Why does God allow temptation?

[closertohome]

Why does God allow temptation? Not in the general sense of everyone, but for believers. Those of us who accept him and commit him, why would he let his loved children be exposed to that evil. Why would he allow us to then fall, after we committed to him.

Isn’t the original decision to follow him enough? It just doesn’t make sense. Would you allow your child to continually experience some evil or pain that was within your control to stop it. Would you look at your child and say, “I know you want me to stop the pain, but I will only relieve it temporarily, then I’ll still let it come back at you, but if you don’t keep asking, I’m going to let you suffer forever.”

This is definitely one of the things that seriously confuses me about the relationship that God wants with us.

 

[Pythagoras]

The same way why there is the existence of free will in this Earth. If there is no free will, there is no need for temptation.

Living on Earth is not the end in itself, there is still Heaven. This is the mistake most of the people believe in. They try to enjoy life on Earth to the fullest.

Earth is just a testing ground for God if we truly love Him or not. Now many people say they love God, but to what extent do they love God? Yup, God is looking and watching every soul tempted to see if they truly love God as to see if it is really worthy of heaven

 

[Dorothy]

God allows us to be tempted, and also is ready with His grace so that we can resist temptation. We can grow spiritually by resisting temptation. He has already purchased for us the grace that we need to resist evil, at the price of his suffering and death.

We are tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Satan and the fallen angels are on a leash, so to speak, as they are not allowed to tempt us beyond our strength.

God’s perfect plan to sanctify us works very well when we use all the means we need to resist temptation…prayer, sacraments, intercession of saints and the greatest saint of all, our Blessed Mother.

 

[Vico]

Why does God allow temptation? Not in the general sense of everyone, but for believers. Those of us who accept him and commit him, why would he let his loved children be exposed to that evil. Why would he allow us to then fall, after we committed to him.

Isn’t the original decision to follow him enough? It just doesn’t make sense. Would you allow your child to continually experience some evil or pain that was within your control to stop it. Would you look at your child and say, “I know you want me to stop the pain, but I will only relieve it temporarily, then I’ll still let it come back at you, but if you don’t keep asking, I’m going to let you suffer forever.”

This is definitely one of the things that seriously confuses me about the relationship that God wants with us.

No, the original decision is not enough! There must be final penitence. Without trials how can a Christian give witness to faith? How could we follow Christ without taking up his cross?

Since there is freewill, it cannot be avoided that some will use it to harm others. Without freewill there could be no expression of love and hate. We are called to love others, as Jesus said (Luke 6:32-24):
32 And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this. 34 And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. 35 But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.

 

[AttendeDomine]

For at least five reasons:

(1) So that we have an opportunity to prove our love for Him, rather than just speaking empty words.

(2) So that we can grow in humility and in our reliance on His grace.

(3) So that we can grow in love for Him.

(4) To make atonement for past sins by resisting the temptations we once so readily gave in to.

(5) So that we can have a means to gain extra merit and glory in heaven.

If you want to know a lot more, I highly, highly recommend the following book: shop.sophiainstitute.com/How-to-Resist-Temptation-P42.aspx

Every Saint in heaven, aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary, has had to endure temptation, and it was a means of their sanctification.

 

[babylonfalling]

Why does God allow temptation? Not in the general sense of everyone, but for believers. Those of us who accept him and commit him, why would he let his loved children be exposed to that evil. Why would he allow us to then fall, after we committed to him.

Isn’t the original decision to follow him enough? It just doesn’t make sense. Would you allow your child to continually experience some evil or pain that was within your control to stop it. Would you look at your child and say, “I know you want me to stop the pain, but I will only relieve it temporarily, then I’ll still let it come back at you, but if you don’t keep asking, I’m going to let you suffer forever.”

This is definitely one of the things that seriously confuses me about the relationship that God wants with us.

So that we can grow closer to Him by resisting temptation of our own free well. If we resist temptation, we CHOOSE to stay close to God.

 

[closertohome]

Thanks.

Pray for me then, because I’m getting worn thin with temptation.

I read the bible and see how God loves us. He loves us always, but will only accept us when we come to him. He forgives us, but only when we come to him. He allows us to fall, because of free will. He will not lend a hand in this world, because free will prevents that.

This is how my Father in heaven treats me, I can only assume that this is how I am to treat others. I will love everyone, but only accept them when they come to me. I will forgive them, only when they come to me repentant. I will allow them all to fall and I will not step in because that would be violation of free will.

If the all powerful God will not violate free will, neither will I.

I’ve just misunderstood for so long. I’ve thought I had to forgive everyone whether or not they were repentant, that was wrong as I need to forgive as God forgives. I’ve tried to accept everyone and be there even in spite of being hurt. This is wrong. I have tried to share experience to prevent them from falling and making mistakes, this is wrong.

I think I am beginning to understand.

Thank you to the person who recommended the book, I will likely get it once my financial picture turns around and I can afford to spend $10 on something other than necessity.

 

[TK421]

Why does God allow temptation? Not in the general sense of everyone, but for believers. Those of us who accept him and commit him, why would he let his loved children be exposed to that evil. Why would he allow us to then fall, after we committed to him.

Isn’t the original decision to follow him enough? It just doesn’t make sense. Would you allow your child to continually experience some evil or pain that was within your control to stop it. Would you look at your child and say, “I know you want me to stop the pain, but I will only relieve it temporarily, then I’ll still let it come back at you, but if you don’t keep asking, I’m going to let you suffer forever.”

This is definitely one of the things that seriously confuses me about the relationship that God wants with us.

God permits temptation because that is a means that we become more ardent in love, faith, hope, and all virtue. It is ore that is refined in fire. God’s children are princes and princesses; gods and goddess, destined to dwell in a celestial palace, but He does not desire brats. He wants sons and daughters of meekness, humility, and compassion.

Also, there is hardly such a conceivable thing as “not being tempted” in one form another. To what are you referring? We might be sparred from the passionate temptations of wrath, greed, and lust, but in the wake of such sterility and calm, we might find obedience to God easy, and thus by being relieved of those temptations, we instead are subtly and easily tempted by pride. So, by removing one temptation, we make way for another. A person that weathers against assaults from bitterness, lust, gossip, dryness, and other menaces is rarely in a position to be prideful, because their weakness is so plain to them, and they flee to God in prayer for strength & protection.

 

[closertohome]

Much better this morning. Prayer helped, I also feel that some of you out there must have been praying too. Thank you.

Yesterday was an odd day. No mortal sins prevailed, only temptation reared it’s ugly head.

Looking back, there was an odd feeling in our home all day. I would identify it as negative, discouraging, bitterness, lack of hope, and futility of life.

I’m coming back to the Church after years away (I’ve attended non-denominational churches). The last few weeks were solid, but the last two days have been like a sledgehammer.

I feel that this has passed for the moment.

If you want to know a lot more, I highly, highly recommend the following book: shop.sophiainstitute.com/How-to-Resist-Temptation-P42.aspx
.

Thank you AttendeDomine for the above recommendation. I will be buying this book. I was able to locate a free sample from Amazon last night and began with that. I should be able to pick it up later this week.

Any recommendations for blessing my home would be appreciated. I don’t know much about it. I remember something about using holy water around the home, not sure if that’s still done or how to do it.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Also, thank you for being here and responding. It was very helpful when the thoughts and discouragement were raging.

I pray God bless you and your families.

 

[Dorothy]

“closertohome”,

With regard to holy water I am reminded of a retreat at a monastery I was at several years ago.

The theme of the retreat was devotion to Our Lady, and spiritual warfare. The retreat master gave an excellent and inspiring retreat, and also suggested the use of holy water in our homes. He showed us a spray bottle he got from Wal-Mart and filled with holy water.

Now I do that at my home I praise the Lord and thank Him for all his blessings while doing so.

Somewhere in the Catholic church there is an area where we can fill our holy water containers from a large container of blessed water.

I also have a small font of holy water on the wall where those who come in may bless themselves if they want to.

Welcome home! We need you in the Body of Christ, the Church! Jesus is Victor!

The evil one will try to dissuade you, stay close to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother, even if you do not “feel” their presence. They are with you!

 

[Pythagoras]

Thanks.

Pray for me then, because I’m getting worn thin with temptation.

I read the bible and see how God loves us. He loves us always, but will only accept us when we come to him. He forgives us, but only when we come to him. He allows us to fall, because of free will. He will not lend a hand in this world, because free will prevents that.

This is how my Father in heaven treats me, I can only assume that this is how I am to treat others. I will love everyone, but only accept them when they come to me. I will forgive them, only when they come to me repentant. I will allow them all to fall and I will not step in because that would be violation of free will.

If the all powerful God will not violate free will, neither will I.

I’ve just misunderstood for so long. I’ve thought I had to forgive everyone whether or not they were repentant, that was wrong as I need to forgive as God forgives. I’ve tried to accept everyone and be there even in spite of being hurt. This is wrong. I have tried to share experience to prevent them from falling and making mistakes, this is wrong.

I think I am beginning to understand.

Thank you to the person who recommended the book, I will likely get it once my financial picture turns around and I can afford to spend $10 on something other than necessity.

In times of temptation, pray 3 Hail Marys

 

[mattd327]

Actually I don’t believe we have free will because if we were once slaves of sin how are we free? God knows every move we are going to make so how then do we have free will?

 

[Vico]

Actually I don’t believe we have free will because if we were once slaves of sin how are we free? God knows every move we are going to make so how then do we have free will?

These are all dogmas of faith:

• God gives all the just sufficient grace for the observation of the divine commandments.
• God, by His eternal resolve of Will, has predetermined certain men to eternal blessedness.
• God, by an eternal resolve of His Will, predestines certain men, on account of their foreseen sins, to eternal rejection.
• The human will remains free under the influence of efficacious grace, which is not rresistible.
• There is grace which is truly sufficient and yet remains inefficacious.

 

[babylonfalling]

Thanks.

Pray for me then, because I’m getting worn thin with temptation.

I read the bible and see how God loves us. He loves us always, but will only accept us when we come to him. He forgives us, but only when we come to him. He allows us to fall, because of free will. He will not lend a hand in this world, because free will prevents that.

This is how my Father in heaven treats me, I can only assume that this is how I am to treat others. I will love everyone, but only accept them when they come to me. I will forgive them, only when they come to me repentant. I will allow them all to fall and I will not step in because that would be violation of free will.

If the all powerful God will not violate free will, neither will I.

I’ve just misunderstood for so long. I’ve thought I had to forgive everyone whether or not they were repentant, that was wrong as I need to forgive as God forgives. I’ve tried to accept everyone and be there even in spite of being hurt. This is wrong. I have tried to share experience to prevent them from falling and making mistakes, this is wrong.

I think I am beginning to understand.

Thank you to the person who recommended the book, I will likely get it once my financial picture turns around and I can afford to spend $10 on something other than necessity.

I get worn thin by temptation also. It does not go away. The guy who said to say 3 Hail Mary’s may be onto something. I’ll be trying that and maybe your should also.

Forgiving others (even if they are not sorry) clears stuff off YOUR slate as well as theirs. It’s difficult and I’m having trouble with it myself even as I type this post. My girlfriend is having even more trouble with it but as she makes progress, she feels better herself.

It removes bitterness which is something you don’t want to carry into the afterlife. It’s co-beneficial.