tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post3510688733655324763..comments2024-01-24T10:39:27.668-05:00Comments on Coming Untrue: Our Purgatory Is NowDr. S. L. Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06303707167715370504noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post-4834972611847205822017-09-21T19:58:52.682-04:002017-09-21T19:58:52.682-04:00The Job problem is one issue: God holds Job up to ...The Job problem is one issue: God holds Job up to Satan as exemplary from the beginning (1:8), so Job suffered not because he required purification but because, at least compared with the world in which he lived, he was <i>already</i> righteous in his behaviour. <br /><br />Then there's Saul of Tarsus: slated for suffering from even before his baptism (Acts 9:16), not at all on account of his own need for purification but "for the sake of my name".<br /><br />So you are correct that living a good life is no inoculation against suffering here. That is the expected lot of the believer. <br /><br />However, the question of men God has declared righteous suffering after death is something that remains to be demonstrated, as we do not find it in scripture.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00346761712248157930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596708332568087278.post-15884828729148661992017-09-21T19:14:53.341-04:002017-09-21T19:14:53.341-04:00The thought of "Our Purgatory Is Now" h...The thought of "Our Purgatory Is Now" has of course some complications built in. First, in my opinion, it could well be partially true but not entirely so. Take the Bible story of Job. Since purgatory is assumed to be a just and proportional response to your misdeeds and misshape (of your internal state with the purpose of correcting it) then Job must have had a really poor record for deserving his suffering. But this type of reasoning has of course been explored many times and is considered false. Anybody will tell you that they do not understand why the poorest and least deserving slobs (which might include you or me ;-) nevertheless seem to get hit the hardest while the dishonest and well-off on their luxury yacht are having a lifelong grand old time. So, possibly our suffering here may contribute towards reducing the need for purgatory while, on the other hand, it seems in general to often be out of balance and not fair. The Catholic Church, which has attempted to deal with this issue, does agree that our suffering here can reduce the suffering there but also suggests that the innocent can suffer, and often greatly, because the Church, being the Body of Christ naturally also shares in his innocent suffering. Further, because of that we also share in the fact that our innocent suffering contributes towards the salvation of other souls (possibly even members of our earthly family) or total unknowns but as apportioned by the justice of God. The (perhaps disappointing) insight therefore is that just because you live a good life is no inoculation against suffering, here and there. <br />Qmannoreply@blogger.com