Happy guy is full of nonesense.
If he is so concerned about the river worms or any suffering of mankind then instead of waiting for a god he doesn't believe in to fix the problems, he should go out into the world and help these people. After all the church of Christ has been active in the world by helping others in numerous ways for 2,000 years now. Our faith in God is alive and Active. We are not sitting on our tusshies waiting for God to come take care of all our ills. Because we have a PROPER view of God and his Word, we know that we are to live in the world, as it is now, awaiting Christ to return. But yet, even in the midst of adversity, suffering, violence, etc. We are supposed to go forth into the world as Christ's ambassadors and do good to all people. And that is what we are doing.
If our faith moves us to do all we do in the name of our Lord, while awaiting his return, and you think we are stupid for it, then so be it. I am sure the millions of people being helped by Christians when they are in need do not feel the same way. Also if you refuse to understand that MOST, not ALL, but MOST of our ills are due to mankind itself and our bad dicisions and violent nature, then that is your problem. Maybe you are the one in need of more education?
I am not ignorant of the fact that yes there are natural disasters, enemies of man in nature, (river worms, snakes, etc), and unforseen occurances, i.e. floods, fires, etc. that also befall us and this is not related directly to man's sin. These occasions are when the world should really help one another and show our God given quality of love and compassion.
To just sit back and wait for God to do everything for us is not a biblical view and is an imature one too.
Minimus, your original Q was "if there is a God, why doesn't he do something by now?
Here is my final response and I am addressing you alone;
He has done something, he sent his Son into the world to reconcile it back to himself and he himself paid the price for our lives, with his OWN life. If he did not care, he would not have done this. (See John 3:16) And yes, in the meantime, until all things are reconciled back to himself people will die and suffer. Because that is a part of THIS LIFE but not the life that is to come. And any suffering we go through is temporary and so is death, these things even affect the Church of believers. But death is temporary and any innocents who die will be brought back to life. And do you think they are going to turn and ask God "what took you so long" when they realize they are ALIVE again?? Doubt it.
Even believers like myself, grace, littletree, etc. ask God many times why the long wait? All believers do that at least once in their lives. We are not very patient and want a quick fix to all our ills right now, but we cannot rush God. In his infinite wisdom, He has his own plan and time frame for all things. The thing with the church is we are to "endure to the end" meaning not become disheartened because things do not happen when we want them to. It may not even happen in our lifetime. But still we are told to keep waiting in expectation.
Think of all the old testament prophets and people like Abraham and Isaac who awaiting the "city not made by human hands" and the coming of the Messiah. They prophesied about him, spoke about him and waiting their ENTIRE lives. Yet, Paul said they did not see the fulfillment of the promise. Yet they died faithful and were counted among those whose names are written in heaven.
Anther way we (the church) know that God's cares about us is that we have intimate fellowship with him daily thru the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. You said you believe in God but still have lot's of Q's. If you truly believe in him, then you can ask him to send the Holy Spirit to you, because the Holy Spirit will help answer all your Q's. That is what his specific work is to do. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers so that you can recieve your answers and have peace in your life. Lilly
