Does God cause sickness as a test?

[dannibear]

Yes, he was the man Jesus healed, and then Jesus
told him not to tell anyone about it.

Edit:
here is part of an article I found on it, that
helps to answer your first question also:

"Who caused this to happen," we ask, "this man or his parents? Who is to blame here? Why is there blindness in the world? Why is there poverty, illness, or behavior which out and out does not match mine? Who is to blame, nature or nurture-this man or his parents?"
Jesus, as he so often does, answers with a third option, one that the questioners did not think of. Jesus said, "Neither this man sinned, nor his parents. This man is here, before us blind, so that the marvelous works of God can be shown."
What an amazing way to interpret human need or suffering! When Jesus sees someone in need, he does not use that person's plight to develop a political or moral agenda. Jesus sees opportunity, a chance to recognize God's work. God's work is revealed, not in moral statement, but in an act of mercy, in an act which pays close attention to the need itself.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This would seem to indicate that Jesus would be opposing God,if God brought or even allowed/condoned sickness.

James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials

This is the remedy not the cause.

8:28 "all things work together for the good of those who love God".

This is amazing and explains how these things can actually end up glorifying God.But it does not explain cause.

John 10:10 clearly shows cause:The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy
It also shows the remedy:I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

God,like a good Father always takes the blame for things his children do.So it may appear in some scripture that it is of God but God is not the thief.

 

[smitty]

what was the question? did god allow this or not ? what was it was not if God heals but rather did God cause sickness? was part of God's will for te man to be blind? is it part of God's will for us to be sick in order to draw closer to him? that was the question.

 

[Brother Mike]

Works of God revelaled...

the man was blind from birth that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Anyone that is sick.. the works of God should be revealed in them, or God should get the glory and Jesus glorified..

I know Greek translates funny at times into English... but it does not denote God caused, or God allowed someone to get sick so everyone could bow down and praise him after He healed them..

The bible says Jesus went about healing all that were sick and oppressed of the Devil and the ones God make sick for his Glory........

No, it does not really say that.....

God kills and He makes Alive....... God makes the Lame.........'

Even if you do believe God goes around killing.....and God is creating the Lame.... anyone that served God were healed and blessed.... every single time....

check the Hebrew, and do a study of passive and permission verbs...
most of it should read... I will allow you to be killed, I will allow the curse to take you over.. without me you have no hope.. and God made everything.. even the Lame, but that is no indication He planed it that way for even the wicked He takes no pleasure in them perishing, and several places where people lost their lives while his Angels protected God's own.

but even if you want to pin the evil on God...those that obey and serve Him shall spend their years in prosperity and peace..

Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Job 36:12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

God is the one that wants to help us.. not sit back while we are sick, and weak teaching us something.. Those that believe that have no faith in the Power of his word to change us, which is the very power that got us born again.... just amazing people that call themselves Christians think this way.. Amazing..

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[smitty]

dannibear
this was the stroy of the man that was cast out of the synagogue, and reading the stroy Jesus just told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam.

 

[downcast]

Why would God make us sick, just to turn around and heal us?
Doesn't make sense to me at all.
God is a loving God. He only wants what is best for us. I don't believe that God makes us sick...but I do believe that God can use that sickness to reach souls for Him.

 

[smitty]

brother mike do not question my faith what gives you the right to judge me? you know nothing of my life or my walk with God. who are you to judge are you the only one who hears from God, you have all wisdom, you have all the answers , by the way what things did Jesus speak about that were not written down. i am sure with you knowledge you can answer me. remember not every thing is written in the bible, note the sercet things of God.

 

[AudreyNicole]

give me one example of Jesus not healing someone because he wanted them to learn from their sickness?

Well reading through posts there are obvious doctrine interpretations issues... which is fine to each his own. My Bible Study, however, taught that Jesus healed every kind of sickness, not necessarily every case of sickness. And I certainly believe that. Also, someone brought up the blind man... his story is the perfect example of how God used this mans sickness for his benefit. By hearing not by seeing he came to know Christ, that is a huge faith strengthener! Could you imagine not being able to see Jesus healing people and only relying on what you hear? But his faith was made stronger ultimately because of that.

OK, so going back to the original question: Does God cause sickness as a test?

answer: No, God does not cause sickness, He allows sickness as a way to strengthen our faith.

James 1:2-3 says to consider it joy when we are faced with trials (i.e. sickness) because it allows us an opportunity to strengthen our faith that we may be made better in Christ. This verse from God's very mouth clearly explains that trials and sickness are opportunities to grow stronger spiritually and God allows those things to happen for that very reason, that we may grow stronger in Him.

 

[Quenton]

Well reading through posts there are obvious doctrine interpretations issues... which is fine to each his own. My Bible Study, however, taught that Jesus healed every kind of sickness, not necessarily every case of sickness. And I certainly believe that. Also, someone brought up the blind man... his story is the perfect example of how God used this mans sickness for his benefit. By hearing not by seeing he came to know Christ, that is a huge faith strengthener! Could you imagine not being able to see Jesus healing people and only relying on what you hear? But his faith was made stronger ultimately because of that.

OK, so going back to the original question: Does God cause sickness as a test?

answer: No, God does not cause sickness, He allows sickness as a way to strengthen our faith.

James 1:2-3 says to consider it joy when we are faced with trials (i.e. sickness) because it allows us an opportunity to strengthen our faith that we may be made better in Christ. This verse from God's very mouth clearly explains that trials and sickness are opportunities to grow stronger spiritually and God allows those things to happen for that very reason, that we may grow stronger in Him.

let me rephrase the question than..did Jesus heal everyone who came to him in faith? why would Jesus heal anyone if he wanted to test us?

 

[AudreyNicole]

AudreyNicole:

There is no place anywhere in James that states God uses, or allows these things... Why you would make that up, only you would know.

The Word does state that God uses his Word to correct us... not sickness. No scripture states He uses sickness...

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Chris

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Sickness was never designed to teach anyone anything.......It is evil, it weakens family's, it hurts........... Why you think it would be a good thing really concerns me...

Sickness came from the curse of the law, or the law of sin and death. It has one purpose.. that is to kill you, and take the quality of life away from you.... It's purpose was to Kill you if it can.

Deu 28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Deu 28:61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.


When Paul turned over that immoral man to Satan... It was for one purpose.....and it was not to strengthen him..

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


It was Satan that came to kill us, to steal from us, and to destroy us... It was not God...

When going through something we are to put on the armor of God and stand.... we are to take the our sword (Word of God) and shield......

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions (something undergone, that is, hardship or pain; subjectively an emotion or influence: - affection, affliction, motion, suffering.)
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Now if God is the one using the sickness or affliction to better us....then God wasted his time telling us to stand against the Devil... Jesus lied about it being the enemy coming to kill, steal and destroy, God lied when He said sickness was designed to kill us...

And we would be just stupid trying to go to the doctor and fight God trying to get well so we can take care of our family's...

Just take the time to think about this... I have no idea who would teach what your trying to tell us here... It don't even make sense.

Jesus Is Lord.

Though I don't necessarily agree with your interpretation of the doctrine, you brought up some really great scripture and I would like to just explain my stance.. perhaps you may understand my interpretation a little bit better.

While James does not state "God allows sickness" it is clear to see from the world around us that God allows sickness.
God is in control of everything> There is sickness in the world> Thus, God allows sickness.

But notice, I don't believe He causes sickness. There is a big difference between allowing something, and causing something. There are many causes to sickness but I definitely don't think God is one of those causes.

So the reason I keep using James 1:2-3 is because the word "trial" can be used to mean "sickness". A trial is any affliction that is brought into your life, and sickness is one of those afflictions. God didn't cause it, but He allowed it... and we have the opportunity to grow from it. That is why I think sickness can be a good thing... because we can grow closer to God from it.

You ask why I think sickness could be good? Here's why, I consider it joy when I am faced with afflictions of any kind because I know that the testing of my faith produces perseverance, and that God will use it to mature me and complete me that I may be lacking in nothing. That is why I find joy in trials. Notice I don't think sickness is a "good" thing in the sense that it is of God, or a "happy" thing in the sense that it makes me smile, but a joyful thing in the sense that I find Joy in all things that God allows in my life.

Things do not just happen haphazardly to a Christian with no meaning and no purpose. God is in control and as Paul reminds us no one or nothing can separate us from God's love. Rom. 8--even the most difficult of circumstances. James reminds us that God wants us to trust Him in the trials of life for as we trust Him in the trials God can and will use the difficult trial to mold us and to mature us, so that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior. God wants us to trust Him in the difficult trials because even though we cannot understand, He loves us and He is in control. And, He will use this trial to help us grow spiritually and to help us mature and become more like Jesus Christ.

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So basically God does not cause sickness, but He allows it, and it is an opportunity to grow spiritually and stronger in our faith if you so wish to take that opportunity. I really believe that every bad thing that happens in life is just one more opportunity to grow closer to God, yay!

So I hope this maybe can help you understand a little better why I think what I think. And if you disagree, that is perfectly fine. I believe the spirit is working just as well in you as He is in me and hopefully using the both of us to educate and edify! Sickness is a hard topic and it can be hard for us to understand sometimes, but as long as we know God can and will us any and all things to help us... we're good!

In Christ's name,

 

[AudreyNicole]

let me rephrase the question than..did Jesus heal everyone who came to him in faith? why would Jesus heal anyone if he wanted to test us?

Did Jesus heal everyone who came to him in faith? Yes
Did Jesus heal everyone? No, probably not
So why would He heal them if it was a test? Well, because the testing period was over.

You see periods of testing are just that, periods. That means there is an end... they are only but a season. Many of those people had been living with their illnesses and afflictions for many many years, a lot of them from birth. But when Jesus came, their period of testing was over... Jesus was just the end of their long journey; He was the end of their test. They had gotten through it, and were ready to be healed. So, Jesus healed them... and what do we see was the outcome of most, if not all, these tests? Faith!

Those were excellent questions you brought up and I think it only goes to show how God can and will allow sickness in ones life, maybe even from birth, that they may be ultimately strengthened in faith!

 

[Quenton]

Did Jesus heal everyone who came to him in faith? Yes
Did Jesus heal everyone? No, probably not
So why would He heal them if it was a test? Well, because the testing period was over.

You see periods of testing are just that, periods. That means there is an end... they are only but a season. Many of those people had been living with their illnesses and afflictions for many many years, a lot of them from birth. But when Jesus came, their period of testing was over... Jesus was just the end of their long journey; He was the end of their test. They had gotten through it, and were ready to be healed. So, Jesus healed them... and what do we see was the outcome of most, if not all, these tests? Faith!

Those were excellent questions you brought up and I think it only goes to show how God can and will allow sickness in ones life, maybe even from birth, that they may be ultimately strengthened in faith!

once again provide scripture for this in the g osspils wit hJesus..if Jesus wanted to test he would've said so

 

[Brother Mike]

?????

AudreyNicole

Did Jesus heal everyone? No, probably not

it's not a probably, in his own home time he could do no might works as he marveled at their unbelief.

You see periods of testing are just that, periods. That means there is an end... they are only but a season. Many of those people had been living with their illnesses and afflictions for many many years, a lot of them from birth. But when Jesus came, their period of testing was over... Jesus was just the end of their long journey; He was the end of their test.

What scripture would that be?? and nobody else but in the area Jesus was at had been sick in the World because they would not have had a way to end the test??

I hope you really do not think this way.. and please don't ignore other scriptures... If your doctrine is sound, it will stand up to everything so ignoring other post is not good.

Jumping out of this one for a bit.....

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[AudreyNicole]

AudreyNicole


it's not a probably, in his own home time he could do no might works as he marveled at their unbelief.



What scripture would that be?? and nobody else but in the area Jesus was at had been sick in the World because they would not have had a way to end the test??

I hope you really do not think this way.. and please don't ignore other scriptures... If your doctrine is sound, it will stand up to everything so ignoring other post is not good.

Jumping out of this one for a bit.....

Jesus Is Lord.

Well, again the scripture I am referring to is James 1:2-3. But also these are my interpretations and what the spirit has taught me through my reading of the word. I don't know what happened to those who weren't around Jesus, but I do think they probably would have heard of Him and been healed through faith. Faith comes by hearing and the works of Jesus spread all around the world. Also, it is not our job to end trials or tests, but God's. Only He can bring us out of sickness and other afflictions and only He knows the time. All we have to do is trust that He will and have faith. Like Jesus said, by faith we are healed. Jesus is not just a "way to end the test", although He can end our afflictions. I think the 'thorn in the flesh' is a very good example of how sometimes God will allows us to be tried so that He can help us grow. Paul asked Him to remove the thorn but God wouldn't because He knew that ultimately it was helping him.

All I am saying is:
God does not cause sickness, but He allows it, and it is an opportunity to grow spiritually and stronger in our faith if you so wish to take that opportunity. I really believe that every bad thing that happens in life is just one more opportunity to grow closer to God.

 

[AudreyNicole]

once again provide scripture for this in the gospels with Jesus..if Jesus wanted to test he would've said so

Well, the Lord, and Jesus, did not write down everything He wanted us to know... He gave us the spirit to interpret His word so through the study of the Bible we may know everything He wants us to know. The Bible is a lot more than just the Gospels, and the Bible is a lot more than just reading... it is reading combined with studying. Through studying the Bible, and through studying the gospels, the spirit has led me to this interpretation.

Again, there is a lot more to the Bible than the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John... here is a passage from the book of James. The book of James is in the New Testament of the Bible, and James was an apostle of Jesus Christ. Jesus told Peter the purpose of the apostle’s role in the church: ” And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Apostles were basically an extension of the gospel of Jesus as after He died, they went around continuing to preach the message. So, that means that whatever they say is the same thing Jesus preached and words from God's very mouth. Here are the words from God's very mouth, through the apostle James, a continuation of Jesus' message:
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face *sickness* of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

In this verse, James speaks of trials as a testing of faith

The word trial is a word that means affliction and can be any type of affliction: physical affliction (sickness), mental affliction, emotional affliction, spiritual affliction, etc.

Unfortunately God does not write out for us plainly in words everything He wants us to know, it is our job to interpret scripture with the help of the spirit and determine the answers to questions like these. So that means there is not a verse that clearly explains everything in this world, but James 1:2-4 is a passage from the Bible in the New Testament, and it does answer your initial question.

Hope this helps you! Perhaps you should try reading through this verse in James which is in the Bible in the New Testament and interpret for yourself what this says about your question.

 

[AudreyNicole]

Here are some verses that show that God does indeed test us:

- 1 Thess 2:4 (NKJV) "We speak as men Approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. We are Not trying to Please men but GOD, who TESTS our HEARTS."

- Job 7:18 "You EXAMINE us every Morning & TEST us every moment"

- James 1:12 "God blesses those who Patiently Endure TESTING and TEMPTATION. Afterward they will receive the CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love Him."

- 1 Pet 1:6-7 "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many TRIALS for a little while. These TRIALS will show that your Faith is Genuine. It is being TESTED as fire TESTS and purifies gold—though your Faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your Faith remains strong through MANY TRIALS, it will bring you much Praise and Glory and Honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the Whole World."

- Jer 17:10 (NASB) "I, the Lord, search (EXAMINE) the HEART, I TEST THE MIND, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his DEEDS."

- James 1:13-16 (NKJV) " Let no one say when he is Tempted, "I am Tempted by God"; for God cannot be Tempted by Evil, nor does He Himself Tempt anyone. But each one is Tempted when he is drawn away by his own Desires and Enticed. Then, when Desire has Conceived, it gives Birth to Sin; and Sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth Death. Do Not be Deceived, my beloved brethren."
------ see from this verse that God does not cause bad things to happen to us like sickness, but He allows it--------------------

- Deut 8:16 "He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your Ancestors. He did this to HUMBLE you and TEST YOU FOR YOUR OWN GOOD."

- Deut 13:3 "The Lord your God is TESTING you to see if you TRULY LOVE HIM with ALL YOUR HEART and SOUL."

- Judges 2:22 "I did this to TEST Israel—to see whether or not they would FOLLOW THE WAYS OF THE LORD as their Ancestors did.”

Here are some from the New Testament:

- JOHN 6:5-6 NKJ
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

- 2 CORINTHIANS 2:9 NKJ
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

- JAMES 1:2-3 NKJ
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.


So basically, God does not cause sickness, but He allows it, and it is an opportunity to grow spiritually and stronger in our faith if you so wish to take that opportunity. I really believe that every bad thing that happens in life is just one more opportunity to grow closer to God! Though getting sick and going through other trials may not be your own fault, nor is it God's, they all give us an opportunity to strengthen our faith and grow closer to God... as is clearly read from the verses above.

I hope this turns on a light bulb for you! But remember, reading scripture is one thing, studying it and interpreting it is a whole different thing.

 

[AudreyNicole]

Your initial question was as follows: does God cause sickness as a test?

~ "Let no one say when he is Tempted, 'I am Tempted by God'; for God cannot be Tempted by Evil, nor does He Himself Tempt anyone."
so God does not cause sickness, esp. if you think sickness is evil, God definitely does not cause evil.

~ "[Your faith] is being TESTED as fire TESTS and purifies gold—though your Faith is far more precious than mere gold."
From this verse and the verses I listed previously, it is clear that God does indeed test us.

~ "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
From this verse it is clear to see that every trial, every test, is an opportunity for us to grow stronger in faith.

SO, No...God does not cause sickness, but He allows it as an opportunity for us to grow stronger in our faith.

 

[David777]

Hello all.

Our World is full of sickness, both physical, mental and spiritual. I might even add political sickness.

Sin causes sickness, mental instability, trouble, etc, this is an observable fact of life.

Amongst Christians there is a lot less sickness although it is still evident, Christians are somewhat protected but not immune.

God is soveriegn but allows sickness to pervade mankind. God also judges in a temporal way with sickness and even death, Paul mentions this to the Corinthian Church.

Jesus Christ is love, pure and simple, but has allowed illness as a part of life itself.

So does God cause sickness? It is an unavoidable conclusion that He allows it at the very least.

 

[Quenton]

Our World is full of sickness, both physical, mental and spiritual. I might even add political sickness.

Sin causes sickness, mental instability, trouble, etc, this is an observable fact of life.

Amongst Christians there is a lot less sickness although it is still evident, Christians are somewhat protected but not immune.

God is soveriegn but allows sickness to pervade mankind. God also judges in a temporal way with sickness and even death, Paul mentions this to the Corinthian Church.

Jesus Christ is love, pure and simple, but has allowed illness as a part of life itself.

So does God cause sickness? It is an unavoidable conclusion that He allows it at the very least.

your referring to Pauls thorn?

 

[Quenton]

Audrey until you provide atleast one of those scriptures that say I test my sheep from Jesus (who happened to be the one to heal) than your wasting your time..
..did you read my healing scriptures? i posted a few