AlsoBroken

Any other answers to this question?

My own reply (if I was that pastor) would be something like… “I am SO sorry for your loss Mr. Smith, and would love to have you stay and talk with me after everyone goes. Could you do that? So you can tell me about what happened to your son and your family?” And then in private, I would invite him to pour out his heart, and to his question of “Why” I would say honestly… “I don’t know.” I might apologize to him “if my praises of God’s protection seemed very insensitive to you.” I’d ask if I could pray with him, Then perhaps I’d offer some scriptures about trusting God because He has His purposes that are beyond our limited comprehension. Ultimately good purposes. I would want to make sure this father is given emotional support in whatever way he needs it, because THIS IS what Jesus would do.

@Neighbor, I appreciate all of what you’re saying, thank you. And I hear where you’re coming from, but my question is NOT answered. You’re saying YOU would not ask your pastor that Why question. You said… “Specifically; …I would be aware of his burdens just as he is of mine, and so I would not ask that question of him.” That’s beside the point. I asked you, or anyone here, to imagine BEING the pastor (who had given that particular scripture and testimony in his sermon) then afterwards being met with a very personal question of Why from a grieving parent. Why didn’t God protect his son from being killed? @Hartono is the only one who gave a reply as far as what to say TO THAT PARENT in that circumstance. It’s a very real question, and one that any Christian might be asked by someone suffering a great loss.

Again, Let’s say you’re the pastor of a church. One Sunday you get up and read Psalm 91, and the during your sermon you tell the amazing, glowing account of how your whole family narrowly missed a deadly car collision during your vacation. Praise God! Then as parishioners file out the door after the worship service, one man stops and says, “Pastor, my 8 yr. old son was killed in an auto accident 6 months ago. Why did God protect your children but not mine?” I’d like to hear ONLY your answer to this one simple question. In that pastor’s shoes, what is YOUR answer to this father?

Repeating my original question: you have the bereaved father right in front of you searching your face for an answer. It’s not a far fetched question. In THAT moment, what do you say?

Interesting replies. Why do most of you have such a compunction to preach or lecture though? Let’s say you’re the pastor of a church. One Sunday you get up and read Psalm 91, and the during your sermon you tell the amazing, glowing account of how your whole family narrowly missed a deadly car collision during your vacation. Praise God! Then as parishioners file out the door after the worship service, one man stops and says, “Pastor, my 8 yr. old son was killed in an auto accident 6 months ago. Why did God protect your children but not mine?” I’d like to hear ONLY your answer to this one simple question. In that pastor’s shoes, what is YOUR answer to this father?

Yes. And their testimony has greater impact because of their being “slayed” more or less.

Who me: Yours are all good points but I think you missed my original point. God does not protect us from all harm and disease and tragedy. These happen in one way or another to everyone eventually. And happy-going Christians need to be circumspective when it comes to who we share testimonies of God’s protection and blessings with.

I have tried it. But not very much. It remains an option but only for when I am SET with a quitting date.

I love to read Psalm 91 - and the picture of being protected under the Wings of God, but I ALSO have a problem with claiming it as 100% true in a practical sense! BECAUSE… - Did God protect Job from disease and calamity? (No) - Did God always protect David from disease and calamity? (No) - Did God protect all the Jews from pogroms or the holocaust? (No) - Does He always protect innocent children from harm? (No) - Or the family members of “good” Christians? (No) We get the point, right? It’s actually very PAINFUL (I speak from experience) for some, be they Christians or not (!) to hear a glowing testimony about how God AWESOMELY protected you from a tragedy of one kind or another. Or to hear boasting about ANY kind of Miracle that God performed. Yes, We need to tell others about what God is doing in our lives, and we LOVE to especially tell about His provision and protection and healing miracles - all the Feel Good stuff, right? BUT… use some caution! Let’s please know WHO our audience is. Who is listening (or reading us) that may have just gone through a Tragedy of some kind? In other words, be CONSIDERATE of anyone who may be in terrible pain and doubt, wondering… Where was God for THEM? https://biblehub.com/nlt/psalms/91.htm

Okay I see it above. I voted just now. I have no opinion on this question due to being very unaware of the Tattoo genre

I am very inexperienced in this forum as to getting around in it. I don’t know what poll you are referring to or how to access it.

what thread? This one we are on?

Wow 3Nails, thank you for this account of your mom’s suffering. And how you stayed by her side. It’s been said that quitting smoking for some is harder than quitting heroin. God help us. Our addictions ARE insanity.

Thanks. I’m aware of all the above but it’s beside the point that I was trying to make.