The Error of Suffering Meaning Divine Punishment

This month, I want to explode some more of the erroneous doctrines preached by charismatic preachers. These false servants of Christ are prevalent on TV and radio where they receive much of their funding.

In Luke 13:1 to 5, Jesus was told about some worshipers who were murdered as they sacrificed to God. Did that mean that they were being punished for some sort of sin? This is how Jesus answered that question.

1   Now some people who were there at that time, gave him an account of how the blood of some Galilaeans had been mixed by Pilate with their offerings.
2   And he, in answer, said to them, Are you of the opinion that these Galilaeans were worse than all other Galilaeans, because these things were done to them?
3   I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to the same end.
4   Or those eighteen men who were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all the other men living in Jerusalem?
5   I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to an end in the same way.

Just because some misfortune happens, it doesn't mean that one is being punished by God. The entire story of Job is about a righteous man whom God tested by letting Satan unleash horrendous events upon him. In the end, Job ended up with double the riches he had and the same number of children he fathered before. The Lord also rebuked Job's friends for speaking falsely about him. They certainly were "miserable comforters."

Hebrews chapter eleven is called the saints hall of fame and for good reason, From Abel onward, the writer listed all those who sought the city of God and the Messiah. Not all were rich either. In fact, some preferred to die a martyr's death rather than give into the pleasures of this world by forsaking God.

And who do those judgemental people think they are? Do they know what only God knows? Job never knew that God let Satan test him with trials. Neither did those self-righteous friends know why Job was suffering so many tragedies.

I'll be writing about this in greater detail in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many people make the mistake of believing their lives of ease prove their goodness. What a shock they'll get when Christ says, "I never knew you."

On Thursday, I'll post about how some folks believe that taking medicine is a breach of faith. Again, it's a case of people assuming things rather than trusting God's wisdom.