in people's lives, He desires they ask Him to be there and help. God is not here to always stop bad things, He's here to help those who believe He will and at times those who do not even believe. This old age question will never be able to have a satisfactory answer for everyone, I know i've questioned God about this very thing.
k2490 Wrote:"what's the point of praying if god already knows what your praying for?"
Why do parents listen to their children's questions when the parents already know what's best for their children, at least for the most part they do. Parents want to have a relationship with their children, God's no different, it is the relationship. Prayer is not asking for things, it's talking with God the same as you might with a friend. Read the Lord's prayer, the one Jesus said we should pattern all our prayers after, this is a prayer of little "I need," and more about "I desire the relationship." I personally talk to God wherever I am and even when I'm doing things, I thank Him when I see His work in my life. Should one pray on their knees, sure but you do not have to do it all the time or even most of the time. So you see prayer is not necessarily a I need or I want thing, it's more of I want to talk with you my friend.
k2490 Wrote:"Why does god test people? I mean 1. he already knows 2. if it's to make them stronger or his will why can't he do that without causing pain to others?
isn't he a god of love?"
God only test those He loves, that's to say those who are in a relationship with Him, this I believe wholeheartedly, so if one is not in a relationship with Him they are not being tested by Him. God does not always use painful situations to test His children, to often Christians will believe because something bad has happened to them God's testing them. Most of the time a Christian who is in a very deep relationship wih God will recognize when they have been tested.
k2490 Wrote:"All the religions can't be right? If there was a god wouldn't we only have one that everyone worships not thousands of different ones? Hell there are many denominations of Christianity a lone?"
You are correct not all religions can be right, there is only one God, He has set up His own creation and His will ultimately rules. The one thing a person can count on with God, His will has our best interest at it's center. People who reject God for other religions have many reasons, most can be traced back to the OT times. Yes there are a ton of denominations, however most are not that dissimilar and most believe in salvation through faith in Christ by the grace of God.
k2490 Wrote:"What about the suffering of others?"
As far as Christians believe the answer is sin, this is a complicated question no one has even settled in their own lives, so don't feel alone on this. If others say they have the answer to this question and they seem to believe it, I personally would believe they do not care about the suffering of others. I wish I could answer this for you, but like others it is an unsettled question for me.
k2490 Wrote:"What about still born and miscarriages? where's god in those situations?"
God's there for the ones who desire His help through the situation, God has never guaranteed life to be perfect, hardship is a part of life for whatever reason, God desires to help us if we'll ask. I believe this falls under why do bad things happen.
k2490 Wrote:"how can god get angry or jealous or what have you? I mean most of the time those emotions are reactionary. How can he react to something he already knows?"
Who's to say what God's anger is, He does know what will happen before it does so His anger is not one of immediate reaction. I know I have become angry at a situation after I had time to think about the consequences of the given situation. I do not say this is what God's anger is, more of a thought really. One thing I'm sure of, we can not understand all the ways of God and I believe God has explained His actions in a way we can understand, how can anyone understand an omni being. Even the angels did not understand why Christ had to suffer and die for our sin and they are there with God.
k2490 Wrote:"what makes Christianity any more valid than other religions?"
just some of the many questions I've had
Christianity for me is more valid because it's a relational religion, no other gods offer what the God of creation does. He offers us a living relationship with Him in salvation through Christ and an everlasting life of complete peace. He offers us justice according to a standard that was before time an unchanging standard that we can depend upon.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
