Why bad things happen: One practicing Christian's perspective
Billy Snashall
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Lifestyles
The recent events in Haiti, as well our struggles, force us to question why such things happen. I feel moved to share my views and those of many (but not all) Christians in response to times like these.
I want to start by saying I hope this will be the beginning of a productive discussion about the problem of evil and not the end of one. I'm a math student and don't have a Ph. D. However, continued discussion and research has turned my own doubts into positive and life-changing conclusions.
Events like the earthquake in Haiti are horrible. So it's fair to wonder how a god that most of us call good would allow this to happen (emphasis on 'allow'). Please remember this, though: While there are people who do good and bad, in God's eyes, all of us are sinful. Christians. Atheists. Children. Adults. (Infants are different). This is because it takes only a single rejection of the perfection God gave us to become unworthy of it.
When it comes down to it, we all deserve death for our sins (for an eternity, actually). Again, this means everyone. God did not want this. But Satan does (yes, we believe there is a real devil). So out of the free will which God gave us, we chose it. Every time we deny the perfection we were given, we choose eternal death. Yet God's love is shown when He turns a tradgedy like Haiti into an opportunity to experience His love through our charity.
I want to explain that I don't believe every disaster is a punishment from God; but it is still a result of sin. Sometimes good people get caught in the middle, again, because of Satan. These are the consequences of a fallen world. [Luke 13: 1-5]
God had a plan to redeem us: His perfect son's undeserved death. At this point, the question might be raised: "if this is true, why do bad things happen to Christians?" Christians live in the same world as everyone else. When we brought sin into the world, it affected every part: biology, genetics, weather and human decision. Until the world is fully redeemed, such events will continue.
I have two important reminders: First, this is a greatly simplified explanation. Second, one of the keys to Christianity, in all of its mysteries, is the fact that we are not gods. We can't understand everything, nor are we meant to. In the Old Testament, Isaiah 55:8 states "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.' declares the LORD." I say this because Christianity is about faith picking up where logic remains incomplete. And yes, even after all this, I know it might be difficult to see how God is still loving but He is. That is for another article.
By Billy Snashall
Contributor
wsnashal@capital.edu
I want to start by saying I hope this will be the beginning of a productive discussion about the problem of evil and not the end of one. I'm a math student and don't have a Ph. D. However, continued discussion and research has turned my own doubts into positive and life-changing conclusions.
Events like the earthquake in Haiti are horrible. So it's fair to wonder how a god that most of us call good would allow this to happen (emphasis on 'allow'). Please remember this, though: While there are people who do good and bad, in God's eyes, all of us are sinful. Christians. Atheists. Children. Adults. (Infants are different). This is because it takes only a single rejection of the perfection God gave us to become unworthy of it.
When it comes down to it, we all deserve death for our sins (for an eternity, actually). Again, this means everyone. God did not want this. But Satan does (yes, we believe there is a real devil). So out of the free will which God gave us, we chose it. Every time we deny the perfection we were given, we choose eternal death. Yet God's love is shown when He turns a tradgedy like Haiti into an opportunity to experience His love through our charity.
I want to explain that I don't believe every disaster is a punishment from God; but it is still a result of sin. Sometimes good people get caught in the middle, again, because of Satan. These are the consequences of a fallen world. [Luke 13: 1-5]
God had a plan to redeem us: His perfect son's undeserved death. At this point, the question might be raised: "if this is true, why do bad things happen to Christians?" Christians live in the same world as everyone else. When we brought sin into the world, it affected every part: biology, genetics, weather and human decision. Until the world is fully redeemed, such events will continue.
I have two important reminders: First, this is a greatly simplified explanation. Second, one of the keys to Christianity, in all of its mysteries, is the fact that we are not gods. We can't understand everything, nor are we meant to. In the Old Testament, Isaiah 55:8 states "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.' declares the LORD." I say this because Christianity is about faith picking up where logic remains incomplete. And yes, even after all this, I know it might be difficult to see how God is still loving but He is. That is for another article.
By Billy Snashall
Contributor
wsnashal@capital.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Robert Landbeck
posted 2/04/10 @ 4:29 PM EST
If the purpose of the incarnation was to end sin and the destruction of evil, and that purpose has self evidently not succeeded, it must be reasonably plausible that humanity has misunderstood the very nature of God's plan? Scripture is littered with warnings of fakes: false teachings, wrong interpretations, anti-Christs etc, etc, etc. (Continued…)
GHD
posted 2/08/10 @ 3:06 AM EST
ghd is a world famous brand, while, when mentioning ghd straighteners, people always compare it with CHI Flat iron.
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