Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters?

Townhall.com ^ | September 14, 2017 | Judge Andrew Napolitano

[robroys woman]

People can be helped by reading The Problem of Pain, by C. S. Lewis.

[SkyDancer]

Because G-d doesn’t play G-d.

[Garth Tater]

"Now back to the question posed earlier. If God the Father created us and loves us, why does He permit natural forces that He set in motion to harm and even to devour us?"

It's always best to get the most basic questions answered first before moving on to less consequential questions like this one.

Start with, "Why does God even let such undeserving beings as ourselves into his garden?"

[Wuli]

G-d NEVER proclaimed, promised or offered to always and forever withhold the natural forces of the earth.

What He did promise was:

Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death - earthly life - He is with us and will be with us.

[utahagen]

Another book suggestion: Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade S.J. (written hundreds of years ago, when Jesuits were Jesuits). It has helped me accept a paradox: God does not want bad or catastrophic things to happen to people. However, He exists outside of time, and knowing everything that will happen to us, He does permit some bad things to happen to us; so, we must trust in Him to be with us in the life at every moment, knowing all will be well in eternity.

[Garth Tater]

C.S. Lewis ping

[xzins]

The judge ignores a whole body of scripture and theology that says God does punish people. The flood, Sodom, the exile of Israel, and the punishments of Revelation are just a few examples.

Quite simply, it is punishment if God reveals that it is. In Job, God revealed that it was not. With the flood, God revealed that it was. With Revelation, God has revealed that it will be.

A God who does not punish unrehabilitated criminals is a God who does not care about life or love or creation.

In the same way, Judge Napolitano will sentence some criminals to life in prison or to execution.

[Berlin_Freeper]

You have to take the bad to be able to apprehend and appreciate the good.

[AppyPappy]

Because you see God as being passive-aggressive

[robroys woman]

Wow, that is pretty much my philosophy! I’ll look it up. Thanks!

[Safrguns]

The question is flawed.

The word “permit” suggests that God is not in control of it.

God CONTROLS the weather... He may “permit” man to interfere, but He is still in control.

[Jacquerie]

I appreciate the ping. Do you recall (I don’t) what Lewis had to say about this matter?

[G Larry]

Why do people expect Heaven on Earth?

God has always challenged our faith and reprimanded our behavior.

[Tammy8]

That is exactly what my mother taught me!

[El Cid]

A fairer question might be, 'why doesn't God give us the full Sodom and Gomorrah fire and brimstone from the sky treatment'?
We certainly have earned it,
We are blessed that He is long-suffering, patient, and merciful. But time is running out. The time to get into the Ark (Christ) is now.

[Berlin_Freeper]

At some point it still is surprising that we turn into our parents. ;)

[Arthur McGowan]

There is no such thing as a “natural disaster.”

No one who has chosen to live somewhere other than the Gulf Coast or Florida has been affected by Harvey and Irma.

[utahagen]

If you go to amazon.com, scroll through the various editions of the book, and look for the one that is out of print, but can be ordered used: Abandonment to Divine Providence [Paperback] [1993] (Author) Jean-Pierre de Caussade, John Beevers Paperback – 1993. It is the most readable format. It has a cover with a pastoral picture on the cover, top half is gold-colored, bottom half is green.

[Bellflower]

A better question is why hasn’t God wiped us off the face of the earth. Hint, it has to do with His promises.