Also, how does your formula play out in the following scenario:

Enraged at this decision, he cursed the judge, and in the heat of passion blasphemed the name of God. He was immediately brought before Moses. The command had been given, "He that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death" (Exodus 21:17); but no provision had been made to meet this case. So terrible was the crime that there was felt to be a necessity for special direction from God. The man was placed in ward until the will of the Lord could be ascertained. God Himself pronounced the sentence; by the divine direction the blasphemer was conducted outside the camp and stoned to death. Those who had been witness to the sin placed their hands upon his head, thus solemnly testifying to the truth of the charge against him. Then they threw the first stones, and the people who stood by afterward joined in executing the sentence. {PP 407.5}

This was followed by the announcement of a law to meet similar offenses: "Thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death." Leviticus 24:15, 16. {PP 408.1}

There are those who will question God's love and His justice in visiting so severe punishment for words spoken in the heat of passion. But both love and justice require it to be shown that utterances prompted by malice against God are a great sin. The retribution visited upon the first offender would be a warning to others, that God's name is to be held in reverence. But had this man's sin been permitted to pass unpunished, others would have been demoralized; and as the result many lives must eventually have been sacrificed. {PP 408.2}

Why are you asking this?

God allowed the evil person to do his will whenever the evil person did something contrary to His will. It was played out by whatever you stipulated in your scenario. It was played out by whomever you stipulated. The victims are the ones you stipulated. You don't say how God comforted them, so I can't answer that.

I don't see what you're wanting to get at.

Regarding 102758, I don't know what you're asking.

You've read Job, right? The things I mentioned, in what you call "my formula" are all right there.

1. God allows Satan to do his will.
2. Satan does his will, which results in victims.
3. God comforts the victims.

Don't you agree with this? If not, which point do you disagree with?

Please note the underlined sentences.


I'm trying to understand how the formula you enumerated plays out in the scenario I described. In particular I would like to know: 1) Why does God allow suffering, 2) Who causes the suffering, and 3) How does God comfort the sufferers.

How does this story compare to Job's story? God ordered the execution of a blasphemer. He was stoned to death by God's people. "God Himself pronounced the sentence; by the divine direction the blasphemer was conducted outside the camp and stoned to death." Where are the elements of your formula in this story? Who played the part of Satan? And, who played the part of the comforter?

Regarding #102855, if you stipulated how God comforted the victims, then that's how God comforted the victims.

Regarding the formula as you call it, a)bad things happen because of free will, b)it is necessary for God to allow these things to happen so that (a necessary but not sufficient condition) the effects of choosing to act contrary to God's principles can be seen, and c)God comforted the victims of those who choose to act contrary to His principles (an important point here is that this includes those who are acting contrary to His will, if they are willing; that is, God comforts both the sinner and the one being sinned against).

How this related to your story is whatever bad things happen in your story corresponds to a), where God allows the bad things to happen corresponds to b), and where God comforts the victims corresponds to c).

Regarding #102857, why are you choosing this example for what you're calling my formula? Do you think it applies?

TE: Regarding #102855, if you stipulated how God comforted the victims, then that's how God comforted the victims.

MM: I didn't stipulate it. I asked you to identify the parts of your formula in the story I posted. Do you think God used the pastor to comfort the victims? Or, do you think the pastor failed to comfort them? If so, what does God do in such cases to comfort people?

...

TE: Regarding #102857, why are you choosing this example for what you're calling my formula? Do you think it applies?

MM: That's what I would like to know. Does your "formula" (or whatever you want to call it) work in cases like this one? If not, why not? Please explain. Thank you.

It's your story. How would I know if the hypothetical pastor was used by God? How can you even think it would be possible for me to know such a thing? I mean, how does this question even make sense?

I will say one thing. In your hypothetical story, the way you have the Pastor acting appears to me to be very naive. When people are needing to be comforted from a tragedy, the last people most people need is a theological explanation regarding the existence of suffering.



Seems kind of like apples and oranges to me. You'd have to explain how this relates for me to comment beyond this.

TE: I will say one thing. In your hypothetical story, the way you have the Pastor acting appears to me to be very naive. When people are needing to be comforted from a tragedy, the last people most people need is a theological explanation regarding the existence of suffering.

MM: So, would you say God did not comfort the victims in this story through the pastor? If God does not comfort victims in this manner, how does He do it? What would it look and sound like?

...

TE: Seems kind of like apples and oranges to me. You'd have to explain how this relates for me to comment beyond this.

MM: What makes it apples and oranges? Why do you think this story is so far off base that you cannot comment on it? Either your "formula" applies or it doesn't. Who are the victims? Who victimized them? And, how does God comfort them?

As I said before, the best way to see this is to look to Christ. Study how He comforted others. Also, assuming you've been comforted by the Lord, you can use that as a guide:





What makes it apples and oranges is not having a connection that I can see. As I said, you'd have to explain how this relates for me to comment beyond this. You didn't do so. You just asked questions.