Subject: Poverty
Hello! I have recently been watching a lot of videos on youtube about your religion, and I find it very interesting! I have noticed though that you say when a child dies, or cancer, it’s because God wanted that because the person deserved it in some way. This made me think of all the un-reached 3rd world countries with children dying of starvation and diseases and what not. I traveled to an un-reached country with my church youth group, and they have never heard of Jesus Christ. I was just wondering, in your opinion, did these children and people also deserve this? God put this upon them? Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope to hear back soon!
Paige-
We believe God and we believe His Word. Through His divine will, the Holy Spirit working through men wrote:
Deut 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. …39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. 42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
1Sam 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
The people of those lands have rejected the God that created them and chose to serve other gods. They knew the truth of God and cast His Word aside and instead fashioned a religion out of their dark hearts and passed that on from generation to generation. The wrath of God is upon them. See Romans 1: 19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.23 Wherefore [God has given them up . . . ].
No human is innocent. (See, e.g., Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.) We are all worthy of death and hell. By His grace only are some saved from His wrath. It is the will of God that they remain in gross darkness, poverty and famine. God did that for their rebellion to His Word. No man is going to undo what the Lord has purposed against a people. The ONLY needful word for them at this hour is GOD CURSED YOU, REPENT and OBEY!
Thanks for writing!
Your friends at WBC