God is Cruel

Why is there death and suffering? Let’s again review the simple Biblical explanation for why suffering exists in the first place: A. God made mankind, Adam and Eve B. Originally, everything was very good when God made it C. God made mankind free to rebel D. Mankind rebelled (also called sin), which makes us imperfect and cut-off from God's perfection, love and life. E. Thus, suffering and death began, and continue today, as per the curse in Genesis 3:17-19 You asserted that God has a need for us to suffer, that God "had to create such a terrible, sorrow and pain-filled world to fulfil his needs". But that is certainly not the case. Rather, it is clear that suffering exists only because man sinned. God did not need for Adam and Eve to suffer. However, God did need to cause suffering after they sinned.Sin causes separation between man and God, and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). It is logical to say that to be separated from love and life, means suffering and death. On earth we get glimpses of love, life, suffering and death. But the true extent of these four experiences exists in eternity, which I will explain in more detail later.So with respect to your original statement #4, I maintain that this statement is false. However, this does NOT mean that one of God's needs is for us to suffer. Compare the difference: My assertion is: "God did need to cause suffering" (i.e. delete the word "not" in statement #4) Whereas you seem to be saying: "God needs people to suffer" Of these two statements above, my argument is that the first is true ever since Adam sinned, and the second is categorically false. This does not support any of your depictions of a cruel God. The depictions in your round-three argument are not of the God in the Bible.If God did need to make us as an outlet for the expression of His love, that doesn't mean He needs anything from us. His love is already freely expressed to us regardless of whether we accept it or reject it. God's perfect love (which is not self-seeking and does not demand its own way), gives us complete freedom to choose one way or the other. Can't God stop the death and suffering? You have suggested that God is "a deity that cannot even prevent and protect its own creation from any kind of suffering". So why doesn't God stop evil? In response to this question I would ask: How much evil do you want God to stop? What would happen if God started to stop evil? Do you think you would survive? Is your record perfect?In reality, to stop evil would be to stop free-will. In any case, does God merely stand by watching, letting all the evil and suffering continue? No, God by his grace has made a way to "wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)And the way made by God does not contradict the curse in Genesis 3, for God does not lie. Here's how...Jesus, God incarnate, bled and died on a crossThe Word was God, and the Word became flesh. (see John 1) God incarnate, in the flesh, is Jesus of Nazareth. God did not merely stand by idly while his beloved people suffered. On the contrary, God Himself chose to leave His heavenly throne and endure the extremes of human suffering and death. Jesus endured rejection from His closest friends, then execution at the hands of men. On Good Friday, we executed God!"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:13) I trust you are familiar with the message of the cross and the gospel (literally, the "good news"). Essentially, Jesus is the perfect sacrificial Lamb who was slain to take away our imperfection, which separates us from God's perfection. As Jesus had no sin or imperfection worthy of death, He rose from the dead. And we are totally free to receive or reject the gift of Jesus sacrifice, which gives us everlasting life and love. It is up to us. It is up to you.The physical death and suffering which remain in this temporary world pale into insignificance compared to what awaits in eternity. Our life in this world is fleeting. In the end this world will be replaced by a new heavens and a new earth.Consider suffering from an eternal perspective If you could step outside of time to view your life on earth as a small dot on the infinite timescale of all history plus eternity, you can see that it has a beginning and an end. From this eternal perspective, you are dead already. So as we are all destined to die, what difference does it make if God should choose to put an end to someone's life and move their spirit into eternity earlier than if He had not interfered? Whether you live for one decade or ten, or suffer a little or a lot, that is meaningless compared to eternity. It is like comparing one to infinity. The wisest and wealthiest man in history affirmed the meaninglessness:"what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23)So why should we allow the comparatively meaningless suffering in this world to distract us from the eternal picture? The apostle Paul, in Philippians 1:21-23, suggested it is far better to die now and be with Christ. Paul then went on to say:"Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. (Philippians 1:28-29) Yes, those who suffer for Christ do not suffer in vain, but for the glory of God! They are indeed blessed! It is certainly a privilege when your suffering adds your to eternal blessing! (see Matthew 5:10-12) But how sad that so many should continue to suffer in vain and hopelessness, without receiving the free solution to the problem... The problem: suffering in an existence separated from God As noted above, it is logical to say that separation from love and life (of which God is the true love and eternal life), means suffering and death. And this ultimately describes Hell: the absence of God, love, life and hope. We already suffer on earth, yet suffering is greatest in Hell.In Hell, people who were on earth just like you and I, are stuck in eternal suffering and torment. It is an eternal state of death and destruction, and the human spirit, made in the image of God's eternal spirit, cannot be extinguished. Those who do not receive God's free gift of forgiveness and life, will be in this place of separation from God, the place of utter despair. "‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’" (Mark 9:44)This is real, and below I have linked to the personal testimony of a lady who has toured Hell. Jesus: the only solution to end death and suffering, if we accept"For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. " (Romans 5:15)Avoid the greatest suffering, no one needs to endure HellNow here is our opportunity. Who will receive, and who will reject the free gift of everlasting life which was bought for us by the death and suffering of God's only begotten Son? "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." (Revelation 3:20) More info I hope the above explanations will help some people. These resources may also help: The Bible, including the book of John http://creation.com... "A Divine Revelation of Hell" by Mary K Baxter. Available as a book, an MP3(http://spiritlessons.com...) or on YouTube http://youtu.be... http://newsgetsold.com...