Why do millions die of hunger when God promises throughout the Bible to feed us physically?

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Lynsey3 said:
I posted this question on this forum because this has been a deep struggle for me for a couple of years now. I have been a passionate follower of Christ for the past 18 years and this is the first time in my walk that I have struggled with my faith. It has been very hard for me because no one can claim they have THE answer to this. Yes, many on this post have said you can’t take it literally, but what is your authority to claim that? Who are you to decide what is literal and what isn’t? I am not insisting that these verses must be interpreted literally, actually I don’t want them to be literal! I know that there are many verses in Scripture that shouldn’t be taken literally. But there are some where it is hard to tell, and your comment on this thread comes across as arrogant and prideful. You talk down to me with a condescending tone and that makes me not want to have a conversation with you at all. I know what p.32 of the Catechism says, I read it before visiting this website. The way you talk in your post is very uncharitable and if you talk that same way to non-Christians, you are going to push them away from seeking the Truth, who is Christ. All the other comments before yours were kind and calm, so I would much rather talk to them. PS… There are many other Christians out there who struggle with this, and you would do well not to group their questions with the “baiting questions asked by atheists.”
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I know this post is not directed to me but I think you get the replies here nevertheless to your questions. If you agree that many of those verses are not to be taken literally, then what is your problem? I am just trying to know what kind of answers that you want or satisfy you.

I do not think anyone want to change your mind or any non-Christians mind. It is just explanation to your question. Ultimately it is your decision. I don’t know how we can be more kind and loving to explain those issue. This type of question is often asked by non-believers to rebut the existence of God or that belief in God is in error. I think those are basic answers to them.

God provides our daily need, either here on earth or the hereafter. If we should die of starvation but still believe in God’s providence, we will surely receive that providence in the hereafter for our souls, which matters more, as it will be permanent and not just temporarily.

Take your pick. If you want to be right in your understanding, it is certainly your privilege.

God bless you.
 
Lynsey3 said:
I haven’t insisted that I’m right about believing it’s literal. You guys are insisting you are right. I don’t know the answer and I am humble enough to say that. I am here to say I DON’T KNOW what to think. I HAVENT MADE UP MY MIND. I wouldn’t still be on this thread if I had. And I am “thoughtfully and prayerfully using my brain” but thank you for that nice comment. I’m not ignoring anyone’s comments, I just havent seen an explanation that puts me at peace. If that frustrates you, then feel free to move on to another persons post. Actually, I’d appreciate if you moved on to another person’s post anyway. I only want to talk with kind-hearted, patient, sympathetic, humble people. I never said we should sit in the street waiting for God to provide. Wow. Loving these comments. In my quote, right after I said Anagogically, I quoted “GOD SUPPLIES OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS…HIS PROVISION OF CLOTHING FOR US…” But I don’t want to argue with you. Going to conclude this by thanking everyone else for speaking kindly with me.
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I think you are doing good to think about these things. You should not accept easy answers. The problem of Evil has and will always confound humanity. Easy answers usually come from those most distanced from the reality and gravity of the tragedies. Thinking about it is much different from seeing it or experiencing it.
 
I appreciate your heartfelt and sympathetic response. That kind of response is what makes me want to have a conversation about all of this. I am curious what you meant 5 days ago when you said, you won’t be providing your opinion because people won’t like it?
 
Lynsey3 said:
I appreciate your heartfelt and sympathetic response. That kind of response is what makes me want to have a conversation about all of this. I am curious what you meant 5 days ago when you said, you won’t be providing your opinion because people won’t like it?
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I am no longer a Catholic or a Christian, so my views are not always going to agree with the teachings of the Catholic church. For that reason, I have been asked many times by members of this forum to refrain from sharing them. In this particular scenario, I have much opposition, since the Problem of Evil was probably the biggest reason why I no longer belong to this faith.
 
I am sad to hear that you lost your faith. I hope that you keep visiting this website and reading things that will lead you back to Him. Mine probably wan’t the best one to read lol… but I sympathize with you because I understand the struggle. I am choosing to persevere in my faith and keep praying and seeking. I hope you will do the same. I will not leave the Lord because “to whom would I go?” It seems like a lot of the Saints went through periods in their lives where they didn’t feel God or had doubts/struggles with their faith. I know Mother Theresa had a lot of doubts and struggles because, like you said, she was face to face with poverty 24/7, and not distanced from it. But she ultimately persevered and kept her faith and left an amazing legacy. Do you have serious Catholic friends or family that you talk to?
 
Lynsey3 said:
I am sad to hear that you lost your faith. I hope that you keep visiting this website and reading things that will lead you back to Him. Mine probably wan’t the best one to read lol… but I sympathize with you because I understand the struggle. I am choosing to persevere in my faith and keep praying and seeking. I hope you will do the same. I will not leave the Lord because “to whom would I go?” It seems like a lot of the Saints went through periods in their lives where they didn’t feel God or had doubts/struggles with their faith. I know Mother Theresa had a lot of doubts and struggles because, like you said, she was face to face with poverty 24/7, and not distanced from it. But she ultimately persevered and kept her faith and left an amazing legacy. Do you have serious Catholic friends or family that you talk to?
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I have friends and family that are Catholic, but I don’t talk about it much to them. None of them are as well read on the subject, so any rebuttals they provide are ones that I’ve already thought about.

I’m open to changing my mind, as I am with anything in my life. I just don’t see the odds of me becoming Catholic again being any higher than joining other religions.
 
This topic brings to mind the words of St. Basil the Great from his Homilia in illud dictum evangelii secundum Lucam: «Destruam horrea mea, et majora ædificabo:» itemque de avaritia (Homily on the saying of the Gospel According to Luke, “I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones,” and on greed), §7 (PG 31, 276B – 277A).
Naked did you not drop from the womb? Shall you not return again naked to the earth? Where have the things you now possess come from? If you say they just spontaneously appeared, then you are an atheist, not acknowledging the Creator, nor showing any gratitude towards the one who gave them. But if you say that they are from God, declare to us the reason why you received them. Is God unjust, who divided to us the things of this life unequally? Why are you wealthy while that other man is poor? Is it, perhaps, in order that you may receive wages for kindheartedness and faithful stewardship, and in order that he may be honored with great prizes for his endurance? But, as for you, when you hoard all these things in the insatiable bosom of greed, do you suppose you do no wrong in cheating so many people? Who is a man of greed? Someone who does not rest content with what is sufficient. Who is a cheater? Someone who takes away what belongs to others. And are you not a man of greed? are you not a cheater? taking those things which you received for the sake of stewardship, and making them your very own? Now, someone who takes a man who is clothed and renders him naked would be termed a robber; but when someone fails to clothe the naked, while he is able to do this, is such a man deserving of any other appellation? The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong.
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Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Holy Spirit, change our hearts to burn with Charity.

Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
 
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Although I struggle with God allowing evil and suffering in this world, I still believe with all my heart that Jesus is the only way to salvation. I have seen the Lord work in my life and the lives of others too much to believe otherwise.

Is your only struggle with the Catholic faith over the problem of evil and suffering? Have you heard of Peter Kreeft? He has a book called Making Sense of Suffering and it is great. $2 on Amazon.
 
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