Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Thinking Biblically About the Problem of Sin in Our World

By Robert G. Spinney

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? Thinking Biblically About the Problem of Sin in Our World ISBN 0-9776680-5-3

1st Edition Copyright ? 2006 by Robert G. Spinney

All rights reserved.

TULIP BOOKS P.O. Box 481

Hartsville, TN 37074 USA

All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible

? The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

A thirteen-year-old girl dies of leukemia. A tornado kills a husband and wife in their home. A young pastor is murdered by his wife. A tsunami kills thousands of unsuspecting vacationers. Children are kidnapped and raped.

Bad things happen all the time. None of us is immune from bad things.

Many ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Perhaps it would be easier to understand why bad things happen to bad people. God has created in us an internal sense of justice, and we don't struggle as much when a violent drug dealer dies in a police shoot-out. But what about when tragedies involve nice people? Or apparently innocent people? Or people who seemingly don't deserve suffering?

The Bible provides satisfying answers to these questions. However, they are not simple answers because these are not simple questions. Indeed, these questions are related to some of the most profound issues in the universe: Why does evil exist? Are humans intrinsically good, innocent, and deserving of comfortable lives? Why does God permit suffering? What is God's response to evil?

This booklet uses the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" to organize a brief discussion of these critical issues.

What does the Bible say about good people?

A nswering the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" begins with realizing that the question is built upon a false assumption. Are people really good? Do

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