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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Suffering and God's providence | Bible general Archive 3 | atdcross | 162818 | ||
Hi Brother Tim, I agree that is what Peter wrote, however, that suffering itself is God’s will was not what, I believe, Peter meant by it; at least, not when the context is taken into consideration. None of the verses hint that God is the cause of their suffering or that he purposely intended it. Suffering, as Peter says, is the inevitable outcome of the Christian life because of worldly opposition; therefore, they should not be surprised when it occurs as if godliness assured peace and comfort (Gal 4:29; 2 Tim 3:12). Note vss.15-16. If there is to be suffering, he tells them it should be for doing right and not for doing wrong. This is “suffering according to the will of God,” when we suffer because we are doing what is right. To suffer in and of itself is not God’s will. If it were, then even the one who suffers for doing wrong would be “suffering according to the will of God” because he suffers, which would, evidently, make Peter’s exhortation in vs.15 meaningless. If it is God who causes and intends suffering, why pray for the sick to be healed? Don’t we want “God’s will” for the person”? Why counsel a woman who gets beaten everyday by her husband to separate from him? Why have an abusive husband arrested for that matter? When a child is being raped, he/she is “suffering according to God’s will.” Being raped, therefore, was the best thing that can happen to that child, is it not? I am only trying to follow the line of reasoning that would follow your objection. If suffering itself is God’s will, any believer who suffers for whatever reasons, wrong or right, is in God’s will; and any believer not suffering or who never experienced suffering is out of God’s will. |
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2 | Suffering and God's providence | Bible general Archive 3 | mark d seyler | 162824 | ||
Hi Atdcross, If we say that God sometimes causes suffering (what we call suffering, anyway), this does not automatically mean that we are saying that God causes all suffering. Love in Christ, Mark |
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3 | Suffering and God's providence | Bible general Archive 3 | atdcross | 162828 | ||
Thank you for clearing that up for me, Mark. I agree with that. However, not all may agree with you. Some may assert that God causes all suffering. What I do not agree with is that it is G od's will/intention or that God causes all suffering and, specifically, that it is God's will or God causes His children to suffer as, for example, in the case of sickness and even persecution. I appreciate the clarification and apologize for any misunderstanding on my part. |
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4 | Suffering and God's providence | Bible general Archive 3 | mark d seyler | 162830 | ||
Hi atdcross, I would like to tell you that while we may be at odds on this point, I appreciate the spirit and attitude you bring to the table. :-) I believe that God either directly causes, or specifically allows, all things that enter into a believer's life, whether they be "natural disasters", persecutions, consequences of sin, any of the ups and downs in life. I believe that many things that we think of as suffering are really the greatest blessings we receive. Many things we think of as blessings may actually be tests we fail, such as a monetary windfall which God actually wanted us to give for His work but we spent on our ease - we will know more in heaven. Love in Christ, Mark |
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