Is mercy mercy?

[thinkandmull]

I’ve been wondering why a good God would allow suffering, and thought of only two reasons. Because we deserve suffering for original sin, and because when God wipes away the tears at the end there will be even more relief and joy after having suffered. But these seem to contradict each other, making a punishment into a blessing. And whichever one is correct, why then do we stop suffering in others? These arguments seem to take the motive out of merciful acts

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Suffering is a consequence of sin, which God allows because He wishes us to choose freely whether or not to join with Him. God can and does bring good out of this evil, but this does not mean we should do the evil or allow it to spread - God brings good out of good as well. So basically, we should do what is right because it is right, and trust that God will bring good out of whatever happens.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

If sin didn’t have bad consequences, how would we know it is sin? One role of suffering is that it shows us that something is wrong. (Of course, there are other types of suffering, as well).

 

[Cricket2]

We are not called to cause suffering or ignore it. Providing care for the sick, helping someone through a difficult time are all acts of mercy and do help alleviate some of their suffering,or at least helps them get through it. In a way we “suffer with them” by taking the time to care for them. This is an act of mercy.

Sometimes though, there are things that we must allow people to go through for their own good or spiritual benefit. One example that comes to mind is disciplining children. So many people seem to think they should never make their child feel bad, or guilty, ashamed or inconvenienced, so they fail to provide limits and boundaries or to discipline them. Bad idea.

I am not talking about beating a kid half to death of course. But being grounded, having privaledges taken away, sitting in a corner, being shamed, can all help a child learn appropriate behavior and boundaries. Even that smack on the hand when they go to touch the stove or stick fingers in a light socket is not going to hurt them. They may feel bad and suffer a bit, but they do learn and develop a sense of appropriate behavior.

Or how about having to go to the doctor, having surgery or getting shots. We all subject ourselves to this for the purpose of regaining our health. We may not like it, but if we fail to take care of ourselves we can be sicker or even die. So sometimes suffering some further pain and inconvenience is better than ignoring our current pain.

I think the things we suffer as individuals occur for our spiritual growth for the most part. They may even limit us, but those limits may be the very thing that is keeping us from more serious sin or danger. Those limits may be helping us maintain a good spiritual standing with God, where greater freedom could mean we would lose our soul to the devil. Just a thought.

 

[thinkandmull]

If suffering has such benefits, it seems to take the impetus out of preventing it

 

[Iron_Donkey]

If suffering has such benefits, it seems to take the impetus out of preventing it

Again, the lack of suffering also has benefits. So to does recognizing that someone cares enough to try to alleviate it in certain circumstances. And even so, utilitarianism is wrong - the (possible) benefits of an action or lack thereof are not the only things that motivate our decisions. We are to do good because it is good. If good comes out of an evil act (and refraining from helping when we should help is also an evil act), that is in spite of the evil rather than because of it.

Of course, not all suffering is to be prevented at all costs. But we certainly cannot cause or ignore evil (which includes some but not all things which cause suffering) because good might result. Again, utilitarianism is false. Doing evil is, by definition, evil, regardless of what happens as a result. If evil happens anyway, we should try to (and God will) bring good out of it, but that does not excuse doing evil so that we can try to do this.