Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

The deep philosophical question that many Christians have asked. Some Christians have left their church or even their faith over this issue, while other Christians accept a harsher answer to this question. In the end, the answers to this question tend to be lengthy and confusing to cold and harsh. It really doesn’t have to be!

The real answer to this question lies within the question itself. The question assumes that being good will get you only good things in return. Truthfully, this type of believe is actually Hinduism and Buddhism, known as karma. They really need to ask a Hindu or Buddhist why karma failed them and not a Christian. Christians can get this concept mixed up with “you reap what you sow.” That’s in Galatians 6:7, but if you read on to verse 8, those verses are referencing sowing into the flesh verses sowing into the spirit. But, this type of thinking, good people receiving only good things, is a works mentality and the Bible says, “without faith it’s impossible to please Him,” Hebrews 11:6. If only being good did get you good things, then there wouldn’t be a need to pray or depend on the Lord for anything. How could you ever convince anyone they need Jesus? We do need Jesus! Heaven is our home. Jesus tells us a parable in Matthew 25 about the kingdom of Heaven, and when the Master returns, He’ll settle accounts. We’re looking to hear the Master say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” The Lord is not just looking for a good servant, but also a faithful servant.

Let’s break this question down in case we need to minister to some hurting and misguided misguided people. We don’t really want to tell them to go ask Buddha, but it’s ok to tell them, “Buddha has failed you.”

Are we always good people?

Sometimes we think we’re good, and we’re accidently just not!

Luke 18:19 NKJV

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Our society is very driven towards masking sin as a good thing, and we as Christians don’t even realize it. Not too long ago, there was a popular Christian radio station discussing in one of their weekly segments with listeners sharing how to do secret shopping for free money. They went on and on sharing where to go, tips on being efficient, and boasting how this has become some big thing with their listeners. The problem is when you think about what they’re doing and what the Bible says, it’s walking out of love for money, or lying for money. As I was listening to the callers boast about the money they made and how fun it was, the Holy Spirit pointed out the truth to me. We aren’t supposed to tattle on anyone; whether it’s written experiences, showing/telling prices or just taking pictures. Love is supposed to believe, speak, and show the best of everyone. Even if someone decides to take a Christian stance as a secret shopper, they’re not giving the company what they’re asking for, and so therefore, they’re being deceptive towards the company’s request. The company wants truth from this natural realm, while our truth comes from the heart of the Father.

Another popular oopsie that we accidently get sucked into is writing reviews online that are less than 5/5 stars or 10/10 stars. The Holy Spirit has a different view on this than our culture. In our culture, we, as Americans, get angry and want to tell the world how we’re upset. As Christians, we tell ourselves, “But I’m warning people,” like Paul warned everyone in 2 Timothy 4:14,

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.

Overcooking your English muffin, burning your French fries, or getting your coffee order wrong isn’t doing you much harm. May I point out, Paul didn’t even say what “much harm” Alexander did. Knowing Paul was stoned, shipwrecked, starved, and more, it must have been pretty bad!

Matthew 7:1-3 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

People are accidentally, because of our culture, sowing in for a judgement. People think and say, “I’m telling it like it is.” But that’s not what the law of love is about!

Ephesians 4:15 NKJV

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—