Why does God allow suffering?

[@lindsayb1329]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I felt God in your words. I believe that little boy had a special place in heaven.

[@swampophelia2098]

Yay it’s Laura, you always cheer me up and I like that you never shy away from a thorny question with off pat answers like “ oh well it’s all in gods plan”. Well fielded Laura 👏👏👏😊❤️✌️ Ps I used to love reading CTB books when I was a teenager

[@Nikki94here]

You answered those two questions beautifully Laura. I've never heard it put like that before. Xx

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Oh thank you!

[@mailill]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my question, Laura! ❤️ Kudos for not avoiding the difficult questions and topics.

[@hidinginsight1879]

Your faith has given you wisdom beyond your years. Love the analogy of the knotted backside of the fabric. Thank you for posting this !🙏👏🎯

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you so much!

[@CandyCinema]

Thank you so much for taking on tough questions. I found your answers here very thoughtful.

[@vintagespider5627]

Wow, these questions were heavy .....you answered them beautifully .....😍you are such a special person ....you have a great day as well !!!!!

[@jackienaiditch7965]

Theologians have long grappled with the question of why god allows suffering in the world. So I think it would be extremely unfair to expect you to fully answer this question in a KZbin video. When my brother died suddenly several years ago, at a young age, I read "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner. I've come to believe that bad things happen for no good reason. I don't try to see a greater meaning in events. Rather, I do my best to cultivate an attitude of acceptance.

[@lynnebunning7273]

Thank you so much for your honesty. Love & prayers Australia 🇦🇨🐨💗💗💗💗

[@ruthlaurie-hopper3489]

That made me tearful. A beautiful account of christ within the suffering child. I often refer myself to that tapestry if I find myself knawing away at one part of it of painful hurt in my life and anger towards the person who inflicted it, I hear the voice saying Ruth look at the whole tapestry not just thst tiny bit of it and when I do it brings a sense of relief and wider understanding. Thank you Laura

[@Just_Jackie]

Thank you Laura for your explanation. Lately I’ve been struggling with my faith and often think where is God now when I need help and I’ve never thougt that maybe He is suffering with me and helping me get better in that way...grateful to have find you on yt

[@pamcarle5968]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these tuff questions.

[@joetrester3139]

Laura, thank you for having the guts to tackle questions that most clergy won’t. Your answers were real, authentic, and heartfelt. Perhaps sometimes, as in the case of people going hungry, instead of asking why God allows such things maybe we should ask why we do...I truly believe that God suffers with us and that times of great suffering are also times when God can be closest if we listen hard (and that is so hard to do!). In any event, thank you for this video. It makes me have even more respect for you!

[@jacksoldano5752]

Bravo to thee Laura. Such difficult topics and thou handled them with such thoughtfulness and wisdom. Thou are a blessing to me.

[@D.N..]

The idea of a " just war" is problematic, nations at war with each other always claim that " our nation has a just cause and the other does not" During the worst war in human history, WW II, every nation claimed their cause was just . This is why the total Gospel of peace, love of neighbor, respect for all human life as being in the image of God must be preached as the solution to no more war. A WW III will be beyond comprehension, since it will be nuclear .. Pray for Peace and the conversion of hearts ! ❇️

[@amandaboyd4215]

So beautifully said.. As a Christian, that is a question I often get asked.. And one I cannot answer..

[@amarcaccini7177]

Richard Rohr talks about all vulnerable God and the image of that boy makes me think of our all vulnerable God suffering in solidarity with every one and every thing. God not only rejoices with us but suffers with us.

[@taraburke826]

Dear Laura, your answers to these hard questions which some church leaders may not even have the courage to address are truly filled with not only a God given wisdom but also a sincere and beautiful heart. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us to remember to pray for those less fortunate. It is obvious to me that God made peace makers and God made soldiers / and police. I agree the government is a system that God designed and that we are commanded to live under authority appointed by God. I found this (Romans 13) on line. It is a summary on the Biblical explanation. It seems to sum up or fit very well in line with your points and explanations. Blessings to all at the Bruderhof and to all who call upon the Sacred Name our our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen! Romans 13 Easy-to-Read Version Obey Your Government Rulers 13 All of you must obey the government rulers. Everyone who rules was given the power to rule by God. And all those who rule now were given that power by God. 2 So anyone who is against the government is really against something God has commanded. Those who are against the government bring punishment on themselves. 3 People who do right don’t have to fear the rulers. But those who do wrong must fear them. Do you want to be free from fearing them? Then do only what is right, and they will praise you. 4 Rulers are God’s servants to help you. But if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid. They have the power to punish, and they will use it. They are God’s servants to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government, not just because you might be punished, but because you know it is the right thing to do. 6 And this is why you pay taxes too. Those rulers are working for God, and they give all their time to the work of ruling. 7 Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe them any kind of tax, then pay it. Show respect to those you should respect. And show honor to those you should honor. Loving Others Is the Only Law 8 You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. 9 The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.”[a] All these commands and all other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor[b] the same as you love yourself.”[c] 10 Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law. 11 I say this because you know that we live in an important time. Yes, it is now time for you to wake up from your sleep. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost finished. The day is almost here. So we should stop doing whatever belongs to darkness. We should prepare ourselves to fight evil with the weapons that belong to the light. 13 We should live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or be drunk. We should not be involved in sexual sin or any kind of immoral behavior. We should not cause arguments and trouble or be jealous. 14 But be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see what you do, they will see Christ. Don’t think about how to satisfy the desires of your sinful self."

[@mmmmlllljohn]

Thank you for this. I did not remember these verses. ❤️🇨🇦

[@Emily-el6rf]

Beautifully done, Laura. My late husband and I always enjoyed our times together with the Brudohofs. Pain and suffering have existed since the beginning of time. You are correct. No one has the exact answer as to why. The great “why” question has baffled and taunted us all at one time or another. It has, unfortunately, caused many to turn away from God. So as we pray for God to answer our prayers let’s keep in mind that He will answer them according to His will. Sometimes the answer is simply No. This life is not our home. Yes we hurt, we cry, we suffer at times but let’s remember we are simply passing through. Our life here on earth is but a moment in time. Right now whatever happens here seems insurmountable. But the glory of heaven and the afterlife is by far greater than we could ever imagine. So let’s look up, always, and keep our eyes focused above, drawing strength each and every day to live our lives according to His will, reveling in His true and unconditional love for us, no matter the circumstances. Be blessed and give my love to the Brudohofs at Fox Hill and Bellvale.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thanks Emily

[@user-iz1nm9pl2u]

I must say I do really agree with the Bruderhof’s views. I also don’t have the answers to these very challenging questions. Life is a mystery and I don’t have explanations for God’s ways. I think I have surrendered to the fact that many things I’ll never know.

[@monikamarsollek3493]

Hi, Laura, thank you for sharing and trying so carefully, what you believe. No answers here, although I’m already 66. I’m a deep believer, never forgetting, that a believe can’t be proofed, otherwise it’s no longer a believe, because then we KNOW. I’ve been in Corrie ten Booms house in HAARLEM/Netherlands and was so impressed, when they recited this poem. I BELIEVE, it’s true… love from Germany, Monika❣️

[@alicezvacek6086]

I appreciated your answer on suffering. I do think God is there. I love your channel.

[@Machtmirdochegal]

I remember the carpet analogy very fondly for a few reasons, but it came very vividly back into my mind when I really got into sowing and while I can't believe into this idea of an institutional church anymore one has to acknowledge that there is an odd presence, magic, higher being that strings the world together if one tries to make sense of the world we live in. And I personally found Magret Sussmann's answer to this question the most compelling if there is this presence. She talks about the freedom of will being god's ultimate gift of love to humanity, so thereby he can't interfere without taking the gift of freedom away he has freely given. She was jewish and tried to figure out the idea of how the holocaust could happen. And it is an interesting answer and I will admit that there is some hope in there on my part to hold on to faith while facing the many issues it has allowed to persist, all while satisfying the way my brain is wired, but I genuinely love that idea cause there's a rational form of magic that wants free will out of pure love all while providing the magic consistently.

[@jean61ify]

Thanks for sharing Laura. How very timely as yesterday a family member died in a helicopter crash! I’m sending your message Laura to a young widow & mother of 3 young children in her immense grief!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

So very sorry to hear this. Wishing you strength

[@mmmmlllljohn]

Nobody could have answered these tough questions any better! You are a blessing. I loved the analogy of the tapestry - it was so powerful. Thank you. ❤️🇨🇦 P.S. I wanted a copy of the poem and when I looked it up, I found it has been wrongly attributed to be written by Corrie TB. She loved and quoted it but the author is Grant Colfax Tullar which he titled “The Weaver” originally. 😘

[@whatsthestorymorningglory61]

I have no answer to that question. In one of my darkest hours I pleaded for an answer, alight, a thought, an idea, but I never got one.

[@paulinatorell5273]

Well said Laura. Blessings to you.

[@gramasugarbear]

You answer questions honestly and kindly. I enjoy your channel. 😊💕

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Oh thank you!

[@rebeccarichardson6761]

Great questions and I think you always answer really well! For me a lot of it comes down to faith. Faith that He has a plan, that everything happens for a reason and that he takes suffering away with heaven. We as humans have choice and free will and sometimes that leads to bad things but He has given us that choice. But I don't blame the average person on the street for Wars - but it is down to someone and then everyone else suffers.

[@timtim4664]

God is love.

[@suebillingham8181]

You answer in a very thought provoking way. Thank you for thinking & weighing these difficult matters. It is difficult to understand war but would expect to serve my country as a nurse if we were at war. I find the idea of all police having guns terrifying considering the death of people like George Floyd. I agree it ultimately due to The Fall in Genesis that there is suffering. Your examples from Corrie Ten Boom & from Night are very helpful both if which I heard before! I have watched Unanswered Prayer a course with Pere Grieg a UK pastor. This is freely available on KZbin & very helpful as well as Pete's book God on Mute. Thank you so much for your videos. Xx

[@JS-op5gk]

The carpet analogy was exactly what I initially thought. (The Corrie ten Boom one)

[@BedboundME]

I don’t have the faith you have , I appreciate how thoughtful your consider these questions from your position of being “ blessed” but caring enough to consider those less fortunate. You truly are a lovely person and I enjoy your talks. .However, I I don’t buy the sin as explanation, especially when the suffering doesn’t follow sin but is often in the innocent eg children. Also god made us , so if he made us incapable of being as good as Jesus as the bible said, no human can be perfect we all sin , and sin breeds sin eg hurt people hurt, etc. then why should we feel constantly guilty as if we deserve “the human condition” with all the burdens we already have to endure which God and Jesus don’t. We have already been told the wagers of sin is death so we all have to suffer those losses and declines, and then on top of that is suffering. I remember when some uk celebrities went to live in an African ghetto. There a well known comedian found a family of orphan children who were living nextdoor to a sewer that stunk. Lenny, the comedian went and tried to father them during his stay and Also made sure he could get them a better deal long term, which is obviously an example of human charity, but I just can’t see how suffering this is either justified or for a reason.

[@hondafreedom9329]

I love your community and want to visit. I live in Los Angeles but grew up in NYC, and my mother is elderly now and wants to visit where I grew up and where our family was/is. The Hudson Valley is not far from the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Brilliant book, Night by Elie Wiesel; incredible book. I really like how you answered those questions because you don't know entirely, but you feel compassion and see God everywhere, and that is an interesting way of looking at these questions. I find the Bruderhof a more educated community than many other (I don't know all communities) religious ones. Is this purposeful? Does the Bruderhof want educated individuals? And if so, why? I understand why I feel it's good to be well-educated (and I was a teacher for 24.5 years), but is there a specific reason within the community? The well-spoken individuals and intellectualism, yet tempered with compassion and thought and empathy, are attractive.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you for the lovely comment! About education ... the Bible says we are to love the Lord with "heart, soul, and mind" so developing the mind seems equally important to developing the spirit

[@kelseyheggy1311]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness on this topic. The quote you shared seems problematic to me. It seems very privileged to say that we should support the government but not become part of it. Who then is called to that necessary service? The reason anyone has the ability to abstain from government or police service is because others are willing to do it. I think those willing to be able to serve should not have to think of themselves as less righteous.

[@mmmmlllljohn]

Laura never said they are less righteous. She said it is not something she could do but it is a necessary service that God recognizes. Like the Bruderhof, itself, everyone has different jobs/services to carry out. Yes, thank God, we have those in our community that are not pacifists and are able to do these jobs. Of course, they are not less righteous because of their jobs. ❤️🇨🇦

[@sarahbowman7566]

I believe that as souls we come to have the human experience to learn and/or help others to learn. So I feel the suffering and/or sin is almost a neccessity as how else can we return to our creator as souls who can fully comprehend the infinite and unconditional love that we are all connected by in spirit

[@hannahm59]

This is something I really struggle / can’t understand how a loving god could watch children , innocent beings starve to death etc. To stand back and allow the horrors that go on , seems to me god must be pretty evil himself. Then he wants praise and gratification for sacrificing his own son. I don’t think there’s a hell it’s already here on earth.

[@cynthiaconrad6145]

Bless you Laura!

[@ChronicallyMichelle1995]

What is the difference between the old and New Testament? I have a very religious aunt and uncle and they go by the Old Testament. I was born with many chronic illnesses and my aunt and uncle say I’m sick ( I’m 25) because it’s god’s punishment for my mothers sins and she had myself and twin sister (she’s healthy) out of wedlock

[@mastljn]

You say that you are opposed to violence in any form. This makes me have a question. Does your opposition to any form of violence mean that if someone were to come into your home or any place and be physically abusing you, a loved one, or even your child, does this mean that you would not physically defend yourself, your loved one, or your child if it meant the only way to defend was to be physically violent?

[@melfros7100]

Perhaps I can shed insight, having been born into the same Bruderhof culture as Laura. My understanding has gradually shifted with the years and with circumstances. I believe no one can give a definitive answer to the question you raise, until faced with a crucial moment. For myself, I certainly would not stand by and pray. I would act. But...I would hope my first thought would be to restrain; "aim low", so to speak. My first option, hopefully, would not be to kill. German theologian, Dietrich Bonnhofer, felt himself called to do something that went against his core beliefs: He engaged in a plot to kill Hitler. He was found out, and killed. I respect him for following his conscience at that particular moment in time.

[@elofamily7241]

Love your explanation of suffering - beautiful. I have a follow-up to the pacifism comment(s) - I respect the Bruderhof's (and Anabaptists' in general) desire for non-violence, and I respect that you believe Jesus was a pacifist, though I disagree...my question is, what happens when pacifism would allow evil people and evil actions virtually free reign? The most obvious example, of course, is Hitler and his swath of horror in Europe - what would be the Bruderhof's preferred way of dealing with this kind of thing? (In case this seems combative or argumentative, please know it's not, I'm just speaking directly, but in love.

[@mmmmlllljohn]

I think it is because in the world that God created, we all have our own beliefs, talents etc., some are pacifists and some are not and we all contribute what we can to our community. Diversity is o.k. in God’s eyes, I think. Judgment is not but we all do it. ❤️🇨🇦

[@jamesgossweiler1349]

We are purified, sanctified, and made perfect and pure in the furnace of misery (Isa 48:10). We suffer as Christ did. A life free of suffering isn't living...that comes later in heaven. Moreover, the vast majority of suffering is a result of what people do and don't do, not what God does or doesn't do. Think about it.... what suffering could work on ending today?

[@melfros7100]

I admire Laura's sincerity. I believe humans are born with the Light of Creative Mystery within them! Christian or not, we each are fully equipped to do that which sustains Life! To beseech a High Power, Something beyond human reality, may prove beneficial in helping us realize we already are fully equipped to do what is right. Humans are co-workers with their "God" (to use Christian language). I think we need to be very careful lest we misplace a burden that is ours to bear. This being the case, I take issue with Laura's assertion that "God" instituted the state to punish evil and reward good. This is the traditional Christian view. It arises when one views the life and teachings of Jesus looking "backward", through the Reformation, Augustine, the formation of the infant catholic (universal) church and, importantly, the Greco-Roman influence upon Paul's thinking. But when one tries to understand Jesus "from the Beginning", through the Genesis, Mosaic, prophetic lens, a different understanding of the state emerges.

[@dariusrad8058]

Dear Laura, I think we should never ask God a favorite; and why should we do that, here I shall give you an example. Imagine for instance Mr. A and Mr. B both fall in love with Kate Winslet and both ask God "God please do me a favorite and bring Kate to me" then the question is in favor of who should God intervene and what God has to do? If God gives a favorite to Mr. A then it is injustice to Mr. B and is vice versa. Therefore, I do really believe we should not give headache to God and let Him do what as He wishes.

[@lorryann2921]

Thankyou for the tough comments you replied on,can yo tell me who the poet on the tapestry poem is Blessings

[@vonspectre2543]

Hi Laura, quick question. If someone has a terminal illness such as AIDS or Cancer, or is blind or handicapped in some other way, but feels called to join your community, would they be allowed to do so?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes for sure

[@chefevilee9566]

I think you did a great job!

[@traceybooth5840]

HI LAURA, MAY I ASK WHICH BIBLE DO YOU USE? I USE THE KING JAMES, OR THE HOLY BIBLE.

[@margaretknowles3060]

Hi Laura, A different subject I know... Regarding your video with Ruben, But, how on Gods Earth do you possibly manage to be a full time Mum and do a full time job ??? You are an amazing individual...

[@sabbya.8112]

1. God has always been there. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows how our influence might interconnect with someone elses life. We only see such a small snippet of world issues. Throughout the bible god constantly teaches us things through life lessons. 2. Satan has power through sin. People so easily blaim god but fail to see the emnity that happened in heaven before man was created. Sometimes we learn a lesson even 10 years later. I understand things now i never did then. I feel prayer is so powerful because it takes our minds from the selfishness of ourselves and puts it into perspective. One day sin will be over . And i do believe that god is there with our suffering / grieving with us. Unfortunatly many of us harden our hearts and refuse to see. (Saying this in a human term . God has to litterally give satan enough rope to hang himself and show his true self in the end of our history so there will be no sin rising ever again after the second coming of christ). Sin happened because all the angels had the free will to think and choose. And if god would have killed satan on the spot in heaven it would have made him a dictator. Fear would have been the outcome with more rebellion . It was never gods intention to have billions die. Most importantly he gave his beloved son jesus who was perfect. To die on this earth so we can one day live a perfect sin free life with him in perfect unity and happyness.

[@restonthewind]

I like your interpretation of Wiesel's narrative, but he doesn't say that he saw God with the boy on the scaffold. He saw the death of his own faith in God.

[@tonyshumway7652]

Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Job 5:24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. Malachi 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

[@mailill]

I liked your thought of prayer not supposed to be purely selfish. I guess, even when praying for oneself in a crisis or in real need, one could also include all the others who have the same sort of problems (and who maybe feel even less comfort or hope) - because no matter if there is an intervening personal God or not - I do believe in the power of love (sounds like a cliche, but still ...). If something is done out of real love (combined with some understanding) I don't think it could ever be totally wrong, anyway. That being said, there is suffering so horrible and cruel that I don't ever think I could meet it with the idea that it is just a knot in the tapestry.

[@rebekahbridges-tervydis5054]

So if you don’t become part of the government? Who protect the members of the bruderoff, until all of society becomes like the society is at the bruderoff?

[@daisychan6571]

Could I ask, how do the majority of Bruderhof members feel about visitors? I adore visiting my nearby location, Darvell, and have a friend there, but I do always wonder if others who live there feel as though I'm invading their space, or overstaying my welcome. Do you have any tips or recommendations for visitors to help us to fit in a little better? :)

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

We love having visitors! Don't ever feel like you're invading!

[@DanielCastillo-oc3dd]

❤️ Laura you and your family are loved... Watching a good movie with family and close friends you start the movie from the beginning if you view it somewhere without understanding the beginning your left with something's missing. Respectfully and with much deep considering meditative thought to this all important loaded not easy to answer question; Why? does God allow suffering... the quick answer is that from essence God does not allow suffering from "origin" meaning from God's essence from God's "divine essence and vision for humanity". To grasp this perspective wholesomely has been every clergyman and clergy woman's effort from their respected sacred texts throughout the world as we know it to arrive and answer this relentless bigger than life question. From the essence of origin God simply from the very beginning and still now here in the present including tomorrow into the future God desires creative life-giving joyful everyday experiences with the "spirit of each unique person" the spirit is invisible and God the "Parent" of "all the living" too is spirit as recorded in image and likeness where God was hovering over the waters. To understand suffering we must research voluntarily on our own to find out everything about God as we can 10 minutes a day in quietness from insightful books is foundational and a start. To humbly answer Why? Does God Allow Suffering? From origin the very beginning suffering was non existent; but processing the development of being "responsible" was. All throughout history and still today. With intimate loving authority Father God gave clear instruction not to engage "PREMATURELY" in things matters and relationship without having a sense of maturity first; or we would surely die... Knowingly or unknowingly everyone has 5 physical bodily senses that compatibly relate with all things and with the fruit from the earth and too we have 5 spiritual "spirit" senses that relate compatibly with the essences of incorporeal existence with divine love permeating all incorporeal attributes of life existence, each exist develop and grow starting from within the wife's womb that received the husband's seed the "perpetual pro-creation seed" of "life" that was way back then and still continues to be; created by God the first primary Parent. It is in the "Seed" of potential that God's thoughts so carefully engineered while he was hovering over life-giving waters even "before" any life existence. Stay with me; Inside of God's thoughtful "UNIQUE" engineering "SEED OF LIFE" in image and likeness there exists good unblemished unstained divine potential to grow love truth beauty goodness law order intellect heart will emotion feeling happiness joy and harmonious peace and much much more with the ability to multiply the essences of the same attributes in image and likeness through family lineage everything and more is in God's seed... From the position of "origin" there was no concept of suffering suffering is not in God's incorporeal omnipotent omnipresent omniscient spirit heart or mind but instructional responsibility is. Human suffering is caused by humans due to a lack of our obligated portion of responsibility to embrace responsibility without restraint of any kind. It has been my personal life observation and experience that adhering to someone else's instruction(s) to do this or to do that depending on one's know how conscious spirit and how connected we are to someone in authority, it is first how we approach what to do what should and needs to be done, that in it it's self is entirely up to us how we end up cooperating similar to cause and result or giving instruction and following instructions God expressed to the first "couple" (do not) or you will surely die, the end result for not following through was simply a multiplication of what they shouldn't have done including due to immature development a package of unseen consequences yet from origin it was instructional (do not...) the first couple's children were again instructed you must master over your feelings of jealousy anger and contempt touching over the low energies of their own feelings emotions at the time and so on... This pattern exists throughout every sacred text in all regions of historical fallout related to world history this will keep repeating itself until we are sensitive to have eyes to see and have listening ears to understand... What is lacking simply put is our own genius cooperation of "how"? to end self inflicted suffering. In general it is "people" who need to stop hurting one another with disciplined self-controlled thoughts words and behavior. It is "us" that allow and tolerate self-inflicted suffering yes with that said; In true reality God is not all by Himself happy without "us" God's situation and circumstances too are suffering. God does not allow suffering; the idea itself is the furthest thing from God's current circumstances and situation... As mentioned earlier we are meant to grow in life-giving experiences with the primary first Parent God in image and likeness in unique proactive creative relationships that promote joy directly with God and uniquely with each other giving life it's fullest purpose and meaning. Due to what we are capable of doing individually and collectivilly while on the earth by enhancing the Earth's environment and with one another for the greater good is up to our personal relationship with God yes. Hope this inspired to think from the heart and even more so that if "we" created beings; men women and children who did not create ourselves from the beginning are capable of self-inflicted mayhem we are also capable of connecting to "Heaven's Vision" and do what is good and right for everyone to end suffering. The very reason the good man Jesus did not fight the contemptuous system in his day so as to set the example of innocence that innocence prevail throughout all disciplines and stations in life in science spirituality governance economic distribution and education all rooted in the "VISION" of God for the greater good... End of Movie ... This is our family heart.

[@lisaeshleman754]

What would you do if called for jury duty? How does the Bruderhof address this issue?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

I've never been called up but I would respectfully decline on the basis of Jesus' directive to "judge not lest ye be judged"

[@therobertsuk8498]

Hi, gosh you do get some questions to answer! Well done for trying! I do have one comment about your answer re police and government though, surely even as a pacifist even though you can’t join those organisations, you are still being protected by them and therefore share the load? If you agree we need them, wouldn’t it be fairer for some of you to be involved? Balance I think is the way forward.

[@jacquieful]

Hi Laura! Such good questions! I understand what you're saying about your beliefs don't allow you to serve in government or the police force. But where would we be as a nation if we all were bruderhof? How would we be protected?

[@CandyCinema]

If we all were Bruderhof than the Kingdom of God has truly come in full. What would we need to be protected from?

[@jacquieful]

@@CandyCinema other countries

[@CandyCinema]

@@jacquieful oh, I misunderstood your scenario. In this scenario, the Spirit has moved to establish a kingdom of peace and love under God in the 328mil people within America's borders, but not to anyone else? That scenario doesn't seem likely, as it is not in keeping with the God of the Binle who promised Christ's blessings to all nations.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

I remember when I was executed, the bullet went to just left of my heart, where it was a deep burning pain, then panic set in as my heartbeat was disrupted, then more panic as my lungs could hardly breathe after the hydroelectric of the bullet, then a sudden peace came over me, where it was just like falling off in a peaceful sleep. Then as a Dybbuk, I acquired a new body, where now I'm wise to police tactics and strategies.

[@swampophelia2098]

Surely you were dead already then aye ?

[@mrbardel4363]

when people lisen to God words ?

[@boogerie]

On the subject of "holy war" in the OT I recommend YAHWEH IS A WARRIOR by Mennonite theologian Willard Swartley. It would be easy, too easy, to accept the Hindu doctrine of "karma." If anything bad happens to anyone it's because of something they've done something to deserve it. If not in this life then a past one. I prefer to live with the trilemma with a God who is omnipotent & omnibenevolent while confronted with the fact of evil in creation just as the authors of the Book of Job & Ecclesiastes do.

[@karinavandamme4655]

Police applying force is very different from police pulling there guns, even when they ask you to step out of your car. War is never justified...definitely not in the name of a God. We talk too much about the words in the bible and we definitely seem to ignore the message too often.

[@jazzyj6640]

Unfortunately, it seems like police only use deadly force when it comes to people of color and I only say that because of the events that happened on January 6, 2021. Those people were treated much better than the people who wanted to stay up late and party in Miami and the rioters - I mean who pose more of a threat? The people “storming the capital“ or the people partying in Miami? I just wish the police would treat all people of different races/ethnicities the same way in situations. And not choose to be more aggressive against one ethnicity vs. another. Both of people from January 6 and the rioters this year and last year should have all receive the same treatment. I don’t find it fair that they use rubber bullets and other force against the riders but not treat those people on January 6 the same way who happened to be mostly Caucasian. It sucks that a lot of people of color just honestly don’t trust the police. I don’t even think it’s that we don’t like them, it’s just mistrust. 🙁

[@duaanekobe2773]

To have true Life, there needs to be and end; or Death

[@revengeeternal7201]

So you think we can live without war and kill !? We now in all story of humanity, only war change any situation, we never have a long period of peace in all the glob, always you found war somewhere. And we are in the end, and still humain fight each other, more kill more discrimination and more.... So maybe war is a part of program or the humanity lose the challenge of GOD. Still i hope seeing all Humanity without war only one time before death 😁😁

[@ckblackwoodmusic]

...not to mention what an awful piece of indoctrination to say that 'sin causes evil'. Your god is supposed to be the supreme being, supreme arbiter who causes everything and that's a way of blaming humans when something bad happens to exonerate god from responsibility. You haven't got a clear answer because of course there IS no answer!

[@beccam8422]

For an alternative view watch Stephen Fry's take on religion. As a person with no religion I watch your videos to learn more of your views and community. But on this particular topic, if god is all seeing and all powerful then surely he is simply choosing to ignore rather than intervene. As an example, the Syrian refugees in Lebanon don't need prayers, they need food, medical care, safe shelter and the means to to survive. Why would god punish some people for the 'sins' of others, rather than the 'sinners' themselves? Makes no sense.

[@melfros7100]

"Why would god punish some people for the 'sins' of others, rather than the 'sinners' themselves? Makes no sense." It makes sense when you consider that god is a human conceptualization of what I prefer to call Mystery. Mystery is something that lies beyond human reality of space-time. It is a "feeling" similar to "love". Our spiritual ancestors gave mystery human form. They equated the highest and noblest of human values with mystery. Interestingly, their understanding of "God" evolved from warrior to lover of all humankind.

[@amindra963]

" If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also , he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14.26. This does not seem to be very generous. A threat by Christ, so insidious that it sent shudders through my whole body with such fear I had a fever for a week. I was just twelve.! And later I found, that there are around 145 such verses by Christ that are cruel abominations and exhortations to commit evil. The bloody, cruel History of Christian nations is the direct result of these horrific and evil statements in the Old and New Testament. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning..............he is a liar, and the father of it" Christ said of the Jews. John 8.44. No wonder then, ordinary Roman Catholic Germans, happily murdered the Jews as a matter of duty. "A moral Reckoning" by Daniel Goldhagen; says it best. Former Roman Catholic from Sri Lanka. 🇱🇰

[@tamainda5647]

What do you think of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine?

[@hardyhofer5160]

No such thing,the children of Israel are living on their God living land.

[@tamainda5647]

Hardy Hofer that’s absolutely disgusting to support the deaths of children and women. Educate yourself. God does not take kindly to those who support murder