On Compassion

Published on August 11, 2004 By Gideon MacLeish In Religion

One standard question was brought up on another thread that has gone on far too long asking a very old, very valid question about why God allows innocents, especially children, to suffer (this was not the exact context of the question, but it does hit on the high points).

I have wrestled with this question for years, until I realized that, in my personal opinion, it has to do a lot with what God is teaching us. Our capacity to kill is matched only by our capacity to heal; in the same years that have seen us develop weapons of mass destruction that were unforeseeable just a century and a half ago, we have created marvelous vaccines and medicines that, literally, can do a world of good. Our funding, however, is persistently dedicated to destruction over healing (this problem is not unique to the US, it is a worldwide epidemic). I do believe that God COULD eliminate all of these problems with a wave of His hand, the reason He doesn't (again, my opinion), is the same reason that a parent fails to bail out an irresponsible teen; there are things we MUST learn if we are to grow.

I am sure that the pain, disease, and destruction that are so rampant worldwide, pain God deeply (far more, at least, than the sexual preferences of the guy down the street). But we as humans have so far to go, and so much growing to do. And God is teaching us how to do so.

Just my two cents,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments

dharmagrl

on Aug 11, 2004

Gideon....I had had the same thought.

As a conniseuer of painful and difficult situations, I have learnt to always try to look for the positive aspect or the lesson to be learned. Sometimes it's a hard lesson, sometimes it's heartbreaking.

My stumbling block though, is the pain and destruction I see inflicted on children and infants. I can't understand why a god who loves us all so much, and who only wants the best for us, can utilize babies so callously. Like I said before, it's another item on the long list of things I don't understand.

What I do categorically believe, however, is that god would not use a child to punish the parents for some transgression they have committed.

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 11, 2004

I agree with the final statement; as to why God could utilize children and infants so callously, I don't see Him doing it, I see US doing it.

I believe that freewill is a major part of God's plan for humankind. That while salvation is available for all, it's not forved on any, and we have the right to reject it. Where this applies to the situation of the innocents who suffer is, we have the means but not the inclination to do a great deal to ease the pain.

Can you imagine if the collective wealth of the Christian community alone were diligently applied to erasing world hunger, providing medical care for all, and making the world a better place, how much better we'd be? Instead, the vast majority of Christians (including myself, from time to time), spend far too much time and energy in pursuit of their OWN needs and self fulfillment.

The Bible speaks of servanthood; this is a concept many Christians cannot or will not accept. We are to be yielded to Christ, and ALL that we have and are are supposed to be His.

OK, I'm rambling now, but I'm getting to my point, which is this: God has provided more than ample funds for the alleviation of many of the world's problems. We just have misused them.

wuxiaomao

on Aug 12, 2004

Well said, impossible to add anything else..thanks Gideon...sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

WiseFawn

on Aug 12, 2004

A wonderful article!

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