God, Evil, And Suffering That Results - Why, God
God, Evil, And Suffering - How God's Goodness And Evil Coexist
How we answer “Why, God” in times of distress is critical to our relationship with God. Lack of insight or false expectations may cause one to lose faith or become angry with God rather than receive the comfort He so ably can give. We can expect God’s ways to be more comprehensible than incomprehensible, because we are made in His image. God’s reprimand to Job in Chapter 38 was not because God is unexplainable but perhaps because Job assumed if you acted righteous, as he did, then you can expect God’s blessings. Job’s friends assumed suffering was a direct result of individual sin. Both assumptions are misguided. God forbid disputable understandings of God’s role in suffering drive people to unbelief or despair.
Does the Bible suggest God causes suffering or is suffering a result of a free world? The Apostle Paul did not deny the reality of suffering nor the pain involved. The biblical writers seemed to accept suffering as they never seek to explain why suffering existed though they believed God was in control. If we are to trust our Creator, which is His stated desire throughout the Bible, we must get to know who He is. Suffering is inevitable in this world. I believe many may misunderstand God's involvement when it comes to suffering. I pray my writings will help us both to be better prepared when suffering visits. Many turn away from God for selfish or apathetic reasons and not because of some confusion or disenchantment about His character. God forbid though certain disputable images of God lead to despair and unbelief.
It may be suggested God can't control evil, as a way to protect His goodness, because a good God would not allow evil. God as the Creator is fully capable of controlling the universe. Thus, I must believe God allows suffering as a result of evil for nothing can happen beyond His control. This does not mean God plans evil. Humans plan and are behind evil. An infinite God does not have to control to be in control. I understand many receive comfort from the idea that God controls both good and bad times, but this leaves one to believe God is pulling strings in heaven to teach them certain lessons. Tragedy is hard enough without also wondering why is God doing this to me. "Why, me" can turn into "why God are you punishing me" or "God, do you really love me?"
Why are some children born into poverty and not others? Why is one child abused and next door a child grows up without such terror? Why does a drunk driver kill an innocent child yet the driver remains unharmed? Why do some women have breast cancer and not others? Why does one person find their soul mate and others remains single and lonely? I believe the Bible teaches God does not cause evil, evil is never God's will, God promises an end to evil one day, and God did not avoid the consequences of evil Himself through the death of His Son. The different types of suffering may be described this way: self-inflicted; suffering inflicted upon others; and suffering as a result of natural disasters which seem to have no direct cause. Suffering is either a result of personal or natural evil.
Suffering resulting from natural evil is not brought on directly by oneself or others. Jesus laid to rest the age-old argument that suffering is always because of one’s sin. (i.e. John 9:1-3; Lk 13:1-5) If this was true, those who sin the most would suffer the most. Most infant deformities are certainly not caused by the sins of their parents. In the Old Testament God sometimes caused natural disasters as a judgment against sin, beginning with the Universal Flood. But, for one to claim that any disaster in our lifetime is God’s divine punishment is an accusation against the Almighty that cannot be verified. When humans rebelled in the beginning by not trusting God, all hell broke loose environmentally and personally. Some but not all natural disasters can be traced to instead of caring for the land, exploiting it and destroying nature by pollution of air, water, and other acts of destructions to soil and vegetation. Freedom gone awry by not trusting God has resulted in the demise and progressive deterioration of both physical and human nature (See Appendix A below).
We must exonerate God from the existence of evil and resulting suffering, except for times in Scripture when clearly stated God punished wrongdoing. God is not the originator or orchestrator of suffering. Suffering entered the world as a result of the Creator allowing the freedom to choose. Because God permits evil does not mean He decrees evil. God did not create evil or secretly plan a rebellion against Himself, so He could ride in on a great white horse and save the world. God knew the first step toward Him may be a step away in disobedience, but God desired people who would relate to Him in love than obey Him out of fear. Real trust can only emerge when one is free to reject it. Not even God can force genuine love. The only way for God to prevent evil is to either to not allow free will or destroy at the first hint of rebellion and continually start over. This is just not God's way.
Why God Allows Suffering
God allows suffering because He values freedom, He values forgiveness than instant justice, and He values what is best for us in the long-run. Christians must acknowledge that God created the potential for suffering because He created humans with the freedom to love or hate. Where there is human will there is the possibility of suffering. It is not heresy to suggest even God cannot create and guarantee life without death, violence, suffering, and struggle and yet there be genuine free will. God is not responsible for choices His children make, though He brings them into the world, any more than human parents are responsible for the decisions of their offspring. Is it worth it? What parent doesn’t believe the pleasures of parenthood far outweigh the risks for suffering as a result of freedom? Suffering had to become a part of God’s story if He was to allow freedom.
It is difficult to argue that lack of freedom is either authentic or desirable. Even as an earthly father, I understand a forced decision rather than a free decision is less desirable despite the possible consequences. Freedom allowed by the Creator was essential for genuine love. God had to allow the possibility of evil resulting in suffering, as this was the only path that led to genuine trust and a relationship. God could have forced obedience but this never leads to trust or true intimacy. We underestimate how complex a free world is and the suffering that results. Surely, we can understand how God cannot just manufacture events so suffering only impacts those who deserve it. God would have to constantly override situations brought on by human circumstances and decisions.
We may accept how freedom is responsible for all of evil, but we may ask why God doesn't prevent more evils than He apparently does. Obviously, God allows a great deal of evil. We must though consider God's standards of evil. What is sicker or more evil than torturing and killing millions of people simply because of their nationality or the family they were born into? There have been many similar horrific evils such as the Holocaust throughout the centuries of humankind. But, one person killed or abused due to evil is tragic. What is more horrible than when an adult sexually abuses a young child for years, threatening them if they tell anyone of their dirty little secret? Evil is evil, regardless of the magnitude. Evil can only be prevented according to God's standard if no freedom whatsoever was allowed. God’s constant interference according to His or our standards would make a farce out of freedom.
Secondly, God allows suffering resulting from evil because He values mercy and forgiveness. God chose to accept the hand He was dealt. The alternative is instant judgment. God does not destroy at the first sign of opposition. God tolerates evil than instantly judges, though justice is served eventually for victims, to change this chaotic world through their own free will. Every single human being beginning with Adam and Eve has not trusted in God’s ways at times. Image a nation that always abided by the Ten Commandments. The only thing God is guilty of is not destroying evildoers instantly when decisions are made. The Flood proved wiping out evil and starting over, that it just grows aback. God’s intervention to suffering resulting from evil is the slow, necessary way of the Incarnation. Jesus’ life and death was an attempt to persuade and empower as many as possible to treat others as they wish to be treated through their own volition. Ask yourself – what kind of God sacrifices His life on the Cross so we can feel forgiveness, freedom from guilt, and empowerment to be all God created us to be?
Thirdly, God allows suffering to distract us from our own selfishness. Does God or humans know best how to deal with a free world that has chosen to rebel against Him? Sudden rescues or divine interventions don’t always make us the kind of people we need to become. Miracles only turn heads but not hearts. I am afraid until we accept suffering and possible understand what good can come from God's lack of constant interference, we will never be content or at peace. It is not always wise to prevent our children from suffering consequences, whether self-inflicted or the result of a fallen world. Suffering enables us to not fall in love with temporal existence and love what the world offers. As long as I am not looking to blame God for my suffering, I am a better person for the prayers He doesn’t answer than does answer. Suffering forces us to look to God and His perfect ways, which happens most often during adversity than prosperity.
Clearly, Jesus' sufferings had a far lasting impact than did His miracles. Did drinking water from a rock, digesting the miracle of manna in their bellies, and crossing the departed Red Sea cause the Israelites to choose rightly? Would any other nation be different? Did Solomon having everything a man could want lead to righteous living? Are we any different? Success and lack of any crisis may remove disappointments with God, but it doesn't lead to long-term change. Constant miracles when we suffer, which would be necessary in a free world, do not lead to changed lives. Many will confess tremendous advantages were to their detriment. The truth is the more I suffer the more Christ-like I become. The more Christ-like I become, the better the person I am. I don’t pray for suffering but I have benefitted from it. We human parents shelter our children from pain, but that isn’t always in their best interests. We all are like children at times. We want it now and assume all delays are bad. Sometimes, we need to trust God rather than demand God be like us
God also may allow suffering to enables us to better serve others. God may know something about human nature, impacted by sin, which we don’t know or accept. It may be short-sighted to think it is always the wisest thing to interfere with suffering. It is not necessarily true that if God instantly stop all suffering, the world would be a better place. After a miracle, many just go back to their old self-centered ways as if the miracle never happened. Jesus’ sufferings than miracles is what really changed hearts. Our sufferings than healings can do the same in the lives of others. Undeserved suffering, such as insults, can make us more sensitive to others in similar situations. Personal sufferings enable us to be trusted by others, because we have “walked in their shoes.” We can trust Jesus because He has faced and conquered all the adversities we face.
Suffering is a part of God's plan as a result of human rebellion, but suffering was not part of God's original plan. Jesus miracles were keep low key. He had to come as a suffering servant than ruling King to convince others to change their ways. God simply is unwilling to force Himself on others. God knew the best way to persuade and convince us of His love was through the suffering of His Son. Richness only causes us to want to be richer. Suffering reminds us of the brevity of life. Our own suffering and the suffering of others warns us of this. Unfortunately, we often only make significant life changes in times of despair than pleasure. God knew this, thus He allowed suffering. He chose not to destroy instantly in hopes of possible future intimacy and change.
God’s Role In Suffering
Many may assume God is causing or controlling their suffering, thus focusing on “why or what is God punishing me for.” Tragedy is hard enough without wondering if God is out to get you or “God, do you really love me?” God does not lose control because sufferings are not caused or controlled by Him. It can be more comforting that God does not cause our suffering, that God grieves when we suffer, that not even God avoided suffering though He could have, that God will walk hand-in hand with us through any tragedy and work to bring some good from it (though he does not orchestrate evil to accomplish this), that God promises an end to suffering as He has conquered death.
How we answer “Why, God?” in times of distress is critical to our relationship with God. We are tempted to blame God for suffering rather than receive His comfort. God forbid disputable understandings of God’s role in suffering drive people to unbelief or despair. If we accept God does not cause suffering, we may still need to understand or accept how God has chosen to respond to suffering. He obviously does not stop a great deal of sufferings. God not interfering with suffering may be the only way to love the greatest number of selfish people back to unselfishness while preserving freedom. People depend more on God during uncertain times. Dependence than independence from God is always a better thing because of who God is.
I have not referred to a lot of bible texts in this writing. We must be careful as any verse or passage can be used to prove one's viewpoint. There is a perfectly good explanation for passages that seem at first reading counterintuitive and suggests God overrides one's freedom to bring about His will or plan. The overwhelming evidence is that God respects individual freedom, that God does not cause evil, but that instead God works for good through the evil choices of others to accomplish His plan to save the world from themselves. I discuss several relevant passages and their interpretation in another article God Is Sovereign - What Do We Mean And How Does It Pertain To Personal Suffering?
For example, Lamentations 3:38 says: "Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" This passage does not declare God is the source for all evil. The writer had just remarked that God “does not willingly bring affliction or grief to any human being.” (v. 33) Why would the writer in the same breath argue that God causes evil but “not willingly?” Moral injustices are said to come from the hand of evildoers - "...would not the Lord see such things?" (v.34-36). Passages such as this one are frequently in the context of God’s warnings of punishment for evildoers. “Why should the living complain when punished for their sins? (v. 39) God wishes no human being would cause evil against another human being. When punishment is necessary God always does so with a heavy heart. In a free world the innocent suffer unjustly. No evil has free rein unless allowed by God, but do we know better than the Creator how to respond to evil in a free world?
God created humans in order to have genuine friendships with those made in His image. Evil entered the world and continues as a result of the Creator allowing the freedom to choose and how He has chosen to respond. God didn't promise to keep us from sin; God promises to save us from sin. God's will certainly can be opposed because of freedom. Not even God can force genuine love. The only way for God to prevent evil is to either to not have created or destroy at the first hint of rebellion and continually start over. This is just not God's way.
God may know something about human nature, impacted by sin, which we don't know in terms of long-lasting change. It might be best God not answer most of my prayers if we understand God's perspective to change individuals and the world through their own volition. Suffering became a part of God's plan but suffering was not God original plan. We do not have to fear God losing control because evils are not caused or controlled by Him. Many find it much more comforting that God does not cause their suffering, that God grieves when we suffer, that not even God avoided suffering, that God will walk hand-in hand with us through any tragedy, that God promises an end to suffering. God has conquered death. God forbid certain disputable understandings of God drive people to unbelief or despair.
By way of summary:
• God did not secretly plan a rebellion against Himself so He could ride in on a white horse and save the world. Even God cannot create and guarantee life without death, violence, suffering, and struggle and yet there be genuine free will. God is not responsible for choices His creations make any more than human parents are responsible for the decisions of their offspring. Parents, as God, attempt to persuade their children to reciprocate their love for their own benefit. Genuine love can only emerge when one is free to reject it.
• God does not control evil and the suffering that results. Humans are free to love or hate to whatever degree they wish. God willingly gave up control for the sake of freedom. Many may receive comfort from the idea that God controls both good and bad times, but do we really think God chooses which children are to die from starvation? Do we really think God allows some children to be abused but not others because of some grand purpose? But, God will use suffering for good if we look to Him, as He did with Jesus' suffering caused by others.
• God does not have a different standard of evil than humans. What is sicker or more evil than torturing and killing millions of people simply because of their nationality or the family they were born into? What is more horrible than when an adult sexually abuses a young child for years, threatening them if they tell anyone of their dirty little secret? Evil is evil, regardless of the magnitude or how many humans are impacted. There would be no freedom if God interfered with evil according to His standards.
• God allows suffering because He values freedom and is by nature a merciful and forgiving God. This requires God tolerate evil, than instantly judge, to change this chaotic world. Justice is served eventually, God grieves with us, and God does intervene. God’s ultimate response to evil is the slow, necessary way of the Incarnation. Jesus' life and death was an attempt to persuade and enable as many as possible to treat others as they wish to be treated. God proved He would do anything to oppose our rebellion while preserving our freedom
• God allows suffering to distract us from our own selfishness. It is not always wise to prevent our children from suffering consequences, whether self-inflicted or the result of a fallen world. Preventing suffering delays the growth process in human and spiritual parenting. Suffering enables us to not fall in love with temporal existence and love what the world offers. It forces us to look to God and His perfect ways, which happens during adversity than prosperity.
• God allows suffering to enables us to better serve others. Jesus' sufferings than miracles is what really changed hearts. Our sufferings than healings can do the same in the lives of others. Undeserved suffering, such as insults, can make us more sensitive to others in similar situations. Personal sufferings can enable us to be trusted by others, because we have "walked in their shoes." We can trust Jesus because He has faced and conquered all the adversities we face.
Appendix A
Why Does God Allow Natural Evil?
Personal evil rather than natural evil can be easier to explain and understood because of human freedom involved. C.S. Lewis has suggested that wars, crimes, and injustices – evils that come through bad choices make by cruel and lawless people – account for at least 80% of humankind suffering. Much of suffering is either self-inflicted or inflicted by others. But, how do we explain natural disasters that cannot be traced to a human's freedom to inflict evil upon others? I will write separately about personal tragedies that do not have a direct cause as well.
There was the Tsunami in 2004 that landed in India and killed hundreds of thousands of people. There was the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that killed over a hundred thousand people. Clearly in Old Testament times God sometimes caused natural disasters as a judgment against sin, beginning with the Universal Flood. (Genesis 7) But, for one to claim that any disaster in our lifetime is God's divine punishment is an accusation against the Almighty that cannot be verified. It has been said Haiti in 2010 was being punished for certain pagan practices such as voodoo. If this is the case why has America not been destroyed for killing over 50 million babies through abortion even though the mother's life/health was not in danger? We can detect a beating heart around the 18th day in a mother's womb and know babies can react to stimuli, which would include pain well before many mothers abort their babies. If pagan practices caused specific catastrophes, none of us would be alive.
I read that the earth is constructed of tectonic plates and when they collide, what is atop them can be destroyed. Do we really want to claim the shifting of these plates underground is related to the changing mood of God? These events directed by the forces of nature happen regardless of the moral actions of the people who are living in areas that are struck. I believe God intended for humans to have perfect bodies, perfect health, and freedom from natural disasters. One explanation for natural disasters is that rebellion against God set in motions the deterioration of physical nature as it did human nature. Genesis 2:5-6 hints of God's protection of the earth: "...God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground." When we rejected God's oversight, He permitted both human and physical nature to run its course. Freedom gone awry caused progressive deterioration of the physical world as it did human nature.
It has been said in Haiti that when tectonic plates under the earth collided, atop them was a particularly densely populated, poorly constructed city in a country which had been poorly governed for centuries. The suffering of the Haitians was further complicated by overcrowding and poor building practices. And we curse God for letting it happen. Who made money in the construction of the city in the manner that is was? Why couldn't there have been a better warning system in place? Was this money used for other greedy purposes? Was good housing not possible partly because of social injustices? In other situations instead of caring for the land, we exploit and destroy nature by pollution of air and water and other acts of destruction to the soil and vegetation. We must not underestimate progressive damage over the centuries. When humans rebelled, all hell broke loose, both environmentally and personally.
Tragedy is tragedy, regardless of its magnitude. God would need to interfere with all natural disasters. If God could simply build anti-human elements into nature to protect the innocent from natural evil, He would have done the same for moral evil. People often experience more than their share of evil. God may know something about human nature we do not accept. Jesus in Luke 13:1-5 suggests suffering is not caused by God or one's sins but suffering around us can give pause to reflect on the shortness of life and the importance of living purposefully. If God intervened with all natural disasters, would millions of people ever reevaluate their priorities in life? Miracles only turned heads but not hearts. The world and I am changed for the better during suffering than prosperity. Change sometimes is only possible when we don't interfere with the natural consequences of freedom gone awry. God can bring great good out of terrible tragedies if we don't allow a misunderstanding of God's role in the world to prevent that.
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