The question of why bad things happen to good people is not one Scripture treats as a philosophical riddle. Instead, the Bible presents suffering as the arena in which God accomplishes His deepest work in His people (e.g., Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Cor 4:7-12; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Rom 8:35-37; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Heb 12:3-11; Php 3:10). We tend to assume that “good” means comfortable, predictable, and safe. Scripture insists that true good is far richer: knowing God rightly, trusting Him deeply, and being shaped into the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:28–29).
When we ask this question, we are usually reaching for something beneath it. We want to know whether God is good (Psa 119:68), whether He is present (Psa 46:1), whether He can be trusted when life wounds us (Psa 34:18–19). Scripture answers those concerns not with abstractions but with the steady witness that God is sovereign, purposeful, and unfailingly faithful even when His providence is severe (Lam 3:22–23).
That underlying question of the goodness of God is the question God has faced since the beginning. The serpent began with “Did God actually say …?”, but his real aim was to bring into question the goodness of God. He essentially told Eve, “God is holding out on you. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Gen 3:5). And we all have asked that very same question at some point, especially when things don’t go the way we think they should. Why do bad things happen to good people?" But the truth is, the short answer to the question is simple. They don’t. There is no one good (Rom 3:10-12).
Not good enough? There is a longer answer.
The story of suffering begins in Genesis 3, where humanity’s rebellion fractures the world itself. Pain is not merely punishment; it is the fallout of broken relationship with the God who is life. Paul explains that creation itself now “groans” under the weight of that rupture (Rom 8:20–22). Yet God does not abandon His people in that brokenness. Throughout Scripture He uses trials to restore what sin has damaged. James teaches that suffering produces steadfastness and maturity (James 1:2–4). Paul says that tribulation produces endurance, character, and hope—and that hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Spirit (Rom 5:3–5). These are not God’s attempts to salvage a bad situation. They are His deliberate means of forming His people into Christ’s likeness.
And at the center of it all stands Christ Himself. God does not remain distant from suffering; He enters it. The worst thing that ever happened—the crucifixion of the Son of God (Acts 2:23)—became the best thing that ever happened: the reconciliation of sinners to their Maker (2 Cor 5:18–21). The cross is God’s own testimony that suffering is never wasted and never outside His redeeming hand.
We make a category mistake when we assume comfort is the measure of goodness. Scripture teaches that knowing God is the measure of goodness (Php 3:8), and anything that leads us into deeper fellowship with Him is ultimately for our good. Bad things happen to good people not because God is indifferent, but because He is doing something better than comfort. He is pursuing relationship (Jer 24:7). He is shaping character (Heb 12:10–11). He is producing eternal good, not temporary ease (2 Cor 4:16–18).
Suffering, then, is not evidence of God’s absence. More often than not, it is evidence of His pursuit.
8 comments:
Bad things happen to good people because even the best of us has abandoned God, been in full rebellion against Him. The better question is why does the rain fall on the unjust at all? Because God is gracious. Bad things happen to "good" people because God is gracious and intends to show His grace.
Bad things happen to "good" people because God is gracious and intends to show His grace.
That also perfectly answers the alternate question, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” God is gracious.
A consideration of “why do bad things happen to good people?” formerly presented a philosophical and theological conundrum for me--back when I didn’t really know God and His Word--but now it strikes me as an inane and ignorant question. Many people pose it while being unable to properly discern “good people” and “bad people” or “good things” and “bad things.” They ask that as if life falls neatly into those elementary categories--i.e. there are two clear types of people and two clear kinds of events--but “good” and “bad” are subjective and debatable descriptions and define a spectrum. (When I hear that question, I conjure up a vision of some judicious overlord of the universe doling out life events on a “fair and square” basis to every person coming into being, based on what they deserve--i.e. “good people” get only “good things” and the “bad people” will get the “bad things.” This is a ludicrous position, of course, when one thinks it through.
As you point out, the answer to this question will be different for the believer and seeker of God’s higher purpose as opposed to the typical “life is all about me and my happiness, so God--if He exists--better come through for me” person. We have touched on theodicy in recent comments, and as David pointed out then, atheists like to present this issue as indisputable proof that there is no good and/or powerful God. While the skeptics think this conclusion is astute and deep, it actually merely reflects their ignorance about God and His ways and means. (And frankly, good luck figuring out any of life without God in the picture!) Those of us who know God and desire His ultimate good for ourselves, as He does, know that once we develop a biblical view of life, as you describe in this and many other posts, we can then understand this most basic consideration--by getting our answers from God Himself.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?" … [T]he short answer to the question is simple. They don’t. There is no one good (Rom 3:10-12).”
Since this common question almost always springs out of a faulty understanding of both “bad things” and “good people,” I have changed the wording in my mind to, “Why do ‘bad’ things happen to God’s people?” While unbelievers will naturally get stumped (almost universally) on the usual wording, I feel that I (and other biblically minded people) can see the answers much better with the revised wording.
That is a different question, isn't it? But I think it answers itself if "God's people" understand that God is sovereign, that He causes all things to work together for good, and that He always does what's best. Then "bad things" changes to "unpleasant things" and the answer is "Because He's doing what's best for us."
Good point. How does one accurately identify the good and bad people? Given that Scripture is clear that bad things can be and are used for our good, doesn't that make them kind of good things?
Yes, indeed. In my view, that question is posed from a purely man-centric perspective, coming from the most basic, uninformed mindset of “life better treat me right!”. We’ve discussed “good people” vs. “bad people” before; it’s clearly impossible for any of us to make that distinction, and God’s ruling on that prevails.
Exactly. I feel that my revised wording helps me keep the proper perspective on what God is doing--that it is not punishment or retribution but discipline and refinement. Since God is good and He loves me, all is good--i.e. beneficial for me. (The original language smacks too much of karma to my mind. It can also lead to the highly questionable conclusions about God and suffering that, for example, author Rabbi Harold S. Kushner presented in his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.)
Post a Comment