The Goodness Of God

The Goodness of God

Pastor Eric J. Hanson January 29, 2023

Read Matthew 19:16-17a.

One of the first childhood prayers that many of us learned, went like this: “God is good. God is great. Let us thank Him for this food. Amen.” It is easy to smile, remembering the childlike simplicity of this little mealtime ditty. It comes easy for children to accept the statements contained in this prayer. Certainly, God is good, for Mommy and Daddy say that He is. Certainly, God is great, for he made everything. For a child, the matter is clear and settled.

I have found, across many years as a pastor, however, that many adults have a much harder time connecting with the certainty and security of the simple statement: “God is good.” Hard knocks and tragedy combined with religious teachings have caused such certainty to become difficult.

Indeed, it is easy to be confused regarding the character of God. We live in a time when there is a wide variety of teachings on this topic within the Church. Some maintain that every situation that happens comes directly from God, as an act of His will. Others teach a modified version of this, which states “Everything that occurs, has to first pass before God for review. Each circumstance or event has to have His express permission, in order to happen.”

Therefore, we have pastors and other Bible teachers saying “God is good.”, yet also teaching that all events, including clearly evil ones, come from God. The disconnect within this type of reasoning sets up the likelihood of spiritual schizophrenia in believers. They are expected to believe that God is totally good, with no shadow of evil at all, yet also believe that evil events are from God. Many believers have lost their joy and even their zest for life because of the internal contradiction this teaching creates. I personally know quite a few people who are truly in a dark place, spiritually, because of such things; doubting the goodness of God, and, at the same time, feeling guilty and condemned for having such thoughts.

Representative Examples

For many Christian people, the first response upon hearing tragic news, is to reflexively say “God is in control.” Sometimes it is right to say this, but it is totally the wrong thing to say to someone who has just heard that their spouse is leaving them, or that someone they love has just been killed in a car crash, or that they have cancer. Saying “God is in control.”, at such a time, is a clear linking of God’s will to an evil situation.

The teaching that no event happens without God’s express permission is widespread in church circles. It is displayed on devotional calendars. It is written in devotional books. It is often spoken forth on the radio. It is very common. It is also flawed. When used in a broad-brush way, as an explanation for everything, it becomes a false doctrine that has bruised or even crushed many believers under a great and unbearable weight of emotional distress.

It is legitimate to say that God sometimes brings judgment. In the Bible we see His judgments upon several nations who opposed His people, and attacked them. We also see his judgments poured out on His own people who hardened their hearts against Him in disobedience. Please note that these judgments came after repeated warnings and pleas by God’s prophets. These things were brought forth in clarity against willful sin; not in mystery for no clearly stated reason. These judgments did not come as total surprises poured out against legitimate believers who were sincerely seeking to follow the Lord.

It is also correct to say that there are certain things that God is in control of in an over-riding, sovereign, and immutable sense. These things include the continued existence of the present universe until such time as God brings it to its end and replaces it with a new one. They include the fact that Jesus Christ will return to planet Earth at a certain future moment, known only to God. They include the fact that there will be a Day of Judgement, and all people, great and small, will stand before God and give account of their lives. These things and some others cannot change. God is in total control of these.

Many other negative things, which are happening in this present time, however, are not from God, and many of these grieve God and sadden His heart. There are ways to perceive the difference between that which is of God, and that which is not. Let’s look at these “litmus tests” for knowing the difference.

Is it From God?

Look closely at the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Examine his response to people’s needs and requests. Note his compassion toward the diseased and disabled. See his forgiveness of the vilest sorrowing sinners, coupled with instruction about repentance and subsequent right living.