The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask

[seekingthemindofChrist]

Question One - How Can a Good God Allow so Much Suffering?

And... go!

The short answer to this question is found here:

Romans 8:14-25

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

Presently, the whole creation groans and travails in pain together, like a pregnant woman experiencing labor pains as she awaits the birth of her child, and that is because it was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Adam's sin which subjected it to the same, but in hope. In other words, the whole creation is looking forward to the day when it shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, or, spiritually speaking, when the child shall be born and its labor pains shall cease, and that day pertains to a Christian's adoption, which is not yet complete, and will not be complete until he or she receives the redemption of their body at Christ's second coming (and not at some fake pre or mid tribulation rapture which is never coming). Similarly, Christians, who presently have the Spirit of adoption within them, yet not the fullness of their adoption, groan within themselves as they hopefully await the same.

Until that day comes, suffering will continue in some form or another. As Paul said, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in Christians when their adoption is complete. Of course, seeing how the average Christian is completely clueless as to what Paul meant by the adoption, they have no idea what this glory truly is.

 

[Eli1]

@ThereRoseaLamb do you have an easier question now?

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

@ThereRoseaLamb do you have an easier question now?

These were questions that were given as answers in a poll that Christians said they had a hard time answering when non Christians asked them. So Question 2...

How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?

 

[Magenta]

How do you know God exists?

Psalm 19:1

 

[Cameron143]

Psalm 19:1

She sure looks happy that God exists.

 

[Magenta]

She sure looks happy that God exists.

She's happy not to be one of those fools who says in their heart, "There is no God." .

 

[maxwel]

These were questions that were given as answers in a poll that Christians said they had a hard time answering when non Christians asked them. So Question 2...

How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?

"How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?"


There are many many good evidences for God, of all varieties... and there are probably thousands of books written on this.


Since there are thousands of books written on this... each of your questions really needs it's own thread.




If you don't start a new thread for each of these topics, the questions and answers will all get lost, confused, and garbled as the pages progress.

.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

"How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?"


There are many many good evidences for God, of all varieties... and there are probably thousands of books written on this.


Since there are thousands of books written on this... each of your questions really needs it's own thread.




If you don't start a new thread for each of these topics, the questions and answers will all get lost, confused, and garbled as the pages progress.

.

Yes, one of my favorites is Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Lee Strobels books are good too, I have several.

ps thanks for the advice.

 

[studentoftheword]

How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?

I would say to the person -----I myself cannot convince you that God exists ------I can only tell of my personal experience of knowing God exists ----and present Scripture that tells you that does God exists -----and there is no excuse for anyone not to know that God does exists ----as they look and see what God has created -----all is very visual to all people who have eyes to see --but all people do not want to believe God exists ------and so no amount of trying to convince them is futile ------

Our Sin nature is closed to believing in an unseen God ------and our hearts are hardened and our eyes veiled to wanting to know that God does exist ------

Science has created a false narrative about how this world came into being and many choose to believe that ----

God has to draw the person into wanting to believe that He exists ------ and then we have free will to accept or reject God's drawing of our hearts and unveiling our eyes to see ------

I would though present scripture to the person ----as I would not know if God is working in that person to change their hardened heart to a receptive heart ---so presenting scripture is inbirthing the right faith in them by hearing the Word -----


Romans 1:20

Amplified Bible

20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.

Psalm 19:1

Amplified Bible

The Works and the Word of God.
19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.


Genesis 1:1

Amplified Bible

The Creation
1 In the beginning God ([a]Elohim) [b]created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.


Psalm 33:6

Amplified Bible
6
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,
And all their host by the breath of His mouth.

I say --if these scriptures are not received well from the person then they have chosen to remain unconvinced and it is fruitless to carry on trying to convince them that God does exist -------

I would follow what Jesus said to do when someone doesn't listen to the Word ----

 

[Eli1]

These were questions that were given as answers in a poll that Christians said they had a hard time answering when non Christians asked them. So Question 2...

How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?

Oh this is an easy one.

God exists because:

1. The Universe exists (with all of us in it).
2. The fine-tuning argument exists.
3. Miracles exist.
4. Jesus Christ was here.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

[montana123]

As usually happens I was looking up something on the internet and came across something that took my attention. The title of the book, the title to this thread, caught my interest. As Christians sometimes we have pat answers, or sometimes we don't have an answer when someone asks a question. I try to be well read on these questions that may perhaps come my way. I thought it might be interesting to see how some of these questions would be answered here in the BDF. If it get's too far afield I will drag it back to topic. Think that you are answering a new Christian, or someone who knows nothing about the Bible. You're not giving your answer to me, let's pretend a little, how would you answer these questions to someone who never opened the Bible, been to church or knows Christ. Ready??


Question One - How Can a Good God Allow so Much Suffering?

And... go!

2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

It will not do any good for many of them because they want to find fault with the Bible, and Christianity, so they will come up with whatever they can to do that although a few might be sincere to want to know why.

An example is an atheist who reads God did not deliver the Canaanites in to the hands of Israel when they were coming out of the wilderness because they had a large number of chariots, and lots of people, and they felt like they were grasshoppers in their sight.

So they say see God is not all powerful because He could not overthrow the Canaanites.

But if they back up in the Bible they will read where God said if they fear the people of the land that He will not deliver them because they do not trust Him.

They are so hasty to say something derogatory against the Bible that do not get the complete picture before their mouth goes a babbling.

They do not read the Bible to understand the suffering, and all is alright if you are with God, for the flesh is temporary but spiritual is forever.

It is why humans can be saved because they are in the flesh, and all sin resides in the flesh, and they put off the flesh with the sin, and their soul is saved, and preserved, and spiritual salvation is all that matters.

It is the only way we can be saved because of our sin is because we are in the flesh, so we have to endure the suffering that comes about in the world, and spiritual salvation is the only thing that matters.

Fallen angels cannot be saved because they are only one being with no components so when they sin they tainted their whole being with nowhere to put off the flesh.

If we were not in the weak flesh that can suffer we would not be able to receive salvation after we sin because we tainted our whole being with nowhere to put off the sin.

But if we are in the flesh we can put off the flesh with the sin, and be saved.

So what is more important to be in the flesh with possible suffering, and receive salvation after we sin, or not be in the flesh but be a being of one component that after we sin we cannot be redeemed.

It is a no brainer.

And also being with God you have protection, and nothing can happen unless God allows it.

Israel had it good being delivered from their enemies until they went astray and lost God's protection but God always has a hand on Israel, and after they have borne their shame will restore them.

That is why there is suffering because we are not made spiritual beings because that already happened, and they cannot have salvation after they sin, so God put us in flesh so we could be redeemed, and there might be suffering, but we can be saved after we sin, and spiritual salvation is all that matters.

Also Jesus is a good example of someone living right for God, and you do not read of Jesus' suffering throughout His life, and when they went to lay hands of Him then He went out of their sight, and they could not touch Him until the time was come for Him to give us His human body to take away our sins.

God is not to blame for suffering because people do not follow Him, and have His protection, and the benefits He gives us.

The truth is I do not believe I have suffered in my life except for small things that were not even bothersome.

I have not been seriously hurt, and no one has been against me terribly, and I have food, clothing, and shelter, a good job, and I have great health, and great mental well being, and live in a good place where the people are decent.

A lot of people suffer because of neglect on their part because they were not paying attention, or did not prepare for something.

Now I have to knock on wood.

 

[studentoftheword]

Oh this is an easy one.

God exists because:

1. The Universe exists (with all of us in it).
2. The fine-tuning argument exists.
3. Miracles exist.
4. Jesus Christ was here.

People who ask this question are going to be Atheist or Unbelievers so by saying your list to them --do you think that would convince them of God's existence ???????

That is the question ??????????

 

[Eli1]

People who ask this question are going to be Atheist or Unbelievers so by saying your list to them --do you think that would convince them of God's existence ???????

That is the question ??????????

Oh yeah they do when you push them far enough in the corners of their logic. The thing with Atheists is that they have language usage problems and lack of self awareness when applying those words onto themselves. When this is revealed to them they're kind of stuck and a light bulb goes on as they try to make their next move which is usually "I'm an agnostic now".

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

These were questions that were given as answers in a poll that Christians said they had a hard time answering when non Christians asked them. So Question 2...

How do you know God exists? Or why are you so certain that He does?

I tell people who ask this question to go seek God for themselves - because He is more than willing to prove Himself!

That's how I actually got saved! I started seeking Him out. I only regularly went to one bible study weekly, but I studied the Bible myself and learned to pray. And God just started to prove He is real by helping me understand His word, answering my prayers and protecting me from Satan and his minions. It pretty much got to the point that I couldn't deny He existed and it was a really nice day when I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.

So that's what I tell people. If they really want to know if God exists, they should make the genuine effort to seek Him out by studying what the Bible says, to start praying to Him for understanding, and to help them see Him active if their day-to-day lives! It really works!


🍔

 

[studentoftheword]

Oh yeah they do when you push them far enough in the corners of their logic. The thing with Atheists is that they have language usage problems and lack of self awareness when applying those words onto themselves. When this is revealed to them they're kind of stuck and a light bulb goes on as they try to make their next move which is usually "I'm an agnostic now".

I don't think so----but ---that is just my view -----

 

[Eli1]

I don't think so----but ---that is just my view -----

Not always of course but the majority of them end up in the Agnostic camp.
The "real" atheists are either angry at God about something that happened in their lives and they reject Him or some of them just like to pick on Christians due to a bad experience they've had in the past with Christianity.

I've been dealing with Atheists for decades.

 

[maxwel]

People who ask this question are going to be Atheist or Unbelievers so by saying your list to them --do you think that would convince them of God's existence ???????

That is the question ??????????

To "convince" someone is not within our ability.

If we offer appropriate evidences, to the best of our ability... that is all we can do.


God Bless
.

 

[studentoftheword]

Not always of course but the majority of them end up in the Agnostic camp.
The "real" atheists are either angry at God about something that happened in their lives and they reject Him or some of them just like to pick on Christians due to a bad experience they've had in the past with Christianity.

I've been dealing with Atheists for decades.

How can an Atheist be angry at God when Atheist don't believe in any god at all ------just saying

The literal definition of “atheist” is “a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods,” according to Merriam-Webster. And the vast majority of U.S. atheists fit this description: 81% say they do not believe in God or a higher power or in a spiritual force of any kind.

 

[studentoftheword]

To "convince" someone is not within our ability.

If we offer appropriate evidences, to the best of our ability... that is all we can do.


God Bless

I agree with this -----and right back at ya ------God Bless----