Why Must Saul Suffer?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
2,578
386
83
#21
There seems to be a sadomasochist-ish side to the God of the bible that finds delight in people proving their love for him by suffering or being tortured. His ways apparently aren’t our ways, so if that’s a pleasure of his, then i guess so be it?
Maybe it's because they could see that suffering was coming, but still remained faithful to the Calling God gave to them and continued to preach the Gospel without wavering.
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,628
578
113
#22
Below, we will read that Saul, later named Paul, must suffer, though we are not given a specific reason for why.

Would his suffering be, because of his persecutions that included the murder of Stephen? Or, will his suffering be a result of simply establishing the Christian Faith? Or, are there other ideas?

Remember, we are Brothers and Sisters in Christ, so in this forum, we encourage one another; we build each other up.

On with the Scripture!
Acts 9:15-16 NLT - "But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake."
Its what happens maybe not to the same degree as Paul and the others. Reading what happened to him and the others.. that is suffering for Christ. If at work or school you name it where they know your a believer treat you awful.. evil you are suffering for Christ there is if you ask me nothing better. I remember on a job always listening to music the boss comes over and asks "what are you listening to?" I said "you don't want to know". I give it to him he gives it back "just don't be talking about it" haha praise GOD glory to Jesus. Always Christian music. Why listen to something that it not about Him? There is nothing better
 

NightTwister

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2023
1,361
458
83
64
Colorado, USA
#23
There seems to be a sadomasochist-ish side to the God of the bible that finds delight in people proving their love for him by suffering or being tortured. His ways apparently aren’t our ways, so if that’s a pleasure of his, then i guess so be it?
:rolleyes:
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,403
741
113
#24
There seems to be a sadomasochist-ish side to the God of the bible that finds delight in people proving their love for him by suffering or being tortured. His ways apparently aren’t our ways, so if that’s a pleasure of his, then i guess so be it?

God's not like that. It's just that when we are at our weakest (in persecution) and still remain faithful to God, that it's really showing God's power to the unbelievers. If you check Christian history, it's when His people were most persecuted that drew the greatest numbers of people to come to the Lord Jesus for salvation.


🍹
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#25
Psalm 115:4 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Phil 1:29 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

1 Peter 3 . 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Romans 8:36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Is 53: 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#26
God's not like that. It's just that when we are at our weakest (in persecution) and still remain faithful to God, that it's really showing God's power to the unbelievers. If you check Christian history, it's when His people were most persecuted that drew the greatest numbers of people to come to the Lord Jesus for salvation.


🍹
Yes he is like that.

Psalm 115:4 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Phil 1:29 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

1 Peter 3 . 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

Romans 8:36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Is 53: 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#27
If God is doing it, it‘s because it pleases him. He does all that he PLEASES! Psalm 115:4, Psalm 135:6.
Similar to a sadomasochist, suffering pleases him.
That’s just the biblical facts jack.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,524
12,967
113
#30
Similar to a sadomasochist, suffering pleases him.
It would be unwise to attribute any kind of evil to God. God is Light, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. However, Satan would love to accuse God in this manner, or with other evil.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,336
714
113
#31
There seems to be a sadomasochist-ish side to the God of the bible that finds delight in people proving their love for him by suffering or being tortured. His ways apparently aren’t our ways, so if that’s a pleasure of his, then i guess so be it?
Momentary afflictions for evangelists and then eternal rewards.
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#32
It would be unwise to attribute any kind of evil to God. God is Light, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. However, Satan would love to accuse God in this manner, or with other evil.
I don’t want to be accused of repeating myself, and copying and pasting the same thing over and over. So please scroll up and look at the bible verses. I’m only reporting what scripture says.
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#37
It is how you are interpreting them that is at issue. People can take any Bible verse and make it say what they want it to say.
The Bible is clear. He grants for people to suffer. He does all that he PLEASES.

Just drop the cognitive dissonance and embrace the scripture.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,600
1,897
113
#38
Its what happens maybe not to the same degree as Paul and the others. Reading what happened to him and the others.. that is suffering for Christ. If at work or school you name it where they know your a believer treat you awful.. evil you are suffering for Christ there is if you ask me nothing better. I remember on a job always listening to music the boss comes over and asks "what are you listening to?" I said "you don't want to know". I give it to him he gives it back "just don't be talking about it" haha praise GOD glory to Jesus. Always Christian music. Why listen to something that it not about Him? There is nothing better
Indeed. Scripture promises that those who have been taken captive by Christ to spread His Message, they will suffer. All true Christians will identify with suffering. If we're not suffering . . . something is terribly wrong.
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,403
741
113
#39
I quoted plenty of scripture proving the point. Not sure why you’re rolling your eye emotes at the bible.

Suffering also matures us so we don't end up whiney and weak like people who complain on forums about God being so mean.

Off123123123: "Oh boo hoo! God is being so mean to me!"
Forum: "Oh grow a back bone ya soft little PANSY!":ROFL:


Really, I'd rather have God toughen me up any old day so that I can be more than a conqueror, than be whiney and weak like you.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”


37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


🍹
 

Off123123123

Senior Member
Apr 3, 2006
293
32
28
USA
#40
Really, I'd rather have God toughen me up any old day so that I can be more than a conqueror, than be whiney and weak like you.


🍹
Wow personal insult. I could be a Narc and tattle tale and report that, but i‘ll just follow my own advice and Scroll Thee Fastly on from now on when I see your post, since you’re here to personally insult and not discuss.