If God is good, why do bad things happen?
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
Back to Practical Application Main Page
Audio Only
Jonathan's Study Notes
Week 1, March 2: If God is so Good, Why do so Many Bad Things Happen?
If God is good, why do bad things happen? Does God hate me? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow rapists, pedophiles and murderers to do what they do?
These questions normally come from two different perspectives.
- A non Christian. In particular, non Christians that do not believe in one all powerful God who created everything and is in absolute control.
- Christians who believe in God, but cannot understand or come to grips with the afore mentioned questions.
This study will not use Christian theology to prove points, but will address what the Word of God says on the subject. If you are here and discount Christianity or the Bible, please bear with us on this. By answering the second perspective, my hope is the first perspective will be answered as well.
THE CASE FOR SUFFERING.
When addressing this question or any question, it's important to remember that we want to win the soul, not the argument. Winning an argument only wins resentment for you and your cause.
It's easy to spout out an answer for a question like this. Soul: "If God's so good, why is their so much evil?". Christian: "Because God gives each of us free will. It rains on the just and unjust alike. His ways are higher than ours. There's the answer, accept it." blah blah blah
What if the soul asks the same question but words it slightly different?
Soul: "Me and my husband just buried our stillborn baby. You can't tell me that God is good. Can you?"
Same question, but now we begin to see the heart of the matter.
What's the heart of the issue? That is what needs to addressed. Christians don’t even fully understand the will of God, we can’t expect those who don’t have the Spirit of God to understand either. What we can do is tell them what the Bible DOES say, and perhaps uncover the real reason they are asking.
I don't care if you've been saved for 50 years; there are times when it's difficult to feel the love of God.
It's easy to feel the love of God when you've just received a raise.
It's harder when you're about to lose your house.
It's easy to feel the love of God on your wedding day.
It's harder when your marriage is in turmoil and your spouse announces he/she wants a divorce.
It's easy to feel the love of God when people are saying nice things about you.
It's harder when people call you worthless.
It's easy to feel the love of God when you're healthy.
It's harder when you're sick.
When we're suffering it's easy to lose sight of God's love. You are justified by the feelings of anger, sadness, shame, loneliness. There is a time for weeping and a time for mourning.
A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
It’s important that we stay relatable. Comfort & Encouragement.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Four point to know when addressing human suffering.
1. God Loves Us
Let's first realize that God's love for us is immovable. This can't be overstated. Never assume anybody knows this. Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to sepa- rate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Patient in his love. Not God's will that any should perish...
2 Pet 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. God is concerned with our spiritual man, not our fleshly man.
God is far more concerned with our spiritual well being far than our fleshly circumstances
Sheep for the slaughter? How can we be more than conquerors if we are lined up to be slaughtered. We are conquerors through God’s Spirit in spiritual matters. We need to realize that God is concerned with our spiritual man, not our fleshly man.
1Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
How is our spiritual relationship with God? Is it dependent on physical things/circumstances?
Rom 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Our physical bodies should be considered dead anyway.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
3 God is no respecter of persons
They story of Job (Job 1)(Talk about Job making offerings for his children, being super good, etc). God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). We can't look at people in different walks of life (homeless, starving, millionaires, in prison, etc) and try to figure out who's better off based on suffering levels. "Well, at least I'm doing better than them, or God must favor them more than me". No. God's concern is for our spiritual relationship with him. You could be a middle-aged American married woman with a family, or an 12 year old parentless Ethiopian who is sick with less than a year to live. God's concern is for the heart.
4 God is just.
God knows what is best for us. And we must accept that by faith.
Many times we'll see the benefits of our suffering in this life, sometimes we may never see it until we reach heaven.
Mat 7:9-11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
But why do I have to suffer if I'm good and God is a fair God? - I am NOT good. (We deserve death)
Some people will say “But I am good person”, and I can fully understand that. I’ve known people who are very good people, they are positive, honest, friendly, and are a great influence on society wherever they go. They seem so good if I’m not careful I can tend to get a little self-conscious sometimes when I am around them. And many of them are not Christians. Let’s see what the Bible says about it.
Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God.
Even thought Jesus Christ was perfect, he gave us the example by showing us that as long as we are in the flesh, only our God can truly by good.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Some people may say, “Well, I’ve suffered far worse than Jesus did, He wasn’t even on the cross very long, listen to all I’ve been through…….”
Response: First off, Jesus was 100% innocent and was voluntarily sacrificed for the sins of the world. That is a feeling you or I will never know.
And lets say you do feel like you’ve suffered more than Christ. If you were drowning in a freezing river, hanging onto a branch that was about to break and a man came up to you, reached out his hand and said “Let me save you”, what would you do? Would you reach out for salvation, or would you say, “well, I won’t accept your offer until you get into this water beside me and suffer for as long as I have. I’m cold and you’re not, it’s simply not fair.” ?????
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
(Segway) The Bible states we are all sinners, what is the consequence of our sin?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God is NOT fair, but just
Psalms 103:10-12 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our trans- gressions from us.
A better question would be “Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?
Not how can a loving God send anyone to hell but, rather, how can a just and holy God allow anyone into heaven?
Thankfully, we don't always get what we deserve.
Five Reason WHY we suffer.
- Free will. God desires our love. If we have the choice to love and serve him, it also must mean we have the choice to not love or serve him. He did not create robots.
- So God will be glorified.
- God is shaping us. In the face of darkness (suffering) is when our light can shine the brightest
- Sometimes our suffering is self-inflicted
- Mysterious Suffering. Sometimes we just don’t know why.
1 Free Will.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
2 So God can be glorfified.
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
3 God is shaping us. God desires to use us.
1 Peter 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
In the face of darkness (suffering) is when our light can shine the brightest
2 Chron 16:1 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Matt 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
4 Sometimes our suffering is self-inflicted.
(Sticking hand in flame and wondering why we get burnt)
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
5 Mysterious Suffering. Sometimes we just don’t know why.
We don't have to understand to know (John 9:24-25 “All I know is I was blind but now I see) ...And sometimes we just don’t know. His ways are higher than ours. He doesn’t owe us anything. Including the answers to why hurtful things happen.
Romans 11:34-35 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his coun- sellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Can God stop the pedophile?
Can God stop the murder or rapists?
Can God stop the cancer?
Yes.
Does he always?
No.
God doesn’t explain his ways to us, but he does make it clear that he loves us better than we could ever love ourselves. He loved us enough to send his innocent son to be persecuted and slain.
Jesus was innocent and He was sacrficed us.
We are not innocent. Do we have the authority to condemn a murderer as not being fit to be in this world, but call ourselves worthy? No.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Refusing to believe that God is truly a just and perfect God because we don’t understand everything we see is not living by faith.
We receive salvation & understanding on God’s terms, not ours.
What must our reaction to suffering be?
This short section is for Christians. Many times the only way to answer a question is by living the gospel. (let your light so shine before men...)My suffering, your suffering... these things do not give as an excuse to sin. Ever. Under no circumstance in this life will sin be justified. Sometime we use emotions, frustration and anger as an excuse to sin. Even in our darkest hours, even in the valley of the shadow of death, God promises to make a way.
1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Using the suffering of yourselves or the suffering of others to rebel against God is selfish.
Meaningful Suffering (purposeful suffering).
Americans want to know how to get out of suffering, how to avoid suffering, how to numb suffering, how to alleviate suffering...not how to be good at it.
Learning how to deal with suffering is the answer.
But we need to learn how to have meaningful suffering – attempt to see the spiritual fruits of it.
Some of us are suffering. Some of us are not in a season of. That means those who aren’t suffering should be considering and serving those who are.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
When we suffer suffers, it really clarifies what matters.
If we can get to the point when we only want what God wants for us, our frustration levels will go way down.
1 Pet 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Christian Fellowship Church ministers to all kinds of people: drug addicts, prostitutes, depressed, those who are suffering. But their total healing and end from suffering is not the final goal, the final goal is that God would be glorified and that people would accept Christ as their savior. God's goal is not to make us happy, but Holy.
There is only one real end to suffering, and that is salvation through Jesus Christ (entering Heaven)
1 Pet 3:12-14 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
God will deal with those who do evil in this life or the next. Having the Lord's face turned away from you is far worse than suffering. Being an enemy of God is far worse.
Going to hell? Far worse than suffering.
Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to you. The worst thing that could happen to somebody is that they never get to know God.
Jesus suffered in all the same ways manner we have. God has been shamed, suffered, crucified. He has been there. It is natural to repay evil for evil, it is supernatural to repay evil with love.
The fact of the matter is whether there is war or peace, famine or harvest, joy or sadness, we will never feel content or complete while we are on this earth. Nothing will satisfy. This earth will always feel “broken” to us. Only the Spirit of God can give us the peace which passes all understanding, and instills in us the hope that there will be a better life, and the suffering of this life cannot compare to the glory to come.
Practical application
Main Q: So why does God allow good people to suffer?
R: There are various reasons really. God gave mankind choices in how to live. Some choose to live righteously, some choose to do evil. If we didn’t have the choice not to love God, we wouldn’t have the choice to love him, and God wants our love. Sometimes God is trying to get our attention, sometimes he is shaping us into the people he wants us to be. Sometimes the reasons why you and I suffer are unclear, but I ever since I’ve been saved I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has my best interests in mind. Sometimes our suffering is because some one chose to de evil and we have to deal with it. We had nothing to do with it happening (a drunk driver, a victim of violence) But we have the choice of how we deal with it.
Follow Up Q 1: So basically, anything at all could happen to you and you would just pass it off as “God’s Will”?
R: It’s true that Christians live lives of faith – meaning we don’t see or even fully understand all aspects of God. But God does make some things very clear in his Word. He promises his Holy Spirit will dwell in us when we allow Him to save us. His Holy Spirit will manifest certain qualities in us. Joy, peace. long-suffering to name a few. It’s these qualities that have changed my life, and is evidence that God is real. The Spirit of God is what helps me see things through Gods eyes. Do you want to know more about how you can have the Spirit of God?
---------------
Follow Up Q 2: And what about the concentration camps, or young girls getting raped and murdered. Does God just not care for certain people?
R: There is a lot of people in pain in this world. It can be a sad and devastating place. The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. That includes myself, and that includes murderers and rapists. I hope they get caught and put in prison so they cannot harm anybody else, but when it comes down to it I’m no better than they are in God’s eyes He hates the sin but loves the sinner and wants all to repent and live their life for Him them. The Bible says nobody is good. I’m thankful that even though we were all condemned to death (hell), God took the form of a man and voluntarily was crucified for my sin and yours. He was mocked, crucified, spent three days in the grave and rose again... all while never sinning. Suffering on this earth is not my biggest fear, my biggest fear is not having a relationship with God. The good news is that God doesn’t desire any to perish. God cares about people’s hearts, not their bodies. Do you believe that God loves you?
