God's Perfection and Suffering

[CRATUS]

The reason I question free-will is that our families, our circumstances, personality, place of birth, temperament, and the right path for us is already determined God. We have the choice to follow it or not. What I do not understand why God wants some people to suffer more in this life than others. For some people it is in their calling because of their looks, circumstance, temperament, family to be face ridicule. While others it seems it is their calling to just be cruel. If God love us all “equally” why does He want some to suffer more than others? Why does He allow some people to be by nature cruel? As much as I believe in free-will, some children by nature are just cruel - they may have kind parents. Some people’s weaknesses are easy to see and pick at it - so they are an easy target to criticism. Some people I know I can see no weaknesses or imperfections. Some people for whatever reason, it is in their calling to be mean. while others when they try, they seem pathetic, they are being someone they are not, or they will always be slightly kind and naive. I remember my teen years vividly, when a group of kids would bully someone, there was always the head bully, they honestly seemed heartless about it and there some children I could tell were just tagging along, they knew right from wrong. It is not in their nature to be cruel.
It seems like God gives more suffering to other people. Why? I do not know. Perhaps some people are meant for this world and others are meant for the “next”. Some people suffer very little, they will never turn to God. Some people suffer much, so they must find solace in the Cross. Some people do not need God, they can find peace within.
Person who suffers usually has no choice other to turn to God, well because they cannot find peace. One without suffering can live happily without Christ.
This is why I do not believe in free-will. Following God is always a better option for those who cannot find within themselves to find peace.

 

[CRATUS]

We cannot “judge” the bullies. Perhaps that is their role to play. If they repent, God will forgive them.
Why does God set up the world where there will always be injustice? Suffering supposedly unites us closer to Christ.
I honestly think some people are just mean to be mean people. Some people are meant to suffer at their hands. For what reason, I do not know.

 

[Pitcharan]

We cannot “judge” the bullies. Perhaps that is their role to play. If they repent, God will forgive them.
Why does God set up the world where there will always be injustice? Suffering supposedly unites us closer to Christ.
I honestly think some people are just mean to be mean people. Some people are meant to suffer at their hands. For what reason, I do not know.

Thanks to the oral tradition of my land, I was able to see true meaning in suffering and thought it would be worthwhile sharing this ancient notion from Indian philosophy—the created universe is a realistic illusion to segregate good and evil. This can be compared to a flight simulator for training, testing and issuing a pilot-license where there is really neither aircraft nor airspace and yet people may learn and also be classified as fit and unfit, to fly an aircraft. Moreover it is the safest way of training and testing as there can be no real injury or damage from accidents. In this life too all creation came from nothing and is bound to simply vanish even as eternity remains beyond full comprehension; yet it is in this life that human beings come to know God, learn to walk in His Way and are segregated as fit and unfit for eternity. This goes to explain the unbearable horrors of life that make us wonder why God allows them. They’ve got to be illusions, else why would He sit and simply watch? When He allows a horror to happen, He tests how we respond to it. In reality there is no damage done and it is truly NDT i.e., non-destructive testing. The story of Harischandra portrays it most beautifully and so does the book of Job.

Our Lord clarified once: “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (NIV Lk 13:4-5). His teaching only suggests that what is seen and also felt on earth is no real damage but there is real damage in store only in the afterlife, for those who fail to heed the signs while on earth. That earthly horrors cannot cause real damage is also made clear in the incident involving massacre of innocents: This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.” (NIV Jer 31:15-17)

To appreciate the efficacy of worldly trials and tribulations, consider the bombing of the Twin Towers. We saw both the worst and best of human behavior in this tragedy. Now, coming to the best, the supreme sacrifice of the American firefighters is permanently etched in my heart. It was truly a glorious death that will be celebrated by generations to come. Won’t many try to emulate this sterling example? Our heavenly Father is neither the author nor a spectator of horror on earth. Suffering is a consequential feeling whose painful effects are bound to vanish without trace. When endured by God’s grace, it serves as a vital aid in realizing His plan for us apart from gaining great rewards in this life itself.

It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for such association is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able to live at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly thing. All our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven. (From the Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis, book II, chapter-3)