Raped, impregnated, then jailed

1. You need to take a look at every religious leader, every institutionalised religion and ask yourself: He says he is christian. But does he follow what his God teaches? Or He says he is muslim. Does he follow the pillars of islam?

So if the catholic church claims to be the authority of God, yet puts Christ' name in utter shame, hardening the hearts of the entire european spiritual climate, then what in the name of Satan are they doing? With this in mind, we must not judge individual catholics, of whom there are genuine followers of Christ Jesus and live a biblical-mandated life of love and gospel-outreach.

2. Faith in Jesus Christ is the answer to all the problems of this world. Don't laugh yet, listen.
Suffering was not part of creation. "And he saw that it was good" was the proclamation God made after each day of creation. It was good. Adam and Eve stood across from each other, naked and not ashamed. Then Genesis ch3 happened. The devil tempted them by shoving a wedge of distrust between Adam + Eve and God. He convinced Adam and Eve that God wasn't good. That God was some kind of evil Father who denied them knowledge and denied them like a stingy and bitter Father. Eve stopped trusting God and ate. Adam did the same, he was there the whole time and also submitted to the devil. Thus suffering entered the world. "If you eat of that fruit, you will surely die". Thus, sin and death entered humanity as well as the entire creation. Animals started eating animals. Animals started dying. Humans no longer lived eternally under the provision of God. Humans died and returned to the dust. Death, decay, sickness, suffering are all one package that entered mankind, collectively known as the "curse of the fall".

This is the short account of how suffering came about.

Why does it continue to exist? Why doesn't God do something about suffering?
He has.
Jesus came to earth as a man, to redeem mankind for it's trespasses. One might ask: But mankind is good right?
Yes - we are made in the image of God (though it is seared by sin), and we are capable of doing good. You have all helped charities which have come knocking on your door.

What of evil then?
Matey you have surely done plenty of evil. In God's sight, evil is defiling. He is holy beyond our imagination. Not one bit of sin is tolerable in His holy presence. Thus, man and his lawlessness cannot enter the dwelling of God. All sin must be dealt with. God is the ultimate fair judge - who Himself being perfect, is able to judge fairly in all cases. No man who rapes, murders, steals, envies, hates, lusts, lies, is full of greed or is disobedient to parents can get away. This is the ultimate law court.

What about suffering? Well like we've already mentioned: Genesis ch3. is when the "curse of the fall" came to mankind and all of creation. The rest of the Old testament describes the evils of humanity and all of it's broken characters.

So then, what is God's plan to end the suffering? It was revealed in Genesis ch3 right after the fall of Man.
"15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.” "

This was the promise from God that a seed of the woman (the Man Christ Jesus) would one day crush satan.

This has partially been achieved at the cross where Jesus died and rose again. For no man has conquered death and death was Satan's ultimate weapon. Satan's power of temptation ultimately lies in the lie that man will die and that this life IS ALL THERE IS. But Jesus in pouring out His blood for the sins of mankind on the painful cross, and by rising again to life, has conquered death. Anyone who believes in Jesus is thus effectively baptised with Jesus in His death, and thus has his sins forgiven him. For Jesus has taken his sin and this man is justified before God. This ofcourse comes about through grace. (grace = gift of love which is not deserved, but undeserved and free).

God's plan to destroy suffering will be fully revealed at the second coming of Christ - the final day of judgement and the renewing of the heavens and earth (Revelations 21). Satan will be chained forevermore. All evil will be judged and punished. Suffering will cease. All will be renewed, Lions will lie next to lambs. We will never weep, be sick, nor thirst.

Blessed is God who abounds in steadfast love, Amen.


3. Sorry I don't comprehend the "not an abstraction" part. Could you please explain in a PM? Sorry about it, I read 3. a few times and really don't get what you are asking for. @__@ !! I will update this post once you explain it in another way. Sorry!!!

Hope you have gained some biblical perspectives on life, feel free to PM me, anybody that is.

The fundamentals of Christian faith can be summed up in this:

Creation -- The Fall -- The consequences of the fall through human history -- The first coming of Christ, His death and resurrection -- the spread of his kingdom on earth through the gospel of love -- His second coming.

The HIV virus enters the world stage at the level of "the fall". Reading Genesis chapters 1-3 will cover the very most fundamental truths of the Christian faith.

Genesis 1: God created the world in six days. He proclaims "And it was very good". There was no evil. And creation itself was just as God wanted it to be. Man and Woman were created in the image of the Triune God. We are special. We are like God. And it's pretty awesome.

Genesis 2:
Adam and Eve were living under the authority of God, provided by God with food, water and work. Adam and Eve were to propagate and rule over this beautiful earth which God has created for them and their descendants. They were going to live forever and rule this earth forever. But God gave them everything and permitted all fruits to be eaten in this bountiful garden. Bar one. This specific tree you are not to eat from, God tells them. Why? "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Simple right? So we thought. And Satan drives a wedge of mistrust between Adam, Eve and God. And they disobey God. Disobedience towards authority is sin. Not just any authority, but God who richly provided them with everything and breathed life into their nostrils.

Thus knowing the consequences (for God had told them earlier if they ate from this tree they will surely die), Man suffered the curse. Genesis ch3 then goes on and describes suffering, pain and death entering mankind. Diseases, decay and even natural disasters entered. Animals began to eat other animals. Pain and suffering entered when before the fall, there was only goodness.

HIV virus is just another example of the suffering which humanity and the ENTIRE creation is plagued with because of the sin of man in disobeying God. The consequences were clear: if you ate from that tree (when there were plenty of other sweet fruits to eat from), then you will die. Unfortunately they did and suffering entered the entire creation.
But there is hope for renewal and God has already begun it at the cross where Jesus overcame death. The new heavens and new earth are coming, as well as the final judgement when all evil will be punished and a perfect, sinless world will be restored with Man rightfully ruling it under God.

Fairytale or Truth? Your life is going to go for another 80 years at max (I assume TL-ers are 20 years old). You're going to find out one way or another. My appeal to all of you is to find out about the Loving God who came to earth as a Man, to be ridiculed by those He came to save. Find out about Jesus, the Christ. Learn the love of God for mankind and repent from your ways. We are all evil before God, but He is not a unforgiving judge. Forgiveness and freedom stands at the door.