Why did God create us?

[AtheistOpinion]

Originally Posted by AtheistOpinion
“God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” … what!?! your god created you so that you would worship and serve him? isn’t that a bit self serving and arrogant of god. No omniscient being could be so selfish.

Posted by: nightranger
To be quite honest, that’s an ignorant statement. Since you obviously have no knowledge of scripture, it’s difficult to give you an answer

Well, if you feel like you can spare the time to explain it using scripture, i would appreciate that. If I don’t understand anything you say i can always research it (im not completely scripture illiterate, i think? lol). I’m hear to learn…and offer my terrible opinions

I apologize for the incorrect quoting, im still learning.

 

[BobCatholic]

Shouldn’t this be in the bible?

I remember posting Bible verses showing that we are created to suffer.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=9313072#post9313072

That is the purpose of life. Suffering. Pain. Hurt. Terrible things only.

 

[HelenRose]

Respectfully, that does not address the question of suffering. If God did not create us for suffering, then why do we suffer?

Those are nice platitudes to be certain. but it still does not address the question. Again I’ll ask you, why is it that God allows suffering, if in fact He hates it? Does not wish it for us?

I doubt if there is an answer that would suit you.
Could you try answering these questions:

Why is there love?
Why is there beauty?
Why is there joy?
Why is there happiness?
Why do babies laugh?
Why do we sing?
Why do the stars on a dark night sky thrill us?
Why do we long for peace?

I don’t have answers to these questions either.

 

[De_Montfort]

Whoever denies the Cross, in turn denies Christ.

Yes we are called to suffer. No Cross No Crown.

We are called to suffer joyfully not poor pitiful me. Yes in the end we will have joy. I was sad to see that suffering was compared to Jansenists. They taught God’s justice before His Mercy. To say that one is called to suffer is in no way a heresy!

 

[nightranger]

I doubt if there is an answer that would suit you.
Could you try answering these questions:

Why is there love?
Why is there beauty?
Why is there joy?
Why is there happiness?
Why do babies laugh?
Why do we sing?
Why do the stars on a dark night sky thrill us?
Why do we long for peace?

I don’t have answers to these questions either.

I do. It is obvious (to me anyway), that the vast majority of people alive today do not walk around contemplating such things. Again, these are simply platitudes which have almost no grounding in reality.

 

[nightranger]

I wonder about a couple of the self-identified Catholic posters in this thread. They’re either not telling the truth, or they’re having a massive crisis of faith.

I’m absolutely telling the truth. I have been a catholic all my life.

And you are entirely correct. I am having a “massive crisis of faith.” I have been ever since I can remember.

 

[BobCatholic]

Whoever denies the Cross, in turn denies Christ.

Yes we are called to suffer. No Cross No Crown.

We are called to suffer joyfully not poor pitiful me. Yes in the end we will have joy. I was sad to see that suffering was compared to Jansenists. They taught God’s justice before His Mercy. To say that one is called to suffer is in no way a heresy!

This is what I’ve been saying.

God wants Masochists. That’s why He rejected me.

 

[HelenRose]

This is what I’ve been saying.

God wants Masochists. That’s why He rejected me.

You say that He has rejected you. How strange. How old are you? Are you a rebellious young man or a bitter cynical old man?

I certainly am not a masochist and He has not rejected me.

 

[BobCatholic]

You say that He has rejected you. How strange. How old are you? Are you a rebellious young man or a bitter cynical old man?

I’m older, “middle aged” who cannot find a job. God wants me to be a failure. I was a young rebellious man, then came back to the faith. I loved the faith (and still do) but now when I need God the most, God says “You ask for the bread of employment, I will give you the rock of unemployment. You ask for the egg of employment, I will give you the scorpion of unemployment.”

Violating [BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:11-12[/BIBLEDRB]

Mind you, I’m asking for the evil and horrible thing of employment. Something so I can sustain my family.

But instead God does not love me temporally.

 

[HelenRose]

I’m older, “middle aged” who cannot find a job. God wants me to be a failure. I was a young rebellious man, then came back to the faith. I loved the faith (and still do) but now when I need God the most, God says “You ask for the bread of employment, I will give you the rock of unemployment. You ask for the egg of employment, I will give you the scorpion of unemployment.”

Violating [BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:11-12[/BIBLEDRB]

Mind you, I’m asking for the evil and horrible thing of employment. Something so I can sustain my family.

But instead God does not love me temporally.

Now this makes sense to me. I am not being flippant when I say this: This time of unemployment may be a gift from God. Not a stone - but a time for reflection and growth. It is possible that God loves you very much and is asking a lot from you.

How are treating those around you? I ask this because by son-in-law was laid off and had a hard time finding work. Bless his heart. He took care of the kids and the house while my daughter worked. It was very difficult for him but he handled it well. He never let up on searching. In spite of the fact that they lost their house, their second car and are deep in debt, he says that the time he had with the children will always be important to him.

A lot of what you say is not wrong. It is hard to understand why there is so much pain. I will always reject the notion that we were created to suffer. Perhaps, by the grace of God, we were created to overcome suffering.

 

[BobCatholic]

Now this makes sense to me. I am not being flippant when I say this: This time of unemployment may be a gift from God. Not a stone - but a time for reflection and growth. It is possible that God loves you very much and is asking a lot from you.

I went back to school and got a degree, a certificate, a license and 2 certifications. I still can’t get a job.

How are treating those around you? I ask this because by son-in-law was laid off and had a hard time finding work. Bless his heart. He took care of the kids and the house while my daughter worked. It was very difficult for him but he handled it well. He never let up on searching. In spite of the fact that they lost their house, their second car and are deep in debt, he says that the time he had with the children will always be important to him.

I spend time with my little boy too. And help out as I can, but generally speaking I am a useless person.

Perhaps, by the grace of God, we were created to overcome suffering.

I want that grace. God said no.

 

[De_Montfort]

I went back to school and got a degree, a certificate, a license and 2 certifications. I still can’t get a job.

Bob these are all good things given to you by God. He gave you talent and knowledge to go to school and get a degree. Your current situation is a Cross, God wants us to be compeletly dependant on Him.

BobCatholic:

I spend time with my little boy too. And help out as I can, but generally speaking I am a useless person.

I wouldn’t say your “useless” like I said above God has given you gifts.

BobCatholic:

I want that grace. God said no.

You also have to be open to grace. It as if your saying this Cross is to much for me when God has laid it upon you to it’s exact measurements.

You have to trust in God and be open to his love. You haven’t said your on the street, it seems that your family is doing ok with your lack of saying they are in danger.

But no matter what comes we have to be open to God and His grace, in the end He knows whats best.

Always say “Jesus I trust in you”

 

[HelenRose]

I went back to school and got a degree, a certificate, a license and 2 certifications. I still can’t get a job.

I spend time with my little boy too. And help out as I can, but generally speaking I am a useless person.

I want that grace. God said no.

No you are not useless. You made me do some thinking about what I believe and that is worth a lot. Get some exercise. Go for walks. Do some volunteer work. Anything to get out and make contacts. Dress as well as you can. Look successful. Act succesful.

My mother raised us four kids on her own as a nurses aid. She had a store house full of sayings to get through the day. One of my favorites was, “We are not poor we are just don’t have any money at the moment.”

PS I’ll say a Rosary for you.

 

[BobCatholic]

God wants us to be compeletly dependant on Him.

I know that. And I do depend on God. However, God is not dependable. He keeps saying “no” to me getting a job. What if God is ignorant of the laws of economics? Or maybe He doesn’t care about temporal issues.

God so cares about spiritual things to the complete and utter exclusion of any care about temporal things.

I wouldn’t say your “useless” like I said above God has given you gifts.

As long as I don’t have a job, I am useless.

You also have to be open to grace. It as if your saying this Cross is to much for me when God has laid it upon you to it’s exact measurements.

I am open to grace. And my cross is too much for me, don’t you think I know better how weak I am?

You haven’t said your on the street,

Not yet. Nothing stops me.

 

[guanophore]

You really consider that a “cross?”

You actually think having a job and doing “daily tasks” is a cross to bear?

While millions of other folks endure wars, famine, torture, unemployment etc…? C’mon.

A cross is whatever we suffer as we follow Christ. If going to work and doing daily tasks creates suffering then it is a cross.

I work in an environment that is an absolute cesspool I have to pray myself up, then drag myself in there. I am fortunate in this economy to have a job, and there are very many great benefits to this one. The experience of going to work is not one of them.

Likewise, one of my daily tasks is caring for a disabled family member in my home, and my aging mother in her home. Sometimes these daily tasks make me want to explode, they are so frustrating. But each day, Christ calls me to pick up my cross and carry it, so each day I try to embrace the suffering and give thanks in all things. Yes, it is a cross to bear.

One cannot categorize or minimize the suffering of others. Each person experiences hardships differently.

 

[guanophore]

Yes we do. He created us to suffer. There are many passages of scripture to support this.

Like which?

God created us as an expression of His love and for us to glorify HIm by reflecting His image and likeness. He did not create us to suffer, and Adam and Eve did not expereince suffering until sin entered.

He uses our suffering also to glorify Himself in us, but our destiny is to be completely free of suffering (because there is no suffering in heaven) and to be in communion with HIm forever.

For some reason your post made me think of 3P0 in Star Wars, walking across the desert saying “we seem to have been made to suffer”.

 

[ivebeenshown]

As long as I don’t have a job, I am useless.

You are a Christian, and Catholic at that – you are never out of work.

“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

[BobCatholic]

You are a Christian, and Catholic at that – you are never out of work.

“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This assumes I am given an actual job. Which I’m not. I am given a responsibility, but no means of carrying it out.

So I’m just guaranteed to fail. No wonder God hates me.

 

[guanophore]

I went back to school and got a degree, a certificate, a license and 2 certifications. I still can’t get a job.

You are not alone. Many jobs have been outsourced overseas, and the job market is very bad. I encourage people to do volunteer work in between jobs. It helps to fill in the blank spots in resumes, and gives one opportunities to contact people who might be a job connection. 80% of jobs come through word of mouth/personal association, so one must get out there in the community and be in contact with folks who do the kind of work they want to do.

I spend time with my little boy too.

This is excellent, and cannot be underestimated. It is the single most important factor in the success of boys. You may be keeping him on track for life by what you do right now.

And help out as I can, but generally speaking I am a useless person.

It is difficult in our society to have a sense of worth when not employed. I think this is one of the reasons that God allows some of us extended periods of time being unemployed. It helps us to reorient our sense of value to Him, rather than what the world says about us.

This is another good reason to do volunteer work or to immerse onself in ministry, though. We are all given gifts to serve the Church, and many of us have never discerned what our gifts are, or learned how to use them for the Church. Unemployment can be an excellent time to research this. One can also use such time to form one’s faith, by taking classes to understand the faith better or if one is well catechized, to help out with the catechism of others. What is most important is not what we do for a living, but that we help one another get to heaven.

I want that grace.   God said no.

Horse hockey! We have all been given that grace in our baptism. What has not happened is that you have not been able to open up or access the grace that was sealed in you at that time, and at confirmation. God created you for His service, and to walk in the FULLNESS of His grace! He gives sufficient grace to all of us to do the work He has put us here to do.

 

[BobCatholic]

You are not alone. Many jobs have been outsourced overseas, and the job market is very bad. I encourage people to do volunteer work in between jobs. It helps to fill in the blank spots in resumes, and gives one opportunities to contact people who might be a job connection.

It costs time and money to volunteer. OK I got plenty of time, but money is short and I prefer to pay bills with that, instead of paying it to commute across town.

It helps us to reorient our sense of value to Him, rather than what the world says about us.

I have no value to God. He obviously wants me to do something. But he won’t tell me what. So I fail. And that makes him angry and then he punishes me with more suffering. It is a vicious cycle. I wish God would talk to me!!!

But He won’t and I’m doomed. I am heartbroken and God no longer loves me.

We are all given gifts

I have no gifts. If I did, one of the thousands of employers with home I applied for a job, would have seen it by now.

to serve the Church, and many of us have never discerned what our gifts are, or learned how to use them for the Church. Unemployment can be an excellent time to research this. One can also use such time to form one’s faith, by taking classes to understand the faith better or if one is well catechized, to help out with the catechism of others. What is most important is not what we do for a living, but that we help one another get to heaven.

I have no gifts for the Church. I used to be an apologist and would love to evangelize online. I used to be on another Catholic board, and got myself a reputation of coming up with great arguments to defend the faith. I love the faith and want to defend her, and share her with others online. I sincerely thought I was doing something good for Christ and His Church.

But it was not to be. Due to certain dissenters who had admin/mod positions, they banned me for a bogus reason. I tried to appeal to higher ups, but the dissenters lied to them. When we got a new Pope, all bans were lifted and I found out the dissenters no longer ran the show. Yay! Back to normal. But it was short lived as I got banned shortly afterwards. The admins/mods who lost their positions made the board a hostile place to be. Some charity from people who claimed to be so holy and strict on their faith, eh?

I even went on an anti-Catholic board and basically did such a good job of clearing up misunderstandings and defending the faith, the board admin even considered me for a mod position there. It never went through, I believe they were just faking it. They banned me and a lot of the other Catholics who were “too good” at defending the faith for bogus reasons. They wanted to only yank Catholics out of the Church and did not want biblical evidence for Catholicism.

So I tried to defend the faith here. But I got the message loud and clear. I got dinged as “uncharitable” due to the fact I could easily win an argument (mind you, I can be salty, but not spicy!)

That was years ago. I no longer am under the delusion I could ever do anything good again on the faith front. I would be prideful to think I could ever become 1% of the apologist Jimmy Akin or Karl Keating are.

I really enjoyed being an Apologist online. 4 years that I really thought I was serving God well and was joyful.

That will never happen again. If I had a gift, it is long gone. It was taken away.

Horse hockey! We have all been given that grace in our baptism. What has not happened is that you have not been able to open up or access the grace that was sealed in you at that time, and at confirmation. God created you for His service, and to walk in the FULLNESS of His grace! He gives sufficient grace to all of us to do the work He has put us here to do.

I have not overcome my suffering. That means God said NO to getting that grace. If God said YES I wouldn’t be here in pain.

Since God has denied me, it is obvious I am useless to him as well. This is why what is written in the scriptures is happening to me.

Matthew 25:24 “but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

My gift was taken away, and I have nothing. It is quite heartbreaking and depressing…