Okay, calm down. This is a case of don't kill/shoot the messenger. This is NOT my QUESTION at all, but a meme posted on Facebook. I said to myself, "What the hay. Answer the question as I believe." I know. Who would even engage? A person who loves answering questions, lol.
The meme said, " If Christians say that God can heal, why are the hospitals filled with suffering Christians?" What a question! Many Christians would become offended and walk away or rebuke such a nasty meme even if it was on a hilarious things page. "No Christian likes for God to be mocked," they would say. The truth may be they cannot answer the question with sound reasoning. So offense shows up instead of ANSWERING A QUESTION. I know nobobdy was expecting seriousnees on a hilarious site.
1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (NIV).
I try not to run and PRAY to be GENTLE and RESPECTFUL. I'd be honored if you prayed that for me too. So, I hope every Christian is prepared to answer some TOUGH questions about God, religion, Christianity, and Jesus during these chaotic times in America and abroad. Many are getting baptized and coming to Christ and the kindom. They have questions. Tough questions. So practice on Facebook pages lol.
As I wrote my reasons, I began to notice, the Christian faith is really Philosophy. Meditating and finding answers. My Master Degree in Religion is under, PHILOSOPHY. I was shocked too. But my answers were more philosophical than FACTUAL. Here we go.
- Imitating Christ: 1 Corinthians 11:1 states, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (NIV). Similarly, Ephesians 5:1 urges believers to, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children" (NIV). This concept involves living a life that reflects the character, love, and righteousness of Jesus. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Ambassadors for Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:20 declares, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God" (NIV). An ambassador serves as an official representative sent by a higher authority to a foreign land, tasked with delivering the King's message of peace and reconciliation.
The ENTIRE BIBLE reflects this and Christians are PUNISHED for WRONG ambassordorship. Back to sick and Christians dying painful death. We all have the promise of death regardless of religion or non religion. Death matters. It changes the person, the more suffering either there is more blame or self reflection. Death shows the heart of the family, friends, community. Maybe the unanswered pray of healing is because viewing suffering changes people and the seemingly MARTYRED Christian whose prayers went unanswered for healing changed more lives in their death for the kingdom than while alive. Onlookers may choose the opposite and began doing things out of pain agaist God and Christianity.
Suffering also allows those who say they hate suffering to HELP end it. Christians should be all over it. But, sadly more churches show the opposite and now say vile things about them and advocate to let them die. God's grace is always saying CHANGE, follow the Bible's command of love. He gives a chance to be better constantly sometimes close, right in our faces, and we mostly fail. The instrument malfunctions at times.
So, the meme asked something PROFOUND. Something Philosophers meditate about day and night, search for answers no matter how many years, knowing there IS an answer. If God said it, why doesn't it happen for EVERY Christian? Can there be a logical reason for the belief found in the Bible? They would meditate day and night for an answer, search for years. Luckily, it's ALL in the pages of the Bible, but people CHOOSE what they read and INTERPRET it by personal experience as we do all other things in life. God isn't confusing. People are. They LAY the Bible on THEMSELVES, instead of layig the Bible on themselves. YOU on GOD, not God on you. This is an one on one growth in Christianity. Not OUTSIDE of Christianity.
- The Bible says: "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men... Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction" (Job 33:15–16).
- The Purpose: To turn people away from bad behavior and hide pride from them.
- The Purpose: To humble individuals and prevent their souls from going to the "pit" (death).
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