EARTHQUAKES TERRORISM INFANTICIDE

Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

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Keith Campbell, Ph.D.dkeithcampbell@yahoo.com

REVIEW/PREVIEW

Scripture“The Bible…Where did it Come From?”“The Bible…Why Trust It?”“The Bible…How to Read It?”

Tradition“What Unites us as Christians: Nicene Creed”“History Repeats Itself: Early Church Arguments; Why They Matter

“Baptists, Methodists, Catholics: Why so Many Denominations?”

Reason Today: “Why Does God Let Bad things Happen?”March 15: “Removing Western Glasses: Reading Scripture with Global Eyes”March 29: “Creation and Evolution: Navigating a Modern Dilemma”

Experience

For full schedule of Dinner Lectures and for PPT’s visit http://shanghaifellowship.org/resources/sunday-lectures/

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FIRST

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

THE DILEMMATheodicy: the attempt to rationally justify God’s actions in the face of evil and suffering

If God is all powerful, then he can stop evil

If God is all good, he should desire to stop evil

But, evil still exists!

Photo: http://blog.billhurst.com/2011/05/drowning-accidents/

INTRODUCTIONCLASSICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE DILEMMA God doesn’t exist (Atheist)

God not all powerful (Harold Kushner)

Modification of God’s goodness (Gordon H. Clark)

Evil is an illusion (Spinoza; Mary Baker Eddy [Christian Scientism])

But, the Bible affirms all these

So, that’s why we’re here tonight!

INTRODUCTION

FIRST-THINGS-FIRST Tonight:

(Less) counseling (More) academic

Important: Take a different approach when counseling Ex.: Mother recently loses child

Needed? Comforting presence of Jesus; (usually) not a lecture on theodicy

Two types of evil: moral and natural Moral: results from our bad choices (murder, rape) Natural: results from “random” nature (earthquakes,

tsunamis) Most difficult to explain

Photo: http://jrforasteros.com/portfolio-posts/first-things-first/

Our discussion: Christian/biblical context Recall previous lecture “Why Trust the Bible”

No definitive solutions; we honestly don’t know (1 Cor 13:12) Although discussed for millennia (Job) But, there is still intellectual hope (see next two

slides)

INTRODUCTIONFIRST-THINGS-FIRST

INTRODUCTION

FIRST THINGS FIRSTA WORD ABOUT LIMITED HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

Is God above human logic; or, is he limited to it? Suggestion: Interaction between an infinite

God and a finite universe creates (from our perspective) paradoxes and logical conundrums

Evil is one of these!God not limited to human reason, which he

designed and instituted (Isaiah 55:9)

Reminder: Exaggeration of our knowledge (see next slide)

·

Tonight: navigating what we do know

We don’t know all things, but we do know some things

THE DILEMMA…

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

Photo: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sapient-nature/201103/what-the-bleep-do-we-know

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

ORIGIN OF EVIL Origin of Evil:

Spiritual world: [apparently] Satan (Isaiah 14:12–19; 2 Peter 2:4; John 8:44)

Humanity: Adam and Eve (Rom 5:12) Nature: cursed b/c of human sin (Gen 3:17–18)

Natural evil at least indirectly related to human sin

Not God (James 1:13) But did provide options necessary for human choice; choices that

could result in sin

Is this illogical? Evil not a material entity within creation Not like a germ we catch Begins with a choice Evil doesn’t exist until a choice to do it is made

Why, then, did God provide a choice? Discussed later.

God does permit/cause/use already existent evil Example: my 9/11 discussions at GCTS

Gen 6–9 (Flood) Gen 50:20 (Joseph) Job 1–2 (God, Satan, and Job) Book of Revelation

God is sovereign, just, and loving (2 Pet 2:1; 2 Thess 1:6; 1 John 4:8)

God’s being, commands, and actions (as revealed in Scripture) are the standard of ethics (2 Tim 3:16); not ours!

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

GOD’S NATURE RELATED TO EVIL

Suffering at the heart of Jesus’ earthly identity and commands (Mark 8:31; Luke 9:23) Eradicating evil is part of Jesus’ work on cross God’s current (perhaps eternal) answer to

suffering is not an explanation but the incarnation! Our struggle: why not now! Discussed later.

Jesus’ redemptive work includes redeeming nature (Rom 8:20–22)

God himself is a (willing) victim of evil God grieves over evil (Gen 6:6) Jesus’ life and crucifixion

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

GOD’S NATURE RELATED TO EVIL

WHAT DO WE KNOW

CHALLENGING OUR PERSPECTIVE Sometimes question rephrased: “Why

do bad things happen to good people?”Which people are really good? (Romans

3:23; Isaiah 64:6)

God owes us nothing!Never forget the gravity of sin! Fallen angels (to our knowledge) not offered

redemptionAnything above hell = grace

Clarity comes in eternity (1 Cor 13:12)

Pain and suffering will one day cease for the believer (Rev 21:4)Evil (including people) will be judged (Rev

20:10, 15)

So, eternal perspective a must (Rom 8:18)

“The fog” often moves with us through time, clearing in time past

WHAT DO WE KNOW

CHALLENGING OUR PERSPECTIVE

God does use suffering to accomplish Good (Rom 8:28) C. S. Lewis: “Pain is God’s megaphone”

Christians should expect to suffer (John 16:33)

Reevaluation of biblical good and evil: Good not defined by immediate pleasure (Rom

8:28) Time: sometimes things appear evil at first but

later prove good (Joseph) Individualistic: evil for me may be good for others

(rain)

WHAT DO WE KNOW

CHALLENGING OUR PERSPECTIVE

ADDRESSING COMMON

SPECULATIONS

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ADDRESSING COMMON SPECULATIONS Why not destroy all evil now?:

Not answered; would include every being capable of evil (you and me!)

Why create at all?Not answered; creating apparently better

than the alternative

Photo: http://thedeenshow.com/watch/1866/why-did-god-create

Why not create a world without the potential for evil? Not answered…

Perhaps evil necessary for creation of humans Otherwise: we’re robots (which, for unstated reasons,

appears preferable to God)

Perhaps evil is necessary for creation of the universe Water is good, unless in your lungs! But, why not create a world where the properties of

water change according to circumstances? Predictability? Constancy is a need.

ADDRESSING COMMON SPECULATIONS

Assuming evil is unavoidable, why a stinking Tsunami!!! Why kill innocent children!!! Not answered; perhaps…

Mysteriously linked with curse of universe

No one is innocent! We don’t just do sinful things; we are sinful. Psalm 51:5: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from

the time my mother conceived me.”

(Very) Politically incorrect but biblical: judgment Must be very careful when/if announcing this

ADDRESSING COMMON SPECULATIONS

RESPONDING

BIBLICALLY TO EVIL

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RESPONDING BIBLICALLY

TO OTHERS Natural evil: React swiftly, lovingly, sacrificially

Corporate repentance (just in case)

Enact God’s kingdom on earth (Matt 6:10) Moral evil: Seek remedy via preaching, evangelism, sacrifice,

psychology, education, etc. Natural evil: Seek all possible remedies via better science,

education, meteorology, etc.

Don’t offer shallow platitudes Don’t downplay it

Admit limited knowledge

Express confidence about what we do know (prev. slides)

Lovingly, humbly, and timely teach next 4 slides

Photo; http://examinerindia.blogspot.com/2013/08/article-mother-to-poor.html

RESPOND BIBLICALLY

WHEN I SUFFER Your own moral evil: Repent

Endure (2 Tim 2:3)

Long for Jesus’ return (Rev 22:20)

Grieving okay (Gethsemane)

Eternal perspective (Rev 21:4)

Remember: The “health/wealth gospel” is incomplete

RESPONDING BIBLICALLYWHEN I SUFFER

QUESTIONS TO ASK How can this help me understand more about

Christ? Jesus suffered (Isaiah 53:3)

How can this produce humility in me? Paul’s thorn (2 Cor 12:7)

What character qualities can I learn? Jesus learned character through suffering (Heb

5:8) Patience? Gratefulness? Compassion? Obedience? Embrace suffering as a path to spiritual maturity

(Heb 12:7)

Is it God’s loving discipline?Heb 12:5–8

Is it because of the sin of others?Can’t change this; but can change how I

respond!

What can westerners learn from suffering brothers and sisters in the Global South?

RESPONDING BIBLICALLYWHEN I SUFFER

QUESTIONS TO ASK

RESPONDING BIBLICALLY

A NEGLECTED CATEGORY: LAMENT Examples:

Psalm 6:1–4; Psalm 22; Matthew 26:36–45; Matthew 27:46; Revelation 6:10

Biblical lament: prayer to God to change one’s plight. Goes beyond grief to prayerful questioning

General characteristics: Questioning God and his [apparent] absence (How long?

Why? When?) Passionate Honest Anger at injustice and evil Still, offered in context of trust Both individual and corporate

FOR FURTHE

R STUDY