In God: Why Do Bad Things Happen
One of the most asked questions people seem to have about God is why he would allow bad things to happen. Given the shear amount of human suffering in this world, it is a wholly reasonable question. Unfortunately the answers given by most Christians simply don't provide a viewpoint which inspire people to move towards God. In fact, as I watch some Christians weather difficult times, it would appear that the answers usually are not sustaining to them either. Both of these results are exceedingly sad. Allow me to suggest that the true answer to the question is far more simple (and perhaps a bit more complex) than the typical answers:
The things that happen, good or bad, are the result of the decisions that have been made by ourselves and others as they impact the world we live in.
A secular view virtually requires this position – albeit with a bit of random chance thrown in. Some may see this view as a prison, others an expression of personal responsibility, and some as the ultimate empowerment of the individual. Highly effective individuals understand this relationship innately. This expression is an article in itself, but for now I'll focus on the original question.
How does this seemingly human-oriented, human-powered statement mesh with biblical theology? In my mind it is a foundational element of Christianity; God gave us free will. He not only gave us free will but He considered it a critical requirement for our creation. How can I possibly make such a strong statement? Consider that before God gave us free will he knew that it would not only determine the path of all mankind, but that the result of our free will would would ultimately require the death of His son to heal our relationship with Him. Knowing this, God still chose to gave us free will. It must have been incredibly important to him.
Decisions are an simply an expression of free will, but we often fail to see the consider the what follows. For us to truly have free will those decisions must have an affect on the world around us. If our decisions fail to have an impact on our world then we have only the allusion of free will. For example; if a parent says we have a choice (free will) to stay home with the family or go out with our friends, we would expect that a decision to go out would result in spending time with our friends (the affect). If, after we make the decision, we are told we must stay home with the family then it is fair to ask if we have we experienced true free will or only the allusion of free will. Decisions must have an impact on the world around us if we have true free will. The cumulative decisions of humankind has result in the world we experience today.
Wait! What about God's will? Where does He come into the process if it is we who have decided the nature of the world we live in? As an omnipotent and omnipresent being, God must certainly have the power to determine the nature of this world? Well, yes He does... but perhaps doing so comes at a great cost to Him. Every time God intervenes in the affairs of this world he must, by the vary nature of doing so, negate the affects of the decisions made by one or more people – and most likely the cumulative affects of the decisions made by many people. God can intervene, but at the cost of suspending free will for some or all. Considering the cost that God paid to give us free will, His contravention of that free will may not come so easily to Him.
However, we know that God DOES intervene. Given the argument above how is it reasonable at all that He can intervene? Perhaps it comes when the choices of many people allows Him to balance the equation. We express our free will, our desires, through action and through prayer. Perhaps this provides the critical counter-pose for the choices of others. Through our action, prayer, efforts, and beliefs we can move the equation and provide the ability for action and impact. This is completely in keeping with free will and God's promise. It is clearly the path to action called for in the bible.
In a nutshell, I believe the following is a biblically consistent answer to the question of why God allows bad things to happen:
It is certainly not the will of God for us to experience the turmoil, trouble, and pain of this world. Originally he had a perfect world created for us to live in – the Garden of Eden. There was no death, no disease, no pain, no turmoil. However, through their free will Adam and Eve made a decision that caused them, and us, to loose that perfect living place. Every decision of every person who followed has helped shape the world we live in today. Be very clear as well that every decision we make works to shapes the world for for us... and everyone else.
One might view the bible as God's instructions on how to make good decisions, loving decisions, that result in good and Godly affects on ourselves, those around us, and the world itself.
On a final note allow me touch on another of the most asked questions people seem to have about God: Why would God send some people to to hell? Oddly enough the above discussion answers that question as well: free will. According to the bible we are given the choice of living with or without God. We have an entire life on earth to make that decision. As painful as it may be for Him, God will honor whatever our decision is --- for all eternity. He's pretty consistent isn't he.
Posted by Paul Gernhardt on Friday, September 19, 2008