Christians, What is the most scriptural answer to these questions?

2 Peter 3:9b "he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance" and 3:15 "consider the patience of our Lord as salvation." (NWT)

This scripture practically sums up the answer to all the three questions.

1) Sin is the primary source of mankind's suffering and it leads to death. (1 Corinthians 15:56 "The sting producing death is sin, but the power for sin is the Law")

2) To remove sin, Jesus has to die. (This account for all the waiting from Adam to Jesus death)

3) Thereafter, Love of God moves him to become patience with us, so that we may get saved as the scriptures above indicates.

4) Finally, due to the new arrangement for salvation in heaven, earthly suffering is non-consequential. Even death of infant is something we can seek to bear because His grace will resurrect all to immortality to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:52b-54 "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality. But when [this which is corruptible puts on incorruption and] this which is mortal puts on immortality, then the saying will take place that is written: “Death is swallowed up forever."")

>Why does God allow suffering?

To answer that, I have to answer possible causes of suffering:

-a person could be suffering because he didn't repent

-a person could be suffering because he doesn't focus on God

-a person could be suffering because he's very sinful

-a person could be suffering so he could be driven to God

-a person could be suffering because it is a way God communicates with him

-there are other reasons but I can't list and/or remember them all.

>He has the power to end it, so why doesn't he end it?

Basically so people can depend on Him in their suffering (Rom. 8:20-21).

Read Gen. 3. God didn't invent autonomy. Satan invented it and God provided it so people could have the potential to resist Satan's influence.

Adam and Eve did not have free will until after they sinned, and they retained this permanently. They were given charge over the garden. There was no free will in that. They had responsibility. They were confined to that area.

>Does suffering serve any purpose?

See above.

There is no scriptural answer. Anyone who attempts to provide one is just making up excuses for a being who really shouldn't need excuses (especially that old stalwart 'We can't know Gods will').

The reality is much simpler. He doesn't exist.

The true God does not act wickedly.

Job 34 NIV

10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do evil,

from the Almighty to do wrong.

11 He repays everyone for what they have done;

he brings on them what their conduct deserves.

12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,

that the Almighty would pervert justice.

But mankind keeps making bad choices. Starting in Eden, our first human parents chose to rule themselves. They wanted self-government, wanted to be their own lawmakers (democracy).

Genesis 3 NIV

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

He has allowed time for all humans to try their own form of government. Those who worshipped pagan gods/idols of stone and tree and gold/silver got to make governments first.

Then God separated the Israelites and gave them a kingdom. But they followed the course of Adam and Eve demanding their own different rulership, one that mimiced the pagans.

1 Samuel 8 NIV

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

The Jews didn't stop in their rebellion against God there. They continually did so splitting into 2 kingdoms (Judah and Samaria). The Samarian kingdom was conquered first. Then Judah/Jews twice, the 2nd time in the time of the apostles.

Christianity was then set up. Christ had died for sins, restored true worship and began selecting the "kingdom of the heavens", the ones who would rule from heaven in immortality and perfection. Would Christians rule any better?

History shows they did not. Like the Jews before them, they forsook God's heavenly government for human rulership/politics. Most churches no longer even say God's kingdom is an actual invisible heavenly government but a mere heart condition their members "feel".

They began to kill others who would not join their faith, outlawed Bible reading/hid the Bible from the people. Became the pawns of government grabbing riches, stealing from the poor, etc. This continued even to our time with the holocaust, 2 world wars fought between Christians, etc.

It continues now, in conflicts with Muslims, with atheists, etc.

The issue of who has the right to rule, of whether imperfect fleshly people can govern themselves has been firmly settled.

After this time and this record of evil, hatred, greed, etc., those who disobey God will simply be eliminated....not allowed to test the rightness of their claims against God's righteousness.

Permitting this, has provided evidence that God was right about humans. As Jeremiah 10:23 says, it doesn't belong to man who is walking even to direct his step. Psalms 146:3, 4 tells us not to trust nobles, etc. who cannot help. Luke 4:5-8 shows human rulership actually belongs to Satan.

Human rulership is what produces suffering. God will end that with his kingdom we are taught to pray for to take over earth. Matthew 6:10, 5:5 (Psalms 37 all esp. 29, Ps. 148 esp. 6), Psalms 72:1-8. All this evil will be undone and people returned to life to learn about God's kingdom, His Messiah/Savior his Son Jesus who provided the ransom for us to be saved.

People just have to decide whose side to pick.

Debbie

Because "god" is a sick fhuking asshole.. and he's not even real.. figure of your imagination.