WHYWHY DOES GOD ALLOW SIN DOES GOD ALLOW SIN

AND SUFFERING?AND SUFFERING?

If there is a God, why is If there is a God, why is there so much suffering there so much suffering in the world? If God is in the world? If God is love and He loves us, love and He loves us, why does the news why does the news

seem to get worse by seem to get worse by the day?the day?

Why have thousands of innocent people Why have thousands of innocent people suffered the loss of loved ones or their own suffered the loss of loved ones or their own

lives in horrible and dehumanizing conflicts?lives in horrible and dehumanizing conflicts?

Contrary to popular Contrary to popular opinion, God is not to opinion, God is not to

blame for all the blame for all the suffering in the world.suffering in the world.

He's not some kind of monster, who causes He's not some kind of monster, who causes the pain, death and heartache. Much of the pain, death and heartache. Much of

what we suffer is caused by man's own folly what we suffer is caused by man's own folly and self-destructive attitudes and trends. and self-destructive attitudes and trends.

TAKE WARS FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE WARS FOR EXAMPLE,

which have caused untold which have caused untold suffering throughout history.suffering throughout history.

Although often blamed on religion, are Although often blamed on religion, are mostly caused by Intl. bankers & their mostly caused by Intl. bankers & their

political stooges!political stooges!

Martin Luther Called War…Martin Luther Called War…

"the greatest scourge that can afflict "the greatest scourge that can afflict humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys

states and it destroys families. Any states and it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it!"scourge is preferable to it!"

Is Is GODGODto blame to blame for man's for man's

wars?wars?

"What causes wars and fighting among you? Don't they "What causes wars and fighting among you? Don't they come from your come from your own lustsown lusts?" ?"

(James 4:1.)(James 4:1.)

The Bible says:The Bible says:

GOD is not to blame for the GOD is not to blame for the suffering caused by war,suffering caused by war,

but rather man's own selfishness, greed,but rather man's own selfishness, greed,

pride & competitive spiritpride & competitive spirit

the destruction of others for selfish the destruction of others for selfish gain.gain.

But what about the poverty that But what about the poverty that pervades the world?pervades the world?

What about the millions dying of starvation & What about the millions dying of starvation & disease in some of the impoverished nations of the disease in some of the impoverished nations of the world? Surely they didn't bring it upon themselves!world? Surely they didn't bring it upon themselves!

For this For this MANMAN is largely responsible! is largely responsible!First example, thousands of years ago, what are now the First example, thousands of years ago, what are now the deserts of Northern Africa were fertile, wooded areas. But deserts of Northern Africa were fertile, wooded areas. But

over the centuries people cut down all the trees and over the centuries people cut down all the trees and overgrazed the land. As a result, the topsoil eroded and there overgrazed the land. As a result, the topsoil eroded and there was nothing left but desert. As the inhabitants moved south, was nothing left but desert. As the inhabitants moved south,

seeking fertile land, they continued to cut down the trees, and seeking fertile land, they continued to cut down the trees, and thus the desert expanded southward as well.thus the desert expanded southward as well.

Today there are 3 ½ Today there are 3 ½ millionmillion square square miles of desert in North Africa;miles of desert in North Africa;

A result of man's foolishness in upsetting the A result of man's foolishness in upsetting the ecological balance of God's natural creation.ecological balance of God's natural creation.

MANMAN is Responsible for Ecological Disaster. is Responsible for Ecological Disaster.

In Brazil & In Brazil & Indonesia, Indonesia, indiscriminate indiscriminate logging for fast logging for fast money by money by wicked business wicked business & politicians is & politicians is slowly bringing slowly bringing about ecological about ecological disaster and disaster and population population displacement. displacement.

MANMAN is Responsible for Famine & Poverty. is Responsible for Famine & Poverty.Civil conflicts Civil conflicts often caused often caused by Globalist by Globalist policies, are policies, are a major a major contributing contributing factor to factor to famine & famine & poverty in poverty in many many developing developing countries.countries.

Can Can GodGod be blamed for this? be blamed for this?

Problems like these are caused by man's Problems like these are caused by man's own selfishness and lack of foresight or own selfishness and lack of foresight or

preparation for future generations.preparation for future generations.

““But there are But there are often natural often natural

forces forces beyond man's beyond man's control which control which contribute to contribute to the poverty & the poverty & starvation in starvation in much of the much of the

world….world….

Isn't God to blame for those?”Isn't God to blame for those?”

True! Some True! Some factors are factors are beyond man's beyond man's control, but control, but ironically, while ironically, while millions are millions are undernourishedundernourished, in other parts , in other parts of the world of the world there are huge there are huge surplusessurpluses of of food, running food, running into into millionsmillions of of tons a year! tons a year! God's earth God's earth provides more provides more than enough. than enough. No one needs No one needs to go hungry.to go hungry.

……Earth Earth HASHAS enough Food to share! enough Food to share!

many rich Western countries, spend hundreds of many rich Western countries, spend hundreds of millions of dollars on storing or destroying these millions of dollars on storing or destroying these

surpluses, even paying farmers not to grow certain surpluses, even paying farmers not to grow certain crops…while food prices rise!crops…while food prices rise!

While Globalist IMF & WB Create Famines…While Globalist IMF & WB Create Famines…

‘‘CAUSE THEY PUSH GROWINGCAUSE THEY PUSH GROWINGBIO FUEL INSTEAD OF FOOD & BIO FUEL INSTEAD OF FOOD &

WHEAT FOR THE POOR…WHEAT FOR THE POOR…

WHILE CRUEL MONSANTO WHILE CRUEL MONSANTO SPREADS DANGEROUS SPREADS DANGEROUS

GENETICALLY MODIFIED GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEEDS SEEDS THAT DESTROYS TRADITIONAL THAT DESTROYS TRADITIONAL

33RDRD WORLD FARMING! WORLD FARMING!

And the Food Industries And the Food Industries Poison Millions of PeoplePoison Millions of People

With Diabetes & Cancer inducing, With Diabetes & Cancer inducing, GM food, MSG, Aspartame, GM food, MSG, Aspartame,

Fluoride, and other Illegal drugs.Fluoride, and other Illegal drugs.

the poor of the the poor of the world starve!world starve!

And while And while exercise exercise & weight-loss & weight-loss programs are programs are billion-dollar billion-dollar industries,industries,

Is that God’s fault?Is that God’s fault?

More misery & suffering caused by man, is the More misery & suffering caused by man, is the pitiful poverty & squalor of the poor in huge cities pitiful poverty & squalor of the poor in huge cities

of developing countries, like the slums of of developing countries, like the slums of Bombay, Rio de Janeiro or Manila, where Bombay, Rio de Janeiro or Manila, where millions struggle to survive in deplorably millions struggle to survive in deplorably

inhumane conditions.inhumane conditions.

God never intended people to live that way!God never intended people to live that way!

People crowded into slums would be better off in the People crowded into slums would be better off in the country, with fresh air, more food, fewer people, & raise country, with fresh air, more food, fewer people, & raise crops & animals, & enjoy the benefits of good healthful crops & animals, & enjoy the benefits of good healthful

country living that God originally designed for man.country living that God originally designed for man.

They’d be happier in the countryside!They’d be happier in the countryside!

In some countries, the poor crowd into the cities to escape civil war, communist guerrilla activity or criminal groups & bandits in the countryside, so their suffering is sometimes brought on by others' greed and oppression and man's inhumanity to man in war.

MANMAN’s Civil & Guerilla Wars Cause Slums’s Civil & Guerilla Wars Cause Slums

MANMAN’s Materialism Causes More Misery’s Materialism Causes More Misery

Others are responsible for their own predicament. They Others are responsible for their own predicament. They see the cars, televisions & material luxuries that the see the cars, televisions & material luxuries that the

middle-class or rich own in the cities, and they think that middle-class or rich own in the cities, and they think that those things will make them happy & that in the city those things will make them happy & that in the city

they’ll be able to work less, make more money & they’ll be able to work less, make more money & possibly even live in luxury.possibly even live in luxury.

So they are drawn to the cities, and soon find their families falling So they are drawn to the cities, and soon find their families falling apart, their children getting involved with drugs & crime. They apart, their children getting involved with drugs & crime. They can't find work and they soon suffer from malnutrition & disease. can't find work and they soon suffer from malnutrition & disease. "Cities are the festering sores on the body politic.""Cities are the festering sores on the body politic." [Arnold [Arnold Toynbee] Toynbee] They're not They're not God'sGod's fault!--They're a fault!--They're a man-mademan-made curse!curse!

Divorce, Drugs, Crime & UnemploymentDivorce, Drugs, Crime & Unemployment

Are the poor responsible for their own fate?Are the poor responsible for their own fate?

In some cases maybe, but millions of people around the In some cases maybe, but millions of people around the world suffer deprivation & squalor because of the world suffer deprivation & squalor because of the selfishness of the rich who do not share their wealth or selfishness of the rich who do not share their wealth or lands, or pay the poor fair wages or prices for their labor lands, or pay the poor fair wages or prices for their labor & produce so they can make a decent living. If they did, & produce so they can make a decent living. If they did, there would certainly be enough to go around, as God there would certainly be enough to go around, as God intended, Who repeatedly advises & even commands intended, Who repeatedly advises & even commands the rich to share with the poor.the rich to share with the poor. (Matthew 5:42; Deuteronomy 15:7,8.)(Matthew 5:42; Deuteronomy 15:7,8.)

John Travolta’s Mansion & AirplanesJohn Travolta’s Mansion & AirplanesGod doesn't want the poor to suffer! But believe it or not, the rich also suffer as a result of their selfishness. The poor at least have the hope that riches could one day make them happy. The rich have it all but are still dissatisfied.

According to God's spiritual laws, happiness comes According to God's spiritual laws, happiness comes from trying to make others happy & sharing one's from trying to make others happy & sharing one's

material possessions with those in need.material possessions with those in need.

But aren't modern advances, technological But aren't modern advances, technological discoveries, and man's increased knowledge discoveries, and man's increased knowledge

improvingimproving our well-being & the world we live in? our well-being & the world we live in?

God God hashas helped man learn more about the world we live in, which helped man learn more about the world we live in, which has led to many good and beneficial discoveries. Unfortunately, has led to many good and beneficial discoveries. Unfortunately,

much of this knowledge has also been much of this knowledge has also been misusedmisused by man… by man…

culminating in horrible weapons of warculminating in horrible weapons of war

smoke-belching factories & refineriessmoke-belching factories & refineries

These These death-death-dealing & dealing & destructive destructive inventions inventions resulted in resulted in untold pain untold pain & suffering!& suffering!

--But are they But are they God's fault?-God's fault?-Did He Did He intend for intend for them to be?them to be?

Drugs & Vaccins causing death & autismDrugs & Vaccins causing death & autism

Take nuclear fission, which was supposed to be which was supposed to be one of the greatest technological breakthroughs one of the greatest technological breakthroughs of all time & the solution to world fuel shortages. of all time & the solution to world fuel shortages.

But its misuse by man resulted in the most terrifying But its misuse by man resulted in the most terrifying invention in man's history, whereby we now possess the invention in man's history, whereby we now possess the

capability to destroy our planet and annihilate its capability to destroy our planet and annihilate its inhabitants through inhabitants through thermonuclear warthermonuclear war

not to mention

catastrophic accidents at "peaceful"

nuclear power plants, as evidenced by Chernobyl

in 1986.

No! Much is also the evil work of Satan, a powerful spirit being No! Much is also the evil work of Satan, a powerful spirit being

whose relentless goal is to hurt man & make him suffer! whose relentless goal is to hurt man & make him suffer!

Do you mean to say that man is solely Do you mean to say that man is solely responsible for all the pain in the world responsible for all the pain in the world

today?today?

The Devil can't raise the dead! He The Devil can't raise the dead! He cannot create! He's the destroyer!cannot create! He's the destroyer!

You say, You say, "Well, lots of people in false cults get healed, "Well, lots of people in false cults get healed, so surely he must create!"so surely he must create!" But they get healed of But they get healed of

what?--The Devil's own afflictions, demons, illnesses, what?--The Devil's own afflictions, demons, illnesses, his own destruction & sicknesses! He simply removes his own destruction & sicknesses! He simply removes

the thorn from their side, & it heals. All he can do is the thorn from their side, & it heals. All he can do is destroy & kill. destroy & kill.

That’s the Way the Devil Is…That’s the Way the Devil Is…

……He loves to destroy, devour, kill, & cause people He loves to destroy, devour, kill, & cause people to suffer & hurt, to shed blood by the hundreds of to suffer & hurt, to shed blood by the hundreds of millions around the World for six millenniums!--He millions around the World for six millenniums!--He

was the first murderer when Cain killed Abel! was the first murderer when Cain killed Abel!

But God sometimes allows the But God sometimes allows the Devil to perform his destructive Devil to perform his destructive work as a work as a judgmentjudgment on those who on those who have rebelled against God or who have rebelled against God or who refuse to follow His loving natural refuse to follow His loving natural laws.laws. The Lord uses him for that, The Lord uses him for that, for judgement, for destruction, to for judgement, for destruction, to destroy people, cities, whole destroy people, cities, whole nations, whole empires when nations, whole empires when they get away from God & they get away from God & disobey God, even a whole World disobey God, even a whole World in the days of the Flood, because in the days of the Flood, because of the iniquity of the World, the of the iniquity of the World, the wickedness of the people.wickedness of the people.

Question: Okay, I'll

concede that man and the Devil may be

the cause of a good deal of

our problems. But if there is a God, and He's all-powerful,

why doesn't He stop the Devil from causing

all this suffering?

God often God often doesdoes stop the stop the Devil from wreaking more Devil from wreaking more

havoc and destruction.havoc and destruction.

The Bible speaks of a great "war" in the spirit The Bible speaks of a great "war" in the spirit realm between the forces of good and evil. realm between the forces of good and evil.

(See Revelation 12:7,8; Ephesians 6:12; Daniel 10:13, etc.) (See Revelation 12:7,8; Ephesians 6:12; Daniel 10:13, etc.)

And the forces of Evil & the forces of God are really And the forces of Evil & the forces of God are really scrapping it out!--Thank God for that, otherwise we'd all scrapping it out!--Thank God for that, otherwise we'd all

be wiped out already!be wiped out already!

This Earth is enemy territory, the Devil has it more This Earth is enemy territory, the Devil has it more and more under control. Jesus allowed it as He and more under control. Jesus allowed it as He said, "this is his hour & the power of darkness.“ said, "this is his hour & the power of darkness.“

(Lk.22:53)(Lk.22:53)

But Satan’s main objective is But Satan’s main objective is to turn man away from to turn man away from GodGod -- -- giving giving GodGod the blame for his the blame for his ownown dirty deeds! dirty deeds!

Even though the Earth has Even though the Earth has already been invaded & taken already been invaded & taken over by Satan & his demons, over by Satan & his demons, he's still trying to get man to he's still trying to get man to voluntarily serve him. Like voluntarily serve him. Like God, he actually wants to be God, he actually wants to be loved & to be chosen by the loved & to be chosen by the Earthlings to be worshipped. — Earthlings to be worshipped. — If he can persuade the people If he can persuade the people here to believe, love, follow & here to believe, love, follow & obey him, then he can brag obey him, then he can brag that he's king, god & has done that he's king, god & has done the same as God. He hasn't the same as God. He hasn't reallyreally, but that's his desire. , but that's his desire.

But why does God But why does God allowallow ManMan to perpetrate evil in the world?to perpetrate evil in the world?

As far as stopping As far as stopping manman from his evil works? from his evil works?

if God put a stop to the evildoers in the world, He if God put a stop to the evildoers in the world, He also would have to put a stop to all of us-because also would have to put a stop to all of us-because we're we're allall sinners! The Bible says, "All have sinned sinners! The Bible says, "All have sinned

and come short of the glory of God" (Romans and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He would have had to stop 3:23). He would have had to stop everybodyeverybody in in

the whole world from doing anything bad! the whole world from doing anything bad!

God would have had to step in at the very beginning of time, and use force to stop Adam and Eve from sinning by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3.) He would’ve had to interfere with our free will and the majesty of personal choice that He's

given each of us, whereby we can choose to do good or evil.

So, wouldn’t it have So, wouldn’t it have been better if God had been better if God had

made us all good!?made us all good!?

Yes! If God had wanted Yes! If God had wanted ROBOTSROBOTS! He could’ve ! He could’ve

made everybody do good made everybody do good & love Him.& love Him.

But He purposely limited His own But He purposely limited His own power by creating us with a power by creating us with a free free willwill, so we could , so we could choosechoose to love to love

& obey Him!& obey Him!

Just like parents want their children Just like parents want their children to love them of their own free will, to love them of their own free will,

not because they're forced to.not because they're forced to.

We were put here to make

a choice between

good & evil, between

doing things God's way or

our own.

But Many People Chose to Rebel!But Many People Chose to Rebel!The main reason why there’s so much misery, suffering, pain, ill health, wars, economic troubles & other woes in the world today, is because instead of choosing to love & obey God, many people have decided to rebel against His loving rules, which were made for our health and happiness.

Most people Most people want to do want to do things their things their ownown way! way!

And so they And so they suffer from the suffer from the consequences consequences of their own of their own wrong choices! wrong choices!

"There is a way "There is a way that that seems seems right to a man, right to a man, but in the end it but in the end it leads to death" leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).(Proverbs 14:12).

He certainly He certainly Does!Does!

Does God care Does God care when we suffer?when we suffer?

It hurts Him to see us suffer as a result of our own It hurts Him to see us suffer as a result of our own wrong choices wrong choices or the wrong choices of others. or the wrong choices of others.

The Bible tells us, "As a The Bible tells us, "As a father pities his children, father pities his children, so the Lord pities those so the Lord pities those who fear or reverence who fear or reverence

Him“ Him“ (Psalms 103:13)(Psalms 103:13)

Jesus is Jesus is notnot someone "who someone "who cannotcannot be be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but

He was in all points tested like we are" He was in all points tested like we are" (Hebrews 4:15).(Hebrews 4:15).

Does God care when we suffer?Does God care when we suffer?Jesus Himself knows exactly what it's like to suffer. He suffered more than any of us, as He was crucified for ALL the sins of the world!

And the good news is that some day soon, And the good news is that some day soon, God's Word promises, all the suffering will come God's Word promises, all the suffering will come

to an end for those who love God. to an end for those who love God.

At His return, He "shall wipe away every tear from At His return, He "shall wipe away every tear from our eyes; there shall be no more death, neither our eyes; there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things are passed away" pain, for the former things are passed away"

(Revel.21:4).(Revel.21:4).

Benefits From Suffering?Benefits From Suffering?

It brings out sweetness & goodness in It brings out sweetness & goodness in people, for those who choose not to become people, for those who choose not to become

embittered or hardened by it, sorrow, embittered or hardened by it, sorrow, sacrifice & sadness can bring out the best in sacrifice & sadness can bring out the best in them: love, tenderness & concern for others. them: love, tenderness & concern for others.

Beuaty For Ashes

"We comfort others with the comfort we ourselves are "We comfort others with the comfort we ourselves are comforted with of God" For us Christians, it gives us the comforted with of God" For us Christians, it gives us the desire to give others the answer we've found that can desire to give others the answer we've found that can

ease their sufferings & help them solve their problems -- ease their sufferings & help them solve their problems -- JesusJesus & His love. & His love.

Though we understand many reasons for suffering Though we understand many reasons for suffering through reading God's Word, through reading God's Word, we won't know we won't know allall the the

answers to this eternal question until we get to answers to this eternal question until we get to Heaven.Heaven.

At the pit's mouth was a large crowd, among At the pit's mouth was a large crowd, among whom were the families and loved ones of the whom were the families and loved ones of the

trapped miners.trapped miners.

A very fitting illustration of this was given by Dr. A very fitting illustration of this was given by Dr. Handley Moule as he visited a coal mine immediately Handley Moule as he visited a coal mine immediately

after a terrible underground explosion.after a terrible underground explosion.

"It is very difficult," he said, "for us to understand why God should let such an awful tragedy happen. I have at home an old bookmark my mother

gave me. It’s woven in silk, and looking at the wrong side of it, I see

nothing but a tangled mass of threads. It looks like a big mistake! One would think that someone had made it who didn’t know what she

was doing. But when I turn it over and look at

the other side, I see there, beautifully embroidered, the words,

`GOD IS LOVE!'

GOD IS LOVE!

We are looking at this tragedy today from the We are looking at this tragedy today from the wrong side. Someday we shall view it from wrong side. Someday we shall view it from

another standpoint, and we shall understand."another standpoint, and we shall understand."

God's ways are not our ways, and there are God's ways are not our ways, and there are some things we won't understand until we see some things we won't understand until we see

things as God sees them. (Isaiah 55:8,9.)things as God sees them. (Isaiah 55:8,9.)

God always has a purpose and a plan in God always has a purpose and a plan in our lives, even though we can't always see our lives, even though we can't always see it right away. We just have to trust God that it right away. We just have to trust God that

if we don't understand now, we will later. if we don't understand now, we will later. But despite our limited knowledge and But despite our limited knowledge and

understanding, there is one thing we can understanding, there is one thing we can rest assured of, and that is His unfailing rest assured of, and that is His unfailing

love and care for us.love and care for us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, . . . nor things death, nor life, . . . nor things

present, nor things to come, nor present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other height, nor depth, nor any other

creature, shall be able to creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus“which is in Christ Jesus“(Romans 8:38,39).(Romans 8:38,39).

THE ENDTHE END

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