/christianity/ - Christian Theology

>>6338

I don't know. The overall message I got from the Book of Job, and even from what Jesus said in some of the Gospels, is that bad and good things happening to believers and non-believers alike can possibly be punishment or reward, or it can be neither. It can be for the Glory of God, or as part of a larger plan, that we humans cannot even begin to comprehend, due to God being able to perceive everything on a universal cosmic scale (not to mention Him being the OG grand master of 4th dimensional chess.)

I think what you say about how God handles non-hearers is pretty spot on.

God treats all as He will, and will allow certain to suffer for two causes: the first as punishment for sin, the second as is good for the salvation of the person themselves or of others. Whether one is elect or reprobate has no effect on the how one is treated in this matter, nor whether they have had the Gospel preached to them.

Believers:

Indwelt with the spirit

Saved from eternal salvation

Ability to pray to God via Jesus as mediator

Unable to be possessed

Convicted of sin

Promised persecution

Non-believers (hearing or not):

Damned upon physical death

Standing invitation to believe and be saved

Possibility of being possessed

With natural moral inclinations, but not with conviction by the Spirit

A member of either group can be financially wealthy or poor, and healthy or ill.

We are not promised to see justice in our lifetimes, but at the end every secret will be made known. There isn't a system of karma in biblical Christianity.

>>6367

saved from eternal damnation**

>>6338

What you're preaching is some weird kind of judaism. Belief doesn't matter. Certain actions have certain consequences unless God's plan says otherwise. Faith without works is dead.

>>6338

Matthew 5:43 -45

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

>>6369

>>6387

So are you guys suggesting that God doesn't punish bad actions from his believers in this life and doesn't reward virtue from his believers in this life?

>>6393

No, if something ends poorly it's probably not a virtue. "By their fruits" and all. I'd be careful about how you apply this though. Notice I said probably. Only God knows the distant future.

>>6338

>So I was thinking about why God lets some evil people become prosperous and why he lets some good and faithful people live in poverty or suffer.

Maybe because it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

This life is nothing in comparison to the eternal life. Anything God does during this life takes into account the eternal consequences.

non-members of the Church

God cares about them and their eternal fate because he "desires all people to be saved". (1 Tim. 2:4) There is, however, no need to know what exactly God does with respect to them. "Indeed, what do I have to do with judging those who are outside? Do you not judge those who are within? But those who are outside, God judges." (1 Cor. 5:12) In the day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secrets of the people they are going to be judged by their conscience (Rom. 2:14-16). "Unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5) Perhaps this does not necessarily mean hell.

members of the Church

Here we don't have "an enduring city but we seek the one that is to come" (Hebr. 13:14). We joyfully accept the seizure of our property, knowing that we have a better and enduring property in the heavens (Hebr. 10:34). When we are punished by God, we are thankful because "whom the Lord loves, he also chastens, and he disciplines every son whom he receives". Those whom God doesn't discipline, are bastards, not children. (Hebr. 12:6-8)

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28) To some God will provide miraculous deliverance to strengthen their faith. To others he will give trials to strengthen their love.

"One who became well-pleasing to God was beloved,

and, while living amongst sinners, was taken;

he was seized in order that wickedness

should not affect his understanding

or guile deceive his soul.

For the fascination of wickedness obscures the things that are good,

and roving desire undermines an innocent mind.

But being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;

for his soul was pleasing to the Lord,

therefore he hastened from the midst of evil.

But the peoples saw and did not understand

nor take such a thing to heart,

that grace and mercy are upon his chosen ones

and he watches over his holy ones." (Wisdom of Solomon 4:10-15)