A question about the flu-Ray Comfort <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

"Sorry to hear that you're unwell. I just wonder, why are you sick? I mean, really. Your irreducibly complex immune system obviously isn't complex enough to handle the flu, and we all know there's no evolution to make the virus evolve. Did God create the flu? Is it then part of His "mysterious ways"? I'm actually interested in your answer here (for once, I might add), because you often talk about the big things but rarely about the everyday things. What glorious explanation do you have for the flu?" NathanielWhen God made Adam and Eve He made them perfect. There was no disease, suffering, pain and death. When they rebelled against Him, He cursed them and the earth, and we now live in what is commonly called a "fallen creation."
 
Study the soil for a moment. It naturally produces weeds. No one plants them; no one waters them. They even stubbornly push through cracks of a dry sidewalk. Billions of useless weeds sprout like there's no tomorrow, strangling our crops and ruining our lawns. Pull them out by the roots, and there will be more tomorrow. They are nothing but a curse.
 
Consider how much of the earth is uninhabitable. There are millions of square miles of barren deserts in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Africa and other parts of the world. Most of Australia is nothing but miles and miles of useless desolate land. Not only that, but the earth is constantly shaken with massive earthquakes. Its shores are lashed with hurricanes; tornadoes rip through creation with incredible fury; devastating floods soak the land; and terrible droughts parch the soil. Sharks, tigers, lions, snakes, spiders, and disease-carrying mosquitoes attack humanity and suck its life's blood. The earth's inhabitants are afflicted with disease, pain, suffering, and death.
 
Think of how many people are plagued with cancer, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, emphysema, Parkinson's, and a number of other debilitating illnesses. Consider all the children with leukemia, or people born with crippling diseases or without the mental capability to even feed themselves. All these things should convince thinking minds that something is radically wrong. Did God blow it when He created humanity? What sort of tyrant must our Creator be if this was His master plan? Sadly, many use the issue of suffering as an excuse to reject any thought of God, when its existence is the very reason we should accept Him. Suffering stands as terrible testimony to the truth of the explanation given by the Word of God.
 
But how can we know that the Bible is true? Simply by studying the prophecies of Matthew 24, Luke 21, and 2 Timothy 3. A few minutes of openhearted inspection will convince any honest skeptic that this is no ordinary book. It is the supernatural testament of our Creator about why there is suffering... and what we can do about it. The Bible tells us that God cursed the earth because of Adam's transgression. Weeds are a curse. So is flu and all other diseases. Sin and suffering cannot be separated. Again, the Scriptures inform us that we live in a fallen creation. In the beginning, God created man perfect, and he lived in a perfect world without suffering. It was heaven on earth. When sin came into the world, death and misery came with it. Those who understand the message of Holy Scripture eagerly await a new heaven and a new earth "wherein dwells righteousness." In that coming Kingdom there will be no more pain, suffering, disease, or death. We are told that no eye has ever seen, nor has any ear heard, neither has any man's mind ever imagined the wonderful things that God has in store for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Think for a moment what it would be like if food grew with the fervor of weeds. Consider how wonderful it would be if the deserts became incredibly fertile, if creation stopped devouring humanity. Imagine if the weather worked for us instead of against us, if disease completely disappeared, if pain was a thing of the past, if death was no more.
 
The dilemma is that we are like a child whose insatiable appetite for chocolate has caused his face to break out with ugly sores. He looks in the mirror and sees a sight that makes him depressed. But instead of giving up his beloved chocolate, he consoles himself by stuffing more into his mouth. Yet, the source of his pleasure is actually the cause of his suffering. The whole face of the earth is nothing but ugly sores of suffering. Everywhere we look we see unspeakable pain. But instead of believing God's explanation and asking Him to forgive us and change our appetite, we run deeper into sin's sweet embrace. There we find solace in its temporal pleasures, thus intensifying our pain, both in this life and in the life to come.

Atheist pope

"As to your question of whether we'd rather see you in Hell due to your lying, the fact you can ask that means you are aware that us atheists are generally more compassionate than you Christians. We don't think you deserve Hell. You do think we deserve Hell." ChrisChris… I have no idea if atheists are more compassionate than Christians, but I dare say that you could count hospitals and homeless shelters set up by atheists on the fingers of an armless man.However, I do have a question for you. Who made you the spokesperson for atheists? Are you the atheist pope? Perhaps when you say "We don't think you deserve Hell," in your mind you are presuming that there is a chorus of atheists "Amen"ing you.Who we think does and doesn't deserve Hell has no bearing on the issue at all. It is God who has power to kill and cast into Hell. He is the One the Bible says is your enemy. He is the One whose just wrath "abides" on you (see John 3:36). It was only when I understood God's Law that I realized that I personally deserve Hell. Remember, God sees your thoughts. He sees them from perfect holiness and absolute purity, and He warns that every single transgression of His Law (including thoughts) will come out as evidence of your guilt. Think about your sins, then think about the fact that God is rich in mercy and is willing to forgive. If you refuse mercy, you will get justice, and that's fearful.