Expert: Mel and Guyna Horne - 9/1/2010

Question
I am Catholic, was an altar boy for 4 years and I do believe in God but certain
things do not make sense to me in which I need clarification.

For example, in the bible it says, "Where 2 or more are gathered and pray,
what they ask for will be granted by the Father." Those are not the exact
words but it does go something like that from memory. So what about 2 or
more family member praying for a family member to get better and the
person does not, that goes against that verse in the bible. Or 2 or more
people praying for money to get out of debt but the money does not come.

Also, another verse in the bible goes something like, "If your child asks for
food, would you give him a stone? No, you would know to give your child
food. So how much more does your Father in heaven know what to give you
when you ask?" So what about all the people who are starving in the world?
Why does God not supply for them? I am sure some of them ask God for food
but yet some people starve to death. I know that passage was not specifically
talking just about food. It can be asking for anything yet that is the example I
am choosing to use. God calls us His children. Parents would never let their
children starve or go without. So why would God let some of His children
starve or go without what is needed by them?

Answer
Hi Charlie,

You asked about suffering in the world and why prayers are not always answered.

You probably are familiar with Jn. 3:16 which talks about God's love for mankind. Your question referred to scriptures in which God makes promises about answering our prayers (Mat. 18:19, Mat. 7:9-10). [All scriptures are KJV, unless noted otherwise.]

We are frequently asked, "Why do innocent people suffer in the world?"
The assumption is that people are basically "innocent" and that is a false assumption (See Rom. 3:23, Rev. 12:9,  1Jn. 1:6, 8-10, 2:4, 9, 15-17, 3:4).   John also wrote about why prayers are answered (1Jn. 3:22).

In Luke 4:4, Christ, responding to Satan's temptation, said that we are to "live by every word of God", quoting Deu. 8:3.   At that time, the New Testament had obviously not been written, but even now, "every word" would include every word.  

Among God's inspired words, in Pro. 26:2, we are told that there is no "curse" without a cause.  In the secular world, it is called "cause and effect".

However, we are also told that some things happen because of "time and chance" (Ecc. 9:11).  
Time and chance cannot affect us if we exercise the words of wisdom given us in scripture (Pro. 1:1-7, 33, 2:1-9) and, if we stay close to God in daily prayer (Mat. 6:11, 5:48-6:34), and, if he answers our prayers.

Why would God not answer prayers?
The apostle James answered this question in Jas. 4.
In summary, the majority of the violence and suffering in the world comes from our own human nature in the form of lust (for what is not rightfully ours), greed, hate (the lack of love), vanity, selfishness, jealousy and all the other "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-21, 26, Col. 3:5-9, 2Cor. 12:20-21, Eph. 5:3-7, 11, 1Tim. 1:9-10, 3:2,8, Mk. 7:21-23, Rom. 1:29-32, Rev. 21:8).

The second reason for suffering is that people don't ask, in faith, for their needs and for blessings (Jas. 4:2).
The third reason is that many ask out of selfishness (Jas. 4:3).  Their prayers are mainly, or entirely, about "I, me, my and mine".
The fourth reason is that many ask "amiss" (Jas. 4:3).  The word is translated from the Greek, kakos, meaning badly.  
In other words, we ask at the wrong time, in the wrong way, in a wrong attitude, for the wrong thing, or for the wrong reason.

With reference to Mat. 7:9-10, a loving parent will not fail to feed his hungry child.  At the same time, a loving parent will not give his child candy and junk food 24/7, or reward bad behavior or a bad attitude.  A young child will not always understand why his request is denied or postponed, and will often think the parent is unfair, or unloving, or even evil.  The child's lack of understanding does not make the parent uncaring.
But that is how many see God the Father (Eze. 18:25-32, 33:17-20).

That is not to say that what God is doing is some "great mystery".  Although Christ did say that not everyone would understand it at this time (Mat. 13:10-15), repeating a truth given through the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 28:9-13, 29:9-14).  
Joel was inspired to prophesy about a future time (Joel 2:1) when God's spirit (of understanding) will be "poured out on all flesh" (2:28).

God said that the choice of blessing or cursing is ours (Deu. 30 15, 19).
That does not mean that our life will be without trial and testing (Jn. 16:33, Acts 14:22).
But God limits the testing to what we can endure (1Cor. 10:13).  The testing is for our spiritual benefit (Rom. 5:34).

But even God asks the question, "Why will you die?" (Eze. 18:31).  Why do you choose suffering and curses when I am offering blessings?

But some will object, saying that the children are innocent.  God sacrificed his own child so that we (his children) could have life in his kingdom (Jn. 3:16).  Christ warned about offending little children, although the context was spiritual more than physical (Mat. 18:6).

One major church organization teaches that we are born with sin, however, the Bible's definition of sin is the transgression of God's law (1Jn. 3:4), and God says that he does not hold anyone accountable for the sins of others (Eze. 18:1-32, esp. 4, 20).
What we are born with, is human nature (Gen. 6:5, 8:21) which is receptive to the influence, or mind of Satan.
What we are expected to do is to replace that in ourselves with the nature and the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5).

Why are so many children in the world hungry?  
Because of the greed of individuals, of companies, and of governments.
Because, in spite of 2000 years of Christ's message being preached, many nations worship pagan or non-Christian religions.
Because, even in so-called Christian nations, parents buy drugs or alcohol rather than food for their children.  Or they abandon their children altogether.

Because of time and chance, many are born into families that do not love them or want them.  They are born into families that do not worship the true God.
Because the physical, emotional, mental and social effects of sin can be carried forward for several generations (Ex. 20:5-6, 34:7).  And while the sins can be forgiven if there is repentance, God does not always remove the physical effects.
And, because Satan is the god of this present evil world and of all its kingdoms (Mat. 4:8-9, Rev. 12:9, Gal. 1:4), but that will change soon (Rev. 11:15, 22:20).

Some ask, "But what about all the Christians that suffer needlessly?"
Paul addressed this, explaining that _not_ all those who claim to be followers of Christ, even when observing Passover, are really repentant (1Cor. 11:23--29).  For that reason, he said, "many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (in death)" (v. 30).   In other words, their prayers are not answered because of a lack of true repentance or a lack of faith.

Christ, himself, said that not everyone who claims to be a Christian, is one (Mat. 7:22-23).  In summary, he said that "many" will claim to be Christians, proclaiming their having preached in his name, having performed exorcisms of demons, and having "done many wonderful works".  Christ does not deny that they did any of these "wonderful works", but he still rejects them from entering his "kingdom of heaven" (v. 23, 21), because of their "iniquity", [Greek, anomia, illegality, violation of law, from anomos, lawless, refusing the law, transgressor, wicked, unrighteous.]

Paul talked about "examining ourselves" whether we are in the faith or not (1Cor. 11:28, 2Cor. 13:5).
The standards for examining ourselves are given as the "fruits" of the Holy Spirit in our thoughts, our words and our actions (Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:12-23, Eph. 5:9-11, 6:1-10, 1Tim. 3:2,4, 1Ths 5:11-12, Jas. 3:17-18).
The alternative list of the works of the flesh is also given (Gal. 5:19-21, 26, Col. 3:5-9, 2Cor. 12:20-21, Eph. 5:3-7, 11, 1Tim. 1:9-10, 3:2,8, Mk. 7:21-23, Rom. 1:29-32, Rev. 21:8).

Between these two lists, we can judge (examine) ourselves, whether we are "in the faith" or not (1Cor. 11:31), and repent, and escape the judgment of condemnation by God and Christ.

God summarizes it briefly.  I have given you the choices of life or death, blessings or cursing.  "Choose life, that both you and your children may live". (Deu. 30:15-16, 19-20).

Unless we are blessed to have been born into a family that has true understanding, then we are part of the "whole world" that Satan has deceived (Rev. 12:9).  People who are deceived do not know they are deceived.   But if we are seeking truth, then we must consider that we may have been or, are currently deceived about God, his words and his plan for mankind.
Many are "called" (Mat. 20:16, 22:14), and "many" are called Christians, or call themselves Christians.  Christ said that "few" are chosen (same verses).  In the time of Noah, few meant eight people out of the entire world.  During the Exodus, of the two to six million who came out of Egypt, only two men (over the age of 20) were allowed to enter the Promised Land, and their names were not Moses and Aaron, but Joshua and Caleb.

Understanding is something that must be requested from God (Pro. 2:3), in a right attitude (Pro. 1:7, fear = awe and respect, not terror).
Understanding how, why and when God chooses to answer prayers is shown throughout scripture, which is one reason we are instructed to "study" (2Tim. 2:15), to prove all things (1Ths. 5:21).  (See also Rev. 3:14-22).

Finally, God says that we can find him if we search for him with all our heart and soul (Deu. 4:29, Jer. 29:13, Psa. 119:2, 1Chrn 28:8-9).  From our own experience and from observing others, anything less does not work.

We hope that this helps.
If you have further questions, feel free to ask.
Sincerely,
Mel and Guyna