By Chris DeSalvo Our world contains excessive physical and psychological suffering by innocent persons. Billions suffer from illness, birth defects, predatory animals, natural calamities and human cruelty. How can a loving, merciful God allow such misery? Some level of physical pain or mental anguish is necessary so when we are injured or ill, thirsty or hungry, too hot or too cold, we can react. Worry helps us avoid potential future disasters. But few deny that more human suffering exists than is necessary. The mystery of human suffering is like many other mysteries that must be accepted on faith. But not blind faith. Before faith must come reason. Use of reason to observe, study, discuss and develop understanding convinces one that God exists well beyond reasonable doubt. Those who demand unreasonable amounts of evidence exhibit conceit, a huge barrier to belief. Humans feel compassion for sufferers, and most would eliminate suffering if possible. Charles Darwin favored evolution primarily because he could not accept that an omnipotent and all-good God (his definition of God) would create a world with so much unnecessary suffering. Darwin's imagination couldn't reach beyond human perspectives to sense that within God's greater intellect, suffering is not always evil. Humans who criticize God's supposedly bad behavior exhibit enormous conceit. Who are we to demand that God conform to our standards of behavior? What do we know of God's motives? Only what God chooses to reveal. Even if God revealed more, could we understand? Can an ant understand poetry, music, art, love, beauty, hope and philosophy? Should an ant define proper behavior for humans? Do we accept criticism from our three-year-old child who cannot understand why he must suffer an inoculation against polio? Would we accept criticism from a neutered pet dog? Modern secularists live to gain pleasure and to avoid suffering, even inconvenience. To them a God who prizes suffering is beyond understanding. Yes, they say, some suffering caused by human cruelty may result from human free will, and suffering caused by natural events may be essential to operation of the universe. Also, God might require some suffering to test human behavior. But surely free will, natural actions and Gods tests don't require all the suffering we see. But God, as Jesus, was born a human, permitted himself to be beaten nearly to death, to be tormented and crucified. Why? For us, His creations? Would you suffer as Jesus did to save the life of a child? -- or a cat? God suffered and died for love of us. Why that had to be we dont know, but we can marvel that God would do it. Obviously, God reveres a willingness to suffer. Clearly, God wants suffering, demands suffering, and creates suffering, as He deems appropriate. So should humans seek suffering, should they not bind wounds, not take medicines, not visit physicians, stop medical research? No! We should continue to be merciful to ourselves and to others -- as Jesus was. God will determine when, where, to whom and the level of suffering that should occur. Like murder, sometimes suffering is justified. Every human will suffer. It may be minor; it may be unbearable. Perhaps that suffering, and how one reacts, will influence a reward after death. We should face suffering with humility, acceptance, and without hatred for God. What is my message? Study all major evidence and arguments regarding God, and satisfy yourself, beyond reasonable doubt, that God exists. Then accept that God wants suffering in the universe. We don't know why. God suffered for us on the Cross, and we don't know why. We are far below God in intelligence and knowledge. We should not judge God by human standards. As children of God, we should humbly accept whatever suffering God gives us, and have faith that His actions are for our ultimate benefit. C DeSalvo is an author who resides in Colorado. His URL is: http://www.god-book.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_DeSalvo http://EzineArticles.com/?Innocent-Suffering---Why-Does-God-Permit-It?&id=426226 get my credit started after cleaning my credit report
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