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Is God Cruel?

Question: "Is God cruel?"

Answer: There are atheists and agnostics who argue that the God who is presented in the Bible is cruel. For example, the online Skeptics Annotated Bible has an entire section devoted to biblical passages that, they claim, demonstrate that God is cruel. By labeling God as cruel, they are appealing to our human, moral sensibilities. The word cruelty is defined as "callous indifference to, or pleasure in, causing pain and suffering.” The question before us now is, Is God cruel? To answer in the affirmative, we would have to allow that God either doesn’t care about pain and suffering, or He actually enjoys watching His creatures suffer.

The atheists / agnostics who claim that God is cruel have a large burden of proof. They are not merely claiming to know about the actions of God; they are also claiming to sufficiently know the circumstances in which He performed those actions, as well as His motivations. Additionally, they are claiming to know the very mind of God, ascribing to Him the attitudes of indifference and/or sadistic pleasure necessary to define Him as cruel. Quite frankly, this is beyond the skeptics’ ability to demonstrate—they can’t possibly know the mind of God. “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

There is no doubt that God both allows and, at times, causes pain and suffering, but God’s goodness cannot be impugned because He commits an act that appears cruel to us. While we can’t claim to know His reasoning in every circumstance, we do know several reasons for actions that can appear to us to be cruel, especially if we don’t know—or don’t bother to find out—the circumstances:

1. To mete out just punishment - If a punishment is just, can it be said to be cruel? What critics usually do not understand is that God’s love is not diminished when He brings punishment on people. God is able to bring judgment on an evil group of people in order to spare those who are devoted to Him. To allow evil and wrongdoing to go unpunished would indeed be cruel and would indicate a callousness toward the innocent. When God caused the Red Sea to close, drowning Pharaoh’s entire army, He was punishing Pharaoh’s rebellion against Him and preserving His chosen people from certain slaughter and annihilation (Exodus 14). Wrongdoing that does not result in punishment inevitably results in greater and greater wrongdoing, which benefits no one and is detrimental to the common good. Even when God told the Israelites to completely destroy the enemies of God, including women and children, He knew that to let them live would ensure the existence of future generations devoted to evil idolatrous practices—including in some cases child sacrifices on the altars of false gods.

2. To bring about a greater good- Pain and suffering that produce a greater good sometimes can be brought about by no other means. The Bible tells us that trials and difficulties produce stronger, better Christians, and we should “count it all joy” (James 1:2) when we encounter them. God brings these about for our benefit, in order to refine us like gold in the fire of affliction. The Apostle Paul saw his own suffering—beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, cold, imprisonments—as a means of ensuring that he would be ever conscious of his own weakness, would remember always that the power at work in him was from God, not himself, and would never be deluded into relying on his own power (2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 4:7-12). Against nonbelievers, God's justice is vindicated when He causes pain and suffering to them because they deserve it. He demonstrates His mercy to them by warning them repeatedly of the consequences of sin. When, through their own rebellion, they bring upon themselves calamity, this is just punishment, not cruelty. The fact that He lets rebels go on shaking their fists at Him as long as He does indicates His mercy and patience, not cruelty.

3. To glorify Himself - God is glorified by the exhibition of His attributes. We all agree that He looks pretty good to us when His love and mercy are on display, but since each and every attribute is holy and perfect, even the exhibition of His wrath and anger bring Him glory. And that is the ultimate goal—His glory, not ours. Our tiny, finite brains can't even adequately imagine Him, much less call Him into question.

All these are worthy, valid, noble causes for pain and suffering. Contrary to the claims of skeptics, there are good reasons for God’s allowing evil and suffering in this world. We are privileged to know some of those reasons, but we do not always know why God allows evil and suffering. To trust God in spite of not knowing the reasons is not a blind leap of faith. Rather, we trust Him with the things we don’t understand because we see His faithfulness in those actions which we do understand.

If we read the Bible carefully, rather than seeing God act out of cruelty, we see Him acting out of His love for us. For example, the book of Job is often pointed to as an example of God’s sadistic actions against an innocent man. The book declares that Job was innocent of the suffering that came upon him, which appears to favor the claim of the atheist. But to claim that it proves God is sadistic betrays a very superficial understanding of the book of Job.

In the Near East during the time of the patriarchs, a common belief was that God always blessed the righteous and brought suffering on the unrighteous. The book of Job is a polemic against that theology. The story shows that man’s view of God’s justice needed to be modified. We need to understand that God is not limited to using suffering as a means of retribution. He also uses it to tear people away from the earthly things that so easily entice them. Additionally, Job brings people closer to understanding God’s work of atonement on the cross. If mankind continued to think that God couldn’t allow an innocent man to suffer, then we would have missed God’s plan for redeeming the world. For God allowed the suffering of a perfectly innocent Man (Jesus Christ) in order to bring His own to salvation. So this book of Job ends up being an invaluable contribution to the history of redemption.

In summary, the skeptic must bear a very large burden of proof in claiming that God’s actions are characterized by cruelty. In context, the biblical passages which appear to paint God as cruel actually do no such thing. In fact, with a proper understanding of the Scriptures, we see that God’s actions are always motivated by, and consistent with, His holy and perfect character.

Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Knowing God by J.I. Packer.



Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/is-God-cruel.html#ixzz2QXMBvVjO

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gary Schultz on April 19, 2013 at 3:58pm

In a word........no.

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 10:11pm

Amen Gary! :-)

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 9:16pm

Talking to the atheist in many ways is like banging one's head against a brick wall, and telling the wall it is hard.

Be sure to be armed as it says in Ephesians.  Faith is always the thing which is under attack.

...of coarse if the wall could talk it would say 'no I'm not.'...but the language is usually colourful to say the least and not quite so polite.  It is the stubbornness, blindness, denial, hardness, and illogical retort which comes from the mouth of a 'New' atheist.

 

Does this mean we shouldn't talk to them?  Absolutely not.  We must tell them the gospel anyway. I like to say that we should keep them talking as long as we can.

 

This article is helpful....so that when we do, we know what to expect.

 

I recommend a great book.  It's called "God's Not Dead".  It's a great tool for apologetics if anyone is interested.  Additionally, it also helps equip Christians to be secure in the faith...and know that it is very reasonable and meaningful to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, soul and MIND... (The mind's not more important, I'm just emphasing it because that's the area the atheist likes to attack most).  They say we are unreasonable, illogical.  They say we have no capacity to think for ourselves, and that we are quite possibly the most evil and dangerous people on the planet.  They use mockery and demean the faith of a believer whenever they can. 

 

Be sure to arm yourselves to fight the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith. 

 

I just finished a bible study today which was lead by Beth Moore.  It was called 'Believing God'.  My goodness it's a powerful study... I recommend it very highly. 

 

Great article..  Good word.  Arms yourselves family. 

 

Blessings, Carla

 

here's a link to the book:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00A0VPBV2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf...

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 10:01pm

Yes.  Amen.. That's Awesome Mischelle..

We can destroy our own testimony very easily by responding in the same Spirit as the atheist.  You have touched on something so crucial here... It's key really. :-)

We have to remember that people are never our enemy.. satan is our only real enemy, and He is already defeated.

 

Bless you....

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 10:07pm

with gentleness and respect, and always speaking the truth in love... and not being rattled (as you said above).  The more equipped we are, and the more we trust in the Lord's leading (thru prayer), the more effective we will be.

 

It's also important to walk in faith..  Faith that when we share God's Word and the good news that we are planting seeds ....even though there seems to be no evidence (or very little) evidence to that.  We continue to walk by faith and not by sight.  Atheists will say that they stop listening when we quote scripture... I think that's only if they know you are quoting scripture.. It's important to have it so memorized and on the tip of our tongues that when we respond, it's God's words that we are responding with... It's beneficial if we don't need to pull out our bibles, or quote the name chapter and verse (especially if in person).  Just say the words. :-)

 

Permalink Reply by ribbon on April 19, 2013 at 10:21pm

Carla, I have been wanting to read a book I bought ,called  Stop asking Jesus into your heart, by JD Greear, I am hoping you have the book too. I hope someone could help me wwith questions. This world falling apart and my son not believing.... I need to BELIEVE too and I think this book will help me ... well maybe.  If anyone has the book or have already read it... ?? 

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 10:36pm

Janie, I haven't heard of it... But if you post your questions here on AAG, I know we'll all pull together to help and support you any way we can. :-)

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 19, 2013 at 10:38pm

I just looked it up.. it looks good.  I can look into getting it if you want to read it together.

I just finished a bible study group today, and my other one finishes next week.. I'll be able to spend time with you on this if you want.  We can read the chapters and then discuss them online.

Permalink Reply by ribbon on April 20, 2013 at 12:34pm

Hey Carla, thank ypou I would like that very much.  this will motivate me more. Let me know when you are done with your study and get your book. I sooooo appreciate you.  thank you again

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 20, 2013 at 2:44pm

You welcome..  I ordered the book and should get it in a couple of weeks.  ;-)

Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on April 20, 2013 at 10:31am

David

Very good word. 

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all really get in mind the scripture in Isaiah 55:7-8 that you referred to?  We sometimes frustrate ourselves to no end trying to 'figure God out' when we are,for the most part incapable of doing that very thing simply because of His vastly overwhelming (to put it mildly) advantage over us in that area. Instead, maybe we should just trust His to reveal to us what we 'need' to know when we 'need' to know it? You know, like letting the Spirit lead us into all truth.

 

       As far as a 'perception of cruelty' is concerned the above mentioned scripture should help us with that as well. We  sometimes (hopefully only sometimes) question and/or accuse God out of ignorance. And I do mean ignorance in regard to lack of knowledge in an area and not  just because we are being stubborn or argumentative.

 

 I believe ( my opinion only) that there is something even more appplicable to God that His love and that is His zeal for 'justice'. Because it is out of His absolute requirement for justice that He was moved by His love to provide us with a solution to our previously unsolvable problem of sin.

 

 Carla

 

I can certainly relate to your delima about talking to atheists (although at the moment I am dealing with the jw's that come around my area).  While I cannot really relate to the extent of your involvement with an atheist as I am not married to one. That would be a whole different situation.

 

Although we all have different types of people we have to deal with I believe that the scripture in 2Tim2:22-26  is a good plan(for lack of a better word ) in dealing with any unbeliever or potential inquirer.

 

             Flee youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

             But foolish and unlearned questions AVOID, knowing that they do gender strifes.

            And the servant of the Lord MUST NOT STRIVE; but be GENTLE unto all men, apt to teach, PATIENT,

            In MEEKNESS instructing those that oppose themselves; if GOD perhaps will give them repentance to the ACKNOWlEDGING of the truth;

           And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who TAKEN CAPTIVE by him at his will.

 

      We need to keep our focus on the fact that the devil is the enemy and not the person and only God can correct them effectively. I am persuade that you all ready know this and I am just giving a gentle reminded to consider when the stress gets up there as it must at times.

 

     One last thing that I'd like to add and it is a quote by Spurgeon concerning too hotly debating  (especially the scriptures). He said (as best as I remember this is accurate) 

" The word of God is like a lion, a lion doesn not need to be defended only to be released and it will defend itself".

 

I have personally taken this to mean that we should not argue the scriptures with those who don't accept them to begin with ,by rather we should simply proclaim the uncompromised word of God and let the Word do it's work . By the Holy Spirit of course.

 

God bless you both

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Carla on April 20, 2013 at 10:37am

Amen Charles.  This is so helpful.  Thank you.  I'm writing it down.

 

In regards to faith issues I don't discuss these things with my husband... I know the Lord is putting other people in his life.  I do however speak with many other atheists.  this is helpful for when I talk to them.  Thanks so much for the reminder.

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